Course Syllabus
HR 5643 - Crisis Intervention and Trauma Counseling
Faculty Contact Information
Course Details
For a list of course activities, scroll to the bottom of this page.
Course Description
This course is designed to provide an overview of crisis and disaster intervention strategies for the professional counselor that addresses areas including, but not limited to, crises of suicide, homicide, disability due to a mental illness, domestic violence, school violence, post-traumatic stress disorder, and disaster response. A secondary focus of the course is on secondary traumatic stress (STS), vicarious traumatization and compassion fatigue with the critical nature of self-care for helping professionals that have been adversely impacted by the trauma experienced by themselves, their clients and family members.
Course Prerequisites
- HR 5533 - Counseling Theories in CMHC
- HR 5923 - Human Growth & Development
- HR 5883 - Introduction to the Counseling Profession
- HR 5453 - Ethics in Human Relations Counseling
Required Course Materials
- James, Richard K, Gilliland, Burl, E. (2020). Crisis Intervention Strategies (8th Edition). Cengage. ISBN-10: 0357670655
-
Van Der Kolk M.D., Bessel. (2015). The Body Keeps the Score. New York, NY: Penguin Books. ISBN-10: 0143127748
Learning Outcomes & CACREP Standards
Crisis Intervention
| Learning Outcome | CACREP Standard |
|---|---|
|
Describe suicide prevention and response models and strategies |
3.E.19 |
|
Examine crisis intervention, trauma-informed, community-based, and disaster mental health strategies |
3.E.20 |
|
Analyze the effects of crises, disasters, stress, grief, and trauma across the lifespan |
3.C.13 |
Clinical Mental Health Counseling Track
| Learning Outcome | CACREP Standard |
|---|---|
|
Develop techniques and interventions for prevention and treatment of a broad range of mental health issues |
5.C.5 |
Grades
Breakdown
| Activity | CACREP Standards | Description | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live Sessions | 3.E.19, 3.E.20, 5.C.5 | Participation in weekly Live Sessions | 20% |
| Discussions | 3.E.19, 3.E.20, 5.C.5, 3.C.13 | Essay-style discussion assignments | 20% |
| Suicide Intervention Plan | 3.E.20, 5.C.5, | Written paper based on suicidal case study | 20% |
| Crisis Prevention and Intervention Plan | 5.C.5, 3.E.19, 3.E.20 | Written plan for addressing crisis and trauma holistically | 20% |
| Group Presentation | 5.C.5, 3.E.20, | Group PowerPoint presentation | 20% |
| Total | 100% |
Scale
| Percentage | Letter Grade |
|---|---|
| 90–100% | A |
| 80–89% | B |
| 70–79% | C |
| 60–69% | D |
| Below 60% | F |
Course Components
Live Sessions
You can earn participation points in two ways:
-
- Participate Live: This option should be your preferred choice. When possible, you should attend and participate in the Live Sessions in real time. To get credit for your attendance, type in the date and time of the session you attended by clicking on the red "Submit Assignment" button at the top of the Live Session page. Your self-reported attendance log will be cross-checked against the attendance tracker in Zoom.
- Make-Up (Watch Recording-Submit Written Summary): In the event that your work or personal schedule makes it impossible for you to attend, please review the recording of the Live Session then write a 2-3 paragraph summary of the Live Session from your perspective. Click on the "Start Assignment" button to type (or copy/paste) your paragraph into the text field. Make-up session summaries are due Sunday by 11:59 PM following the missed Live Session.
Discussions
In lieu of meeting to discuss required readings, students will complete weekly essay-style discussion assignments for each lesson.
Each student will complete an original post in response to the discussion questions provided.
- Responses should be equal to a half-page essay post (approximately 2 paragraphs).
- The initial response posts are due each week on Friday by 11:59 PM.
In addition, students will be required to reply to at least two of their classmates' essay posts each week.
- These replies are due on Sunday by 11:59 PM each week. Replies should be respectful and insightful.
- Replies are to be a minimum of four full sentences in length.
