“Good treatment is informed by a good assessment.”
Overview
Project Summary
Practitioners will receive training in foundational principles related to test and measurement, and they will learn to administer, score, and interpret evidence-based assessments for the assessment of traumatic events and for the assessment of abuse-related and trauma-related symptoms.
A combination of synchronous (interactive) and asynchronous online learning will be utilized. In addition to participating in web-based, interactive instruction, participants will observe videotaped instructions and receive ongoing consultation and supervision.
Live, interactive video conferencing and Moodle will be utilized to facilitate learning and accomplishment of the goals.
Why assess abused and/or traumatized children?
Consider the following statement: “Good treatment is informed by a good assessment.”
As a clinician you may, or may not, agree with the aforementioned statement. You might argue, “I can do good treatment without assessment.” Okay, but consider the following analogy: What if you twisted your knee, felt, pain, and went to see a physician for relief.
In response, your physician manipulates your knee and then makes the following pronouncement: “We will do surgery tomorrow at 7:00 a.m.” Perhaps you might object and try to slow down the process suggesting that an x-ray, at the very least, be performed. In many respects, the same is true for abused or traumatized children.
Perhaps you are concerned that assessment will interfere with the establishment of rapport or be expensive. The training will address both of these issues. So, read on.
What is evidence-based assessment?
Evidence-based assessment (EBA) involves the use of assessment measures which are reliable and valid, and preferably have standardized norms based on the age and sex of the child. Reliability is important because we want measures to be consistent in what they report. Validity is important because we want measures to be accurate. Norms are important because scores may have different meanings for young children versus older children or boys versus girls.
EBAs for abused children should assess a variety of symptoms which are common among children who have been abused—including trauma symptoms. Participants will learn to administer, score, and interpret the following measures:
- Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children (TSCC; Briere, 1996)
- Trauma Symptom Checklist for Young Children (TSCYC; Briere, 2005)
- Child Sexual Behavior Inventory (CSBI; Friedrich, 1997)
Our Team
The description about our team here.
Jeffrey N. Wherry, PhD, ABPP
Psychologist and Co-PI
Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine
Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine
Karina B. Samaniego, Ph.D.
Private Practice Psychologist in Dallas, TX
Alternatives, Psychological Services, PLLC
Alternatives, Psychological Services, PLLC
Jessica Mays, LPC
Licensed Professional Counselor
Private Practice in Hernando, MS.
Grace Counseling and Consulting, LLC
Private Practice in Hernando, MS.
Grace Counseling and Consulting, LLC
Janelle V. O'Boyle, EdD, LPC
Licensed Professional Counselor
Private practice in Longmont, CO.
Private practice in Longmont, CO.
Stacy R. Ryan-Pettes, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Psychology (Core Clinical Faculty)
Sara L. Dolan, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience
Tomiko D. Mackey, LCSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Participant Reviews
One client was physically abused by her father and was very, very anxious. The assessments really helped describe that anxiety to me. After 8 weeks, the anxiety has really decreased, and it really helped the client to track the progress she has made.
The assessment process really compels me to think more about the treatment plans and interventions. The assessment tools helped me hone in on identifying client symptoms and conceptualizing the case for treatment planning and intervention strategies.
The clients really like to see the change in their assessments – they read the reports, they want to see [what the symptoms are], and she really enjoyed seeing the changes that have been made over the course of therapy.
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