Introducing our new elected ECP Representative

My name is Maria Valgoi. I am a trauma psychologist and licensed in Illinois. I have a clinic on the southside of Chicago and I am on faculty at Governors State University in the south suburbs of Chicago. I graduated from University of Illinois Counseling Psychology Program with a graduate concentration in African American Studies. I did my predoctoral internship as the trauma track intern at the Augusta University Medical College/ Charlie Norwood VA Consortium in Augusta Georgia. I did my post doc in trauma informed juvenile risk assessment at Cambridge Health Alliance/ Harvard Medical School in the Victims of Violence Clinic/Safety Net Collaborative.

I am honored to serve as early career rep for Division 56. One avenue I would like to pursue in my role is secondary trauma/ burnout prevention in early career psychologists. I feel this is an important aspect of career that can be difficult to navigate. Another avenue I hope to open dialogue about is the burgeoning research about the use of psychedelics for treatment of trauma/PTSD. I am currently in a training program to become a psychedelic assisted therapy practitioner. Psychedelic Assisted Therapy protocols are great examples of integrated care models and psychologists serve an immensely important role in all aspects from preparation to integration sessions.

I look forward to talking with everyone, sharing ideas, and generally being in solidarity.