2025 Jan Term Adjunct Faculty FPSY 576/676 Developmental Trauma, Complex PTSD and Family Systems

Description

Per course adjunct faculty in the Counseling Department for the Forensic Psychology program's course, FPSY 576/676-01.

Founded in 1863, Saint Mary's is a residential campus nestled 20 miles east of San Francisco in the picturesque Moraga Valley. Based in the Catholic, Lasallian and Liberal Arts traditions, Saint Mary's currently enrolls more than 4,000 students from diverse backgrounds in undergraduate and graduate programs. The De La Salle Christian Brothers, the largest teaching order of the Roman Catholic Church, guide the spiritual and academic character of the College. 

As a comprehensive and independent institution, Saint Mary’s offers undergraduate and graduate programs integrating liberal and professional education. Saint Mary’s reputation for excellence, innovation, and responsiveness in education stems from its vibrant heritage as a Catholic, Lasallian and Liberal Arts institution. An outstanding, committed faculty and staff that value shared inquiry, integrative learning, and student interaction bring these traditions to life in the 21st century. The College is committed to the educational benefits of diversity.

Qualifications

FPSY 676 01 Developmental Trauma, Complex PTSD and Family Systems 3 Units

Days Offered: Mon/Wed 7:15-10pm    Course Description

This course prepares students for trauma-informed practice with children, youth and families as

well as adults who have experienced trauma in childhood. The course will highlight the role of

development, family systems and culture in trauma-specific assessment, referral and interventions.

Trauma is broadly defined, and includes children and adolescents exposed to traumatic events such

as abuse, neglect and witnessing interpersonal crime (e.g. domestic violence), community violence

and other traumatic events including those who have come into contact with the child welfare and

juvenile justice systems. It will address the level of functioning of primary care giving

environments and the capacity of the community and systems to facilitate restorative processes.

Students will develop an understanding of various practice approaches to assessment and

intervention with children and families living with symptoms of trauma, considering personal and

cultural appropriateness and the familial context. The class will explore key tenets that govern a

trauma-informed approach to practice and understand some areas of congruence, tensions and

dilemmas between the different approaches to working with trauma in individual and institutional

settings (including CBT, group, somatic and narrative approaches). Students will recognize the

importance of family, social networks, and community systems in facilitating change and

supporting the healing process. Strength-based practice will be highlighted along with an emphasis

on the identification of protective and promotive factors that foster resiliency and post-traumatic

growth.

Throughout the course, students are supported to increase awareness of your own process of

nervous system activation, affect regulation and cultural perspective. We will consider the social,

political, economic, and cultural context wherein socially and culturally-produced trauma occurs, is

perpetuated, and is healed. This will require inquiry and insight into our own and other’s beliefs and

values.

 

Required Qualifications:

Knowledge of trauma and its impacts to individuals, families and children. Familiarity and expertise with CBT in therapeutic settings, administered to families, and to individuals, and an awareness of family structure and its impact and influence in response to trauma.  LMFT, LFCC, Ph.D., Ed.D, Psy.D

A demonstrated commitment to teaching excellence, multicultural/international competence, social justice, clinical expertise, and familiarity with counseling theory and practice.

Must be a California resident.

Application Instructions

Applicants to all available course sections who are members of the Saint Mary’s College bargaining unit or agency fee payers covered by the agreement with SEIU 1021, who have previously taught the course, or who have been determined qualified through the process outlined in Article 10, have only the following application requirements:

- Indicate interest via application to the posting

- Complete the SMC Per Course Adjunct Faculty Questionnaire to iden