TRAIN

Individuals with intellectual disabilities or autism are at an increased risk of experiencing trauma, however, few therapists are skilled in both trauma and ID/A support. To bridge this gap, psychologists with the ASERT team created the TRAIN program – 12 weeks of self-guided learnings and live webinars to equip therapists across Pennsylvania currently working with the ID/A populations, with the skills to support clients through trauma experiences.

Participants have direct supervision from psychologists with backgrounds in both trauma and ID/A and interactive discussions with fellow participants, as well as receive Continuing Education (CE) credits provided through the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) upon completion of the program.

Therapists interested in participating in TRAIN should complete the survey for information about availability in upcoming cohorts.

TRAIN Interest Survey

The TRAIN program covers:

  • Trauma-focused mental healthcare
  • Types and prevalence of trauma
  • Disclosures of abuse
  • Ethical principles of reporting abuse
  • Expressions of trauma
  • Assessing trauma and trauma-focused interviews
  • Psychoeducation
  • Trauma response management strategies
  • Trauma processing
  • Resiliency and self-care

TRAIN is a 12 week program that concludes with case consultations with course instructors. The therapists selected to participate in TRAIN will participate in an introductory kickoff event which will introduce participants and instructors, provide an overview of the program and introduce the learning platform that will be used. Participants will then complete three weeks of self-paced learning followed by an interactive discussion session with the group. There will be three sets of the self-paced learning and discussion sessions.

Throughout the self-paced learning weeks, participants will complete readings, work through engaging learning experiences and complete routine assessments. The interactive discussion sessions will be opportunities for deep-dives into the material and conversations around applications of the learning.

After the first 12 weeks are complete, cases consultations will begin with each therapist expected to present twice.

Jessica (Jes) Bonatakis, PsyD (she/fae/they)

Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Child & Adolescent Psychiatry

Dr. Jessica Bonatakis is a licensed psychologist, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry & Behavioral Health, and the lead developer of TRAIN. She joined clinical faculty at Penn State College of Medicine in 2019 and completed her doctoral studies at Adler University, where fae received specialized training in Socially Responsible Practice. Jes is an AuDHD, multiply neurodivergent, disabled and queer survivor of complex trauma who is passionate about serving Autistic/ADHD/AuDHD people, their caregivers, and the LGBTQIA+ community. Her lived experience, ongoing professional development and integrative, person-centered application of evidence-based practices inform the TRAIN program.

Fae brings a neuroaffirming, anti-oppressive and identity-affirming lens to her trauma recovery work with the misunderstood, historically excluded/exploited, change and movement makers, creatives, nerds and geeks, and in her service to families with young children who communicate through concerning, challenging and baffling behaviors.

Jes resides on the ancestral and unceded land of the Arapaho, Ute, Cheyenne and Očhéthi Šakówiŋ (now known as Fort Collins, Colorado). She recognizes these Indigenous communities as the traditional stewards of the land and honors their continued presence.

Keely Hirsch, PsyD (she/her)

Dr. Keely Hirsch is a licensed psychologist and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry & Behavioral Health, having joined clinical faculty at Penn State College of Medicine in 2022. She completed her doctoral program at Chatham University, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where she focused her training on Autism Spectrum Disorder, including diagnosing individuals of all ages, providing evidence-based psychotherapy to individuals on the spectrum, and working with families and supports. Prior to joining Penn State, Dr. Hirsch worked as a generalist psychologist in California providing individual and group psychotherapy to a range of presenting mental health disorders and concerns for adults, as well as working as an Autism Specialist providing diagnostic evaluation for adults. Presently at Penn State, Dr. Hirsch provides outpatient services including Autism diagnostic evaluations and psychotherapy for individuals with Autism and their families. She also serves as an educator/supervisor for the psychiatry residency and psychology training programs. Her current interests include gender expansive identities with autistic individuals, identifying and increasing evidence based treatment for the Autism population, and clarifying/differentiating the female phenotype of Autism.

Our TRAIN team is proud of the program’s success and the impact the program has had on participants and those they support. See below for testimonials for previous TRAIN participants.

 

“The information I received I could immediately implement with my client.”

– Fall 2021 Participant

 

“Great information about trauma and recognizing trauma!”

– Fall 2021 Participant

 

“I was overall very happy with this program.”

– Fall 2021 Participant

Our next cohort is beginning in April of 2025. Therapists interested in being considered, should complete the survey link below:

TRAIN Interest Survey

 

TRAIN Directory

Below is a map showing where past participants of the TRAIN program currently work and practice. Contact information is provided for those who choose to share that information, along with any details related to their practice.

