Debra Kaysen received her PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Missouri. She completed an internship at the University of Washington and continued there to complete an NIAAA-funded F32 to study the area of overlap between PTSD and alcohol use disorders. Dr. Kaysen joined the faculty at University of Washington in 2006 in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. While there she founded a program to develop and test more accessible interventions for individuals suffering from mental health symptoms following traumatic events. Dr. Kaysen joined the Stanford faculty in 2019.

Dr. Kaysen’s area of specialty both in research and clinical work is in treatment for those who have experienced traumatic events including treatment of PTSD and related disorders. She has conducted critical studies on treatment of PTSD and/or substance use across a variety of populations (sexual minority women, Native Americans, sexual assault survivors, torture survivors, active duty military) and in a variety of settings (the Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq, primary care, rural settings). Other research conducted by Dr. Kaysen have focused on increasing our understanding of how PTSD and substance use may influence each other. Dr. Kaysen is currently the Immediate Past-President of the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (www.istss.org). Her research has been funded by the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, the National Institute of Drug Abuse, the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, the Department of Defense, PCORI, and USAID.

Dr. Kaysen is currently involved in helping develop and implement coping strategies for healthcare workers dealing with mental health concerns related to COVID-19. Dr. Kaysen’s clinical work has been featured on This American Life (https://www.thisamericanlife.org/682/ten-sessions).

Clinical Focus

• Psychology
• Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
• PTSD
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
• Evidence based psychotherapy
• Anxiety Disorders

Academic Appointments

• Professor – University Medical Line, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Honors & Awards

• Fellow, Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy (2015)

Boards, Advisory Committees, Professional Organizations

• President, International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (2019 – 2020)
• Board of Directors, International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (2013 – Present)
• Member, European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (2018 – Present)
• Member, Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy (2005 – Present)
• Member, American Psychological Association (2005 – Present)

Professional Education

• Fellowship: University of Washington Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship (2006) WA
• Internship: University of Washington Psychology Internship Program (2003) WA
• PhD Training: University of Missouri St Louis (2003) MO United States of America

Community and International Work

• Preventing HIV among Native Americans through the Treatment PTSD & Substance Use, Washington state

  Topic

  PTSD, substance use

  Partnering Organization(s)

  University of Washington

  Populations Served

  Native Americans

  Location

  US

  Ongoing Project

  Yes

  Opportunities for Student Involvement

  Yes

• Counter Gender Based Violence, Democratic Republic of Congo

  Topic

  Mental Health

  Partnering Organization(s)

  IMA WorldHealth, Johns Hopkins, University of Washington

  Populations Served

  Sexual assault survivors

  Location

  International

  Ongoing Project

  No

  Opportunities for Student Involvement

  No