Marti Loring
- Diplomate, American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress
- Board Certified in Domestic Violence Trauma, Board Certified in Forensic Traumatology, Board Certified in Rape Trauma
Meet Marti Loring
Marti Loring, Ph.D., LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker and trauma expert specializing in behavioral health. For three decades she has guided clinicians on techniques to help traumatized individuals like battered spouses and military war veterans recognize and cope with trauma.
Trauma surrounds us in today’s world. With extensive experience as a trauma expert, Dr. Marti Loring thoroughly examines how people are affected by both PTSD and less intense trauma- in wartime injuries and losses, weather-related tragedies, hostage situations, vicious and dangerous political attacks, and other life-changing/threatening situations.
She developed theories on how emotional, physical, and sexual abuse can lead to trauma. Dr. Loring testifies in courts across the country when trauma has gripped a person and caused behavior that could be unusual for an otherwise peaceful and loving individual.
She is also a psychotherapist in Atlanta and on Zoom.
Understanding the powerful and insidious mechanisms of the subtle but destructive results of emotional and physical trauma, she created a model for healing, growth and integration back into society.
Her book, Emotional Abuse: The Trauma and the Treatment, set the bar for clinical understanding and treatment of emotional abuse. Since that publication, she broadened her scope to confront trauma in its various forms, whether caused by wartime injuries and losses, weather-related tragedies, hostage situations, vicious and dangerous political attacks, societal abuse, torture, and other life changing/threatening situations.
She explores vicarious trauma experienced by all of us witnessing and hearing about human tragedies. Loring testifies about coercion that makes people do things they ordinarily would never do, the Stockholm Syndrome of victims loyal to their captor, and other forms of the trauma that floods our society. Her techniques help trauma victims gain a new foothold in life.
In this era of events from school shootings to war hostages, her proven methodology provides hope for trauma victims and those in their lives.
Marti Loring
BACKGROUND & PUBLICATIONS
MARTI LORING, PH.D., LCSW, EXPERT IN TRAUMA AND EMOTIONAL ABUSE CENTER FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT, ATLANTA, GEORGIA
EDUCATION
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Ph.D. in Sociology
Emory University Graduate School, Atlanta, Georgia, 1978-1985 -
Master of Social Service (MSS)
Bryn Mawr College Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research,
Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, 1966-1968 -
Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, New York, 1962-1966
AWARDS AND MEMBERSHIPS
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Georgia, Since 1985
- Certified Clinical Sociologist, Since 1990
- Invited Member, The American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress, Since 1997
- Lifetime Achievement Award, National Association of Social Workers, Georgia Chapter, 1997
- Outstanding Social Worker, National Association of Social Workers, Georgia Chapter, 1989
CLINICAL/PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Director, Center for Mental Health and Human Development, Atlanta, GA, Since 1980
- Forensic Consultant and Expert Witness Specializing in Trauma, Since 1990
- Consultant for Trauma Relief with Various Organizations, Including the U.S. Army and Legal Aid Services
“New ground in describing this little understood and acknowledged form of interpersonal mistreatment. Loring describes both overt and covert emotional abuse and makes crucial linkages to other types of abuse as well. Her intervention strategies are grounded in relational theory and give the therapist a practical approach to the assessment and treatment of the emotionally abused client.”
— Christine A. Courtois, clinical director, Center for Abuse Recovery & Empowerment, Psychiatric Institute of Washington, D.C.
Marti Loring
These topics can be tailored to suit different audiences, including mental health professionals, legal experts, social workers and educational institutions, ensuring the content is relevant and engaging.
SAMPLE TOPICS
1. The Unseen Wounds: Understanding Trauma and Its Hidden Impact
Dr. Loring delves into the complex nature of trauma, revealing its subtle yet destructive manifestations. Dr. Loring will also present her innovative model for effective intervention and therapy.
2. Trauma in the Trenches: Forensic Application in High-Stakes Cases
With extensive experience as a trauma expert, Dr. Loring thoroughly examines how trauma is construed within the justice system. Tailored for legal professionals, this talk sheds light on the role of expert testimony in death penalty and battered person cases, with practical insights into trauma focused mitigation tactics.
3. Breaking the Cycle: Transformative Approaches to Family and Intimate Partner Violence
Drawing from her years of clinical practice, Dr. Loring explores innovative therapeutic strategies for addressing family and intimate partner violence. Audience members will gain valuable understanding of the patterns that sustain abusive dynamics and how to implement interventions that not only support victims but also aim to transform perpetrators.
4. Post-Traumatic Stress and Society: Beyond the Battlefield
In this compelling presentation, Dr. Loring expands the dialogue on PTSD beyond combat-related narratives to include its prevalence among civilians, refugees and survivors of various traumas. Attendees will learn how PTSD influences social reintegration and community health, as well as strategies for broader societal support and healing.
5. Coercion Uncovered: The Power Dynamics of Control and Manipulation
Delving into the depths of coercion, Dr. Loring discusses how power imbalances manifest in relationships and social structures, leading to victimization. A topic of interest for both mental health and legal professionals, the presentation outlines the subtle signs of coercive behavior, its psychosocial impact and effective pathways to recovery for victims.
“ Emotional Abuse breaks new ground in describing this little understood and acknowledged form of interpersonal mistreatment. Loring describes both overt and covert emotional abuse and makes crucial linkages to other types of abuse as well. Her intervention strategies are grounded in relational theory and give the therapist a practical approach to the assessment and treatment of the emotionally abused client.”
— Christine A. Courtois, clinical director, Center for Abuse Recovery & Empowerment, Psychiatric Institute of Washington, D.C.
Marti Loring
BACKGROUND & PUBLICATIONS
PUBLICATIONS (Partial List)
- Loring, M.T. (1994). Emotional Abuse. Lexington MA: Lexington Press.
- Loring, M.T., & Powell, B. (1988). “Gender, Race and DSM-III: A study of the Objectivity of Psychiatric Behavior.” Health and Social Behavior, 29(1), 1-71.
- Loring, M.T. (1997). Stories From the Heart: Emotional Abuse Case Studies. New York: Gordon and Breach Science Publishers.
- Loring, M.T., & Bedoin, Pati. (2000). “Victim-Perpetrators: Types of Coercion in Family Violence.” The Journal of Emotional Abuse.
- Loring, M.T., Geffner, R., Marsh, J. (2007). Animal Abuse and Family Violence. Binghamton, NY: Haworth Press.
EDITORIAL POSITIONS
- Associate Editor, The Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment and Trauma, Since 2000
RESEARCH INTERESTS
- Trauma and the Behavioral Health Effects of Emotional Abuse
- Forensic Interviewing Techniques and Mitigation in Legal Settings
- The Psychology of Coercion in Abusive Situations
Dr. Marti Loring is an esteemed contributor to the field of mental health and human development with significant expertise in the treatment of trauma and emotional abuse. Her pioneering work as a therapist, consultant, speaker and author has influenced both clinical practice and public policy. For additional information or to request an interview with Dr. Loring, please email Kim Beales at Kim@SaintSomewhereMarketing.com or call 619.990.1335.
“…a clear road map for therapists to guide them through the intricacies of treating emotionally abused victims. Any therapist working with emotionally abused clients will find this a most useful text.”
— Jeffrey T. Mitchell, president, International Critical Incident Stress Foundation