Dalia Ruiz, a student in the Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology (PsyD) program at Antioch University Santa Barbara, has been chosen to present at the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies’ (ISTSS) 30th annual meeting.
In a poster format, Dalia will present “An Application of Developmental Theories to Understand the Impact of Trauma on Latino Children.” The presentation will center on understanding the effect of trauma and interpersonal violence on Latino children based on age, motor and cognitive abilities, and cultural factors with the goal of developing more effective treatment approaches. She is scheduled to present on Friday, Nov. 7 at the conference in Miami, Florida.
“I have always had a love for children, and it was my initial interest in children and my curiosity on childhood trauma that pushed me to enroll in a doctoral program,” Dalia said. “At Antioch, I have been taught that contextual/systemic influences are crucial factors in lifespan development. Ultimately, it is this perspective that has led to my idea of exploring the specific factors for Latino children as they relate to witnessing interparental violence.”
The overall theme of the ISTSS meeting – “Healing Lives and Communities: Addressing the Effects of Childhood Trauma Across the Life Span” – is a perfect fit for Dalia’s area of study, and she said AUSB’s intimate environment is helping her prepare.
“Being able to participate in small classes has helped sharpen my communication and presentation skills and has given me the confidence needed to be able to undertake this,” Dalia said. “In the end, however, it has been the instructors’ support and emphasis on fostering every student’s own special interest that has made this possible.”
For more information on the ISTSS meeting, visit www.istss.org.
