Trauma and Crisis Intervention

What happens when someone experiences trauma, and how can understanding those impacts help you make a difference in your community? In this course, you will explore the psychological, social, and cultural dimensions of trauma while developing practical trauma‐informed approaches for work in community, mental health, and criminal legal settings. You will examine the science of traumatic stress, the many forms trauma can take across the lifespan, and the ways individuals and communities adapt, cope, and heal. Through case studies, interdisciplinary readings, and real‐world examples, you will analyze crisis response, resilience, and the ethical complexities that arise when supporting people who have experienced harm. Throughout the semester, you will also learn from guests who are actively advancing this work. These voices bring field‐based insight, lived experience, and current practice directly into our conversations. This course equips you with skills for responding to crisis, supporting survivors, reducing vicarious trauma, and contributing to person‐centered trauma‐informed practice across diverse professional settings.