Suicide Intervention Plan
You will be given a case study on a client who is actively suicidal. Then, you will write both an intervention plan and treatment plan with appropriate goal setting and interventions. Your paper should be 4-5 1/2 pages in length
Crisis Prevention and Intervention plan
For this assignment, you will write an organized approach to working with individuals in crisis. You will address the neurological effects of crisis and trauma while establishing a sound preventative intervention approach.
Your paper should be 3-4 1/2 pages in length and includes reporting on a local crisis to view the needs of individuals and communities through the lens of a crisis interventionist and traumatologist.
Group Presentation
You will work in groups to create a presentation on a crisis resource available to clients and present it to your peers in our final Live Session.
Course Policies
Communication
Feedback
I am committed to submit your feedback and grades for all assignments within one week of their submission. However, there may be exceptions to this, and if there is, I will do my best to announce that to the class.
Late Policy
Due to the rhythms of online learning and grading, late work is highly discouraged. Per every day an assignment is late, an automatic 10% deduction in points will be applied towards the final grade. For example, if you submit an assignment 3 days late, this assignment will be automatically deducted 30% in possible points before the grading begins.
No work past 7 days is accepted for any one assignment; you will receive a zero grade. I reserve the right to not accept late work on specific assignments and if so, this will be communicated with you in advance. If you know that you cannot submit your work on time, please reach out to me in advance and let me know if at all possible. Proactive communication with me is valued.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the most common form of academic misconduct at OU. There is basically no college-level assignment that can be satisfactorily completed by copying. OU's basic assumption about writing is that all written assignments show the student's own understanding in the student's own words. That means all writing assignments, in class or out, are assumed to be composed entirely of words generated (not simply found) by the student, except where words written by someone else are specifically marked as such with proper citation. Including other people's words in your paper is helpful when you do it honestly and correctly. When you don't, it's plagiarism.
You are not permitted to utilize AI (i.e. ChatGPT or other AI methods) to write your papers. This is a form of plagiarism. Concerning other situations using AI, please consult with me about using it if you have any doubts or ethical concerns.
For more information about plagiarism, watch this video and then take this short course offered by University Libraries.
University Academic Policies and Student Support
Land Acknowledgement
Long before the University of Oklahoma was established, the land on which the University now resides was the traditional home of the “Hasinais” Caddo Nation and “Kirikirʔi:s” Wichita & Affiliated Tribes.
We acknowledge this territory once also served as a hunting ground, trade exchange point, and migration route for the Apache, Comanche, Kiowa and Osage nations. Today, 39 tribal nations dwell in the state of Oklahoma as a result of settler and colonial policies that were designed to assimilate Native people.
The University of Oklahoma recognizes the historical connection our university has with its indigenous community. We acknowledge, honor and respect the diverse Indigenous peoples connected to this land. We fully recognize, support and advocate for the sovereign rights of all of Oklahoma’s 39 tribal nations. This acknowledgment is aligned with our university’s core value of creating a diverse and inclusive community. It is an institutional responsibility to recognize and acknowledge the people, culture and history that make up our entire OU Community.
Course Catalog
Search the OU Course Catalog.
Student Handbook
Please familiarize yourself with the OU Student Handbook.
Student Support Services
OU offers a variety of services to support students. For more information, please refer to the Student Support Module in your Orientation course.
Online Library
Access digital materials and other resources at OU Libraries.
Copyright Statement and Privacy Information
Sessions of this course may be recorded or live-streamed. These recordings are the intellectual property of the individual faculty member and may not be shared or reproduced without the explicit, written consent of the faculty member. In addition, the privacy rights of others such as students, guest lecturers, and providers of copyrighted material displayed in the recording may be of concern. Students may not share any course recordings with individuals not enrolled in the class or upload them to any other online environment.
Academic Integrity
As a member of the OU community, it is your responsibility to protect your educational investment by knowing and following the rules. The Student Code is available from the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs and is contained in the Student's Guide to Academic Integrity.
Academic honesty is incredibly important in this course. Cheating is strictly prohibited at the University of Oklahoma because it devalues the degree you are working hard to get. Should you know of someone else engaging in academic misconduct, please report it to your instructor or directly to the Office of Academic Integrity. Your instructor has a professional obligation to report academic misconduct.
In addition to the course conduct policies outlined by your professor in the Course Syllabus in the online classroom, please review the Graduate Student Handbook.
