Examining the Perspectives of an Interdisciplinary Treatment Team Regarding the Implementation of a Sensory Motor Group Trauma Curriculum in a Child and Adolescent Partial Hospitalization Program

A trauma curriculum was introduced at a child and adolescent partial hospitalization program. This study examined (a) the impact of the trauma curriculum on the partial hospitalization program; (b) the perspectives of the multi-disciplinary treatment team--teachers, teacher aides, trauma clinicians for the children and adolescents in the partial program, parents/caregivers, the facility's psychiatric nurse, the facility's medical director, and county program specialists--and a panel of expert practitioners toward the curriculum, and (c) any changes in the perspectives of the multi-disciplinary treatment team concerning the concept of trauma and its effects. To answer the research questions of this qualitative study, an evaluative case study, using an observer-participant, method was used. Focus groups and key informant interviews were conducted to evaluate the perceptions of the multi-disciplinary team. A focus group was held with expert practitioners to ascertain their evaluation of the trauma curriculum. Transcriptions of the audio-taped interviews were evaluated and emerging themes were noted. A total of 34 themes was identified. Using the proceedings of the focus group with the expert practitioners, the themes were subsumed within one or more of three cultural categories--organizational, clinical, and psycho-social. These findings led to several conclusions: (a) the sensory motor curriculum implemented in the trauma groups at a children's partial program should be continued; (b) the twice-monthly case consultation meetings with the professional staff at the partial hospitalization program should continue with a consultant experienced in the field of trauma; (c) a task force of parents and professional staff should be formed and make recommendations for a parent group to complement the trauma groups needs to be implemented; (d) improved communications for all staff regarding the structure of the trauma groups and the specific needs of the children and adolescents is needed; and (e) academic programs need to address trauma theory and the effects of trauma in counselor education curricula.

Name thesis:degree_name

EdD

Level thesis:degree_level

Immediate Access

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Counselor Education and Supervision (ExCES)

Year dc:date.available

2004

Author dc:creator

• Peck, Barbara

Contributors dc:contributor

• Lisa Lopez Levers
• Cindy Levine-Hatch
• Emma C. Mosley

• effects of trauma
• group trauma curriculum
• sensory motor
• trauma interventions

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

https://dsc.duq.edu/etd/1032

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dsc.duq.edu:etd-2048