2025 TraumaTALKS Conference
Equipping Professionals, Empowering Youth & Their Families
February 19, 2025
Chester Street Foundation brings together clinicians, researchers, and experts on childhood trauma for its third annual TraumaTALKS Conference. The one-day trauma-informed care symposium supports youth populations who are at risk for trauma by equipping mental health and healthcare professionals with best practices for helping children on their road to recovery.
2025 Presenters & Sessions
Morning Keynote: Making the Connection Between Trauma and Substance Use
Michelle P. Durham, MD, MPH
Triple Boarded in Adult Psychiatry, Child & Adolescent Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine
Trauma has been shown to adversely affect many of the neurobiological systems responsible for cognitive development and the regulation of emotions and behavior that often lead to substance use. A successful treatment approach must therefore be flexible enough to accommodate the multiple ways in which trauma and substance use may be related. Better care can be achieved through increased communication, coordination and increased awareness of the links between traumatic stress and substance use.
Afternoon Keynote: Human Trafficking in the Healthcare Setting: A Trauma Informed Approach to Care
Mollie Gordon, MA, MD
Medical Director for Baylor’s Anti-Human Trafficking Program, Associate Director at Ben Taub Hospital
Dr. Mollie Gordon will discuss vulnerabilities and risks of human trafficking. She will address how trafficking presents to clinicians and using a trauma informed care to respond to the biopsychosocial needs.
Interpersonal Risk and Resilience: The Biggest Needs Facing Immigrant Youth Today
Amanda Venta, PhD
Clinical Psychology Associate Professor, University of Houston
This presentation will describe how interpersonal traumas increase mental health risks for immigrant youth while interpersonal connections buffer these risks. The interpersonal needs faced by immigrant youth and opportunities for resilience in the face of adversity will be discussed.
A Safe Place: Helping Traumatized Youth Regulate From Dissociation
Leah Adams Pruitt, PMP
Vice President of Engagement at the Institute for Spirituality and Health at the Texas Medical Center
This presentation will inform, illustrate, and educate professionals who encounter the traumatized child about the experience of disassociation and how to create a safe space to help them get back into balance. Participants will learn how they can identify when a child is “out of body” and learn skills to guide the child to a place of self-regulation.
Effective Interventions for Child & Adolescent Trauma Survivors
Leslie K. Taylor, PhD
Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, McGovern Medical School’s Faillace Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
There are effective, evidence-based trauma treatments for child and adolescent survivors. In this presentation, common reactions to trauma and their appropriate treatment modalities will be reviewed. In addition, challenges, barriers and contraindications to treatment will be discussed with implications for how to best intervene among trauma exposed youth.
The Cost of Misdiagnosis: Increasing Recognition of Trauma Symptoms in Youth
Stephanie Emhoff, PhD
Psychologist, Program Director for Child and Adolescent Inpatient Psychology Services at UTHealth Houston
Earlier recognition of trauma exposure and the associated symptoms in children and teens can have profound implications for youth welfare and healing after trauma. Learn about the costs associated with misdiagnosis as well as strategies and tools to increase earlier identification.
Managing PTSD and Anxiety Following a Cancer Diagnosis: Effective Strategies to Navigate
Ann Friedman, PhD
Psychologist, Director of Curriculum at Jung Center’s Mind Body Spirit Institute
Shawn Alex Nemeth
Founder & CEO, Chester Street Foundation
Over 35% of cancer survivors experience Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS), similar to PTSD seen in veterans and disaster survivors. A cancer diagnosis can impact the entire family, creating a cycle of fear and anxiety. In this one-hour presentation, psychologist Dr. Ann Friedman and trauma-survivor Shawn Alex Nemeth explore this issue and provide evidence-based tools to manage fear and anxiety.
Unveiling Trauma in the Juvenile Justice System: Understanding, Confronting, and Innovating
Florencia Iturri, PhD
Licensed Psychologist, Harris County Juvenile Probation
Anthony Robinson
Attorney, Robinson Law Firm
Trina Burkes-Jones, CPM
Doctor of Management in Organizational Leadership, Executive Assistant Chief Investigator of Administrative Operations, Harris County District Attorney’s Office
Albert Sanchez, MBA – panel moderator
Director of Strategic Initiatives at Central Houston, Inc.
This panel discussion explores the impact of trauma in the juvenile justice system, focusing on identifying trauma patterns in young offenders and the challenges in supporting them. Experts will examine key indicators of trauma and discuss obstacles faced when addressing these issues within the current system, as well as innovative strategies and interventions designed to better support traumatized youth in the justice system.
Thank you to our 2025 Sponsors
Ann Taylor & Mark Smith
“The conference was all so very informative and applicable to the work that I do.”
“The different presenters were fabulous, and each offered valuable information in regard to how trauma affects our students.”
“All of the speakers were wonderful and very informative. I can’t wait to attend another conference again.”
“I liked the diversity of topics, common themes, and well-educated presenters.”