ISTSS engages its members in advancing traumatic stress science and uses research to improve prevention and clinical care, promote resilience and inform public education and policy. Below is a list of research initiatives related to traumatic stress.

ISTSS members are invited to submit research opportunities for consideration. ISTSS does not oversee or evaluate individual studies. It is the responsibility of the institution and the principal investigator to uphold scientific and ethical requirements. All studies listed are IRB approved and ISTSS will not have access to data obtained through these studies.

Potential participants are asked to read all informed consent materials thoroughly and to contact the study’s principal investigator with any questions. This includes considering emerging data protection and privacy issues related to new digital technologies, such as artificial intelligence tools, and questions about whether information will be shared with outside companies, how privacy will be protected, and what is being done to reduce the risk of data leaks.

Expanding Definitions of Trauma: A Concept Mapping Approach

Principal Investigator: Sean Bullock
Institution: San José State University

Study Purpose
This study seeks to gain insight into how licensed mental health practitioners who identify as trauma specialists conceptualize trauma as it manifests in clients. Specifically, the study explores how trauma is understood in terms of experiences, symptoms, and characteristics of traumatic events.

Who Can Participate?
Participants must:

• Hold independent licensure to practice psychotherapy

• Self-identify as a specialist in the treatment of trauma and trauma-related problems

What Participation Involves
Participants will:

• Generate brief statements describing how they conceptualize trauma in clinical practice

• Sort and rate statements related to trauma concepts

• Participate in a 2-hour virtual focus group to discuss resulting concept maps

Total estimated time commitment: approximately 3 hours.

Compensation
Participants who complete all study phases will receive a $30 gift card.

IRB Approval
This study has been approved by the San José State University Institutional Review Board (Protocol #25-204)

Interested?
Please complete the Interest Form here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfEShB8rmWBVw252vxXRgdCYbx2RlThToj_WOUg_FrCVYFNvA/viewform

Posted: February 18, 2026

Exploring Licensed Mental Health Professionals’ Experience Working with Clients with Suspected Complex Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD)

Institution: Walden University

Walden University is recruiting 6–10 licensed mental health professionals to participate in a research study exploring clinicians’ experiences working with clients who have experienced trauma, including those diagnosed with PTSD or suspected of having Complex PTSD (CPTSD).

What Participation Involves

Participants will take part in a 45–60 minute interview focused on their professional experiences treating clients with a history of trauma.

Eligibility Criteria

To participate, you must:

• Be a licensed mental health counselor, clinical social worker, or psychologist

• Have been licensed and practicing for at least five consecutive years

• Currently treat clients diagnosed with PTSD or suspected CPTSD

• Live and practice in the United States

• Have never had your professional license revoked or placed on probation

Confidentiality

This study is not affiliated with any organization. Participation will remain confidential. Only the researcher will know who participates.

• All identifying information will be removed

• Audio recordings will be stored in a password-protected, encrypted folder on a flash drive

• The flash drive will be secured in a locked filing cabinet in a locked room accessible only to the researcher

Interested in Participating?

For additional information or to volunteer, please contact:

Karen Cowell
Doctoral Candidate, Walden University
Email: karen.cowell@waldenu.edu

IRB Approval Number: 02-03-26-0786545
Approval Expiration Date: February 2, 2027

Posted: February 17, 2026

ISTSS members who would like their research to be advertised on this page may submit their proposals to info@istss.org for consideration. Research studies will be posted for six months after which an extension must be requested. Please note: ISTSS does not send research requests to our membership through listservs. However, all postings listed on this page will be cross-posted in Stresspoints and the ISTSS Twitter feed.

For submissions, please include the following information:

1. Name of Primary Investigaton
2. University where the study is taking place
3. Purpose of the study
4. Participant inclusion criteria
5. Letter of IRB Approval and date of IRB expiration (please specify that you have approval for posting on websites, social media, and electronic newsletters)
6. Survey link