Certification in Illness Trauma

Chronic illness is traumatic on both the physical and also the mental and emotional. People who are ill very often display classic symptoms of post-traumatic stress, even if they don't have the full-blown disorder (Seifter, 2010).  Scholars have long known that people who live with chronic illness are at a greater risk of experiencing PTSD-like symptoms. However, the trigger for these symptoms is not a one-time event that occurred in the past; rather, chronic disease is an ongoing threat to safety (Virant, 2019).

Related to illness trauma, medical traumas are psychological traumas that result from medical diagnosis and/or medical intervention. Threat of serious injury or threat to life due to illness is now encompassed within the DSM definition of psychological trauma. This means that medical patients can be evaluated as having illness-related trauma disorders (Janssen, 2019).

Certification in Illness Trauma is based on an applicant's knowledge, experience, education and training related to illness or medical trauma and its impact on social, emotional, behavioral and cognitive functioning. The Certification in Illness Trauma falls under the Academy's Certification Programs in Traumatic Stress Specialities. Resumes should include relevant information regarding the applicant's knowledge, experience, education and training and supporting documentation should be included with each application.