Trish Spencer, LCMHCA, LCASA, NCC
Trish Spencer, LCMHCA, LCASA, NCC
I am an intensive trauma therapist at the Trauma Institute’s Wilmington, North Carolina, location. I am a North Carolina native, originally from Kernersville, where I was a teacher and school principal in my previous life. As a principal, I learned how much trauma kids as well as parents have. Now, having retired from education, it is my passion to help others recover from trauma through intensive trauma therapy and help them find joy, peace, and happiness.
I love working with teens and those in early adulthood who have experienced some form of trauma or are experiencing difficulty handling their growing responsibilities and doing “life”. I also love working with parents who have children with substance use disorders, particularly after having witnessed during my educational years the hope, strength, and resilience they have even in the hardest of times. My treatment approach is person-centered as I extend warmth, acceptance, and build trust while using treatment modalities like EMDR, Flash, and Progressive Counting, as well as CBT- and DBT-based interventions.
During my free time, I can usually be found riding my road bike for 50 miles, at the beach, or visiting my two children and my new grandson who live out west. I am also a “Foodie,” so you might find me exploring all the eclectic restaurants and food trucks throughout the Wilmington area with my husband and friends. Spending time with friends and family is what brings me joy and laughter. Joy and laughter are both healing in their own right, and I love to help my clients experience both.
Books by Dr. Greenwald
- EMDR in Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy, 1999, Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson.
- Child Trauma Handbook, 2005, New York: Haworth.
- EMDR Within a Phase Model of Trauma-Informed Treatment, (2007). New York: Haworth.
- Treating Problem Behaviors, (2009). New York: Routledge.
- Progressive Counting, (2013). New York: Routledge.
- A Fairy Tale (comic book, with artist Sal Emi Link). (2007). Greenfield, MA: Child Trauma Institute.
- The Child Abuser’s Secret Book of Tricks (comic book, with artist J. Rettun). (2012). Northampton, MA: Trauma Institute & Child Trauma Institute.
Now off press: Slaying the Dragon: Overcoming Life’s Challenges and Achieving Your Goals
Teaching & Training
Dr. Greenwald offers the Trauma Institute & Child Trauma Institute training programs, including in-depth trauma training for mental health professionals and others (judges, teachers, caseworkers, line staff, parents, etc.) who work with trauma-exposed children, teens, and adults.
TICTI
The Trauma Institute & Child Trauma Institute (TICTI) is a non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization that provides training, consultation, information, and resources for those who work with trauma-exposed children, adolescents, and adults. Dr. Greenwald founded CTI in 2002 in order to more widely disseminate high-quality training programs on trauma treatment and EMDR. The Trauma Institute (TI) name was added in 2008 to convey the full range of our activities, which apply to adults as well as kids. TICTI has a growing faculty of highly qualified supervisors and trainers. Our website provides information and resources to the professional community and the general public, and averages over 60,000 hits per month.
EMDR
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is the most efficient of the well established research-supported treatments for trauma and loss. Dr. Greenwald is a pioneer and leading authority on EMDR, and the recipient of two major awards by the EMDR International Association. He is the author of several books on EMDR, including EMDR in Child & Adolescent Psychotherapy (1999) (translated into German and Italian; Using EMDR With Children, (translated into Spanish); and the text book, EMDR Within a Phase Model of Trauma-Informed Treatment. Dr. Greenwald provides training and consultation for therapists, researchers, and agencies internationally.
Progressive Counting
Progressive Counting (PC) is a newer trauma treatment developed by Dr. Greenwald, based on the counting method, that so far appears to be well tolerated by clients, as effective as EMDR, more efficient, and relatively easy for therapists to learn. PC’s research support is growing.
Intensive Trauma-Focused Therapy
Dr. Greenwald is among the pioneers in developing intensive trauma-focused therapy, and TICTI is a leading provider. Intensive trauma-focused therapy has been found to be as effective as the same treatment approach delivered in conventional weekly sessions, while the intensive model yields very quick results, reduces dropout, and reduces total treatment hours.
Psychology Practice and Consulting
- Brief/intensive treatment or consultation in a private intensive therapy retreat. For individuals, couples, or children/teens with their parent(s).
- Expert Services including trauma-informed evaluation of adults, children, teens, and families; also evaluation of other mental health professionals’ work.
- Consultation for therapists, agencies, programs, or institutions.
Dr. Greenwald’s therapy practice is affiliated with TICTI.
Take the Next Step
Contact us for a free phone consultation, to schedule a therapy retreat, or to learn more about this unique healing opportunity.