SOCW 6111 Week 10 Trauma Discussions

SOCW 6111 Week 10 Trauma Discussions

Discussion: Trauma

Trauma is ubiquitous. While trauma is most commonly associated with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, trauma can manifest in a myriad of different ways and not every client who experiences trauma will be diagnosed with PTSD. Social workers intervene directly with trauma when working in Veteran’s services, domestic violence/sexual assault response programs, and child protective services. Social workers also work with trauma indirectly when working in mental health, substance abuse services, schools, refugee resettlement, and other forms of social service. Whether or not you are directly treating a traumatic episode as the presenting problem, trauma will be present in the clinical space.

In this Week’s Discussion, you will demonstrate your skills related to explaining trauma and intervention to a client. This will require you explain the concepts in a manner that is understandable to the developmental and educational level of the client. No need to solicit a volunteer to assist you. Position yourself as though the client is directly behind the camera lens. The goal is to show, not tell. In other words, you are expected to demonstrate rather than discuss your skills. You should role-play as if you were speaking directly to a client.

Submit a 4-5 minute video demonstrating your skills.  Write it out and  I will role play it In the role-play:

•        Ask one question that you would use to elicit information about a client’s trauma experience. [Assume a response and move to the next part of the skill demonstration]
•        Explain to the client the effects of trauma generally and how trauma may be affecting the client specifically.
•        Explain to the client what intervention(s) you would recommend and why.
•        Explain the role you would take in any intervention given your scope of practice and to whom you would refer the client for additional intervention.

Include a transcript and/or edit closed captioning on your video to ensure your video is accessible to differing abilities. 

SAMPLE ANSWER

Trauma experience

Introduction

Trauma is an experience that can lead to a variety of emotional, physical, and behavioral difficulties. The consequences of trauma often begin immediately following the event and can last for years or even decades. Traumatic events may be experienced by anyone, but they are most common among military personnel who have experienced some form of combat or war. These individuals often suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) because they’ve had a very difficult time coping with the violence they’ve seen during their service. While it is important to understand what happens when someone experiences trauma so you can better support them after the event occurs, it’s also crucial to understand that everyone reacts differently when confronted with a traumatic situation

People may experience trauma in different ways.

It’s important to remember that the way people experience trauma is unique. The effects of trauma are different for everyone, and so too are their reactions to it.

The severity of a person’s experience also impacts how they react to events later on in life. For example, if you have experienced more severe forms of abuse than other members of your family did (such as physical or sexual abuse), then you may find it harder than others do when faced with similar situations later on in life—or even worse ones!

Symptoms of trauma can include:

• Difficulty sleeping

• Feeling jumpy or on edge

• Feeling irritable, angry and/or aggressive

• Having panic attacks or other symptoms of anxiety that interfere with your ability to function in daily life (e.g., trouble concentrating)

If you experience any of these symptoms after a traumatic event, it is important to seek help from a mental health professional as soon as possible.

Taking steps to cope with a traumatic event can help you manage the feelings you are experiencing.

• Talk to someone you trust.

• Get professional help.

• Try to avoid self-medication, including alcohol and drugs.

• Do something that makes you happy and helps you feel less overwhelmed by your feelings (like exercise).

• Get enough sleep so that you’re not constantly on edge or worrying about what may happen next in the traumatic situation.

After a difficult experience or traumatic event, you may feel like what happened and how you feel isn’t normal.

• You might feel like what happened and how you feel isn’t normal.

• You might feel like you are overreacting, or that other people don’t understand.

• You might feel like there is something wrong with you and that your experience isn’t real.

• A traumatic experience can sometimes lead to self-doubt, but it’s important not to think this way—you are not alone in feeling confused or upset after an event like this!

It is important to remember that everyone reacts differently to trauma, and there is no right or wrong way to react.

It can be helpful to remember that everyone reacts differently to trauma, and there is no right or wrong way to react. Everyone’s experience is unique, and it’s important to respect the fact that each person’s reaction will be different from their peers.

However, if you’re struggling with how you feel about this situation or what your response should be, remember: everyone has experienced some form of trauma in their lives—and if they haven’t yet then they’re reading this article! And that means YOU ARE NOT ALONE…

Conclusion

Trauma is a difficult subject to discuss, but it’s important to talk about it. If you have experienced trauma or know someone who has, remember that it is not your fault. You may be experiencing symptoms of trauma now and they don’t necessarily mean that you are damaged or broken.