Module: Trauma informed Professional Practice

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Trauma informed Professional Practice
Module Code	HEA1033 (ITS: NS5106)
Faculty	Nursing, PsyT & Comm Health	School	Science & Health
NFQ level	9	Credit Rating	10

Description

This module will explore the impact of trauma on individuals, families, communities and systems; physically,psychologically, behaviorally and energetically. Health and Social Care Practitioners will firstly examine theirknowledge and experience of normal trauma responses and then similarly when the normal trauma response is interrupted or is ineffective for various reasons, including the impact of this on peoples lives. The module will draw on best practice in relation to implementing trauma informed care in professional practice, inclusive of strategies and techniques that will protect practitioners from vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue.

Learning Outcomes

1. Participants will explore the impact of trauma on individuals, families and systems and how this can impact upon their physical, psychological, behavioral and energetic lives
2. Participants will develop a critical awareness of trauma as a potential underpinning process for multiple health, relationship and behavioural related conditions
3. Participants will critically appraise the impact of unresolved trauma as it occurs and continues to impact upon people throughout their lifespan and how trauma responses can be renegotiated
4. Participants will critically discuss how systemic trauma patterns can impact upon families, communities and organisations
5. The module will provide health and social care practitioners with up-to-date, evidenced based knowledge to critically develop their theoretical and practical understanding and applying the principles of Trauma Informed Care
6. Participants will demonstrate the confidence and competence to engage in relationships and with interventions conducive to Trauma Informed Practice

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Fieldwork	50	Applying class room learning in practice
Lecture	12	Class room lectures
Group work	12	Group work, simulation and role play
Directed learning	12	Skills Development
Independent Study	164	Building on class room experiences and content and applying exploration and learning within the broader discourse on trauma
Total Workload: 250

Section Breakdown
CRN	11307	Part of Term	Semester 1
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Liam Macgabhann	Module Teacher

Section Breakdown
CRN	12297	Part of Term	Semester 1
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Liam Macgabhann	Module Teacher

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Assignment	Participants will complete a critically reflective case study on the extent of trauma informed practice they are engaged with, with an individual, family or group	80%	Week 12
Presentation	Learners will offer a formal presentation to class that illustrate a critical appraisal of Trauma Informed Care in relation to other prevailing care approaches.	20%	Week 9

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	a,
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Impact of Trauma
Trauma processes Physical, psychological, behavioural and energetic impact Across the life span Systemically Intergenerationally

Policy and Contemporary Practice Frameworks
National and international policy and guidelines for trauma informed care Trauma as an underpinning explanatory framework Trauma Informed Care, Supervision and Critical reflection

Systemic trauma patterns
Organisational trauma Traumatised systems Vicarious trauma and trauma fatigue Helper principle Retraumatisation in health and social care

Trauma Informed Practice
Principles of trauma informed practice Renegotiating Trauma Approaches to trauma informed practice Techniques and interventions Relationship building

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Van Der Kolk, B: 2014, The Body Keeps the Score: Mind, Brain and Body in the Transformation of Trauma, Penquin Books, USA,
St. Just, Anngwyn: 2006, Relative Balance in an Unstable World: A Search for New Models for Trauma Education and Recovery, Carl-Auer Systeme Verlag, Germany,
Rothschild, B: 2000, The Body Remembers: The Psychophysiology of Trauma and Trauma Treatment., Norton Professional, USA,
Fisher, J: 2021, Transforming The Living Legacy of Trauma: A Workbook for Survivors and Therapists., Pesi Publishin & Media,
Read, J.: 2013, Childhood Adversity and Psychosis: From Heresy to Certainty (p249-275) in Read, J. & Dillon J (2013) 2nd Ed. Models of Madness: Psychological, Social and Biological Approaches to Psychosis, 2, Routledge, UK,
Ruppert, F: 2008, Trauma, Bonding & Family Constellations., Green Baloon Publishing, UK,

Articles:

0: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (2014) Treatment Improvement Protocol: Trauma-Informed Care inBehavioral Health Services. HHS Publication No. (SMA) 14-4816 . U.S. Department , 14481,

Other Resources

None