Like a physical wound, trauma requires attention, cleaning out, and time to heal. I have considerable experience working with trauma-exposed youth and their families in both Miami, FL and Washington, DC in school-based and integrated primary care settings. When treating individuals who have experienced trauma, I primarily use trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), combined with elements of cognitive processing therapy. Because trauma can be so disruptive to our body’s stress response (“fight-or-flight”) system, my approach strongly emphasizes relaxation and mindfulness techniques, which help to calm down and reset a dysregulated stress response.

I have also made several scientific contributions in the area of trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), including on the neuroscience of involuntary memories in individuals with PTSD, the relationship between trauma and health behaviors, and families’ experiences with natural disasters and evacuation. For more information about my research in the area of trauma, please see my profile on Research Gate.