3 ECVET/ECTS / EQF Level 7 / 2nd, 3rd, and 4th year of study – IDAP
Module Description:
This module focuses on developmental trauma, including the impact of abuse and neglect on the mental health of children and adolescents. It addresses recognition, assessment, and interventions in working with children exposed to physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, as well as neglect. The module includes contemporary psychotherapeutic approaches, integration of diagnostic methods, and ethical aspects of working with traumatised children.
The module includes:
- Definition and Types of Developmental Trauma – including (online) abuse (physical, emotional, sexual) and neglect (physical and emotional), as well as high-conflict divorce.
- Psychological Consequences of Abuse and Neglect – impact on the development of identity, attachment, emotional regulation, and behaviour.
- Neurobiological Impact of Trauma – how early traumatic experiences shape the child’s brain and nervous system.
- Transgenerational and Intergenerational Trauma – how trauma experiences are transmitted through family patterns and shape the perceptions and behaviours of future generations.
- Epigenetic Aspects of Trauma – exploring the impact of stress and trauma on gene expression and its transmission to offspring.
- Recognition of Signs of Abuse and Neglect – clinical symptoms, non-verbal indicators, and projective assessment methods.
- Diagnostic Tools and Trauma Assessment – use of interviews, questionnaires, tests, and observation.
- Psychotherapeutic Approaches in Work with Traumatized Children and Adolescents – integration of somatic, expressive, cognitive-behavioural, and relational methods.
- Safety and Stabilisation – affect regulation strategies and creating a safe therapeutic environment.
- Work with Parents and Systemic Support – collaboration with social services, schools, and judicial institutions.
- Ethical and Legal Aspects of Working with Child Victims of Abuse – reporting suspicions of abuse and protecting the best interests of the child.
Learning Outcomes:
Competencies
By the end of the module, students will be able to:
a) Recognise signs of abuse and neglect in children and adolescents.
b) Understand the impact of developmental trauma on the emotional and social development of the child.
c) Apply psychotherapeutic interventions tailored to working with traumatised children.
Knowledge
By the end of the module, students will have acquired:
a) A deep understanding of the neurobiological and psychological consequences of childhood trauma.
b) Knowledge of fundamental methods for diagnosing and assessing traumatic experiences in children.
c) Awareness of the importance of ethical practice and child rights protection in psychotherapy.
Skills
By the end of the module, participants will develop:
a) The ability to clinically assess traumatic experiences through various methods (interview, observation, tests).
b) The skill to stabilise and regulate affect in therapeutic work with traumatised children.
c) Competence to collaborate with parents, institutions, and multidisciplinary teams in protecting the child.
Assessment of Knowledge and Competencies:
The module is assessed through:
– Case analysis focusing on recognising signs of abuse and neglect
– Practical exercises for stabilisation and affect regulation in traumatised children
– Group discussion and ethical dilemmas in working with child victims of violence
Total Learning Hours:
| Total learning hours: 90 hours | Assessment of knowledge (examinations and presentations): 4 hours |
| Contact hours: 60 hours | Independent study: 26 hours |