Domestic Violence Therapist Training - 3 FREE CEUs

Meet the Trainer: CHRISTY STAPLETON M.A., L.M.H.C.

I’m going to start out by being my most authentic self- writing this bio was hard. It’s not for a lack of information, rather, it’s been a “thing” that I’ve avoided until when it’s necessary. Fear is real and (SAFE) risks are the necessary part of the fight we must take to find our freedom- from self, from others. Here’s mine:

I was born to a military father and teenage mother who were married and divorced by the time I was two. After many attempts of parenting, it became obvious that neither were ready to raise a child(ren). After several foster homes and a small, village that raised me, I was naive and college bound without direction, no one to guide me. So, I did what called to my heart and avoided stereotypes and expectations. I became an educator in one of the most diverse districts in the state- Tacoma. It was a comment from my administrator on my 1999 annual review that inspired my leap from education to therapy- “be less therapeutic…”

I hold a Bachelor of Arts in Family Science/Education from Central Washington University and a Master of Arts in Applied Behavioral Science from Bastyr University.  Until recently, I spent the last 18 years working in community mental health (both large and small agencies) and have focused on: Trauma/PTSD, Domestic Violence, adoption, the weight and heart of fertility issues, Sensory integration, social difficulties-kids and adults, to name a few. Over the last 14 years, I’ve been honored to serve as the behavioral health specialist at the Crystal Judson Family Justice Center (contract with my employing agency at the time, ended right before the COVID pandemic).

I am client centered and use a system’s approach to my therapeutic work. Domestic Violence can bring a unique dynamic into the therapeutic process and with that, I make it my job to meet client’s where they are, arm them with knowledge and provide as much safe, systemic support as possible, all the while, being mindful of the impact of DV has on me, and the anxieties/fears if any at a given moment, I might bring home that could impact my sweet children.

In our short time together, we will  take a look at DV and explore the fears we have about working with client’s, the unique obstacles that small, rural communities pose, and how we can protect ourselves and client’s with knowledge, systemic support and trust in the process. One of the most important things we can do is acknowledge and name our fears so that we know where to start our journey, the process of freedom.