PhD Clinical Psychology
(expected 2021)
Doctoral Degree
Intercultural Studies
Theology
Clinical Psychology
Marriage and Family Therapy
Masters Degrees
USMC Veteran
Firefighter
Professor
Other fun facts
Woman of the Year, 2015
Senator Carol Liu
Honors
SELECTED PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS
Hughes, V. (2019, March). Military Sexual Trauma and Treatment. Invited presenter, Loma Linda VA, for VA Chaplains and fellows
Hughes, V. (2018, October). Recognizing and Responding to the Effects of Trauma. Presented to National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), San Gabriel Valley.
Laffey, M. E., Lisman, R., Blackburn, M. J., Jones, H. W., Sheu, S. C., Hughes, V., & Currier, J. M. (2014). The Effects of Positive and Negative Religious Coping on Depression Among Newly Returned Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans. Poster presented at the 12th Annual Midyear Research Conference on Religion and Spirituality hosted by Division 36 of the American Psychological Association, La Mirada, CA.
Hughes, V. (May, 2014). Moral Injury. Guest Lecturer. Fuller Theological Seminary Graduate School of Psychology, Doctoral level Traumatology Course.
Hughes, V. (2014, December). Somatic Experiencing and Sensorimotor Psychotherapy. Presented to professional clinicians in Pasadena, CA.
Hughes, V. (2014, July). PTSD Awareness Day Tips. Webinar for clinicians hosted by Somatic Experiencing Trauma Institute.
Default-Hunter, E., Horn, G., & Hughes, V. (May 2014). Negotiating Non-violence in a Violent World. Invited panelist for a Peace and Justice Advocates hosted panel discussion at Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, CA.
Hughes, V. (2014, March). PTSD and the Military. Webinar for select clinicians hosted by Somatic Experiencing Trauma Institute. Levine, P & Hughes, V. (2013, December). Somatic Experiencing and Healing the Wounds of War. Two-day training for clinicians and other professionals working with combat Veterans.
Borer, S., Henderson, S., Hughes, V., Martin, H., and Townsend, C. (2013, November). Veterans, Violence and Language. Moderator for panel discussion at Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, CA.
Levine, P & Hughes, V. (2013, November). Trauma and the Military: Case Consultation. Presented to Somatic Experiencing Institute. Los Angeles, CA.
Levine, P & Hughes, V. (2013, November). Trauma and the Military: Case Consultation. Presented to Somatic Experiencing Institute. Carlsbad, CA.
Hughes, V. (2011, August). Developing Confidence. Presented at the Long Beach Conservation Corps. Long Beach, CA. Hughes, V. (2011, May). Trauma: Activation Housed in the Body. Presented at Grace Counseling Group, Los Alamitos, CA.
COMMUNITY PRESENTATIONS
Hughes, V. (2013, November). Becoming a Veteran’s Therapist. Presented to clinicians working with Veterans at Prepare to Change, Fullerton, CA. Van der Kolk, B. (2013, July). Trauma, Body, and Brain: Restoring the Capacity for Rhythm and Play. Training assistant. Presented in Kirpalu, MA.
Hughes, V. (2012, January). Complex, Chronic, Developmental and Shock Traumas and Treatment. Presented at Grace Counseling Group, Los Alamitos, CA.
Hughes, V. (2011, November). Trauma and Breached Boundaries. Presented at Grace Counseling Group, Los Alamitos, CA
Hughes, V. (2011, August). Developing Confidence. Presented at the Long Beach Conservation Corps. Long Beach, CA.
Hughes, V. (2011, May). Trauma: Activation Housed in the Body. Presented at Grace Counseling Group, Los Alamitos, CA.
