Dr. Christine Courtois, PhD - USA

Assoc. Prof. Christine A. Courtois is a Psychologist in independent practice in Washington, DC and is Co-Founder and Clinical and Training Consultant of The CENTER: Posttraumatic Disorders Program at the Psychiatric Institute of Washington. She received her PhD from the University of Maryland in College Park, in 1979. Dr. Courtois has authored three books, Recollections of Sexual Abuse: Treatment Principles and Guidelines (1999), Adult Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse: A Workshop Model (1993), and Healing the Incest Wound: Adult Survivors in Therapy (1988), in addition to numerous articles and chapters on related topics. She is also the co-editor of a special issue of The Counseling Psychologist on the topic of victimisation as well as co-editor (with Prof Bessel van der Kolk) of a special edition of the Journal of Traumatic Stress Studies in 2005 dealing with Disorders of Extreme Stress Not Otherwise Specified (DESNOS).

Dr. Courtois has received the following professional awards: the 2006 Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation, the 2005 Distinguished Contribution to the Psychology of Women Award from the Committee on the Psychology of Women, American Psychological Association; the 2003 Sarah Haley Award for Clinical Excellence, International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies; the 2001 Cornelia Wilbur Award, International Society for the Study of Dissociation;  the 1996 Award for Distinguished Contributions to Psychology As A Professional Practice, American Psychological Association; the American Psychological Association Division 17 John D. Black Practitioner Award (1995), and the Division 17 Committee on Women "Woman of the Year" Award (1994).  In 1998 she was elected a distinguished practitioner in the National Academies of Practice in Psychology.

Dr Courtois has served as an appointed member to the American Psychological Association Working Group on the Investigation of Memories of Childhood Abuse (1993-1996) and the APA Presidential Task Force on Family Violence (1994-1996).  She routinely conducts professional training nationally and internationally on topics related to traumatic stress.