Child & Adolescent Traumatic Stress Program

About Our Program The Program Director The Child and Adolescent Traumatic Stress Program provides children and adolescents (birth–18) who are experiencing post-trauma symptoms with specialized psychological services to help them gain greater satisfaction in their lives. In addition to the availability of services for children and adolescents, the families of these traumatized children may also obtain services. Family forensic services are available for children and their families when parents are divorcing or dissolving their parenting partnership. Clinical Services Psychological assessment and evaluation, as well as individual and family therapy, are available for children and their families living in Broward, Miami-Dade, Monroe, and Palm Beach counties. Consultative Liaison Consultation services are available for medical personnel, court personnel/programs, professional agencies, educators, and school personnel in the South Florida region. Training Opportunities exist for specialized training and instruction to mental health professionals, students, and regional agencies. Research State-of-the-art research to develop more effective treatment regimens for children and adolescents and their families with a variety of psychological problems, specifically with respect to post-abuse and other trauma-related symptoms, as well as family court litigation, is being conducted. The Child and Adolescent Traumatic Stress Program is directed by Jan Faust, Ph.D., ABPP. She is a licensed psychologist and clinical supervisor, and has been a professor of clinical psychology at Nova Southeastern University since 1988. The director has published numerous journal articles, book chapters, and books. She frequently presents her research at professional conferences. Special Populations Served Services Provided n Children and adolescents experiencing psychological problems and physical complaints due to trauma exposure (examples: physical, psychological, and sexual abuse; homelessness; neglect; abandonment; natural disasters; accidental injury; seeing death or harm befall a primary caregiver; hostage situations; kidnapping; and urban violence such as drive-by shootings or school violence; as well as post- traumatic stress disorder and trauma reactions such as depression/mood disorders, other anxiety disorders, elimination disorders [wetting/soiling], nightmares, regressive behavior, fear and avoidance, behavioral disruptive disorders, school and academic problems, eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and other trauma symptoms) n Children and adolescents experiencing or having experienced acute, chronic, and/or genetic medical disorders and exhibiting a traumatic stress reaction related to the medical problem (examples include cancer, diabetes, spina bifida, asthma, burns, and organ transplant—services also available for families involved) n Individuals or families court ordered for psychological evaluations, family therapy, reunification therapy, or parent effectiveness and empathy training n Children who are experiencing an adverse reaction to their parents’ divorce or relationship dissolution