Program Overview

Introduction to the Online Mental Health and Trauma Pathway

The Online Mental Health and Trauma Pathway is designed to prepare social work leaders to practice in a variety of settings that support mental wellness and recovery. This pathway focuses on redefining what it means to live with mental illness, addiction, and/or trauma, and aims to improve access to behavioral health care that is equitable, inclusive, and effective.

Why Mental Health and Trauma Focus?

Mental health, substance use, and trauma are public health concerns that intersect and have no boundaries regarding age, gender, socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or ability. These concerns must be addressed both locally and globally to improve access to behavioral health care. Social workers play a crucial role in empowering individuals, families, and communities impacted and marginalized by mental illness, addiction, and/or trauma.

Mental Health and Trauma Pathway Course Options

Courses in the Mental Health and Trauma Pathway focus on mental health and culturally responsive practices, including:

• Intersections of Mental Health, Substance Use, and Trauma
• Assessment of Mental Health Across the Lifespan
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapies
• Mental Health and Health Care Policy
• Methods for Evaluating Practice/Programs
• Leadership and Supervision Skills
• Applied Practice Evaluation Research
• Trauma-Informed Assessment and Intervention
• Integrated Health Care: Models and Practice
• Disproportionality and Disparity Across Systems

Sample Mental Health & Trauma Pathway with a Substance Use & Addictions Focus

This sample pathway includes courses such as:

• SOWK 4345: Intersections of MH, Substance Use, and Trauma
• SOWK 4338: Assessment of MH Across the Lifespan
• SOWK 4752: Trauma Informed Assessment and Interventions
• SOWK 4401: Integrated Health Care
• SOWK 4430: Substance Use Interventions
• SOWK 4700: Solution Focused Brief Therapy
• SOWK 4655: Mental Health and Health Care Policy
• SOWK 4900: Methods for Evaluating Practice and Programs
• SOWK 4790: Human Sexuality
• SOWK 4521: Advanced Skills for Working with Military Families

Sample Mental Health & Trauma Pathway with a Trauma-Informed Focus

This sample pathway includes courses such as:

• SOWK 4345: Intersections of MH, Substance Use, and Trauma
• SOWK 4338: Assessment of MH Across the Lifespan
• SOWK 4752: Trauma Informed Assessment and Interventions
• SOWK 4700: Solution Focused Brief Therapy
• SOWK 4730: Cognitive Behavioral Therapies
• SOWK 4655: Mental Health and Health Care Policy
• SOWK 4900: Methods for Evaluating Practice and Programs
• SOWK 4235: Disproportionality and Disparities
• SOWK 4643: Digital Justice
• SOWK 4521: Advanced Skills for Working with Military Families

Micro- and Macro-level Perspectives in Mental Health and Trauma

The program offers courses that focus on promoting social justice to communities impacted by mental illness and trauma at both micro and macro levels. Micro-level courses focus on helping affected populations through one-on-one guidance and support, while macro-level courses seek to understand the systemic causes of these public health concerns and develop interventions that address them.

Micro-level Course Spotlight: Cognitive Behavioral Therapies

This course examines major cognitive approaches to social work practice, including methods focused on clients' problem-solving abilities, clients' strengths, thought patterns that impede clients from reaching goals, and assessing outcomes in terms of changes in thinking and behavior.

Macro-level Course Spotlight: Intersections of Mental Health, Substance Abuse, and Trauma

This advanced theory for practice course covers conceptualization, dynamics, and interventions related to the intersection of mental health, substance use, and trauma. It also explores recent evidence about individual and environmental risks associated with these conditions.

Field Internships

Field internships complement learning by bridging theory and skill with applied practice and supervision. These internships create opportunities for students to develop their professional voice, manage personal and professional biases, and navigate interdisciplinary teams.

Demand for Mental Health and Trauma Professionals

The demand for mental health and substance abuse social workers is projected to grow 19 percent between 2019 and 2029, which is faster than the national average for all occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Careers in Mental Health and Trauma

After completing the Mental Health and Trauma pathway, graduates may be prepared to:

• Pursue post-graduate training to become licensed as a clinical social worker
• Support humane and inclusive practices as a library social worker
• Provide counseling to justice-involved youth
• Assess risk for suicide via texts on a 24/7 crisis line
• Champion lifesaving, harm reduction programming, such as supervised consumption facilities

Graduates will be ready to lead with knowledge, integrity, and awareness, and may assume roles such as:

• Mental health and substance use/disorder counselor/practitioner
• Behavioral health clinician/specialist
• Social policy specialist/analyst/consultant
• Integrated/medical social worker
• Social case worker

Conclusion

The Online Mental Health and Trauma Pathway is designed to prepare social work leaders to practice in a variety of settings that support mental wellness and recovery. With a focus on redefining what it means to live with mental illness, addiction, and/or trauma, this pathway aims to improve access to behavioral health care that is equitable, inclusive, and effective.