Christine Courtois, Ph.D.

Christine Courtois, Ph.D.
Christine A. Courtois, PhD, ABPP is a Psychologist in independent practice in Washington, DC where she is the principal of Courtois & Associates, PC. She received her PhD from the University of Maryland in College Park, in 1979. Dr. Courtois is immediate Past-President of Division 56 (Psychological Trauma) of the American Psychological Association and has recently published a revision of Healing the Incest Wound: Adult Survivors in Therapy (2010, 1988) and Treating Complex Traumatic Stress Disorders: An Evidence-Based Guide (2009) co-edited with Dr. Julian Ford. Her new book, The Treatment of Complex Trauma: A Sequenced, Relationship-Based Approach, co-authored with Dr. Ford, will be published by Guilford later this year. She is currently co-editing another book with him on the treatment of complex traumatic stress disorders in children (Guilford) and co-editing a book with Drs. Donald Walker and Jamie Aten on trauma and spirituality (American Psychological Association Books) to be published in 2013. She has authored two other books, Recollections of Sexual Abuse: Treatment Principles and Guidelines (1999) and Adult Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse: A Workshop Model (1993). Dr. Courtois has published numerous articles and chapters on related topics. She is a Founding Associate Editor of the new APA Division 56 journal, Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, & Policy. She is Co-Founder (in 1990, with Joan Turkus, MD) of The CENTER: Posttraumatic Disorders Program, Washington, DC where she served as Clinical and Training Director for 16 years.

Blogs by Christine Courtois, Ph.D.

Experts at Home: Dr. Christine Courtois on Dealing With Trauma

  In this Experts at Home conversation, Dr. Christine Courtois joins Dr. Lisa Firestone to talk about the impact of both past and present trauma as well as tools to help people heal. Watch Now: Subscribe to PsychAlive (it’s free!) to see more Experts at Home.  

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Dr. Christine Courtois on the Voice and Childhood Trauma: VIDEO

Dr. Christine Courtois talks about the role of the critical inner voice in the inter-generational transmission of childhood trauma. The following transcript contains part of an exclusive interview with Dr. Lisa Firestone and Dr. Christine Courtois. CC       I have worked my whole career with adult survivors of incest and child sexual abuse or other forms… Read more »

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Dr. Christine Courtois on Incest: VIDEO

Dr. Christine Courtois explains the emotional impact of incest. The following transcript contains part of an exclusive interview with Dr. Lisa Firestone and Dr. Christine Courtois. CC      In my book revision for Healing the Incest Wound, I just wrote about the fact that I think that we don’t look enough at what families do to… Read more »

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Dr. Christine Courtois on Violence: VIDEO

Dr. Christine Courtois talks about her perspective on working with clients in relation to violence. The following transcript contains part of an exclusive interview with Dr. Lisa Firestone and Dr. Christine Courtois. LF                   In working with people who have been violent, what do you think is the most important thing in terms of treatment… Read more »

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Dr. Christine Courtois on the Concept of The Voice

Dr. Christine Courtois talks about the concept of the critical inner voice. The following transcript contains part of an exclusive interview with Dr. Lisa Firestone and Dr. Christine Courtois. CC                   I think in the field of trauma that the idea of voice and internalized voice is very important and it’s had different terminology.  Certainly “identification… Read more »

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Dr. Christine Courtois on Complex Trauma and Cognitive Distortion: VIDEO

Dr. Christine Courtois talks about complex trauma and the defense of minimization. The following transcript contains part of an exclusive interview with Dr. Lisa Firestone and Dr. Christine Courtois. CC       I mean, I think that’s one of the fascinating things about this whole idea of complex trauma as well is — in one of the… Read more »

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Dr. Christine Courtois on Parenting: VIDEO

Dr. Christine Courtois discusses optimal parenting strategies. The following transcript contains part of an exclusive interview with Dr. Lisa Firestone and Dr. Christine Courtois. CC                   If I were to talk to parents about parenting, I would give them the message to really cherish their child and to do whatever they could to promote the child’s… Read more »

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VIDEO: Interview Series with Dr. Christine Courtois

Christine A. Courtois, PhD,  is an expert in psychological trauma. In this exclusive interview series she discusses a variety of topics including childhood trauma, complex trauma, the critical inner voice, violence, incest and parenting. Order the Full DVD Interview: Attachment, Trauma and Dissociation In this DVD, Dr. Christine Courtois draws upon her expertise in the… Read more »

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Dr. Christine Courtois on the Critical Inner Voice and Psych-Ache: VIDEO

Dr. Christine Courtois talks about the critical inner voice and its effect on a person’s capacity for self-compassion. The following transcript contains part of an exclusive interview with Dr. Lisa Firestone and Dr. Christine Courtois. CC       The whole issue of self-esteem and self-blame I find is so deeply embedded that it just takes a lot… Read more »

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