Susan Brown, LCSW

 “No-nonsense to-the-heart-of-the-matter approach”

Susan Brown, LCSW, BCD

4700 Spring St. Suite 204 La Mesa, CA. 91942

EDUCATION

B.A. Biology
The American University, Washington, D.C.
Degree Awarded, June 1973

Master’s Clinical Social Work
San Diego State University, San Diego, CA.
Degree Awarded, May 1979

Board Certified Diplomate Clinical Social Work

CAREER EXPERIENCE

• Specializing in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy
• Direct Clinical Services/EMDR Consultation and Specialty Training
• Research: Use of EMDR with Co-Occurring PTSD and Substance Use Disorder (Principal Investigator)
• Writing: Clinical and Educational
• National Presentations
• Pharmaceutical Research Assistant: Clinical Drug Trials
• Treatment Supervision
• Staff Development and Training
• EMDR Program Development for Addiction

PUBLICATIONS

Brown, S. (2003). The Missing Piece: A case for EMDR-based treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder and co-occurring substance use disorder. Originally published online at http:/www.lifeforceservices.com. Now available by author at sbrownlcsw@gmail.com.

Brown, S. and Shapiro, F. (2006) EMDR in the Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder; Clinical Case Studies, Oct. 2006.

Kirchner, R. A., Kirchner, T. R., & Brown S. (2007). Enhancing outcomes by integrating a Phased Trauma Treatment Intervention: Evaluation of the Thurston County Drug Court Program- Part III. Annapolis, Maryland: Glacier Consulting, Inc.

Brown, S. and Gilman, S. (2008). An Integrated Trauma Treatment Program (EMDR and Seeking Safety) as an Enhancement in the Thurston County Drug Court Program; Executive Summary; Lifeforce Trauma Solutions, Inc.

Brown, S., Stowasser, J., & Shapiro, F. (2011). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing: Principles, protocols, and procedures; Chapter 10 in Book 4: Principles of Intervention: Mental Health-Substance Abuse. Radcliffe Publishing Ltd, Oxford, UK.

Kirchner, R A. & Brown, S. (2012). Enhancing services of Mental Health Court and Veterans Court Initiatives: Evaluation of the expansion and developmet of Thurston County DUI/Drug Court Programs. Annapolis, Maryland: Glacier Consulting, Inc.

Brown, S. (2013) Book Review: Getting Past Your Past (Shapiro 2012). Permanente Journal

Brown S. H., Gilman S. G., Goodman E. G., Adler-Tapia R., Freng S. (2015). Integrated trauma treatment in drug court: Combining EMDR therapy and Seeking Safety. Journal of EMDR Practice and Research, 9(3).

Brown, S. H. (2016). Adverse childhood experiences, addiction, and EMDR therapy: Building on the new neuroscience (submitted for review).

PRESENTATIONS

Brown, S., (Panel) (2003). PTSD and Substance Use Disorders: Integrated Trauma Treatment in a Drug Court Model; National Assn. of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP); Reno, NV.

Brown, S. & Gilman, S. (2007). Integrated Trauma Treatment in Drug Court Program; National Assn. of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP); Anaheim, CA.

Brown, S. & Gilman, S. (2008). An Integrated Trauma Treatment Program (ITTP): EMDR and Seeking Safety for PTSD and substance abuse in a drug court program; EMDRIA Conference, Phoenix, AZ.

Brown, S., Gilman, S. & Popky, A.J. (2009). Using the DeTUR Model and EMDR to treat addictions and impulse control disorders; EMDRIA National Conference: Atlanta, GA.

Brown, S. (2010). Using EMDR to treat trauma in addictions, compulsions, and other dysfunctional behaviors; EMDR no-fee study group, San Diego, CA.

Brown, S. and Outcalt, A. (2010). Trauma Treatment in Addictions (Chemical and Behavioral). Southwest Washington EMDR Regional Meeting; Nov. 6th, 2010

Brown, S. (2010). Where Research Meets Practice: The Adverse Childhood Experiences Study. Washington State Association of Drug Court Professionals Conference

Brown, S. & Goodman, E. (2010). An Integrated Trauma Treatment Program in the Thurston County Drug Court Program: Seeking Safety
and EMDR.

Brown, S. (2010). Using EMDR to Treat Trauma in Addictions, Compulsions, and other Dysfunctional Behaviors; EMDR Study Group, San
Diego, CA.

Brown, S. (2011). EMDR in the Treatment of OCD.EMDR Study Group, San Diego, CA.

Brown, S. & Gilman, S. (2011). EMDR: Trauma, Substance Abuse and the Military. Orange County Center of Excellence; March, 29th, 2011

Brown, S. & Gilman, S. (2011). Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing: Trauma and Substance Abuse; California Southern University, Masters Series Lecture: Irvine, CA.

Brown, S. & Outcalt, A. (2011). EMDR Trauma Treatment in Individuals with Chemical Addictions & Compulsive Behaviors; San Diego, CA.

Brown, S., Stowasser, J., & Zabukovec, J. (2011). The Crucible of Trauma: Domestic Violence, Substance Abuse, and The Military; EMDRIA National Conference; Preconference: Anaheim, CA.

Brown, S. & Popky, A.J. (2011). EMDR in the Treatment of Complex Trauma with Symptoms of Addictive And Compulsive Behaviors; Phoenix, AZ.

Brown, S. (2012-2015) EMDR in the Treatment of Complex Trauma with Symptoms of Addictive and Compulsive Behaviors: 2-day specialty workshop (Albuquerque, New Mexico; Costa Mesa, CA.; Phoenix, Arizona; Olympia, WA.; San Francisco, CA.; Ann Arbor, Michigan; Washington, D.C.

Brown, S. (2013) The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study, Addiction, and the Role of EMDR; Austin, Texas ( EMDRIA Annual Conference)

Brown, S. (2014) EMDR Therapy in the Treatment of Trauma and Addiction. Foundations Recovery Conference: Hotel Del Coronado, San Diego, CA.

Brown, S. (2014). The many faces of addiction: Why do they keep relapsing and how can EMDR therapy help? Invited Pre-conference Speaker, EMDR International Assn. Conference, Denver, CO.

Brown, S. (2016) Breaking the Cycle of Trauma, Addiction and other Compulsive Behaviors: An Integrated EMDR Therapy Approach. Sacramento, CA., San Diego, CA

Brown, S. (2019) Part of me wants to quit & part of me doesn’t: An Integrated Developmental Approach to Addiction. EMDR International Assn. Conference: Anaheim, CA.

MEMBERSHIPS AND RELATED EXPERIENCE

• Board Certified Diplomate in Clinical Social Work 
• NASW (National Association of Social Workers)
• California Association for Marriage and Family Therapists
• State of California Examiner for Board of Behavioral Sciences
• Member EMDR International Association (EMDRIA)
• EMDRIA Certified and Approved Consultant
• EMDRIA Humanitarian Assistance Program (HAP) and EMDR Institute Facilitator
• EMDRIA Specialty Workshop Presenter: EMDR in the Treatment of Complex Trauma & Symptoms of Addictive & Compulsive Behaviors
• EMDRIA Continuing Education Provider
• California Board of Behavioral Sciences Continuing Education Provider
• Former Member of EMDRIA Standards and Training Committee
• Current Member of EMDRIA Conference Committee
• Board Member of EMDR Research Foundation
• Member ISTSS (International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies)
• Member NADCP (Nat’l. Association of Drug Court Professionals)