Please note that while participants are listed by county, many currently provide telehealth services which can be accessed from across the state. This will be updated regularly as more participants complete the TRAIN program.

Click a county to find more info

Select a county

Allegheny County
Armstrong County
Beaver County
Berks County
Bucks County
Butler County
Cumberland County
Dauphin County
Delaware County
Erie County
Fayette County
Greene County
Lancaster County
Lebanon County
Mercer County
Monroe County
Montgomery County
Northampton County
Perry County
Philadelphia County
Snyder County
Somerset County
Washington County
Westmoreland County
York County

Data by County

Allegheny County

Nicole Gannon, LPC

nicolegannonlpc@gmail.com
Psychology Today Profile

*Telehealth available in all counties

Jon Bender Andrews

Hanlon Therapy Associates
JBenderAndrews@hanlontherapy.com

*Virtual/remote only at this time, only available for people in Adult Autism Waiver

Jennifer Macioce LCSW, ICGC

3825 Northern Pike Suite 203
Monroeville PA 15146
724-708-9150
VP 412-516-9394
Jenn.macioce@gmail.com

*Telehealth only

Ashley Brown, LCSW

The Stern Center
724-626-9941
abrown@thesterncenter.org

Gale Foster, LCSW

Wesley Family Services
1045 4th Ave
New Kensington, PA 15068
724-895-8218

https://bridge.wfspa.org 

*Telehealth and in-person available

Accepted Insurance: All commercial, Medicare, Medicaid

Armstrong County

Gale Foster, LCSW

Wesley Family Services
1045 4th Ave
New Kensington, PA 15068
724-895-8218

https://bridge.wfspa.org 

*Telehealth and in-person available

Accepted Insurance: All commercial, Medicare, Medicaid

Beaver County

Jon Bender Andrews

Hanlon Therapy Associates
JBenderAndrews@hanlontherapy.com

*Virtual/remote only at this time, only available for people in Adult Autism Waiver

Berks County

Jessica Adam, LPC

Jessica Adam Counseling
https://jessadam.clientsecure.me/
jessadamlpc@gmail.com
484-619-2211

Accepted Insurance: Aetna, Cigna, United Healthcare/Optum, Independence Blue Cross, Capital Blue Cross, Carelon Behavioral Health, Geisinger.
– Sliding scale is available for out of pocket

*Telehealth Only

Bucks County

Paulette Chobot

Purposeful Change, Inc
paulettechobot@gmail.com

*Telehealth only

Butler County

Jon Bender Andrews

Hanlon Therapy Associates
JBenderAndrews@hanlontherapy.com

*Virtual/remote only at this time, only available for people in Adult Autism Waiver

Gale Foster, LCSW

Wesley Family Services
1045 4th Ave
New Kensington, PA 15068
724-895-8218

https://bridge.wfspa.org 

*Telehealth and in-person available

Accepted Insurance: All commercial, Medicare, Medicaid

Cumberland County

Kate Hall, LSW

The Cornerstone Agency of PA

khall@thecornerstoneagency.com

*Only provides behavior consultations

 

Sasha Winters MS, CCTP, NCC, LPC

Winters Wellnes
2001 N Front St #217, Harrisburg, PA 17102
* Accepted Insurance: Medicaid, Highmark, Capital Blue, Cross, Cigna, Optum, UPMC, M&S EAP
* For private insurance, Sasha is able to see anyone in the state of Pennsylvania to provide both telehealth and in person services.

Dauphin County

Kate Hall, LSW

The Cornerstone Agency of PA

khall@thecornerstoneagency.com

*Only provides behavior consultations

 

Sasha Winters MS, CCTP, NCC, LPC

Winters Wellnes
2001 N Front St #217, Harrisburg, PA 17102

* Accepted Insurance: Medicaid, Highmark, Capital Blue, Cross, Cigna, Optum, UPMC, M&S EAP

* For private insurance, Sasha is able to see anyone in the state of Pennsylvania to provide both telehealth and in person services.

