Trauma- and stress-related disorders have become more common among individuals seeking counseling. There is a significant push in mental health counseling to become trauma-informed. It can be argued that almost everyone experiences trauma at some point in their life. However, trauma- and stress-related disorders can highlight an individual’s lack of tools needed to cope with extreme stress. It is important to understand how trauma and stress look different from one individual to the next, and among different populations. This is important when considering the final project because trauma- and stress-related disorders often overlap with other diagnoses in symptoms, and it is important to rule out potential trauma.
Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed:
I. Describe the physical, emotional, and mental symptoms that characterize trauma- and stress-related orders.
II. Describe differences between adults and children with respect to trauma- and stress-related disorders.
III. Outline how the DSM-5 criteria differ for adults and children.