CASSANDRA A. ERICKSON, Ph.D.

OFFICE ADDRESS:
2020 West 86th Street, Suite 100
Indianapolis, Indiana  46260
(317) 875-9555 or 767-5775

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

Ph.D.   Purdue University - Marriage and Family Therapy
             Completed:  May, 1990
             Major Professor:  Fred P. Piercy, Ph.D.
             Dissertation:  Professional ethics among family therapists in the context of
             clinical training:
             A multi-wave critical incident study

M.S.     Purdue University - Family Studies
             Completed:  August, 1987
             Major Professor:  Charles R. Figley, Ph.D.
             Thesis:  The relationship of source and satisfaction
             of social support to negative perceptions of support received

B.A.     Purdue University - Psychology
             Completed:  December, 1984

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Family Therapist  (1989-present)
Private Practice
Indianapolis, Indiana
 Therapist in private practice providing individual, marital, and family therapy.  Specialization in treating survivors of traumatic events presenting with or at risk of developing symptoms of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder.  Extensive work for Sheriff’s, Prosecutor’s, and IPD’s Victim’s Assistance Programs.  Approved by U.S. Marshall’s Office to provide therapy for members of the Witness Protection Program.  Clinical Membership of the American Association for Marital and Family Therapy (AAMFT).  Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Indiana.

Family Divorce Negotiator  (1989-1990)
Catholic Social Services
Indianapolis, Indiana
 Part-time family therapist/negotiator involved in negotiating visitation rights and schedules between divorced parents.  Clients were court-ordered and extremely conflictual.  Maintained collateral contact with attorneys, judges, and other agencies for continual assessment of welfare of child(ren) and other current family issues and circumstances.  Also provided family therapy related to individual, marital and family issues (e.g., divorce adjustment).  Supervisor:  Richard Kramer.

Family Therapist in training  (1987-1989)
Purdue University
West Lafayette, Indiana
 Full-time graduate student in the Marriage and Family Therapy Doctoral Program at Purdue University—the top Family Therapy Program in the country in research, theoretical and clinical training.  Provided individual, marital and family therapy for clients presenting with a wide range of concerns:  divorce, substance abuse, marital conflict, suicide, violence, homicide, juvenile delinquency, parenting issues, child sexual abuse, extramarital relations, relationship enhancement, etc.  Live- and case-supervisors:  Supervisors in training and MFT Faculty.

Research Assistant  (1986-1989)
Purdue University
West Lafayette, Indiana
 Part-time graduate research assistant for Dr. Charles Figley, Professor of Family Studies and international expert on Traumatic Stress.  Conducted research in the areas of satisfaction with social support and skills for beginning therapists.  Assisted in compiling and reviewing manuscripts for several edited volumes.  Administratively assisted with manuscripts and books reviews for three professional journals.  Supervisor:  Charles Figley, Ph.D.

Rape Victim Advocate  (Jan.-Aug., 1986)
Planned Parenthood Association
Lafayette, Indiana
 Rape Victim Advocate for Tecumseh Area Planned Parenthood Association (TAPPA).  Provided crisis counseling and intervention for rape victims.  Trained in providing support, information, and assistance through the medical and legal procedures following a rape.  Supervisor:  Jill Strand, M.S.

Planned Parenthood Counselor  (Jan.-May, 1986)
Planned Parenthood Association
Lafayette, Indiana
 Counselor for Tecumseh Area Planned Parenthood Association (TAPPA).  Counseled clients on problem pregnancy, rape, sexual dysfunctions, sexually transmitted diseases, and family and relationship problems.  Researched literature on sexual dysfunctions and developed counseling procedures and referral list for use by TAPPA.  Trained and supervised new interns and counselors.  Supervisor:  Linden Foster, M.S.

Teaching Assistant  (1985-1986)
Purdue University
West Lafayette, Indiana
 Part-time graduate teaching assistant for Marriage and Family Relationships course (CDFS 350).  Developed and team-taught upper-level undergraduate course, created instructional and evaluation materials, supervised undergraduate discussion group leaders.  Supervisors:  Charles Figley, Ph.D. and Kathleen Gilbert, Ph.D.

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCES AND TRAINING

EMDR Training, Level II  (June, 2003)
Arlington Heights, IL
     Advanced training in the application of Eye Movement Desensitivation and Reprocessing (EMDR), with general advanced training and focus on application to specific problem areas and populations.  17 Hours.  Facilitator:  Kay Werk, MSW, LISW

EMDR Training, Level I  (November, 2002)
Columbus, OH
     Experiential training in the application of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), or bilateral hemispheric stimulation, for use with a wide range of clients and situations.  17 Hours.  Facilitator:  Kay Werk, MSW, LISW

Ad Hoc Reviewer  (1985-1997)
Purdue University
West Lafayette, Indiana
 Reviewed and edited manuscripts submitted for publication in the Journal of Traumatic Stress and the Journal of Psychotherapy and the Family.  Supervisor:  Charles Figley, Ph.D.