Delaware County

Yancun Wisseh, LPC, MS, MMHC

Redeem American Home Care LLC
2209 S 63rd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19142
www.rahcare.com
redeem.americanhomecare@gmail.com
215-868-8293

Insurance is accepted.
*Telehealth and In-Person Therapy

Erie County

Janet Pawlowski, RN, MA, LMFT

KaleidAScope, Inc

4934 Peach Street Erie, PA 16509
(814) 824-4515
jpawlowski@kas-erie.org
www.kas-erie.org

*Telehealth in other counties, in-person for Erie County only

Fayette County

Ashley Brown, LCSW

The Stern Center
724-626-9941
abrown@thesterncenter.org

Amanda Collins, NCC LPC

Penn State Fayette

aln165@psu.edu
724-430-4122

*Only available to Penn State Fayette students

Greene County

Ashley Brown, LCSW

The Stern Center
724-626-9941
abrown@thesterncenter.org

Lancaster County

Sasha Winters MS, CCTP, NCC, LPC

Winters Wellnes
2001 N Front St #217, Harrisburg, PA 17102

* Accepted Insurance: Medicaid, Highmark, Capital Blue, Cross, Cigna, Optum, UPMC, M&S EAP

* For private insurance, Sasha is able to see anyone in the state of Pennsylvania to provide both telehealth and in person services.

Lebanon County

Sasha Winters MS, CCTP, NCC, LPC

Winters Wellnes
2001 N Front St #217, Harrisburg, PA 17102

* Accepted Insurance: Medicaid, Highmark, Capital Blue, Cross, Cigna, Optum, UPMC, M&S EAP

* For private insurance, Sasha is able to see anyone in the state of Pennsylvania to provide both telehealth and in person services.

Mercer County

Elizabeth Thompson LCSW

Community Counseling Center of Mercer County

Cccmer.org
724-981-7141

Monroe County

Marcey B. Wilder, MS, Clinician

Kidspeace Outpatient – Green St

801 E. Green St.,
Allentown, PA 18103

(610) 799-8910 (Main office number)

 

Montgomery County

Yancun Wisseh, LPC, MS, MMHC

Redeem American Home Care LLC
2209 S 63rd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19142
www.rahcare.com
redeem.americanhomecare@gmail.com
215-868-8293

Insurance is accepted.
*Telehealth and In-Person Therapy

Northampton County

Marcey B. Wilder, MS, Clinician

Kidspeace Outpatient – Green St

801 E. Green St.,
Allentown, PA 18103

(610) 799-8910 (Main office number)

Perry County

Sasha Winters MS, CCTP, NCC, LPC

Winters Wellnes
2001 N Front St #217, Harrisburg, PA 17102

* Accepted Insurance: Medicaid, Highmark, Capital Blue, Cross, Cigna, Optum, UPMC, M&S EAP

* For private insurance, Sasha is able to see anyone in the state of Pennsylvania to provide both telehealth and in person services.

Philadelphia County

Paulette Chobot

Purposeful Change, Inc
paulettechobot@gmail.com

*Telehealth only

Yancun Wisseh, LPC, MS, MMHC

Redeem American Home Care LLC
2209 S 63rd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19142
www.rahcare.com
redeem.americanhomecare@gmail.com
215-868-8293

Insurance is accepted.
*Telehealth and In-Person Therapy

Snyder County

Jennifer Straub, MS

Psychological Services Specialist
Trauma Recovery Team
Selinsgrove State Center

Email: jestraub@pa.gov Office Phone: 570-372-5809 Cell Phone: 570-205-1590

*Available to individuals living at Selinsgrove State Center, as well as across the state as part of the Trauma Recovery Team

Somerset County

Jon Bender Andrews

Hanlon Therapy Associates
JBenderAndrews@hanlontherapy.com

*Virtual/remote only at this time, only available for people in Adult Autism Waiver

Washington County

Jon Bender Andrews

Hanlon Therapy Associates
JBenderAndrews@hanlontherapy.com

*Virtual/remote only at this time, only available for people in Adult Autism Waiver

Ashley Brown, LCSW

The Stern Center
724-626-9941
abrown@thesterncenter.org

Westmoreland County

Jennifer Macioce LCSW, ICGC

3825 Northern Pike Suite 203
Monroeville PA 15146
724-708-9150
VP 412-516-9394
Jenn.macioce@gmail.com

*Telehealth only

Ashley Brown, LCSW

The Stern Center
724-626-9941
abrown@thesterncenter.org

Gale Foster, LCSW

Wesley Family Services
1045 4th Ave
New Kensington, PA 15068
724-895-8218

https://bridge.wfspa.org 

*Telehealth and in-person available

Accepted Insurance: All commercial, Medicare, Medicaid

York County

Kate Hall, LSW

The Cornerstone Agency of PA

khall@thecornerstoneagency.com

*Only provides behavior consultations