Trauma: healing, wellness, and sustainability in social work

The growing field of trauma work supports professionals and clients alike in healing from trauma, and creating ways to sustain one's wellbeing. It is important to consider the benefits of implementing a trauma course in the MSW Distance Learning program, to better assist students in dealing with their own trauma, understanding different ways people experience trauma, various therapies of trauma healing, and how to remain sustainable in the field of social work. Whether MSW students are currently working in the field or not, having an understanding of trauma will benefit them, both in their program as well as in professional practice. MSW Distance Learning students in particular, could greatly benefit from a semester long intensive course in trauma, perhaps more than students in an on campus MSW program because of the potential for isolation in a distance learning program. Using the framework of Trauma Informed Practice, this researcher developed a three-week curriculum designed for MSW Distance Learning students at Humboldt State University to learn about trauma and secondary trauma in the field of social work. This curriculum can be built upon, and extended into a semester long course on trauma for social work students.