Religious Observance
It is the policy of the University to excuse the absences of students that result from religious observances and to reschedule examinations and additional required classwork that may fall on religious holidays, without penalty. [See Faculty Handbook 3.15.2].
Reasonable Accommodation for Disabilities
The Accessibility and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) is committed to supporting students with disabilities to ensure that they can enjoy equal access to all components of their education. This includes your academics, housing, and community events. Please review OU's Accessibility Policy.
If you are experiencing a disability or a mental/medical health condition that has a significant impact on one or more life functions, you can receive accommodations to provide equal access. Possible disabilities include but are not limited to learning disabilities, AD(H)D, mental health, and chronic health. Additionally, we support students with temporary medical conditions (broken wrist, shoulder surgery, etc.) and pregnancy.
To discuss potential accommodations, please contact the ADRC at 730 College Avenue, (phone) 405-325-3852, or adrc@ou.edu.
Title IX Resources
For any concerns regarding gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, stalking, or intimate partner violence, the University offers a variety of resources, including advocates on-call 24/7, counseling services, mutual no-contact orders, scheduling adjustments, and disciplinary sanctions against the perpetrator. To learn more or to report an incident, please contact the Institutional Equity Office (M-F, from 8-5, at 405-325-3546) or OU Advocates (available 24/7 at 405-615-0013).
Adjustments for Pregnancy/Childbirth-Related Issues
Should you need modifications or adjustments to your course requirements because of documented pregnancy-related or childbirth-related issues, please contact your instructor as soon as possible to discuss your options. Generally, modifications will be made where medically necessary and similar in scope to accommodations based on temporary disability. Learn more about the rights of pregnant and parenting students by consulting the FAQ sheets provided by the Institutional Equity Office.
Mental Health Support Services
If you are experiencing any mental health issues that are impacting your academic performance, counseling is available at the University Counseling Center (UCC). The Center is located on the second floor of the Goddard Health Center, at 620 Elm Rm. 201, Norman, OK 73019. To schedule an appointment, call 405-325-2911. For more information, please visit the University Counseling Center.
Final Exam Preparation Period
Pre-finals week will be defined as the seven calendar days before the first day of finals. Faculty may cover new course material throughout this week. For specific provisions of the policy please refer to OU's Final Exam Preparation Period policy.
Required Policies for Students On Campus
Emergency Protocol
During an emergency, there are official university procedures that will maximize your safety.
Severe Weather: If you receive an OU Alert to seek refuge or hear a tornado siren that signals severe weather:
- Look for severe weather refuge location maps located inside most OU buildings near the entrances
- Seek refuge inside a building. Do not leave one building to seek shelter in another building that you deem safer. If outside, get into the nearest building.
- Go to the building’s severe weather refuge location. If you do not know where that is, go to the lowest level possible and seek refuge in the innermost room. Avoid outside doors and windows.
- Get in, Get Down, Cover Up.
- Wait for official notice to resume normal activities.
Additional information about severe weather preparedness is available through the Department of Campus Safety's Emergency Management Division.
OU-Norman Campus: Tornado Refuge Protocol
Severe Weather Preparedness Video
Armed Subject/Campus Intruder
If you receive an OU Alert to shelter-in-place due to an active shooter or armed intruder situation or you hear what you perceive to be gunshots:
- Avoid: If you believe you can get out of the area without encountering the armed individual, move quickly towards the nearest building exit, move away from the building, and call 911.
- Deny: If you cannot flee, move to an area that can be locked or barricaded, turn off lights, silence devices, spread out, and formulate a plan of attack if the shooter enters the room.
- Defend: As a last resort fight to defend yourself. For more information, visit:
OU's Emergency Preparedness site
Shots Fire on Campus Procedure
Fire Alarm/General Emergency
If you receive an OU Alert that there is danger inside or near the building, or the fire alarm inside the building activates:
- Leave the building. Do not use the elevators.
- Know at least two building exits.
- Assist those who may need help.
- Proceed to the emergency assembly area.
- Once safely outside, Notify first responders of anyone who may still be inside the building due to mobility issues.
- Wait for official notice before attempting to re-enter the building.
Course Summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|