MSc Practitioner in Psychological Trauma

The importance of trauma and its enduring effects, in the context of poor outcomes for service users, has led to significant interest in developing specialist trauma interventions, as well as ‘trauma informed’ frameworks and models of care.

Developing trauma informed services have become a key strategic and clinical aim within the NHS and healthcare sector based on the specialist trauma services increasing awareness of trauma and the needs of people requiring specialised care with traumatic backgrounds.

The Practitioner in Psychological Trauma MSc has been developed in partnership with the Centre of Developmental and Complex Trauma, St Andrew’s Healthcare. This MSc is an accreditable postgraduate course by the British Psychological Society (BPS), which provides health professionals the theoretical understanding and professional competences to provide psychological services to those who require specialised trauma care.

The MSc operates within a framework of understanding the idiosyncratic care needs of service users in order to provide an integrated and holistic approach to specialist trauma care whilst equipping students with skills to develop trauma informed practice within their organisations and team.

This is a taught, part time MSc, offered over two years. The structure and content of the MSc follow the level three ‘trauma expert’ competencies outlined by the British Psychological Society for working with people with psychological trauma related needs.

Throughout the course, emphasis is placed on the importance of increasing core skills of self-awareness, including an awareness of one’s own professional and academic needs, as well as promoting self-care and accessing appropriate supervision. In recognition of the challenges of working with traumatised and complex populations, students are assigned a personal tutor who will offer support during the course, with a minimum of two meetings per semester. Group reflective practice and support sessions also run throughout the MSc. To support the developing research competencies and completion of the dissertation components of the MSc, the Centre of Developmental and Complex Trauma, St Andrew’s Healthcare research portfolio and its wider research network is available to students.

Teaching will be delivered at the Centre of Developmental and Complex Trauma, St Andrew’s Healthcare, Northampton in their postgraduate education centre. The dedicated post-graduate teaching centre provides an exceptional learning space with large lecture and seminar rooms, student resource centre, break out areas, a kitchen, relaxation area and study rooms.

Additional benefits of the course

Students enrolled on the MSc will also have full access to the services and activities at the Centre of Developmental and Complex Trauma, St Andrew’s Healthcare.

Specifically, students will be able to access an international conference programme that hosts events attracting global experts in trauma and research. They will also be welcome to increase their learning through our trauma CPD programme and trauma special interest group events.

Students can also access the ‘research skills for clinicians’ series of 10 workshops offered by the Centre for Developmental and Complex Trauma, that will further increase their understanding and expertise of research methodologies.

In recognition of the challenges in completing postgraduate education, students for the completion of dissertation projects can also access the comprehensive research programme run by the Centre of Developmental and Complex Trauma, St Andrew’s Healthcare, as well as access our library of research developed through the Centre of Developmental and Complex Trauma, St Andrew’s Healthcare.

Where students do not have access to trauma populations, a separate application for clinical placements with the Centre of Developmental and Complex Trauma, St Andrew’s Healthcare can be made.

Take a look at our Transferable skills document

View the MSc Practitioner in Psychological Trauma brochure