Applied Psychology

Symptoms of Crisis & Trauma

Explore immediate and long-term effects of crisis and trauma and accompanying emotional and physical reactions.

R1,650.00

a young female student carefully listening to someone

Duration

2 weeks

Commitment

10 hours weekly study

Start Date

8 June 2026

End Date

21 June 2026

Course Overview

Any emotional and physically traumatic experience can have a disruptive effect on a person’s sense of contentment and wellbeing. The immediate or delayed symptoms of trauma can go unnoticed, leaving the traumatised person disoriented and isolated.

The Symptoms of Crisis & Trauma micro-credential will help you gain a better understanding of the immediate and long-term effects of trauma.

This 2-week introductory course explores the complex array of symptoms associated with trauma to help those who have experienced crises and trauma in their lives. Crises such as natural disasters, acts of violence, and car accidents can all be traumatic.

This course will highlight how the effect of a traumatic event is dependent on many factors, including characteristics of the individual, the type and characteristics of the event(s), developmental processes, the meaning of the trauma, and related socio-cultural factors.

What You’ll Learn

Over the course of two (2) weeks, through videos, readings and discussions, you will explore the following topics:

Common reactions to trauma across domains (emotional, physical, cognitive, behavioural, social, and developmental) that can be associated with singular, multiple, and enduring traumatic events.
Common diagnoses associated with trauma: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Acute Stress Disorder (ASD).
How experiences of trauma can become associated with the onset of other trauma-related mental disorders with particular emphasis on the problem of related substance abuse.
The impact and experience of trauma from a cross-cultural perspective.
The delayed responses of trauma.
Analyse a case study and review the symptoms of crisis and trauma that were explored throughout this course.

Course Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

Discuss traumatic stress symptoms (emotional, physical, cognitive, behavioural, social, and developmental).
Understand links between traumatic stress symptoms across various domains of human functioning.
Examine specific Trauma-related Psychological Disorders.
Explain other Trauma-related and Co-occurring disorders.
Explore cross-cultural interpretations of PTSD.

You will have also created an invaluable portfolio of evidence, which you can use to demonstrate your understanding and knowledge of the complex array of symptoms associated with trauma.

Learner Experience

Imanuella Muller

''The Symptoms of Crisis & Trauma micro-credential course was well structured and easy to follow. The reading was informative and worked well alongside the course material."

Kendall Harbour

''I thoroughly enjoy the spacing of each assignment and the number of lessons per week. The course structure is great for someone working full-time.''

Anthony Douglas-Jones

''The Symptoms of Crisis & Trauma micro-credential was inciteful and set up very well to keep learners involved and motivated."

Bongekile Princess Damane

''The course had very interesting and insightful resources. I've learned that many people feel worn down by stressors on a daily basis, so we need to filter what and how we consume information and what we expose ourselves to.''

Jaqueline Carmen Douglas Jones

''I thoroughly enjoyed the Symptoms of Crisis & Trauma micro-credential! I really appreciate the way the course is set up, and the reading material was challenging, informative and well put together.''

Lelethu Qotole

''Highly recommend this course - it helped me personally as well as a social worker.''

Certification

Upon completion, you will receive a digital certificate of competence and badge. Your certificate and badge can be shared on 100+ social media platforms, allowing you to share your achievement with a single click.

Credential Type

The OpenLearning team has reviewed this course to ensure quality academic learning within the Malaysian and Australian credentialing framework.

An OpenLearning OpenCred is a type of credential that can stand-alone or interact with a formal qualification. OpenCred courses are market-leading online courses aimed at preparing learners for the future of work.

This course has been designed and developed by experts in the field of psychology. The Symptoms of Crisis and Trauma micro-credential is for anyone needing to upskill in this area and offers 20 hours of indispensable learning and assessment.

Learners study online with peers and receive robust academic content while acquiring practical industry-relevant skills.

OpenCreds

Completing this course leads to obtaining an OpenCred.

20 hours of learning
OpenCred classification: Pathway

Stackable Credentials

Stack specified combinations of micro-credentials and they can be recognised as equivalent to a module within the Bachelor of Applied Social Science Degree at SACAP. Intro to Crisis & Trauma can be stacked with Symptoms of Crisis & Trauma and Crisis Interventions and Effective Crisis & Trauma Management, and if you meet the minimum entrance criteria, you can enrol for the Bachelor of Applied Social Science Degree and apply for module exemption.

Dates

Class of 2026 June: 8 June – 21 June
Class of 2026 August: 10 August – 23 August
Class of 2026 September: 7 September – 20 September
Class of 2026 October: 12 October – 25 October

There are no online classes. Course content is released weekly. This will allow you to work through the course material at a time that is most convenient for you, while still meeting the weekly targets on time.

Course highlights

Three young professionals sitting together with their laptops

Understand common reactions to trauma.
Discover how experiences of trauma can become associated with the onset of trauma-related mental disorders.
Evaluate the most common diagnoses associated with trauma.

FAQs

What are the entry requirements?

Anyone 18 years of age or older can sign up for this micro-credential course. There are no academic entry requirements or conditions.

Who is this course for?

This course is for anyone interested in gaining a better understanding of emotional and physical reactions to trauma.

What is time commitment?

A total of 20 hours is required to complete the micro-credential course. An average of 10 hours weekly over 2 weeks.

What do you need to do the course?

Access to Microsoft Word
Google Chrome (recommended)
Stable internet connection

Is the course accredited?

The micro-credential course is not accredited and non-credit bearing.

What is crisis and trauma?

The Cambridge Dictionary defines crisis as “an extremely difficult or dangerous point”. It therefore originates from a specific time or event. Trauma, on the other hand, is defined by the Cambridge Dictionary as a “severe and lasting emotional shock and pain caused by an extremely upsetting experience.” Read more here.

The Team

The SACAP Global team brings a wealth of knowledge and practical experience across various disciplines. Our expert short course developers and dedicated support team are passionate about sharing their insights to help you get the most out of your online learning journey.