Christine A Courtois PhD & Associates PLC

Trauma Treatment, Life Transitions and Wellness Services
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About Us                                                             
 

Christine A. Courtois, Ph.D. is the principal and founder of this practice. She is a graduate of the University of Maryland and a licensed psychologist in DC and MD and a Licensed Professional Counselor in VA. Dr. Courtois has received international recognition for her work on the effects of incest, child sexual abuse, and other types of trauma and has received awards from numerous professional organizations. She is a psychotherapist (with broad experience in outpatient and inpatient treatment), workshop leader, and consultant specializing in posttraumatic and dissociative conditions and disorders. Her approach is relational and trauma-referenced that is based upon respect for the client and his/her life experience.

 

Dr. Courtois has authored the just published the second edition of Healing the Incest Wound: Adult Survivors in Therapy (W. W. Norton), co-edited (with Dr. Julian Ford) the book Complex Traumatic Stress Disorders: An Evidence-based Guide (2009, Guilford Press) and authored Recollections of Sexual Abuse: Treatment Principles and Guidelines (1999, W. W. Norton), Adult Survivors of Sexual Abuse: A Workshop Model (1993, Families International), and Healing the Incest Wound: Adult Survivors in Therapy (1988, W. W. Norton). She has also co-edited a special section on complex trauma with Dr. Bessel van der Kolk in the Journal of Traumatic Stress (2005). Dr. Courtois is Associate Editor of the new journal Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, & Policy (http://www.apa.org/journals/tra/).

 

Dr. Courtois is also Co-Founder and former Clinical and Training Consultant to The CENTER: Posttraumatic Disorders Program, an in-patient and day hospital specialty program in Washington, DC, where she worked for 17 years. She is active in a number of professional organizations having to do with psychological practice and trauma including the American Psychological Association (where she is president-elect of Division 56, Psychological Trauma (www.apatraumadivision.org), the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (www.istss.org) (where she co-chairs the Complex Trauma Task Force), The International Society for Trauma and Dissociation (www.isst-d.org), and the Maryland Psychological Association (www.mpa.org). She recently organized and co-directed the Post-Doctoral Institute on Psychological Trauma for the Maryland Psychological Association.

Clinical Associates
 
 LISA ADES, PhD 
Dr. Ades earned her Ph.D in Counseling Psychology from the University of Maryland, College Park. She has experience working with adolescents, adults, and couples and has specialized clinical training in substance abuse, eating disorders and group therapy. Her clinical interests also include grief & loss, human sexuality & sexual orientation, and women's life transitions: career development, multiple role management and parenthood. Dr. Ades can be contacted at X8.
 
EMILY M. BAUMAN, PhD
Dr. Bauman earned her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from American University. She has experience with adolescents, adults, and geriatric clients in inpatient and outpatient settings, and in university counseling centers. Her clinical interests include mood and anxiety disorders (including post-partum depression), chronic illness, posttraumatic stress and complex trauma disorders, dissociative disorders, and neurological conditions. She is currently also working at a neuropsychological clinic. She is available at X 6.
 
GLENN P. DOYLE, PSY.D.
Dr. Doyle earned his doctorate in clinical psychology from the American School of Professional Psychology in Washington, D.C. He has been working with abuse survivors, substance use, and hospitalized individuals since 2000 (including several years of training and employment at The CENTER:  Posttraumatic Disorders Program, under the supervision of Dr. Courtois). He has researched and written about integrative therapy for trauma survivors, and has particular experience with male survivors. Dr. Doyle emphasizes measurable, realistic goals and practical tools and techniques for patients to enhance daily living. Dr. Doyle is available at X 4.

NANCY HENSLER, PhD
Dr. Hensler is a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Maryland. She has worked as a victim advocate with survivors of sexual assault, relationship violence, stalking, and sexual harassment. She is a pioneer researcher of cyberstalking. Her interests include mindfulness, body image and eating disorders, women’s career development and mentoring, and group therapy. She completed specialized training at The CENTER: Posttraumatic Disorders Program in Washington DC under Dr. Courtois' supervision. Dr. Hensler is also a staff psychologist at the Towson University Counseling Center and teaches psychology at the University of Maryland. She is on leave from June 14 to October 1, 2010.
 
SYLVIA MAROTTA, PhD, ABPP
Dr. Marotta is a graduate of the University of Houston, and a licensed psychologist. She is also a professor at the George Washington University Department of Counseling, Human, and Organizational Studies and she has authored numerous articles in the professional literature. Dr. Marotta’s research and practice interests center on the posttraumatic stress spectrum and on psychotherapy studies, with an emphasis on diversity issues. She is bilingual in Spanish and English. She often incorporates eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) into treatment. Dr. Marotta serves as a clinical supervisor in the practice. She can be reached at X2.
 
KELLI SANNESS, M.Ed., LPC
Ms. Sanness graduated from Texas A&M University and the University of Texas at Austin.  She is a Licensed Professional Counselor, now completing her PhD at The George Washington University, Department of Counseling Human/Organizational Studies.  She is a former staff counselor and lead clinical supervisor at a counseling clinic at The George Washington University.  She completed specialized training at The CENTER: Posttraumatic Disorders Program in Washington DC under Dr. Courtois' supervision. She has experience working with children, adolescents, adults, and families and has specialized training with complex posttraumatic and dissociative disorders. She is the intake coordinator for the practice, available at X 5.
 
PSYCHOLOGY EXTERN
Alisa Breetz, M. A.
A PhD candidate in Clinical Psychology at American University, Alisa Breetz has had a number of clinical training experiences in a variety of sites including the Midshipment Development Center at the US Naval Academy, The Malcolm Grow Meidcal Center and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center. She has worked with various trauma populations and has a special interest in issues of deliberate self-harm and personal well-being.

Referrals Welcome--we strive to provide you with the assistance you seek.
 
Services
 
Individual psychotherapy
Group therapy: time-limited/educational and long-term/process.
     Specialized topics.
     Seasonal topics.
Assessment: Trauma, PTSD, DD
Education and skill groups
Consultation for individuals
Consultation for professionals
     Individual
     Group
Professional Training Workshops
Performance Enhancement
EMDR (Dr. Marotta)
 
Specialized Topics
 
Childhood abuse & trauma:adult survivors
Incest/child sexual abuse
Attachment trauma
Adult-onset trauma
PTSD, complex traumatic stress disorders
Dissociative Disorders
Life crises and transitions
Bereavement
Chronic illness
Life skills and wellness
Depression and anxiety
Postpartum reactions
Addictions
Performance enhancement
College students