Required Readings

Reading and comprehending the chapters is essential to the successful completion of this course. You will need to understand the material in order to be successful in your discussions, assignments, and final projects.

Chapter 12 - Crisis and Natural Disaster Counseling
Chapter 15 - Counseling in Clinical Mental Health and Private Practice Settings
Chapters 47-59 - The gift of therapy

Required Lecture

Online learning is sometimes difficult and technical material can be a challenge. Thus, I am including PowerPoints for each chapter. Please utilize these as they will help you understand the material and will provide an additional layer of analysis of the content.

Additional Resources

Websites

ACA Trauma and Disaster Mental Health Resources
- This is ACA's knowledge center which provides resources for crisis and trauma counseling. This is a wealth of resources for counselors working with crises.
National Center for PTSD
- The National Center is the world's leading research and educational center of excellence on PTSD and traumatic stress.
Federal Emergency Management Agency
- Their mission is helping people before, during and after disasters.
International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies
- The International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies is dedicated to sharing information about the effects of trauma and the discovery and dissemination of knowledge about policy, program and service initiatives that seek to reduce traumatic stressors and their immediate and long-term consequences. ISTSS is an international interdisciplinary professional organization that promotes advancement and exchange of knowledge about traumatic stress.

Articles

Eligibility Criteria for Disaster Mental Health Workers
- This article provides the American Red Cross eligibility standards, competencies, and training requirements for Disaster Mental Health Workers.

Psychological First Aid - Often used in crisis settings

Connecting with Others (for students)
- This is one of the many handouts about Psychological First Aid from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network. This handout is specifically for students and is about how to connect with others in the event of a trauma.
When Terrible Things Happen (for students)
- This is one of the many handouts about Psychological First Aid from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network. This handout is specifically for students and is about how to cope and make sense of trauma when it occurs.
Tips for Relaxation
- This is one of the many handouts about Psychological First Aid from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network. This handout is specifically for students and is about how to relax and unwind.

Suicide Resources

Suicide Risk Assessment (Child)
- This is an example of a suicide risk assessment for a child. You will notice many familiar themes from both the chapter and the PowerPoint provided including an assessment of risk factors and protective factors. Both play a role in calculating final risk.
Patient Safety Plan Template
- This is a safety plan template from the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. It is one template of many that are used to develop a safety plan for suicide.

For Practitioners Working Children, Adolescents, or Special Populations in Mental Health or Private Practice Settings

Center for Disease Control
- This link takes you to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) which is run by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It provides a wealth of current health information.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
- This website provides information about HIPAA, Social Services, Prevention and Wellness, and numerous other health and human services.
Children's Defense Fund
- The Children's Defense Fund has a mission of fight for each child to have what they need to thrive including their mental health.
Annie E. Casey Foundation
- This foundation advocates for children and has a mission of building a brighter future for America's children, adolescents, and families.
Association for Child and Adolescent Counseling
- This is the branch of the American Counseling Association (ACA) that specializes in child and adolescent counseling. This is their homepage. You may use this as a resource for working with these populations.

Counseling Gifted Adults
- Chapter 12 discusses counseling adults. It explores young, middle, and late adulthood as well as some special populations of adults. One thing the text does not cover is counseling implications for gifted adults. This case study briefly explores this topic.
Counseling as Adolescents Become Young Adults
- This article discusses mental health needs of the population chapter 12 identifies as "Emerging Adulthood." This is a critical point in development for clients ages 18 to late 20s. They navigate unique challenges as they leave adolescence and enter adulthood.
National Coalition on Mental Health and Aging
- The National Coalition on Mental Health and Aging provides opportunities for professional, consumer and government organizations to work together towards improving the availability and quality of mental health preventive and treatment strategies to older Americans and their families through education, research and increased public awareness.