Description: This comprehensive academic paper proposes the Integrated Trauma Spectrum Assessment (ITSA) as a conceptual bridge between the DSM-5 and ICD-11 diagnostic frameworks. It challenges the limitations of the CAPS-5 “index event” requirement, which fails to capture the atmospheric reality of polyvictimization.
Rationale: This artifact demonstrates acquisition of assessment knowledge and commitment to ethical practice. By identifying how Western-centric tools risk iatrogenic harm and diagnostic overshadowing (e.g., misdiagnosing trauma responses as Borderline Personality Disorder or Bipolar mania), my proposed ITSA framework aligns directly with the ACA Code of Ethics’ principles of nonmaleficence, beneficence, and multicultural responsiveness.
Title: Case Study: When a Man Loves a Woman
Description: A comprehensive case study analyzing a client with severe Alcohol Use Disorder. The paper utilizes the biopsychosocial model of addiction, applies DSM-5 and AUDIT-C screening criteria, and outlines a multi-dimensional treatment plan incorporating Motivational Interviewing (MI), the Community Reinforcement Approach (CRA), and Relapse Prevention (RP) strategies.
Rationale: This artifact provides concrete evidence of my acquisition of foundational clinical skills. It demonstrates my ability to practice effectively by accurately assessing and diagnosing Substance Use Disorders and designing a comprehensive, evidence-based treatment plan tailored to a client’s specific biopsychosocial needs.
Title: The Soloist: A Case Analysis of Nathaniel Ayers
Description: A case study analyzing Nathaniel Ayers’s symptoms to meet DSM-5-TR criteria for Schizophrenia (F20.9), while concurrently framing his presentation through a trauma-informed lens.
Rationale: This artifact demonstrates my skill in using the DSM-5-TR for diagnostic classification while maintaining ethical awareness that a purely diagnostic label can obscure a client’s humanity and past trauma.
Title: The Treatment of PTSD & Emerging Treatments
Description: A research poster (PDF) synthesizing the epidemiological burden of PTSD, neurobiological advancements (HPA axis, molecular genetics), and the clinical trial efficacy rates of psychedelic-assisted therapies.
Rationale: Translating neurobiological and pharmacological research into an accessible academic poster format allowed me to engage with and share the profession’s evolving empirical literature.
Description: Reflection journal entries detailing the clinical insights gained from attending the Boston International Trauma Conference and the MAPS Psychedelic Science Conferences from 2023-2025. The reflections synthesize presentations from leading experts on the neurobiology of trauma, polyvagal theory, somatic interventions, and the evolving landscape of complex PTSD treatment, cutting-edge empirical research surrounding MDMA-assisted therapy, and other emerging psychedelic modalities.
Rationale: This artifact demonstrates my deep commitment to professional diligence and lifelong learning. By actively pursuing advanced, specialized education outside of the core academic curriculum and engaging with the profession’s foremost trauma researchers, I ensure that my clinical practice remains grounded in the most current, evidence-based methodologies.
Title: Advocacy and Lifelong Learning Networking
Description: Founded a Public Charity/Non-Profit (Protea Foundation) dedicated to advocacy work, networking with stakeholders, active membership, and engagement with professional counseling organizations (American Counseling Association (ACA) and Chi Sigma Iota (Pi Alpha chapter).
Rationale: Active engagement with professional organizations outside of the classroom is a hallmark of valuing professional diligence. Starting a public charity to advocate for mental health, particularly for marginalized populations, demonstrates a long-term commitment to professional dligence. Maintaining these memberships provides concrete evidence of my ongoing commitment to the counseling profession, ethical adherence, and lifelong learning through continued access to peer-reviewed literature, advocacy initiatives, and professional networking. I also have an extensive library of clinical research–nearly 2,500 journal articles that I have sorted through over the past 3 years!
Description: A 10-session narrative therapy group plan designed to help vulnerable adolescents (ages 13-17) externalize adverse childhood experiences and build resilience using the metaphor of navigating a river.
Rationale: This artifact reflects my work as a practitioner and community advocate while modeling proactive community leadership and culturally responsive care. This artifact is a proposed school- and community-based intervention that addresses the public health impact of ACEs and supports adolescents in building self-efficacy and resilience. It also meticulously maps the complex ethical guidelines for minor consent across Colorado and Florida (where I also interned).
Title: Journal Reflections: Systemic Oppression and Cultural Immersion
Description: A series of academic journal entries documenting my analysis of systemic oppression (reflecting on Ta-Nehisi Coates’s work on reparations) and my active participation in several cultural immersion experiences across diverse community settings (including Greek, Italian, Puerto Rican, and Japanese cultural contexts).
Rationale: This artifact highlights my foundational commitment to social justice. By critically examining the root causes of systemic oppression and proactively engaging in cultural immersion, I demonstrate my dedication to expanding my multicultural awareness. This ongoing self-education is critical to excelling as an advocate and practitioner who serves marginalized and diverse populations.
