Since 2021, we have had the privilege of co-chairing ISSTD’s Annual Awards Committee (AAC). As the AAC has expanded its activities, we have also gotten to know each other and the AAC members better… always one of the very best benefits of ISSTD engagement!
In addition to working with many of ISSTD’s most experienced members on the AAC (Lynette Danylchuk, Sheldon Itzkowitz, Valarie Sinason, Joan Turkus, and Warwick Middleton), it has been an honor to help advance the AAC’s purpose: to safeguard and elevate the mission and values that make ISSTD a uniquely important organization, worldwide, for professionals who focus on the study and/or treatment of complex trauma.
Over the past several years on the AAC, we have improved the clarity of the descriptions for each recognition that ISSTD makes for major achievements in our field. Equally important, we have made our process more consistent and equitable.
Recently, we expanded the committee and its perspective by welcoming two wonderful early-career members – Shae Nestor and Betty Snell! We are so excited they will be helping to guide our next review cycle! (Not to mention to learn about their many future contributions to our field!) We also have been thrilled to welcome Alexis Arbuthnott, who brings a wealth of energy and knowledge to the AAC, singlehandedly!
The growing interest in trauma worldwide – and growing acknowledgment that complex trauma and dissociation represent critical and under-recognized issues – has made the AAC’s role as meaningful as ever.
Similarly, it has also been as busy as ever! Award-worthy achievements in the study and treatment of complex trauma are expanding quickly – including in the area of full-length books, which we read and review rigorously! We continue to recognize not only academic achievements, but accomplishments in advocacy and media. Please feel free to review ISSTD’s awards, as the nomination season is underway.
In conclusion, we’d like to say THANK YOU to the AAC’s membership – and to general members who have donated time to review long and often complex nominated works. Finally, support and context from ISSTD staff has been critical to our ability to grow our work in a healthy way that honors the history of ISSTD’s commitment to recognizing excellence in our field.
The AAC is just a small part of ISSTD’s efforts, by the numbers, but its work would not be possible without a dedicated group effort. We look forward to announcing the results of the current awards cycle at the Annual Conference in March 2025!
With that in mind: please do make sure you submit your Award nominations and fellow nominations for 2025 by November 20, 2024!!
Submit Annual Award Nomination
Gratefully,
Jon and Ben