Karen is a licensed clinical social worker and is the director of Program Strategy at Chaddock. They're a multi-service agency providing a range of residential, educational, and community-based services for youth, from birth through 21, as well as for their families.

While at Chaddock, Karen has been instrumental in developing an innovative residential program for adolescents, age 8 through 16, who have attachment and trauma issues. One of the only programs of its kind for older adolescents, Chaddock's Developmental Trauma and Attachment Program (DTAP) has served youth from 33 different states in the United States, and from 18 originating countries.

Karen is perhaps—in my opinion—one of the most talented therapists and widely-versed therapists that I know. She's a Certified Theraplay Trainer, therapist and supervisor. Her energetic and interactive style makes her a sought-after speaker and trainer, and she's presented at several national and international conferences as well as writing for numerous journal articles and book chapters. She's currently involved in a research project that examines the intergenerational transmission of attachment in adoption, with the Center of Attachment Research in the New School University in New York City, and her first book, Attachment Theory in Action, was released late 2017.

Karen has over 25 years of experience working with children, adolescents, and families. The last 20 of those have been at Chaddock serving as a therapist and then as the Director of Attachment Programming, Director of Treatment Services, and now the Director of Program Strategies. And at the end, I do want you, Karen, to tell us about how we can connect to your book. Tell us a little bit about your book when we wrap up, and also, we'll make sure that everyone that's viewing this video today has a link to be able to get to that book. 

Tiffany Sudela-Junker is a mother by adoption to two children with vastly different trauma-based special needs. Her award-winning documentary, “My Name Is Faith” captures the Junker’s early journey, coming to terms with the impact their daughter’s difficult beginning would have on them all. With her own growth process as an example, Tif mentors and advocates for an “empathy + connection before correction” approach to parenting. Stressing EXTRA empathy, mindfulness, humor, attunement, self-compassion, and reciprocal atonement as key ingredients to helping tough kids achieve higher function and healthy relationships. Through stories of struggle and lessons learned with her brilliant, challenging and hilarious children, Tif raises awareness and an authentic understanding of the EXTREME neurology, behavior, circumstances, and the emotional strength found in families struggling to overcome the aftermath of childhood trauma. Selected as an 2017 Angels in Adoption Award recipient by Senator Patty Murray (WA), Tif is a board member and the Parenting Program Director for the Attachment & Trauma Network, a community of therapeutic parents creating trauma-sensitive schools, building awareness about the lasting impact of trauma and empowering parents to facilitate recovery and help build resilience with their children. In addition, Tif is on the Leadership Committee for Kitsap Strong, a collective impact initiative with a mission to help all people flourish through an emphasis on empowerment and equity, educational attainment, the prevention of Adverse Childhood Experiences/toxic stress, and the building of resilience & hope.

Christine "Cissy" White is a writer, adoptive mother, health advocate, group manager of
the Parenting with ACEs group, and community-facilitator for the mid-Atlantic and
Northeast region for the ACEs Connection Network.
She founded Heal Right Now in 2014, hoping to create the survivor-led community she
craved her whole life. She was published in The Boston Globe, Spirituality and Health,
Ms. Magazine, To Write Love on Her Arms, and The Elephant Journal. She led
Parenting with PTSD and ACEs workshops for trauma survivors and treatment
providers.
She's a co-founder of the #FacesOfPTSD campaign. Her survivor-led advocacy has been
written about in The Atlantic, Huffington Post, and The Mighty. She believes any
trauma-informed initiative must be informed by trauma survivors in order to be
effective.