2008 APA Convention in Boston
Pre-registration for the APA Convention closes on July 31st. The searchable version of the APA Convention program is now available. This year we'll also have programming in our hospitality suite at the Mariott Copley Plaza.
We had many more excellent programs than we could accept. You can change this by helping us to get more hours on the program. The number of hours a division receives is determined solely by the number of people who indicate it as their primary division when registering for convention. So please, when you do register, list 56 first, so that in 2009 we'll have more than the minimum number of hours for your excellent work to be showcased.
Division 56's famous dessert social hour, co-sponsored with the Divisions for Social Justice, will happen from 8-10 pm on Friday, August 15th, Marriott Copley Plaza Hotel, Grand Salons A-C on the 4th floor. Free and welcome to all.
APA Summit on Violence and Abuse in Relationships
Photos and materials from the first Division 56-sponsored APA Summit on Violence and Abuse in Relationships are now available for download.
2007 APA Convention in San Francisco
Symposium: Prostitution, Trafficking, Sexual Compulsivity and Trauma
This symposium considered the multi-faceted relationship between prostitution, trafficking and psychological trauma. Contributions of cultural norms about gender and violence, and issues of public policy, were explored.
- Chair
Steven N. Gold - Interlocking Traumatic Harm of Prostitution and Sex Trafficking
Melissa Farley
Listen to audio | View the slides - Role of Psychologists in Combating Trafficking Through the United Nations
Thema Bryant-Davis
Listen to audio | View the slides - Normative Male Sexual Socialization: Harmless Fun or Sexual Trauma?
Gary R. Brooks
Listen to audio | View the slides | Read the paper - Normative Gay Normative Male Sexual Socialization: Harmless Fun or Sexual Trauma?
William Elder
Listen to audio | Read the paper - Discussant
Laura S. Brown
Listen to audio - Q & A
Listen to audio
Symposium: Innovations in Psychological Care for Returning War Veterans
This symposium examined the considerable and unique challenges posed for psychologists by military veterans returning from Afghanistan and Iraq for the involved healthcare delivery systems of the military and Veterans Administration.
- Chair
Terence M. Keane
Listen to audio - Rapid Mental Health Intervention for Physically Injured Combat Trauma Victims
Harold Wain
Listen to audio - Pain Among Returning Military Service Members From OEF/OIF
Robert D. Kerns
Listen to audio | View the slides - Meeting the Needs of Returning Veterans: Dissemination of Evidence-Based PTSD Treatment
Josef I. Ruzek
Listen to audio | View the slides - Traumatic Brain Injury in Returning Veterans: Implications for Comprehensive Treatment
Rodney Vanderploeg
Listen to audio | View the slides - Examination of PTSD and Its Relationship to Veterans' Health Functioning
Matthew Jakupcak
Listen to audio | View the slides - Discussant
David Riggs
Listen to audio - Chair
Terence M. Keane
Listen to audio
Film Presentation and Panel Discussion: Deliver Us from Evil
After the showing of the film Deliver Us From Evil, a panel of experts on sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church discussed their work with survivors, the church, and the legal system.
- Mary Gail Frawley-O'Dea, Chair
- Christine Courtois
- Gerald J. McGlone
- John C. Manly
- Patrick Wall
- Panel discussion
Listen to audio - Q & A
Listen to audio
2006 APA Convention in New Orleans
Treating Traumatized Children and Families
This symposium, the Division's first substantive APA Convention program, was designed not only to cover a broad spectrum of topics in the field of trauma, but also to reflect the Division leadership's commitment to addressing the needs and interests of both researchers and practitioners.
- Introduction
Judith Alpert
Listen to audio. - Treating Survivors of Clergy Abuse and Their Families: Trauma and Spiritual Bereavement
Mary Gail Frawley-O'Dea
Listen to audio | Read the paper. - Treating Battered Mothers and Their Traumatized Children
Lenore Walker
Listen to audio | View the slides. - Innovations in Treatment of Returning OIF/OEF Combat Veterans and Their Families
Terrence Keane
Listen to audio | View the slides. - Why Cross-Cultural Competence Must Inform Trauma Treatment of Children and Families
Melba J. T. Vasquez
Listen to audio | Read the paper. - Using Research to Inform Trauma Treatment: Insight from Betrayal Trauma Studies
Jennifer Freyd
Listen to audio | View the slides. - Discussant
Robert Geffner
Listen to audio.

After spending several decades working with victims of abuse, I began to realize how important theory and research about trauma was. I'm involved in Division 56 because it's important for there to be a home in APA for psychologists and other professionals who deal with some aspect of trauma.