Trauma Response Initiative

Trauma is a frequent focus of practice in social work. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in veterans and soldiers, depression and anxiety in survivors of trafficking and abuse, complicated mourning in survivors of disaster, suicide and homicide, and many other health and mental health conditions are the result of trauma. Whether responding to the fertilizer plant explosion in West or preparing to work with survivors of sex trafficking in Cambodia, Garland School of Social Work students and graduates are engaged in trauma work. A number of faculty members in the School are engaged in practice preparation, research, and publication in the area of trauma response. This initiative includes intentional focus on direct practice and community practice responses to trauma.

The objectives of the trauma initiative include:

• Provide leadership in the preparation of practitioners to work with trauma, crisis, and mental health both domestically and globally
• Provide leadership in EMDRIA for practice preparation and research in the effectiveness of EMDR
• Provide leadership in other cutting edge practices in the area of trauma response.

Students can participate in the following ways:

• Disaster/Crisis Elective with Dr. Jim Ellor
• EMDR Elective with Dr. Helen Harris and Sharon Rollins
• Trauma, Loss and Mourning Elective with Dr. Helen Harris
• Specializations focused on trauma, attachment, disaster/crisis response, etc.
• EMDR training with Rick Levinson
• Research into effectiveness of EMDR
• EMDR in international work (GML)