EDUC577U

Introduction of the core concepts of self-care in order to provide a research-based, strengths-based approach to creating trauma-informed and resilience-fostering school environments. Students will gain an understanding and awareness of burnout, compassion fatigue, secondary traumatic stress and vicarious trauma for trauma-responsive helping professionals. Risk and protective factors as well as symptoms will be explored. The course is also designed to familiarize students with contemplative practices, its relevance for the field of wellness, and to give professionals methods for taking care of themselves and preventing burnout. Applying course concepts, students will gain hands-on practice examining and applying the use of a variety of self-care assessments. Assignments will emphasize the ethical, legal, multicultural implications for wellness and self-care, including personal, professional, and organizational elements. As a final project, students will develop an individual self-care action plan to address personal and professional risk factors and mitigate the impact of stress by enhancing protective factors that support ongoing wellness.