Trauma Recovery

This special emphasis area will focus on the therapy process of healing from a traumatic experience.  Common presenting clinical issues include direct contact with clients who have experienced a relational pattern in which trust was broken or survived a trauma such as a distressing break-up, emotional/verbal abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse/assault, stalking, or have been taken advantage of sexually.  An intern successfully completing this experience will gain trauma recovery experience in both an individual and group therapy format, and will also become familiar with selected readings, theories, and research on the process of trauma recovery. 

Trauma Recovery Requirements

• Maintain at least three trauma recovery individual clients throughout the semester with consultation provided by the emphasis supervisor.
• Co-lead a trauma recovery group with the trauma recovery supervisor in addition to another type of group.
• Maintain liaison relationship with ACCESS, SART, and Sexual Assault Task Force.
• Complete and discuss reading assignments with the trauma recovery supervisor.
• Present in a practicum class or to SCS staff about a trauma recovery clinical issue or technique.

Special Emphasis Project

The intern will complete a Special Emphasis Project under the direction of the area supervisor. The content of the Special Emphasis Project will be negotiated with the area supervisor, but the project must demonstrate how the material relates to diverse populations. The intern will present the outcome of the project to the SCS staff in a second-hour staff meeting.
Examples of Special Emphasis Projects include:

• Collaboration with an on-campus or community organization (e.g., ACCESS, SART, Sloss Women’s Center) on trauma recovery.
• Developing a program for a specialized workshop or psychoeducational group.
• Independently establishing and facilitating a trauma recovery process group.

At a minimum, the intern will meet individually with the area supervisor on a monthly basis to discuss issues related to the Special Emphasis Area.

Area Supervisor: Cara Armstrong, Ph.D.

Back to Special Emphasis Area

Our Mission

Settings:
Student Counseling Service
Iowa State University
Ames