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Unpacking Trauma's Impact

Lesson Plan

Unpacking Trauma's Impact

Students will be able to define trauma, identify common types of trauma, and recognize its potential impact on individuals.

Understanding trauma helps foster empathy, reduce stigma, and equip students with foundational knowledge to support themselves and others in academic, professional, and personal contexts.

Audience

Undergraduate Students

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion, brief lecture, and reflective prompts.

Materials

Trauma Slide Deck, Trauma Discussion Guide, and Trauma Reflection Journal

Prep

Review Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: What Comes to Mind?

5 minutes

  • Begin by asking students what comes to mind when they hear the word 'trauma'. Encourage a brief, open discussion to gauge prior knowledge and preconceptions.
    - Transition using the Trauma Slide Deck (Slide 1).

Step 2

Defining Trauma & Its Types

10 minutes

  • Present slides defining trauma and outlining common types (e.g., acute, chronic, complex, developmental). Use examples to illustrate concepts, but avoid graphic details.
    - Facilitate understanding by pausing for questions and brief clarifications.
    - Refer to the Trauma Slide Deck (Slides 2-5).

Step 3

Impact of Trauma

8 minutes

  • Discuss the potential short-term and long-term impacts of trauma on individuals, including emotional, psychological, and physical responses.
    - Emphasize that responses vary widely and are normal reactions to abnormal events.
    - Use the Trauma Slide Deck (Slides 6-8) and prompt students with questions from the Trauma Discussion Guide.

Step 4

Cool-Down: Reflection & Resources

7 minutes

  • Conclude with a brief reflection activity. Ask students to consider one key takeaway.
    - Provide information on available campus resources for mental health support, if applicable, or general guidance on seeking help.
    - Distribute the Trauma Reflection Journal for optional deeper reflection.
    - Use the Trauma Slide Deck (Slide 9).
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Slide Deck

Unpacking Trauma's Impact

What comes to mind when you hear the word 'trauma'?

Welcome students. Ask them to share what comes to mind when they hear 'trauma'. Encourage a safe and open environment for initial thoughts without judgment. This is a quick check-in.

What is Trauma?

Trauma is a deeply distressing or disturbing experience.

It is the response to a distressing event that overwhelms an individual's ability to cope, causing feelings of helplessness, diminishing their sense of self, and their ability to feel a full range of emotions.

Introduce the formal definition. Emphasize that it's about response to an event, not the event itself, and that responses vary.

Types of Trauma: Acute

Acute Trauma

  • Results from a single, distressing event.
  • Often involves a perceived threat to life or safety.
  • Examples: Car accident, natural disaster, a single assault.

Explain acute trauma. Give brief, sensitive examples if appropriate for the audience, e.g., a single car accident, natural disaster experience.

Types of Trauma: Chronic

Chronic Trauma

  • Results from repeated and prolonged exposure to highly stressful events.
  • Often includes ongoing abuse, neglect, or domestic violence.
  • Examples: Long-term bullying, living in a war zone, chronic illness.

Explain chronic trauma. Highlight the repetitive nature. Examples: ongoing abuse, bullying, chronic illness.

Types of Trauma: Complex & Developmental

Complex Trauma

  • Results from exposure to varied and multiple traumatic events, often interpersonal and invasive.
  • Usually occurs in childhood or adolescence.

Developmental Trauma

  • Similar to complex trauma but emphasizes trauma experienced during critical developmental periods, often due to neglect or abuse by primary caregivers.

Explain complex and developmental trauma. Stress that these often involve multiple traumas and occur early in life, impacting development.

How Does Trauma Impact Us? (Emotional)

Emotional Responses

  • Anxiety, fear, sadness, anger
  • Irritability, mood swings
  • Difficulty feeling positive emotions
  • Emotional numbness

Transition to impact. Start with the emotional responses, common but not universal. Stress that it's a spectrum.

How Does Trauma Impact Us? (Cognitive & Behavioral)

Cognitive & Behavioral Responses

  • Difficulty concentrating or remembering
  • Intrusive thoughts or flashbacks
  • Avoidance of reminders
  • Changes in sleep or appetite
  • Social withdrawal or difficulty trusting others

Discuss cognitive and behavioral impacts. Connect to difficulty concentrating, changes in behavior, social withdrawal.

How Does Trauma Impact Us? (Physiological)

Physiological Responses

  • Heightened startle response
  • Fatigue or low energy
  • Muscle tension
  • Digestive issues
  • Activation of 'fight, flight, or freeze' response

Briefly mention physiological responses. Explain the 'fight, flight, freeze' concept simply.

Remember: Healing is Possible

Key Takeaways:

  • Trauma is a powerful experience, but understanding it is the first step.
  • Responses to trauma are normal reactions to abnormal events.
  • Support and healing are available.

Where to find help:

End with a positive, empowering message. Reinforce that healing is possible and resources are available. Encourage students to reflect.

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Discussion

Trauma Discussion Guide

Use these questions to facilitate a thoughtful discussion during the "Impact of Trauma" section of the lesson. Encourage students to share their thoughts and observations while respecting personal boundaries and avoiding the need for anyone to disclose personal traumatic experiences.

Guiding Questions:

  1. Based on what we've discussed, what are some of the immediate ways a traumatic event might affect someone emotionally or physically?


  2. How might the long-term impacts of trauma, such as changes in trust or difficulty with relationships, affect an individual's life?


  3. Why do you think different people can experience the same event but have very different responses to it?


  4. What are some ways that understanding the impacts of trauma can help us be more empathetic towards others in our daily lives or future professions?


  5. What are some healthy coping mechanisms or support systems that could help someone navigating the effects of trauma?
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Journal

Trauma Reflection Journal

Take some time to reflect on today's lesson about trauma. The goal of this journal is to deepen your understanding and encourage empathy. You do not need to share personal experiences; focus on your learning and observations.

Journal Prompts:

  1. Before today's lesson, what were your initial thoughts or understandings about trauma? How has your understanding evolved or changed after our discussion?










  2. Consider the different types of trauma we discussed (acute, chronic, complex, developmental). In your own words, describe one type that you found particularly impactful or new to your understanding.










  3. We explored various impacts of trauma (emotional, cognitive, behavioral, physiological). Choose one area of impact and explain why it stood out to you as significant.










  4. How might recognizing the signs and impacts of trauma in others influence your interactions with them? What is one way you can practice more empathy or provide support?










  5. What is one key takeaway or question you still have after this lesson? How might you continue to learn more about trauma and its effects?










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