Case Developers
The Initiative has engaged five experts in trauma treatment to assist with the development of the cases which form the basis for the new common trauma-informed practice elements curriculum entitled Core Components and Skills for Trauma-Informed Practice. The three lead case developers, Dr. Kathryn Collins, Dr. Cheryl Lanktree and Dr. Mandy Habib, were selected for their expertise as long-time trauma therapists. They have each developed a case based on their own treatment experience with children and families. The case development process included revisions based on feedback from a national group of reviewers representing different disciplines and lived experience. In addition, each has been part of the development of an evidence-based trauma treatment.
Dr. Collins is the developer of Family-informed Trauma Treatment, a family treatment that is sensitive to the traumatic context of urban poverty, include engagement strategies that incorporate alliances with primary and extended family systems, build family coping skills, and that acknowledge cultural variations in family roles. Dr. Collins is the lead developer in the case of Emma Grace. Dr. Michael Gomez a psychologist and family therapist assisted in the development of the case of Emma Grace, a family case in which 5-year-old Emma is struggling as a result of witnessing her father’s death due to COVID. He plays the role of the therapist in the online course videos. The case follows intervention with Emma Grace and her family, highlighting the common elements of Assessment, Psychoeducation, Safety Planning and Family Interventions.
Dr. Lanktree the developer of Integrative Treatment of Complex Trauma for Children (ITCT-C) and co-developer of Integrative Treatment of Complex Trauma for Adolescents (ITCT-A). ITCT-C is an evidence-based component-driven model that integrates a variety of theoretical and clinical approaches to the treatment of complex trauma in children. For this course, Dr. Lanktree was the lead developer for the case of Jamal, a 10-year-old African American boy living with his maternal grandmother after being removed from his mother’s care due to alleged physical abuse and neglect, After a report of sexual abuse to a teacher, he is referred to therapy. She was assisted in the case development by Dr. Andrea Cox, an Assistant Professor of Counselor Education, and the Director of Counselor Education Field Experience at Missouri Baptist University. Dr. Cox plays the role of the therapist in the online course videos. This case highlights the practice elements of Relaxations, Affect Regulation, Homework and Non-verbal Interventions.
Dr. Habib is a treatment developer and primary national trainer for Structured Psychotherapy for Adolescents Responding to Chronic Stress (SPARCS). SPARCS is a group intervention that was specifically designed to address the needs of chronically traumatized adolescents who may still be living with ongoing stress and may be experiencing problems in several areas of functioning. For this course, Dr. Habib developed the case of Diego, a 17-year-old Hispanic male who lives with his mother in a predominantly African American and Caucasian, economically disadvantaged urban neighborhood where he has witnessed, and become involved in, significant gang activity. Prior records indicate that beginning from an early age Diego may have witnessed and directly experienced verbal and physical violence in the home. This case highlights the practice elements of Cognitive Restructuring, Behavioral Regulation, Trauma Processing and Termination.