Addressing Racial Trauma in Therapy

Dr. Jennifer R. Jones-Damis is a licensed psychologist in New York and New Jersey and a Licensed Professional Counselor in New Jersey. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Women and Gender Studies from The University of Virginia; a Master’s Degree in School and Community Counseling from Regent University; and a Doctorate Degree in School Psychology from Rutgers University. She has focused her career on understanding and addressing traumatic stress and racial trauma in individuals and systems.

Dr. Jones-Damis completed a highly competitive, two-year Postdoctoral Fellowship in Traumatic Stress at Mount Sinai Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City where she administered evidence based treatment to youth in the juvenile justice system, coordinated staff trainings in evidence-based interventions and facilitated follow up consultation with state agencies (e.g., New York Department of Probation, Riker’s Island). Dr. Jones-Damis was the Associate Director of Mental Health for the Young Adult (18-21) population at Riker’s Island Correctional Facility where she spear headed the mental health aspect of the Alternative to Solitary Confinement Program. She then became the Mental Health Director of the largest jail in New Jersey, Essex County Jail. Currently, Dr. Jones-Damis is the Director of Counseling, ADAP, and Psychiatric Services at Rutgers University.

Dr. Jones-Damis is an active participant with the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN), particularly on the School’s Committee Work Group and the Justice Consortium Committee. In 2018, Dr. Jones-Damis spear headed a new sub-committee, which combined the School, Community Violence, and Cultural Committees of NCTSN in order to address how educators and counselors respond to race and trauma in the classroom and therapeutic settings. Dr. Jones-Damis facilitates trainings and workshops for schools, organizations, and companies to increase knowledge about the impact stress and racial trauma has on mental health while offering tangible ways to promote resilience. Furthermore, Dr. Jones-Damis holds positions on the state and national boards of The Association of Black Psychologists, where she continues to advocate for the mental health needs of the Black community.