Residence Hall Counselor  (1986-1988)
Purdue University
West Lafayette, Indiana
 Part-time residence hall counselor for graduate dorm.  Acted as intermediary between management and 80 residents through availability for individual personal counseling and securing resident acceptance and observance of administrative rules and regulations.  Supervisor:  Ruth Petzold, M.S.

Child Sexual Abuse Training  (May-Aug., 1986)
Hendricks County Department of Public Welfare
Indianapolis, Indiana
 Received 10 hours of training through the Hendricks County Sexual Abuse Treatment Program on the treatment of and networking involved in child sexual abuse.

Rape Victim Advocacy Training  (January, 1986)
Planned Parenthood Association
West Lafayette, Indiana
 Received 10 hours of training in rape crisis intervention through the Tecumseh Area Planned Parenthood Association (TAPPA).

Traumatic Stress Treatment Training  (June, 1986)
The Family Institute of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
 Received 6 hours of training in treating trauma victims and their families through the Center for Family Studies/The Family Institute of Chicago.
 

CONTINUING EDUCATION

Conferences (1990-present)
     Attended many of the Annual Conferences for the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapists, and the Indiana Association for Marriage and Family Therapists.

Workshops (1990-present)
     Attended many workshops throughout the years, including such topics as:  hypnosis and metaphor in therapy, legal and ethical issues in practice, child custody evaluations, etc.

PROFESSIONAL LICENSE & CERTIFICATION

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (#35001395)
     Licensed and certified as a Marriage and Family Therapist in the State of Indiana.  Met the requirements for certification and licensure, and passed the State Examination in 1998—the first year licensing was available in Indiana.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Clinical Member, American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (since 1986)
Member, Indiana Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (since 1986)
Affiliation, Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (since 1986)

PROFESSIONAL NOMINATIONS

Chosen as the “Featured Practitioner” for publication in the 
   Indiana Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
   Bridgebuilder, Winter, 1991, 9(2)

Nominated for Outstanding Young Women of America in 1994
Nominated for International Who’s Who in Medicine in 1995
Nominated for Who’s Who of American Women in 1995

PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS

Erickson, C.  (April, 1990).  Ethical issues in professional relationships.  Presentation at the Annual Meeting of the Indiana Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.  Indianapolis, Indiana.

Erickson, C.  (March, 1990).  Identifying and dealing with troubled teenagers.  Presentation to teachers and administrators at Northcentral High School.  Indianapolis, Indiana.

Erickson, C.  (November, 1989).  Introduction to post-traumatic stress disorder.  Presentation to school social workers and family unit staff at Catholic Social Services.  Indianapolis, Indiana

Gilbert, K. and Erickson, C.  (November, 1987).  The development of a family definition of the event:  Information exchange among family members after a catastrophe.  Presentation at the Annual Meeting of the National Council on Family Relations.  Atlanta, Georgia.

Burge, S., Gilbert, K., Kishur, R., Harris, C., and Erickson, C.  (November, 1986).  Systemic recovery from traumatic events.  Presentation at the Annual Meeting of the National Council on Family Relations.  Dearborn, Michigan.

Erickson, C.  (September, 1986).  A theory of traumatic stress recovery.  Presentation at the Second Annual Meeting of the Society for Traumatic Stress Studies.  Denver, Colorado.

Erickson, C.  (August, 1986).  Introduction to research, theories and treatment of traumatic stress.  Invited presentation for the Case Conference of the Indianapolis Institute for Marital and Family Relations.  Indianapolis, Indiana.

Erickson, C.  (July, 1986).  Post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety:  The effects on the individual and the support system.  Invited presentation for the Workshop on Treating Traumatic Stress.  South Bend, Indiana.
Erickson, C.  (February, 1986).  Understanding family interaction in working through a traumatic event.  Roundtable for the Annual Meeting of the Indiana Council on Family Relations.  Indianapolis, Indiana.

PUBLICATIONS

Articles/Chapters

Ben David, A. and Erickson, C.A.  (1991).  Ethnicity and the therapist's use of self.  Family Therapy, 17(3), 211-216.

Figley, C.R. and Erickson, C.A.  (1990).  The psychology of traumatized families.  In F.W. Kaslow (Ed.), Voices in family psychology (Vol. 2, pp. 33-50).  Newbury Park, CA:  Sage Publications.

Erickson, C.A.  (1989).  Negative perceptions of social support:  The influence of source and satisfaction.  Family Perspective, 23(2), 85-97.

Erickson, C.A.  (1989).  Rape and the family.  In C.R. Figley (Ed.), Treating stress in the family (pp. 257-289).  New York:  Brunner/Mazel.

Young, M.B. and Erickson, C.A.  (1988).  Cultural impediments to recovery:  PTSD in contemporary America.  Journal of Traumatic Stress, 1(4), 431-443.

Book Reviews

Erickson, C.A.  (1989).  (Review of Handbook of behavioral family therapy - edited by Ian Falloon).  The American Journal of Family Therapy, 17(1), 85.

Erickson, C.A.  (1988).  (Review of Families in transition:  Primary prevention programs that work - by Lynne Bond & Barry Wagner).  The American Journal of Family Therapy, 16(4), 374.