ACADEMIC TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Professor:
California Baptist University, College of Behavioral Health and Science
Graduate Course: PSY560: Professional Ethics and Law
Graduate Course: PSY500: Psychodiagnostics
Graduate Course: PSY535A & B: Advanced Psychopathology
Guest Lecturer:
University of California Los Angeles (UCLA)
Lecture: Integrating Somatic Experiencing into Trauma Treatment: Professional presentation for UCLA Faculty and staff at Harbor UCLA Trauma Recovery Center
California Baptist University, College of Behavioral Health and Sciences
Lecture: Integrating Spirituality into Family Therapy Master level course: Family Systems Theory
Lecture: Diagnosis and Treatment of PTSD: Doctoral level Course: Psychopathology
Fuller Theological Seminary Graduate School of Psychology, Pasadena, CA
Lecture: Military and Trauma: Doctoral level Course: Trauma and Faith
Lecture: Moral Injury: Doctoral level Course: Trauma and Faith
PROFESSIONAL TRAINING EXPERIENCE
Professional Trainer
Ergos Institute for Somatic Education, Carlsbad, CA
Course: Somatic Experiencing and Healing the Wounds of War: Two-day training for clinicians and other professionals, Co-taught with Peter Levine, PhD.
Ergos Institute for Somatic Education, Carlsbad, CA
Course: Trauma and the Military: Case Demonstration and
Consultation, with Peter Levine, PhD
Somatic Experiencing Trauma Institute, Los Angeles, CA
Course: Trauma and the Military: Case Demonstration and Consultation, with Peter Levine, PhD
Professional Training Assistant
UCLA-David Geffen School of Medicine Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
Course: Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) for Forensic Application
Lead Trainer: Dorit Saberi, PhD
UCLA-David Geffen School of Medicine Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
Course: Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) for LA County
Lead Trainer: Dorit Saberi, PhD
Somatic Experiencing Trauma Institute, Los Angeles, CA
Courses: Professional Training Beginning I, II, and III and Intermediate I, II and III.
Lead Trainer: Gina Ross, LMFT
Ergos Institute for Somatic Education, Encinitas, CA
Course: Eye of the Needle: Somatic Experiencing Master Class
Lead Trainer: Peter Levine, PhD
Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, Stockbridge, MA
Course: Master Class: Shame and Pride: Somatic Experiencing Master Class
Lead Trainer: Peter Levine, PhD
Ergos Institute for Somatic Education, New York, NY
Course: Trauma and the Performing Artist: Take II
Lead Trainer: Peter Levine, PhD and Betsy Polatin
Ergos Institute for Somatic Education, Los Angeles, CA,
Course: Trauma and the Performing Artist
Lead Trainer: Peter Levine, PhD and Betsy Polatin
Kripalo Center for Yoga and Health, Stockbridge, MA
Course: Trauma, Body, and Brain: Restoring the Capacity for Rhythm and Play.
Lead Trainer: Dr. Bessel van der Kolk
COMMUNITY SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
Keynote Speaker Responding to the Effects of Trauma. Presented to National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), San Gabriel Valley. A 2-hour presentation to NAMI members discussing the ways to identify and support loved ones with PTSD. Focus included identification of symptoms and resources in addition to practical forms of supportive care
Keynote Speaker A Day to Remember: Memorial Day 2016 A 20-minute keynote address delivered to an audience of 1200-1500. Focus was on commemorating fallen servicemen and women at discussing the ways we remember our fallen service members. (Paid invitation)
Speaker Tri-City Women’s Conference Invited to speak at the Tri-city Women’s Conference about women’s opportunities. One of three panelists including an FBI Special Agent and a Superior Court Judge invited to discuss the question, “How I got here.”
Keynote Speaker Veterans Day 2015 A speech delivered to an audience of 2,000-2,200 discussing Veterans of the US military. Focus was discussing the civilian response to the sacrifice made by men and women who serve in the US military (Paid invitation).
Keynote Speaker A Day to Remember: Memorial Day 2015 A paid 20-minute speech delivered to an audience of 1200-1500 at Covina Forest Lawn about how we remember fallen service men and women. (Paid invitation).
PUBLICATIONS
Hughes, V. & , Levine P. A. (2015). Treating MST with Somatic Experiencing. In Katz, L. S. (Ed.), Treating military sexual trauma. New York, NY: Springer Publishing.
Hughes, V. (2013, Oct 10). Suicide in the military. http://traumahealing.org/beyond-trauma-Blog/suicide-in-the-military/
Hughes, V. (2013,June 27) PTSD awareness day. http://traumahealing.org/beyond-trauma-blog/ptsd-awareness-day/
These are some. There are more...
