Clien Brown Reflection

There are several different assessments that can be used for victims of trauma to determine the level of stress and if a victim is suffering from Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. The best results will occur if the clinical work is directed at the symptoms expressed by the resulting trauma. When assessing the treatment plan, “the psychic injury caused by the event and its impact on the survivor’s normal life patterns and his or her worldview must be accounted for” (Everstine & Everstine, 2006, p.161). A person

The second case study consists of post-traumatic stress disorder in the victims of the 2004 tsunami in Sri Lanka. Watters recounts the story of a woman named, Debra Wentz, director of the New Jersey Association of Mental Health Agencies who was visiting Sri Lanka during the tsunami. She experienced the tragedy first-hand and became worried about the psychological implications that such a trauma plays on a person’s mental state. She vigorously worked to get American counselors to come to Sri Lanka to train local counselors on how to recognize the symptoms of PTSD and how to counsel the survivors. Her efforts, Watters states, “were clearly motivated by a set of assumptions and beliefs about the nature of psychological trauma and its appropriate treatments. Wentz assumed, as do many Western mental health specialists who focus on trauma, that the psychological reaction to horrible events is fundamentally the same around the world.” (Watters 68) Psychiatrists and

In a trauma informed agency, it’s important that all staff are frequently updated with the principles of trauma informed care (Trauma-Informed Care: A Sociocultural Perspective, 2014). Such principles would involve a collection of resources, evidence based research, academic findings, reports, and quality approaches used by collaborating agencies (Trauma-Informed Care: A Sociocultural Perspective, 2014). Resources are very valuable to staff when they are needing a new strategy, in the case of their clients not responding effectively to former methods (Trauma-Informed Care: A Sociocultural Perspective,

The goal of training the staff and providers is to create a more understanding environment for the clients. This will be possible because the staff can recognize symptoms of posttraumatic-stress disorder, explore the client’s trauma and coping mechanisms, and decrease the need for medical attention. This goal can be measured by comparing the clients feedback before and after the training occurs. Trauma-informed care also teaches the clinician working with the client the symptoms of secondary trauma, retraumatization, and vicarious trauma to be on the look-out for. Their own self-care and how to handle and cope with the intense information of the client’s story will be discussed.

The importance of a cross-cultural understanding in Psychology is imperative to successful care and assistance of mental health. Understanding and acknowledging the complexities of different cultures is the beginning of a more informed approach to mental health. Cultural factors and questions play a fundamental role, however, simply acknowledging cultural differences does not necessarily provide the best individual help. Thus, a combination of cultural, demographic and individual factors are crucial initial steps to specific individual assistance. Treating individuals in context can help discern deviations from cultural factors and norms. Therefore an approach which recognises that both culture and specificity to the client is most effective. Knowing someone’s background can be fundamental to clinical help but could also reinforce cultural stereotypes, this overly simplistic view could be detrimental to treatment. Throughout this essay the impact of culture on mental health will be examined, and how the health care provider and client mediate a relationship to produce the most effective results.

The term “Psychological trauma” refers to damage wrought from a traumatic event, which that damages one’s ability to cope with stressors. “Trauma” is commonly defined as an exposure to a situation in which a person is confronted with an event that involves actual or threatened death or serious injury, or a threat to self or others’ physical well-being (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). Specific types of client trauma frequently encountered by which therapists and other mental health workers frequently encounter in a clinical setting include sexual abuse, physical , or sexual assault, natural disasters such as earthquakes or tsunamis, domestic violence, and school or/and work related violence (James & Gilliland, 2001). Traumatic

A trauma informed model of practice should centre upon a perspective that asks the client user ‘what happened to you’ rather than ‘what is wrong with you’ (Bloom and Farragher). This approach promotes the base line for which the service should be impliemented; an approach which enable to cliet to connect how their trauma has influence their behaviour, feelings, coping mechanisim and general perspective (Felitti et al. 1998). Staff within the home should have a good degree of trauma informed care as this enable for a deeper understanding of how the trauma can impact upon the individual and allow for holistic care (Harris and Fallot, 2001) and enables better support and help reduce to protential for re-tramatisation via triggers and uncousious re-enactment of trauma (SAMHSA, 2010). Implementing the above approach the client can receive the holistic carer they require in order to begin to overcome the trauma they have experienced.

In this paper, I will discuss how this case study highlights core concept 10: “Culture is closely interwoven with traumatic experiences, response, and recovery.” (NCTSN Core Curriculum on

As a cultural perspective, a counselor should understand Mrs. Hudson’s cultural background and acknowledge some of the Haitian’s beliefs as these may be what is affecting the client’s emotions and symptomatic symptoms. Mr. Hudson’s nationality is unknown but may be beneficial for counseling. Understanding a client’s entire family and culture is vital when helping the client overcome personal issues.

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is caused by traumatic events such as wars and physical abuse. Patients with this disorder must undergo a variety of treatments to control its symptoms. Each culture is affected differently since people are raised based on their own culture’s beliefs. Gender also plays a big role in how the patients react to the disorder showing how the cultural view of gender changes the perspective of PTSD, there are different types of therapy that help to control it, desensitization, cognitive behavioral therapy, group and hypnotherapy not only no civilian patients are affected, war veterans has the most cases of PTSD. Gender also plays a big role in how the patients react to the disorder showing how the cultural view

Different culture accept trauma in different ways. “Cultural determinants shape and mold our self-identity and identification but also impact our appraisal of events including trauma and extreme stressors, manifestations, of symptoms and course of psychopathological pictures” Ardino, V., & Zaiontz. 2014). Different cultures may have different beliefs. What is traumatic for one culture may be accepted and not cause any trauma for the

PTSD is an incapacitating emotional roller coaster that affects the lives of many who have experienced a traumatic event. Not only does the concern of PTSD impact survivor’s lives, but it can have an impact on the entire family or those who are close to the individual with the disorder. “PTSD can take a heavy toll on the family if you let it. It can be hard to understand why your loved one won’t open up to you” (Segal, Smith, 2014). The traumatic stress can trigger episodes where the survivor re-experiences the emotional event, causing intimacy issues, trust and social issues with their relationships. How both cultures and communities impacted me that may be perceived as normal vs. abnormal? How has stigma played a role in my mental illness?

Brown, L. (2008). Living in Multiple Identities in the Context of Trauma:Cultural Competence in Trauma Therapy. American Psychological Association, 49-59.

When working with clients in today’s society it’s extremely important to take into consideration the specific needs of each individual. Serious contemplation is given to the approaches and methods regarding the client’s need and presenting matters. Trauma appears in many forms in society, even from the 1960’s due to the impact on returning soldiers from war. Since this, trauma has been categorised and widely researched leading to numerous theories. Psychotherapies were one of the first approaches to be founded in the 1970’s, which were the foundations to counselling

When I decided to take the trauma course, I was hesitant at first to take it. I did not know what to expect nor felt I would be prepare listen to stories about traumatic occurrences, despite of the number of years I have worked in the field of community mental health. Therefore, now that we are in week eight, I am delighted to have taken this course. The impression I had at first, has changed my insight concerning what is trauma, as for many years, I did not understand why a person in many instances, could not process their trauma. In a quote by Chang stated, “The greater the doubt, the greater the awakening; the smaller the doubt, the smaller the awakening. No doubt, no awakening” (Van Der Kolk, 2014, p. 22). The goes in congruence with my understanding on trauma and how it has changed during this course. As a result, I feel I am awakening when acquiring more about trauma.