Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences · Psychology · Undergraduate
Course Objective
This course aims to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of trauma, its psychological and biological impacts, and the various methods used for diagnosing and treating trauma-related disorders. By examining trauma from multiple perspectives—developmental, forensic, and neurobiological—students will explore how trauma affects individuals across different stages of life and within diverse populations. The course also emphasizes trauma-informed care, ethical considerations, and the importance of resilience and support systems in recovery.
Course Content
The course covers a wide range of topics, starting with an introduction to stress and trauma, the history and types of trauma, and trauma’s main categories. It includes in-depth discussions on trauma-related diagnoses such as PTSD and other disorders, along with the impact of trauma on the brain, personality, and mental health. Students will explore resilience, post-traumatic growth, and the role of psychometric assessments and treatment approaches. Special attention is given to trauma across the lifespan, ethical challenges, and forensic applications in trauma psychology.
Required Resources
Gold, S. N. (Ed.). (2017). APA Handbook of Trauma Psychology: Foundations in Knowledge. American Psychological Association.
Gold, S. N. (Ed.). (2017). APA Handbook of Trauma Psychology: Trauma Practice. American Psychological Association.
Recommended Resources
Van der Kolk, B. A. (2014). The body keeps the score: Brain, mind, and body in the healing of trauma. Viking.
Herman, J. L. (2015). Trauma and recovery. Basic Books.
Course Learning Outcomes
- Student can discuss the role of resilience and post-traumatic growth in trauma recovery.
- Define and differentiate between stress, trauma, and trauma-related disorders.
- Identify and explain the risk factors and protective factors for trauma, including cultural and developmental influences.
- Analyze the psychological and biological impacts of trauma on the brain and behavior.
- Can uderstand the diagnosis trauma-related disorders such as PTSD, depression, and dissociation, based on case studies and psychometric assessments.
- Critically evaluate different treatment approaches for trauma, including trauma-informed care and ethical considerations.
Core Area Distribution
Teaching Methods
Assessment & Evaluation
ECTS / Workload
| Activity | Quantity | Duration (h) | Total Workload |
|---|---|---|---|
| Course Duration (Including Exam Week) | 16 | 3 | 48 |
| Out of Class Study Period | 16 | 4 | 64 |
| Midterm | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Quiz | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Assignment | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Practice | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Final | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Course Schedule
| Week | Subject | Preparation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stress Reaction and Traumatic Experience | APA Handbook of Trauma Psychology Volume 1 Chapter 2 |
| 2 | Stress and Trauma, Types of Traumas, History of Trauma | Trauma and Recovery Chapter 1 |
| 3 | Main Categories of Trauma, Childhood Trauma, Risk Factors | Trauma and Recovery Chapter 5 APA Handbook of Trauma Psychology Volume 1 Chapter 6 |
| 4 | Diagnosis of Trauma Related Psychopathology: PTSD | APA Handbook of Trauma Psychology Volume 1 Chapter 10; Trauma and Recovery Chapter 2 and 6 |
| 5 | Diagnosis of Trauma Related Psychopathology: Other Diagnoses | APA Handbook of Trauma Psychology Volume 1 Chapter 14; Trauma and Recovery Chapter 2 and 6 |
| 6 | Impact of Trauma: Depression, Grief, Substance Use Disorder | APA Handbook of Trauma Psychology Volume 1 Chapter 14; Body Keeps the Score Chapter 11 and 12 |
| 7 | Brain on Trauma: Neurobiology of Trauma | Body Keeps the Score Chapter 3,4,5 and 6 |
| 8 | Midterm Exam Week | Course Slides |
| 9 | Trauma and Dissociation | APA Handbook of Trauma Psychology Volume 1 Chapter 13 |
| 10 | The Impact of Traumatic Experiences on Development | Body Keeps the Score Chapter 7,8,9 and 10 |
| 11 | Post-Traumatic Psychological First Aid and Interview | Demircioğlu ve ark. (2019) |
| 12 | Resilience and Post-Traumatic Growth | APA Handbook of Trauma Psychology Volume 1 Chapter 22 |
| 13 | Psychometric Assessment of Trauma | APA Handbook of Trauma Psychology Volume 2 Chapter 3 |
| 14 | Therapeutic Approaches to Trauma I: Fundamentals | APA Handbook of Trauma Psychology Volume 2 Chapter 7, 8, 9, 14 and 18 |
| 15 | Treatment Approaches to Trauma II: Different Therapy Approaches | APA Handbook of Trauma Psychology Volume 2 Chapter 7, 8, 9, 14 and 18 |
| 16 | Final Exam Week | Course Slides |