Acceptance and COmmitment
Emotionally Focused Couples therapy
Somatic expereincing
Dialectical Behavioral
Eye Movement desensitization and Reprocessing
sensorimotor Psychotherapy
motivational interviewing
mindfulness and meditation
Certifications & Training
Certifications and Trainings
Trauma may result from a wide variety of stressors such as accidents, invasive medical procedures, sexual or physical assault, emotional abuse, neglect, war, natural disasters, loss, birth trauma, or the corrosive stressors of ongoing fear and conflict. SE facilitates the completion of self-protective motor responses and the release of thwarted survival energy bound in the body, thus addressing the root cause of trauma symptoms. This is approached by gently guiding clients to develop increasing tolerance for difficult bodily sensations and suppressed emotion.
SE offers a framework to assess where a person is “stuck” in the fight, flight or freeze responses and provides clinical tools to resolve these fixated physiological states. It provides effective skills appropriate to a variety of healing professions including mental health, medicine, physical and occupational therapies, bodywork, addiction treatment, first response, education, and others— Excerpt taken from SETI.
Somatic Experiencing (SE) is a body-oriented approach to the healing of trauma and other stress disorders resulting from multidisciplinary study of stress physiology, psychology, ethology, biology, neuroscience, indigenous healing practices, and medical biophysics, together with over 45 years of successful clinical application. The SE approach releases traumatic shock, which is key to transforming PTSD and the wounds of emotional and early developmental attachment trauma. Trauma may begin as acute stress from a perceived life-threat or as the end product of cumulative stress. Both types of stress can seriously impair a person’s ability to function with resilience and ease. Excerpt taken from SETI
An Embodied approach to healing
Excerpt taken from Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute.
Sensorimotor Psychotherapy (SP) is a complete treatment modality to heal trauma and attachment issues. SP welcomes the body as an integral source of information for processing past experiences relating to upsetting or traumatic events and developmental wounds. SP incorporates the physical and sensory experience, as well as thoughts and emotions, as part of the person’s complete experience of both the trauma itself and the process of healing. Excerpt taken from Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute.
An Embodied approach to healing
SP seeks to restore a person’s ability to process information without being triggered by past experience. SP uses a three-phase treatment approach to gently guide the client through the therapeutic process – Safety and Stabilization, Processing, and Integration. The therapist must pay close attention to the client to ensure that they are not overwhelmed by the process while simultaneously engaging their own abilities and capacities for healing.
It is thought that SP strengthens instinctual capacities for survival and assists clients to re-instate or develop resources which were unavailable or missing at the time the trauma or wounding occurred. Once resources are developed and in place, the traumatic event can be processed with the aid of resources. SP is a well-developed approach with decades of success in the treatment of trauma and developmental wounds. — Excerpt taken from Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute.
Excerpt taken from ACBS Association for Contextual Behavioral Science.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) was developed within a coherent theoretical and philosophical framework. It is a unique empirically based psychological intervention that uses acceptance and mindfulness strategies, together with commitment and behavior change strategies, to increase psychological flexibility. Psychological flexibility means contacting the present moment fully as a conscious human being, and based on what the situation affords, changing or persisting in behavior in the service of chosen values.
ACceptance and change
Based on Relational Frame Theory, ACT illuminates the ways that language entangles clients into futile attempts to wage war against their own inner lives. Through metaphor, paradox, and experiential exercises clients learn how to make healthy contact with thoughts, feelings, memories, and physical sensations that have been feared and avoided. Clients gain the skills to recontextualize and accept these private events, develop greater clarity about personal values, and commit to needed behavior change.—Excerpt taken from ACBS Association for Contextual Behavioral Science.
Excerpt taken from ACBS Association for Contextual Behavioral Science.
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) is a well-known humanistic approach to psychotherapy formulated in the 1980’s and developed in tandem with the science of adult attachment, a profound developmental theory of personality and intimate relationships. This science has expanded our understanding of individual dysfunction and health as well as the nature of love relationships and family bonds. Attachment views human beings as innately relational, social and wired for intimate bonding with others.
