Author
Dr. Amy E. Ellis is an Assistant Professor and the Director of the Trauma Resolution & Integration Program (TRIP) at Nova Southeastern University. She provides training and consultation on the provision of trauma-informed affirmative care and treating complex clinical cases. She is also has a private practice with a clinical focus in treating trauma, eating disorders, and personality disorders, and a special niche focusing on trauma-informed affirmative care for the LGBTQ+ community. She is a Consulting Editor on three of APA’s journals and recently served as Guest Editor of APA Division 42’s journal Practice Innovations on a special issue focusing on the role of evidence-based relationship variables in psychotherapy with sexual and gender minority individuals. Her current clinical and research interests focus on underserved populations who have increased exposure and risk to trauma (i.e., men, LGBTQ+, racial and ethnic minorities), tailoring evidence-based trauma treatments to these populations, and training and supervision in the field of trauma. She is currently the co-Principal Investigator of a large national grant funded through the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute focusing on the effectiveness of a peer-delivered online motivational interviewing intervention for GBTQ+ men with histories of sexual trauma.
Practice Committee Office Hours Update: Do You Have to Sacrifice Your Values to Maintain Financial Stability in Private Practice?
The Practice Committee has been hosting “Office Hours” to debunk some of the most common myths about private practice. Our most recent talk was centered around the dichotomy between the financial piece of private practice and concerns of sacrificing values as practitioners in order to make a living in private practice. Private practice can be […]
Wilson T. Trusty, Ph.D + 3 more
June 24, 2026
Women Leaders on Unsolicited Advice and Competence-Questioning Communication
The field of psychology has increasingly been making calls for psychologists to engage in advocacy as “citizen psychologists” (APA, 2020). Indeed, 2017 APA President Henderson Daniel made a call to action for engagement in volunteer efforts within professional organizations (e.g., APA and its divisions), as well as leadership within these organizations, as one primary avenue […]
Amy E. Ellis, Ph.D. + 1 more
April 17, 2025
Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy (SAP) Board of Directors Meeting Recap
The Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy (SAP) Board of Directors recently gathered in Scottsdale, Arizona, for an intensive two-day business meeting to set the course for the division in 2025 and beyond. Our discussions centered on visioning our current directions, strengthening our strategic priorities, addressing emerging challenges in the field of psychotherapy, and enhancing […]
Amy E. Ellis, Ph.D.
March 31, 2025
Invitation to Join the SAP Professional Practice Committee
We invite you to take an active role in our division by joining our Professional Practice Committee. As a committee member, you’ll have the opportunity to shape policies, advocate for needed changes, and set standards that benefit therapists and clients alike. Enhance your professional development, connect with leaders and peers, and expand your expertise on […]
Amy E. Ellis, Ph.D. + 1 more
October 31, 2024
The Differences Between Borderline Personality and Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorders
Why do Borderline Personality Disorder and Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Get Confused? The World Health Organization’s 11th revision of the International Classification of Disease defines Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) as meeting full criteria for PTSD plus symptoms of disturbances in self-organization. Disturbances in self-organization can best be categorized as experiencing strong emotional dysregulation, negative […]
Simona Stoian, MS + 1 more
January 1, 2024
A Message from the Society’s Publications & Communications Board Chair
Discovering My Professional Home When guiding graduate students through their academic journeys, I consistently emphasize the importance of finding a “professional home” – an organization that not only advocates for their desires and requirements but also offers a supportive community and a wealth of information. Any one of my past students will attest to the […]
Amy E. Ellis, Ph.D.
November 22, 2023
A Synopsis of Treatments for Black Women Following Intimate Partner Violence
The purpose of this paper is to assist non-Black therapists address critical issues when treating Black women who have experienced intimate partner violence (IPV). This paper was written from a place of cultural humility in an effort to educate on how to provide culturally relevant treatment, rather than an attempt to speak for Black women. […]
Kaitlin Forestieri, PsyD + 1 more
June 1, 2022
Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder
Depersonalization/Derealization Disorder (DPDD) is identified as a dissociative disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Revision (DSM-5) and a neurotic disorder in the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). Although a consistent definition has been accepted by the psychology community since the late 1800’s, the disorder is still misunderstood and […]
Olivia Carelli, Psy.D. + 1 more
April 11, 2021
Utilizing Social Support in Treating Complex Trauma in Sexual and Gender Minorities
Sexual and gender minorities (SGM) are those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer or questioning. All other affectional and sexual orientations and gender identities are represented by a “plus” (LGBTQ+). Sexual orientation refers to one’s sexual attraction, and affectional orientation refers to one’s emotional attraction towards others (Ginicola, Smith, & Filmore, 2017). […]
Korey Abbriano, M.A., M.S. + 1 more
December 6, 2020
Actionable Steps for Therapists (And All Human Beings) In Response to the Racial Pandemic
We are angry. We are indignant. We are hurt. We are distraught. We are united in pain, frustration, and a want for change. Centuries of cumulative trauma brought on by racial discrimination have spilled over into what we see today in streets across our country. Social media, conversations, articles and op-eds are plentiful. All make […]
Samantha Janvier, M.S. + 1 more
June 2, 2020
Five Things Therapists Can Do When Working with LGBTQ+ Individuals
What is meant by affectional and gender minorities? Affectional and gender minority clients is a broad umbrella category for individuals who self-identify as LGBTQ+. We can think of this in two broad subcategories: gender identity and sexual orientation. Gender identity Gender identity refers to how someone feels or identifies their gender. It is sometimes congruent […]
Amy E. Ellis, Ph.D. + 1 more
November 16, 2019
Student Member of the Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy Publications and Communications Board
The Society for the Advancement of Psychotherapy (APA Division 29) seeks nominations and self-nominations for the student member position of Publications and Communications Board. It is a two (2) year renewable appointment. The Publications and Communications Board provides oversight and recommends publication policy for the division’s journal, Psychotherapy, its bulletin, Psychotherapy Bulletin, its e-mail lists, […]
Amy E. Ellis, Ph.D.
September 12, 2019