The purpose of the course is to educate and prepare you, if that statement can be made contextually, to deal with the inevitable crisis situations you will likely encounter as a professional counselor. This course seeks to develop your understanding, deeper appreciation and abiding response to those who are in crisis, involved in natural disasters (both present and past), traumatic experiences, violence in all its various forms and the eventual loss associated with such experiences. This course affords the student an opportunity to study the theories, response models and techniques associated with trauma, crisis, disaster and loss, both independently and through cooperative group activity. The student can expect the course to be emotionally challenging. You will have to think about painful experiences, face some difficult issues, examine your own strengths and vulnerabilities, and conceptualize new ways of helping others beyond basic attending skills. A strong theoretical base must support the application of professional counseling skills. Professional counselors must understand both what their actions will likely produce and how that outcome will be achieved. To achieve this end, the course will consist of multiple methods of content presentation (i.e., written and reading assignment, mini lecture burst, videotape, guest speakers, experiential exercises, role-play, dyadic and small group work, large group class discussion.