Dr. Damion Grasso is a licensed clinical psychologist and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. He and his colleagues offer trauma-specific treatment through the UConn Health Psychological Trauma Clinic.
The UConn Health Psychological Trauma Clinic offers evidence-based trauma-specific psychotherapeutic services to children, youth, and their families. Clinic staff include UConn Department of Psychiatry faculty who are licensed clinical psychologists with expertise in trauma-specific assessments and behavioral treatments. The clinic also hosts a number of clinical psychology interns/externs. In addition, we enjoy a close working relationship with the child psychiatrists at the UConn Child and Adolescent Outpatient Psychiatry Clinic.
Services Provided
Trauma-informed Diagnostic Assessment
We offer gold-standard, comprehensive, evidence-based diagnostic assessments focused on determining the impact of psychological trauma exposure on daily functioning and psychological disorders, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and other forms of co-occurring impairment. Assessments result in a diagnostic report, which includes specific recommendations for psychological treatment and intervention strategies at home and/or school. There is an option to include psychological testing to assess for possible cognitive impairment and/or learning difficulties.
Individual, Group, and Family Psychotherapy
Evidence-based psychotherapy to treat trauma-related symptoms/impairment will be provided if clinically indicated based on an initial clinical assessment. Recommendations may involve a program of individual, group, or family therapy to assist children, youth, and families in recovering from and managing trauma-related symptoms and impairment. Treatment plans will be individualized to minimize the risk of adverse reactions while maximizing the likelihood of treatment success.
Treatment models utilized include (but are not limited to):
- Trauma Affect Regulation: Guide for Treatment and Education (TARGET)
TARGET is designed to help trauma affected individuals to better understand and manage traumatic stress reactions and regulate unwanted emotions and behaviors without explicitly utilizing a therapeutic exposure component.
- Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
TF-CBT is designed to reduce symptoms of posttraumatic stress, depression, and other trauma-related symptoms and utilizes a skills development component and a therapeutic exposure component that involves development of a written or illustrated trauma narrative.
- Prolonged Exposure (PE)
PE is designed to reduce symptoms of posttraumatic stress and related symptoms and utilizes a combination of therapeutic exposure and trauma memory processing. Therapeutic exposure is in the form of imaginal retelling of the trauma memory in session.
- Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
CPT is designed to reduce symptoms of posttraumatic stress and related symptoms and utilizes written exercises and therapy discussion that facilitate trauma memory processing and recovery.
- Strengthening Family Coping Resources (SFCR)
SFCR is a family-centered intervention designed to foster protective family coping resources with the goal of reducing symptoms of posttraumatic stress and related symptoms.
Referrals
Contact Intake Coordinator Ingrid Nelson at 860-523-3745. All necessary information will be obtained in a brief telephone call. The director (or designee) will review the screening information and assign the case to a clinician.
Location
The UConn Health Psychological Trauma Clinic is located at 65 Kane Street (1/2 block off Prospect Street) on the east side of West Hartford.
Address
UConn Health Psychological Trauma Clinic
65 Kane Street
West Hartford, CT 06119
Clinic Personnel
Carolyn Greene, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychologist and Clinic Director
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Rocio Chang, Psy.D.
Clinical Psychologist
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Damion Grasso, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychologist
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Ingrid Nelson
Intake Coordinator
Phone: 860-523-3745
Fax: 860-523-3736
Email: inelson@uchc.edu