International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS)

11/20/2025

Exposure Therapy Isn’t One-Size-Fits-All

In TF-CBT, exposure can take many forms — conversation, writing, or even song lyrics for children who connect through music. The goal is to find the format that helps each child share their experience in a way that feels safe and manageable.

11/14/2025

Why Exposure Therapy Looks Different for Kids

Unlike adults, children aren’t convinced by being told that a difficult therapy process will ultimately help them. In TF-CBT, exposure happens gradually, starting with psychoeducation and therapist modeling, not immediate trauma narration. This gentle approach builds trust and readiness before diving deeper.

11/10/2025

Three Phases of TF-CBT

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) is delivered in three phases:
1️⃣ Stabilization & Skill Building – equipping children and caregivers with tools to cope.
2️⃣ Trauma Narration & Processing – helping them work through their experiences.
3️⃣ Consolidation & Integration – applying new skills and insights to life going forward.

11/05/2025

📢 Last Call for Applications: Editor-Elect, Journal of Traumatic Stress (JTS)

The International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS) is seeking applications for the position of Editor-Elect of JTS, a premier peer-reviewed scientific journal published by Wiley with an international circulation of 4,500+.

The Editor-Elect will serve a one-year term beginning January 1, 2027, followed by a five-year term as Editor (2028–2031). The role includes overseeing the peer-review process, guiding the journal’s editorial direction, and advancing global scholarship in traumatic stress.

ISTSS provides an annual stipend of $22,000 USD and support for the operation of a small editorial office.

Ideal candidates will have:
- Extensive research and publication experience in traumatic stress
- Proven editorial or peer-review leadership
- Strong organizational and communication skills
- A global and inclusive perspective on trauma research

📅 Application Deadline: November 7, 2025
📩 Submit your application (letter of interest, CV, and references) to info@istss.org

ISTSS values diversity and encourages applications from candidates representing diverse and underserved populations.

11/04/2025

Supporting Children and Caregivers 💞

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) helps not only children and adolescents heal from trauma, it also supports caregivers in coping with the stress they experienced when their child was hurt. Healing works best when everyone in the family has the tools to recover.

11/03/2025

🌟 Welcome to ISTSS!

We’re thrilled to welcome our new and returning members to the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies community! 💙

By joining ISTSS, you’re part of a global network of professionals dedicated to understanding, preventing, and treating traumatic stress.

✨ Connect with peers
📚 Learn from experts
🌍 Contribute to advancing trauma research and care worldwide

We’re so glad you’re here. Together, we’re making a difference. 💪

10/30/2025

Tell Us How We Did! 💬

Thank you for joining us at the ISTSS 41st Annual Meeting in Baltimore! We hope you left inspired by the sessions, energized by the discussions, and connected with colleagues who share your passion for advancing the field of traumatic stress.

Your feedback matters. It helps us shape even better future meetings for our community. Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts in the Annual Meeting Evaluation.

Submit Your Evaluation -> https://istss.societyconference.com/conf/ /conf10101

10/28/2025

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐮𝐦𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐭 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐮𝐬 𝐒𝐞𝐱𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐮𝐥𝐭

Sexual assault remains a significant issue on college campuses, with 20-25% of college women and 6-8% of men reporting an experience of sexual assault during their college years (Watters & Yalch, 2023). Common prevention approaches are education and bystander programs; however, recent research demonstrates the importance of understanding individual level risk factors that may increase vulnerability.

In this recent ISTSS Trauma Blog, the authors discuss their recent study (published in the Journal of Traumatic Stress) in which results showed that risky alcohol consumption, along with certain types of childhood trauma and drinking motives, strongly predicted both the severity and frequency of sexual assault during college.

As one of the authors, Dr. Kayleigh Watters states:
“𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘺𝘱𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘴-𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯-𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘢 𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘺𝘴𝘪𝘴. 𝘎𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘰𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘯𝘰𝘯-𝘯𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘭 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘶𝘮𝘢 𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘢 𝘸𝘦 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘺𝘱𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘴.”

Learn more now at: https://istss.org/how-childhood-trauma-and-drinking-motives-predict-campus-sexual-assault/
Or read the full paper in the JTS at: https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.70007

How Childhood Trauma and Drinking Motives Predict Campus Sexual Assault: A Comparison of Different Analytical Styles Tara Hedayati, Shalet S. Punno...

10/01/2025

We’re excited to welcome our new and returning members to the International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies. 💙

Your passion and expertise strengthen our global community as we work together to advance knowledge and support healing in the field of traumatic stress.

09/23/2025

On February 3, 2023, a Norfolk Southern train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, releasing toxic compounds into the surrounding air, water, and soil. Technological chemical disasters represent potentially traumatic events capable of influencing mental disorders, such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depression (MD).

This study - recently published in the Journal of Traumatic Stress - reports the first comprehensive investigation of the prevalence and correlates of mental disorders among potentially exposed residents of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia 9 months post-derailment. Presumptive PTSD (15.4%) and MD (13.3%) were prevalent 9 months postderailment. Closer proximity to the derailment site was associated with greater endorsement of health concerns and symptoms, ds = 0.21–0.22, but not with greater mental disorder, OR = 1.02.

Want to learn more? Read the full study now (available as open access) at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jts.70003

09/20/2025

As the ISTSS 41st Annual Meeting wraps up, we're already looking forward to reconnecting with you. Thank you for making ISTSS 2025 a truly memorable and impactful event!

Mark your calendars, we can't wait to see you at the ISTSS 42nd Annual Meeting in 2026! Happening September 23 - 26, 2026 at the San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter in San Antonio, Texas, USA.