Research supported relational model
The EFT model prioritizes emotion and emotional regulation as the key organizing agents in individual experience and key relationship interactions. EFT is best known as a cutting edge, tested and proven couple intervention, but it is also used to address individual depression, anxiety and post traumatic stress (EFIT – Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy) and to repair family bonds (EFFT – Emotionally Focused Family Therapy). This model operationalizes the principles of attachment science using non-pathologizing experiential (paralleling Carl Rogers) and relational systems techniques (paralleling Salvador Minuchin) to focus on and change core organizing factors in both the self and key relationships.— Excerpt taken from ICEEFT
Excerpt taken from ACBS Association for Contextual Behavioral Science.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is a comprehensive multi-diagnostic, modularized behavioral intervention designed to treat individuals with severe mental disorders and out-of-control cognitive, emotional and behavioral patterns. It has been commonly viewed as a treatment for individuals meeting criteria for Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) with chronic and high-risk suicidality, substance dependence or other disorders. However, over the years, data has emerged demonstrating that DBT is also effective for a wide range of other disorders and problems, most of which are associated with difficulties regulating emotions and associated cognitive and behavioral patterns.
radical acceptance and change
As the name implies, dialectical philosophy is a critical underpinning of DBT. Dialectics is a method of logic that identifies the contradictions (antithesis) in a person's position (thesis) and overcomes them by finding the synthesis. Additionally, in DBT a client cannot be understood in isolation from his or her environment and the transactions that occur. Rather, the therapist emphasizes the transaction between the person and their environment both in the development and maintenance of any disorders. It is also assumed that there are multiple causes as opposed to a single factor affecting the client. And, DBT uses a framework that balances the treatment strategies of acceptance and change - the central dialectical tension in DBT. Therapists work to enhance the capability (skills) of their client as well as to develop the motivation to change. Maintaining that balance between acceptance and change with clients is crucial for both keeping a client in treatment and ensuring they are making progress towards their goals of creating a life worth living. — Taken from DBT-Linehan Board of Certification. (click to learn more)
Excerpt taken from EMDR Institute .
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a psychotherapy that enables people to heal from the symptoms and emotional distress that are the result of disturbing life experiences. Repeated studies show that by using EMDR therapy people can experience the benefits of psychotherapy that once took years to make a difference. It is widely assumed that severe emotional pain requires a long time to heal. EMDR therapy shows that the mind can in fact heal from psychological trauma much as the body recovers from physical trauma. When you cut your hand, your body works to close the wound. If a foreign object or repeated injury irritates the wound, it festers and causes pain. Once the block is removed, healing resumes.
Evidence based tramua resolution
EMDR therapy demonstrates that a similar sequence of events occurs with mental processes. The brain’s information processing system naturally moves toward mental health. If the system is blocked or imbalanced by the impact of a disturbing event, the emotional wound festers and can cause intense suffering. Once the block is removed, healing resumes. Using the detailed protocols and procedures learned in EMDR therapy training sessions, clinicians help clients activate their natural healing processes — Excerpt taken from EMDR Institute.
Excerpt taken from Psychology Today.
Motivational interviewing (MI) is a counseling method that helps people resolve ambivalent feelings and insecurities to find the internal motivation they need to change their behavior. It is a practical, empathetic, and short-term process that takes into consideration how difficult it is to make life changes. Motivational interviewing evolved from Carl Roger’s person-centered, or client-centered, approach to counseling and therapy, as a method to help people commit to the difficult process of change. The process is twofold. The first goal is to increase the person’s motivation and the second is for the person to make the commitment to change. As opposed to simply stating a need or desire to change, hearing themselves express a commitment out loud has been shown to help improve a client’s ability to actually make those changes.
A commitment to change
The role of the therapist is more about listening than intervening. Motivational interviewing is often combined or followed up with other interventions, such as cognitive therapy, support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and stress management training.— Excerpt taken from Psychology Today.
More about meditation research
Meditation is a simple yet powerful tool that will take you to a state of profound relaxation, dissolve fatigue and accumulated stress, and renew your creativity and passion for life. By its very nature, meditation calms the mind, and when the mind is in a state of restful awareness, the body relaxes as well.
Studies have shown that by learning and practicing daily meditation you can improve your mental and physical wellbeing, including:
- Lowered blood pressure and cholesterol levels
- Reduced levels of stress and anxiety
- Increased production of the anti-aging hormone DHEA
- Improved immune function
- Greater focus and attention
In addition to these benefits, meditation brings a profound sense of calm and inner peace into your daily life.
soham: I am
More about meditation research