Title: Assignment 4.1: Know the Law—Confidentiality, Mandated Reporting, and Duty to Warn
Description: A comprehensive research paper summarizing and analyzing Colorado state laws governing Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs). The paper details the statutory requirements and exceptions regarding confidentiality, specifically focusing on the mandatory reporting of child and elder abuse (C.R.S. § 19-3-304 and § 18-6.5-108) and the Duty to Warn when a client communicates a serious threat of imminent physical violence against an identifiable person (C.R.S. § 13-21-117). The assignment evaluates these legal obligations in the context of the ACA Code of Ethics, mandatory client disclosures (SB24-115), and practical clinical risk management.
Rationale: To excel as a clinical practitioner and community advocate, one must deeply understand the legal frameworks designed to protect both the individual client and the broader public. This artifact demonstrates my competence in navigating high-stakes legal and ethical dilemmas. By mastering the specific criteria that trigger a Duty to Warn or a mandatory abuse report, I prove my readiness to actively protect vulnerable community members while ethically managing the complexities of client confidentiality.
Title: Personal Cultural Analysis & Identity Development
Description: A deep exploration of my complex cultural identity, childhood abandonment, and movement through the Racial/Cultural Identity Development (R/CID) model toward Integrative Awareness.
Rationale: This paper reflects my process of examining my personal history of marginalization. By analyzing how my intersectional experiences shaped my worldview and resilience, I gained self-awareness that informs how I hold space for diverse clients without imposing my own narrative.
Title: Clinical Reflections Journal Entries (December 2025)
Description: A collection of journal entries documenting my experiences as a new counselor during practicum and internship. The entries explore my struggles with self-doubt, developing clinical skills, and navigating the emotional weight of client crises, alongside the growth supported by intensive training in suicide prevention, crisis de-escalation, and regular supervision.
Rationale: These entries capture the tension of entering the profession–balancing the responsibility of sitting with clients in distress while confronting my own limitations and lived experiences. Through structured on-the-job training and supportive supervision, I learned to recognize countertransference, apply crisis intervention protocols, and build confidence in high-stakes situations. This artifact reflects my commitment to turning the challenges of early practice into opportunities for ethical growth and clinical competence.
Title: Cristina Pearse: Identity Wheel Journal
Description: A self-reflective academic exercise examining the intersection of my cultural identities, language exposure, and my personal evolution from a resistant attachment style toward a secure attachment style.
Rationale: This artifact highlights clinical self-awareness. By mapping my own attachment patterns and cultural identifiers, I demonstrate understanding of how my internal working models and intersectionality influence my worldview and, consequently, how they impact my countertransference and therapeutic presence with clients.
Title: Successful Colonization on Mars: A Comprehensive Dust Storm Crisis Plan
Description: A comprehensive, whole-community “simulation” crisis response guide developed to mitigate the physical and psychological consequences of a severe dust storm on a Mars colony. The plan outlines detailed procedures for establishing a multidisciplinary Crisis Response Team (CRT) and coordinating communications and logistics during a catastrophic event. It focuses on the clinical mental health interventions required before, during, and after the disaster, including Psychological First Aid, baseline stress management training, Triage Assessment Forms, and post-crisis group therapy to reduce the likelihood of PTSD.
Rationale: This artifact demonstrates my capacity to operationalize compassionate service and psychological triage during a large-scale, high-stakes emergency. It prioritizes proactive mental healthcare and resilience-building in an extreme, isolated environment while demonstrating a basic ability to design systemic, whole-community recovery frameworks. It highlights my competence in addressing trauma on a macro-level, ensuring the long-term well-being and stability of a population following a disaster.
Title: PTSD Master of Disguise Childhood Trauma (PDF)
Description: A psychoeducational slide deck presentation (PDF) designed to educate audiences on the profound impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). The presentation covers the ACE pyramid, the $14.1 trillion financial impact of untreated trauma, and the critical importance of early intervention during adolescence, operating under the premise that “If you can count to 10… You can save a child in crisis.”
Rationale: This artifact demonstrates my ability to translate complex epidemiological data and clinical trauma frameworks into accessible, community-facing psychoeducation. By raising awareness about the systemic roots of complex trauma, it fulfills the mandate to foster public well-being and advocate for vulnerable populations at the local and state levels.
Title: Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) Certification
Description: A 2-day intensive, interactive crisis intervention training completed as part of my on-the-job training during Internship II at Clinica Family Health & Wellness. The course provided evidence-based, practical methodologies for recognizing the signs of suicidal ideation, safely intervening in immediate crises, and collaboratively developing effective safety plans with clients to prevent immediate harm. I actively participated in a role-playing exercise, demonstrating proficiency in leading a client to safety.
Rationale: This artifact demonstrates my readiness to excel as a clinical practitioner and community leader. Managing suicidality is one of the most critical, high-stakes responsibilities of a counselor. Completing this specialized 2-day training proves I am equipped with the practical, life-saving skills needed to safely hold space for high-risk populations, mitigate crises effectively in the therapy room, and serve as a frontline advocate for suicide prevention within the broader community.