{"id":81353,"date":"2026-05-04T18:44:37","date_gmt":"2026-05-04T22:44:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/ssw\/?p=81353"},"modified":"2026-05-13T17:38:05","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T21:38:05","slug":"exploring-trauma-and-healing-bussw-community-engages-at-2026-isstd-conference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/ssw\/exploring-trauma-and-healing-bussw-community-engages-at-2026-isstd-conference\/","title":{"rendered":"Exploring Trauma and Healing, BUSSW Community Engages at 2026 ISSTD Conference"},"content":{"rendered":"

Boston University School of Social Work (BUSSW) faculty and students\u00a0participated\u00a0in this year\u2019s Annual Conference of the<\/span>\u00a0International Society for the Study of Trauma & Dissociation (ISSTD)<\/span><\/a>, led by\u00a0Associate Professor\u00a0<\/span>Jennifer M. G\u00f3mez<\/span><\/a>\u00a0who\u00a0was\u00a0named a Fellow of ISSTD,\u00a0an\u00a0honor recognizing sustained contributions and impact in the field.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

At the conference, G\u00f3mez\u00a0participated\u00a0in several\u00a0key\u00a0sessions. She served as a plenary panelist for \u201cThe Launch, the Journey, and the Destination,\u201d joining leading scholars to reflect on the field and its future. Her talk focused on\u00a0<\/span>betrayal trauma theory<\/span><\/a>,\u00a0<\/span>cultural betrayal trauma theory,<\/span>\u00a0and the roles\u00a0of\u00a0<\/span>institutional\u00a0courage\u00a0<\/span><\/a>and\u00a0<\/span>dreamstorming\u00a0<\/span><\/a>in\u00a0transforming\u00a0the world into one that is more equal and peaceful for everyone.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

She also spoke on the invited panel \u201cDiverse Adolescent & Adult Perspectives on Trauma Prevention & Healing,\u201d which received a standing ovation.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

G\u00f3mez presented a co-authored paper with\u00a0Assistant Professor\u00a0<\/span>Luis Alvarez-Hernandez<\/span><\/a>\u00a0(Alvarez-Hernandez &\u00a0G\u00f3mez, 2026)\u00a0examining dissociation and\u00a0W.E.B. du\u00a0Bois\u2019\u00a0<\/span>double-consciousness<\/span><\/a>\u00a0among LGBTQ+\u00a0Latines.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Doctoral student Ning\u00a0Yawen\u00a0presented her\u00a0project,\u00a0\u201cFrom Survival to Thriving: A Framework for Restoring Intimacy Following Sexual Trauma,\u201d highlighting\u00a0the\u00a0school\u2019s\u00a0commitment to\u00a0emerging\u00a0scholarship.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

An organizational member of ISSTD,\u00a0BUSSW\u00a0sponsored the Student and Emerging Professional Luncheon. G\u00f3mez served as a Luminary, mentoring early-career professionals.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The conference also recognized work connected to G\u00f3mez\u2019s research. The 2026 ISSTD Frank W. Putnam Outstanding Book Award was awarded to\u00a0<\/span>Shin Shin Tang, PhD<\/span><\/a>, whose book,\u00a0<\/span>\u201cAsian American\u00a0Psychology & Psychotherapy: Intergenerational Trauma, Betrayal, & Liberation\u201d<\/span><\/a>,\u00a0draws on G\u00f3mez\u2019s cultural betrayal trauma theory.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A conference space also featured G\u00f3mez\u2019s concept of \u201cdreamstorming,\u201d inviting attendees to imagine pathways toward collective healing\u00a0and systemic change. As G\u00f3mez writes, \u201cDreamstorming\u00a0is the process of envisioning liberation\u2026 expanding what we think is possible through exposing us to an imagined world of peace and equality.\u201d\u00a0Responses\u00a0from attendees\u00a0will help inform ISSTD\u2019s future planning and equity initiatives.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Together, these contributions reflect BUSSW\u2019s ongoing engagement in advancing trauma research, practice, and education.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Jennifer
Jennifer M. G\u00f3mez named a Fellow of ISSTD, pictured with her award.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Plenary
Plenary panel, “The Launch, the Journey, and the Destination – Learning from the Past, Reflecting on the Present, & Dreamstorming a Positive Future for the field of Complex Trauma & Dissociation” Featuring Lynette Danylchuk, Jennifer M. G\u00f3mez, Bethany Brand, & Lisa Danylchuk<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Jeff
Jeff Todahl, Jennifer M. G\u00f3mez, and Kalimah Johnson, at an invited panel discussion.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"
Dreamstorming District by Window at the ISSTD 2026 conference.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

From Professor Jennifer M. G\u00f3mez being named an ISSTD Fellow to PhD student Yawen Ning presenting her project, our community continues to engage in critical work across the field. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25622,"featured_media":81359,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[8570,7427,7520,7426,7511,4057],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/ssw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81353"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/ssw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/ssw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/ssw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/25622"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/ssw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=81353"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/ssw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81353\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":82111,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/ssw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81353\/revisions\/82111"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/ssw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/81359"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/ssw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=81353"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/ssw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=81353"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/ssw\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=81353"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}