What is the TREAT Trauma Series?

As clinical staff working with substance use disorders, trauma stewardship and trauma-informed principles are at the center of your work. TREAT is proud to offer a training series that develops skills to navigate trauma for both clinicians and court participants. Topics for this training series include:


  • Trauma needs of veterans
  • Racial and gendered trauma
  • Trauma-informed boundaries, assessment, and screening
  • Case studies


Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the Massachusetts Trial Courts, and UMass Medical School, Commonwealth Medicine, have partnered with one of the leaders in trauma-focused training for substance use disorders, Institute for Health and Recovery (IHR), to facilitate, develop, and lead this training series.



Meet the Trauma Series Faculty

Nicole LeBlanc, LICSW

Institute for Health & Recovery

TREAT Faculty, Trauma Series

Nicole is a statewide presenter on topics such as psychological trauma, substance abuse issues / opioid crisis, effective case management skills, secondary trauma / compassion fatigue and self-care.  Nicole is also an Adjunct Faculty Instructor at Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester NH and has been teaching for well over 10 years.  Nicole has been a Licensed Clinical Social Worker for 25 years and a psychotherapist for 15 years. Her clinical work experience also includes child protection and investigative services, family shelters, Inpatient psychiatric care and urgent care settings.  


Contact: [email protected]

Leana Pilet, LMHC

Institute for Health and Recovery

TREAT Faculty, Trauma Series

Leana Pilet is an Adult Trauma Integration Specialist who provides training to enhance trauma informed care. Leana's experience includes clinical, management, and training positions within various levels of care for adolescents and adults. Leana has worked with people impacted by a dual diagnosis, mental health disorder, trauma, and sexual assault. Leana is a licensed mental health counselor in Massachusetts with a background in expressive arts therapy. 


Contact: [email protected]

David Stanley, LCSW

Institute for Health & Recovery

TREAT Faculty, Trauma Series

In his current position, David collaborates with a range of human and criminal justice services to enhancing their capacity to provide trauma-informed, integrated care.  David has worked in various management and clinical positions for over thirty years and as a staff training specialist since 1995. He has developed and implemented a wide range of online and in-person staff training on a wide range of topics including substance use disorders and trauma.   


Contact: [email protected]

Previous Trainings




Introduction to Trauma and Developing Trauma-Informed Skills

Nicole LeBlanc, LICSW

Part 1: A Comprehensive Introduction to Psychological Trauma

Part 2: Developing Practical Skills in Providing Trauma-Informed Care

Lecture and Materials


-------------------------------------------------------------------




Trauma-Informed Screening and Assessment

Nicole LeBlanc, LICSW

In this training we will examine trauma informed techniques for collecting information about individuals and their families through the process of screening and assessment.

Lecture and Materials


-------------------------------------------------------------------




Boundaries In Trauma-Informed Care

Nicole LeBlanc, LICSW

What are professional boundaries and how do we capture a healthy balance between us and our clients? What are the risk factors? How do we reduce possible risks of boundary violations while at work?

Lecture and Materials


-------------------------------------------------------------------




Addressing Racial Trauma I: Background

Leana Pilet, LMHC and David Stanley, LCSW

This training is designed to provide participants with information on the impacts of racial trauma, ways to promote equity in therapeutic environments, and how to support healing in treatment.

Lecture and Materials


-------------------------------------------------------------------




Gender Responsive Care: Men, Gender, and Trauma

David Stanley, LCSW

In this program we will explore the topic of gender responsive care by first exploring the influence of gender on how people experience, respond to, and recover from traumatic experiences. 

Lecture and Materials


-------------------------------------------------------------------




Addressing the Needs of Veterans in Trauma-Informed Care

Leana Pilet, LMHC

The training provides an overview of Trauma-Informed Care, veterans, and military culture. Many of those who have served in the military have experienced significant traumatic events. This training offers knowledge of the military culture and how trauma impacts veterans, and most importantly, how we can support veterans in healing from trauma.

Lecture and Materials


-------------------------------------------------------------------




Trauma-Informed Case Management

Nicole LeBlanc, LICSW

Participants in this training will learn effective case management skills. Skills such as reflective listening, productive engagement, and building a healthy client relationship will be explored.  

Lecture and Materials

-------------------------------------------------------------------




Addressing Racial Trauma II: Enhancing Allyship Skills Within Communities and Treatment

Leana Pilet, LMHC and Jazmine Washington, MSW

This training is designed to provide participants with information on how to enhance their ability to be an ally. This training begins with defining marginalization, allyship, and identifying common groups that are marginalized. The training moves to explore personal biases and how these impact one’s about to be an ally. The training provides exploration on self-reflection on how to enhance one’s ability to be an ally.

At the end of this training people will be able to:

1. Identify at least two groups of people that are marginalized

2. Identify at least two ways to empower the voices of marginalized people

3. Identify two personal biases

Lecture and Materials


-------------------------------------------------------------------


Case Study: Motivational Interviewing and Trauma Informed Techniques for Assessments

Meghan McBride, MS, LADC1 and Jess Kearney, LICSW

This case study is designed to provide participants with a demonstration of motivational interviewing and trauma informed techniques during the ORAS (Ohio Risk Assessment System) assessment. Facilitator Meghan McBride will play the role of the clinician and Facilitator Jess Kearney will play the role of the client, Kim.


The client is a 31-year-old female on probation for Possession of Class A. On this charge, Kim was sentenced to 12 months' probation. She violated her probation after testing positive on a drug screen, resulting in her referral to the Springfield Community Justice Support Center. Participants will learn how to interact with the mock client using a trauma-informed approach, affirmations, complex reflections, open ended questions, and more.

Case Study


-------------------------------------------------------------------


Case Study: Applying the Principles of Trauma-Informed Care

Filomena DaVeiga, MA, TS, LADC1 & Kimberly Albin, MS

This case study shows participants how to apply the principles of trauma-informed care when working with clients who have complex needs. The principles covered in the case study include safety, transparency and trustworthiness, helping clients make informed decisions, collaboration and mutuality, and empowerment. During the case, Facilitator Kimberly Albin, MS will assume the role of the staff member and Facilitator Filomena DaVeiga, MA, TS, LADC1 will assume the role of the client. At the end of the mock client interview, the Facilitators will recap the principles used in a case study with a quiz for participants to evaluate their knowledge.

Case Study