Martha or "Marti" Crothers is honoring Janet M. Coffman, a longtime counselor at SIU's Counseling Center, with a $1 million gift to The Coffman-Crothers Training Institute for Trauma and Psychological Health Endowment Fund. It is being established to help mental health professionals address complex trauma, which although common, many professionals are not equipped to help treat.
Holly Cormier, the current Director of SIU's Counseling Center and a licensed clinical psychologist, says that because complex trauma is not recognized as a distinct disorder, there is no specific training addressing it. "Complex trauma is something we're aware of. It refers to someone who's had different experiences that were extremely overwhelming. It caused severe psychological distress. Trauma can be physical, emotional, or mental."
Cormier says that a first step to equipping Southern Illinois professionals to address complex trauma is holding the one-day workshop on "Safe and Effective Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Adults" taking place on October 11 at the SIU Simmons School of Law. Registration through Eventbrite is available, but limited and due by October 1.
