Trauma: exploring issues, support and recovery in the pastoral context (DP3005Y)

Undergraduate, 18.0 points

Content

This unit explores the impacts and experiences of trauma and its psychobiological impacts on individual development and relationships. The settings may include: industrial and workplace disasters, natural disasters, tragic accidents, domestic violence, child abuse, assaults and murder, international conflict/war and terrorism. Theological and spiritual perspectives on trauma are investigated, as well as psychological, pastoral and spiritual support strategies of post-traumatic growth for victims of trauma.

Unit code: DP3005Y

Unit status: Approved (Major revision)

Points: 18.0

Unit level: Undergraduate Level 3

Unit discipline: Pastoral Theology and Ministry Studies

Delivery Mode: Blended

Proposing College: Yarra Theological Union

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Learning outcomes

1.

Demonstrate a critical understanding of the impacts of traumatic experience
2.

Critically reflect on specific psychological aspects, and theological and spiritual implications, of trauma experience

3.

Demonstrate an understanding of key intervention strategies in the treatment of trauma and apply this to pastorally integrated practices

Unit sequence

1x DP unit

Pedagogy

Synchronous and asynchronous lectures and tutorials

Indicative Bibliography

  • Boss, Pauline. Ambiguous Loss: Learning to Live with Unresolved Grief. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Prews, 2000.
  • Briere, John and Catherine Scott. Principles of Trauma Therapy: A Guide to Symptoms, Evaluation, and Treatment. 2nd ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 2014.
  • Courtois, Christine A. and Julian D. Ford, eds. Treating Complex Traumatic Stress Disorders: Scientific Foundations and Therapeutic Models. New York: Guilford Press, 2013.
  • Herman, Judith L. Trauma and Recovery: The Aftermath of Violence-from Domestic Abuse to Political Terror. New York: Basic Books, 2015.
  • Jones, Serene. Trauma and Grace: Theology in a Ruptured World. 2nd edition. Louisville, KY: Westminister, 2019.
  • Joseph, Stephen. What Doesn't Kill Us: The New Psychology of Posttraumatic Growth. New York: Basic Books, 2011.
  • Park, Crystal L., Joseph M. Currier, J. Irene Harris, and Jeanne M. Slattery. Trauma, Meaning and Spirituality. Translating Research into Clinical Practice. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, 2017.
  • van der Kolk, Bessel. The Body Keeps the Score. Brain, Mind and Body in the Healing of Trauma. New York: Penguin Books, 2015.
  • Walker, Donald F., Christine A. Courtois, and Jamie D. Aten, eds. Spiritually Oriented Psychotherapy for Trauma. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, 2014.
  • Werdel, Mary Beth and Robert J. Wicks. Primer on Posttraumatic Growth: An Introduction and Guide. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, 2012.
  • Wilson, John P. and Boris Drožđek. Broken Spirits: The Treatment of Traumatized Asylum Seekers, Refugees, War and Torture Victims. New York: Brunner-Routledge, 2004.

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Portfolio 4500 100.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Prof Albert Haddad on 25 Jun, 2026

Unit record last updated: 2026-06-25 11:45:38 +1000