About Dr. Cain

Hello, I’m Dr. Jennifer Cain. As a doctoral psychologist and consultant with specialized training in trauma, attachment, children, and evaluation, I am committed to a thorough understanding of each person, situation, and family I work with. 

My interest in trauma began during university, when I volunteered at a program for inner-city children, many of whom had been traumatized. In graduate school, I wrote my Master’s thesis on PTSD in children. My interest in trauma continued into my PhD program, where I wrote my dissertation on trauma and attachment, and completed my 2000 hour pre-doctoral internship at a center for young children and their families where trauma and attachment were the primary areas of focus. I then did neuropsychological testing for a neuropsychologist. Many of the people I tested lived with the effects of severe trauma, including children who had endured serious abuse, neglect, attachment disruptions, and other problems before coming into foster care or being adopted. After obtaining my license to practice psychology, I treated people injured in work accidents and motor vehicle accidents, many of whom had been traumatized. Throughout the years I have taken additional trainings on trauma treatment methods, including trauma-focused CBT, EMDR, breathing techniques, and somatic approaches, and have developed ways of integrating and tailoring various treatment methods. I have written articles and developed trainings on trauma as well. 

I have also become aware of the problems traumatized people face on a wider societal level such as in public spaces, at work, at places of worship, when receiving medical treatment, or with stories in the media that report traumatic events. Traumatized people do not live only with the memories of what happened to them, but also with recurring symptoms that can be activated suddenly and without warning. Further pain can be inflicted by others who witness these reactions and react insensitively or exploit their pain. There can be further problems from more enduring behavior and communication patterns developed in order to survive that can show up in relationships of all types, from close others, to the workplace. 

It is this longstanding immersion in the field of trauma and its origins that has given me the breadth and depth of understanding and knowledge related to psychological safety, emotional intelligence, trauma sensitivity, and trauma-informed care. In order to fully address trauma, it becomes necessary to understand how to prevent trauma, how to promote safety, how to put effective systems in place toward these aims, how to share this knowledge, and how to help people cultivate the emotional and social skills necessary to do so. If you are ready to learn how to implement these things in your organization, your family, or your professional mental health practice, or you are seeking support and trauma resolution for your child or yourself, contact me.