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They are expressions of light. They are a doer, a dreamer, a lover, a fighter, and a fiercely independent sprite – compassionate, philosophical, playful, focused, and determined...

Raquel E. Gur, MD, PhD; Tyler M. Moore, PhD; Adon F. G. Rosen, BS; et al JAMA Psychiatry . Published online May 29, 2019. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2019.0943 KEY POINTS Question What is the association of an adverse environment, including low socioeconomic status and traumatic stressful events, with psychopathology, neurocognition, and brain parameters in puberty among children and young adults? Findings In this community-based cohort study of 9498 participants, low socioeconomic status was...

Blacking out and waking up the next morning wondering what had happened the night before was normal for me while I was stuck in the midst of addiction - but this time was different. I didn’t know where I was, the room was unfamiliar and dark. There were clothes scattered all over the floor. I had a pounding headache and I was completely undressed, only covered by a small blanket with stains all over it. My whole body was achy and I knew something was wrong. I had a sense of impending doom...

The final session of the 2019 Summer Peacebuilding Institute (SPI) starts on June 10, 2019. We have several partial scholarships still available due to many visa denials for international applicants. Click here to apply for any of the following courses: Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience (STAR), Level 1 : Explore processes and tools for addressing trauma, breaking cycles of violence, and building resilience. Increase awareness of the impact of trauma on the body, mind, beliefs,...

Richard Carmona and David Satcher, NY Times, June 3, 2019. In 2015, 21 young people from around the country and various walks of life sued the federal government over its role in creating a “dangerous climate system” that violates their right to an environment “capable of sustaining human life.” The Trump administration has sought to have the case dismissed , and on Tuesday, a three-judge panel of the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit is scheduled to take up the...

Mariel Gingrich, MPH, CHCS, June 3, 2019. After serving as a Navy corpsman during the Vietnam era, Dan Sumrok, MD, DFASAM, ABAM, ABPM, published an article in the West Virginia Medical Journal on what he perceived as a connection between combat experience and physical and behavioral health problems: “Suicide; child and spouse abuse; jail terms; and, psychiatric and physical maladies are the public health legacy of the Vietnam War.” Years later, a team of researchers at Kaiser Permanente and...

Odelya Gertel Kraybill Ph.D., Psychology Today, May 31, 2019. A decade ago, soon after I moved to Africa, I got sick a lot. I had several bacterial and viral infections, and many small colds. I was tired all the time, mothering toddlers in a new environment, and working as a trauma therapist with clients facing enormous amounts of trauma and pain. I got gradually sicker, experiencing muscle pain, nerve and joint pain, irritable bowel, and severe hormonal changes. I was bloated, unable to...

We focus on self-care in trauma-informed therapy. But it's all too easy to forget to apply it to yourself! Even if you’re well on your way to healing, it’s important to remember that your past experiences may still impact the way you take care of yourself today.

Your thoughts on toxic stress are needed: Please join our virtual focus group this Wednesday at 5 pm PST.

The exclusive virtual screening to all ACEs Connection members of the new, acclaimed film, CRACKED UP is fast approaching. The registration deadline is Friday, June 7th at 5pm PST / 8pm EST To register , please complete this form . This documentary film is about the long term effects of childhood trauma, told through Saturday Night Live veteran Darrell Hammond’s journey in discovering adverse childhood experiences at the root of his lifelong battle with self-harm, addiction, and...

By K. Hecht & A. Hosack, P. Berman What if no one wants me? What if they hate me on sight? What if I just freeze up ? Claire was practicing job interviews with Shelly while Mrs. Carson played with their kids. Even though these were just “practice”, Claire kept having negative thoughts about being rejected. Shelly was asking Claire simple questions, but her fears shut her brain down and she didn’t know what to answer. Shelly had just asked, “Why did you want to be a dental hygienist?”...

Free Webinar: Family Systems Trauma (FST) Ethnographic Interview Technique - Using Client Feedback to Improve Outcomes Date: June 11, 2019 Time: 1:00-2:00 pm, Eastern Standard Time Cost: Free To register, Click here today! In this webinar you will learn how to: How to dramatically improve your trauma treatment outcomes by formally eliciting client feedback at the end of each session using five FST| Family Systems Trauma Model ethnographic questions (i.e., “What was most and least helpful in...