Biographies

Candice M. Monson, Ph.D., is one of the foremost experts on intimate relationships and PTSD and the use of couple therapy to treat traumatic stress reactions. She is a Professor of Psychology and Director of Clinical Training at the Toronto Metropolitan University in Toronto, Ontario and Affiliate of the Women’s Health Sciences Division of the VA National Center for PTSD, where she previously served as Deputy Director. Dr. Monson’s primary interests are on the development, testing, and dissemination of treatments for PTSD. Dr. Monson co-authored Cognitive Processing Therapy: Veteran/Military Version and is the primary developer of Cognitive-Behavioral Conjoint Therapy for PTSD.

www.linkedin.com/in/candice-monson


Steffany J. Fredman, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Human Development and Family Studies at the Pennsylvania State University and a licensed clinical psychologist. Dr. Fredman conducts research on PTSD and related conditions within a couple/family context, with a focus on understanding ways that partner and family involvement in treatment optimizes outcomes for those with these conditions. She is the co-developer of Cognitive-Behavioral Conjoint Therapy for PTSD.

 


Jeremiah Schumm, Ph.D., ABPP is a Professor in the Wright State University School of Professional Psychology located in Dayton, Ohio. Dr. Schumm’s clinical practice and research focuses on the co-occurrence of PTSD and substance use disorders within a couple/family context and couple/family interventions for PTSD and substance use disorders.

 


Alexandra Macdonald, Ph.D.

Alexandra Macdonald, Ph.D., is a postdoctoral fellow in the Behavioral Science Division of the National Center for PTSD. Her clinical and research interests are in the overlap between, and treatment of, PTSD and substance abuse disorders.

 

 


Kevin S. Beasley, LCSW, is a clinical social worker at the Veteran Affairs Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Clinical Team in San Antonio, Texas. Mr. Beasley’s clinical focus is empirically supported treatments of PTSD and integration couple/family interventions into PTSD treatment. Prior to working at the VA Mr. Beasley worked for the Department of Defense specializing in marital therapy with couples/families dealing with domestic violence.

 


Louanne Davis

Louanne Davis, Psy.D., is a Clinical Research Psychologist at the Indianapolis VA Medical Center and Associate Scientist for Clinical Psychology at Indiana University of School of Medicine. Dr. Davis’s primary research focus is on developing and testing novel treatments in populations suffering from serious and chronic physical and mental health conditions including PTSD. She is currently conducting a VA-funded research study to develop and evaluate a mindfulness-based adaptation of CBCT for PTSD that includes a weekend retreat for recently-returned veterans diagnosed with PTSD and their committed partners.

 


Brandi Luedtke

Brandi Luedtke, Psy.D., is a Clinical Psychologist and the Program Manager of the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Military Sexual Trauma Clinical Team at the Phoenix VA. Dr. Luedtke’s primary clinical and research interests include working with military and Veteran couples, particularly those impacted by combat exposure and PTSD. She also has interests in treatment development and in the integration of third-wave behavior therapies, such as mindfulness-based interventions, into established evidence-based psychotherapies.

 


Philippe Shnaider, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist in private practice and an Assistant Professor (PT) in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences at McMaster University. He previously managed and worked as a Psychologist at the Anxiety Treatment and Research Clinic at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton. He is the co-author of Treating PTSD with Cognitive-Behavioral Therapies: Interventions That Work, and has published several peer reviewed publications and book chapters. His research focuses on examining individual, couple, and group cognitive behavioural therapies for anxiety- and trauma-related disorders. Dr. Shnaider is also actively involved in efforts to train clinicians in evidence based interventions for PTSD.


Anne C. Wagner, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist, the Founder of Remedy, a centre for mental health innovation, and an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Psychology at the Toronto Metropolitan University. Dr. Wagner’s primary interests are in the optimization of trauma intervention and PTSD treatments, and has a particular focus on adjunctive interventions (e.g., MDMA) and social factors. She has experience in working with community-engaged research methodologies and has collaborated extensively with HIV service organizations. Dr. Wagner is actively engaged in the training and supervision of clinicians in trauma-focused and MDMA-assisted psychotherapy.

 


Shelly Crosby, Psy.D., is a Clinical Psychologist at the Tibor Rubin VA Medical Center in Long Beach, California. Dr. Crosby specializes in evidence-based treatments for anxiety and PTSD, including trauma-focused therapy for individuals and couples/family. In addition, Dr. Crosby is passionate about providing clinical supervision and training, working with members of the LGBTQ+ community, and approaching evidence-based treatments from a lens of cultural humility.


Marycely (Marci) Alessi, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist at the Orlando VA Healthcare System. Dr Alessi began her work in PTSD research at the Tuskegee VA Medical Center focused on the effects of PTSD on marital relationships. Since then, she has focused her clinical work and interests in working with children, adults, couples, and families with PTSD and trauma, to include consultation, teaching, and training providers in various evidence-based psychotherapies. Dr. Alessi has a particular passion for training, to include community outreach work and the impact of trauma on diverse populations.

 


Stephanie Mandel, Psy.D., is a clinical psychologist providing assessment and treatment for a wide range of behavioral health conditions on a telehealth team at the Portland VA Health Care System in Oregon. Dr. Mandel’s clinical interests include evidence-based treatments for PTSD, crisis management and suicide prevention, and acceptance and compassion-focused interventions. She joined the team of National VA CBCT-PTSD Consultants in 2017 and has embraced the opportunity to train and consult with other mental health professionals learning CBCT-PTSD in the VA system.

 


Jenny Bannister, Ph.D., is a Clinical Psychologist in the PTSD Clinic at the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital (JAHVH) in Tampa, Florida. Dr. Bannister’s clinical interests include evidence based treatments for trauma spectrum disorders, couple/family interventions for PTSD, and the treatment of comorbid PTSD and substance use disorders (SUD). Her research focuses on the relationship between PTSD and interpersonal relationships, attachment theory, and moral emotions and moral injury. She is currently serving as a site PI for VA-funded multi-site study examining the effectiveness and feasibility of Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills in reducing suicidal ideation. She is actively involved with in the JAHVH Training program, training interns in evidence based interventions for PTSD

 


Bill Ungar, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist. He was trained in couples and family work and has been doing it for 34 years. He has been a CBCT consultant for approximately four years. He has been at the Providence VAMC for 32 years in the PTSD Program and now the Trauma Recovery Service.