About Us 

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The Stress, Trauma, Adversity, Research and Treatment (START) Center is a collaborative of interdisciplinary trauma experts committed to conducting research and providing clinical care that focuses on the whole person.  This includes a commitment to trauma-informed and healing centered approaches to treatment.  We collaborate with multiple programs across CU and in the community to ensure we are delivering the best evidence-informed trauma practices. We recognize the pervasiveness of trauma in our communities and its far-reaching impacts on physical and mental health, quality of life, relationships, and beyond.

Within the START Center, we currently have two clinics: 

START Clinic | Within the START Clinic you will find clinical professionals dedicated to providing treatment for people of all ages suffering from the effects of loss, trauma, chronic stress and adversity. Symptoms that many of our patients’ experience are mood dysregulation, sleep disturbance, unexplained physiological pain, relationship difficulties and challenges with occupational functioning. Many suffer from depression, anxiety, anger as well as posttraumatic stress disorder.  You’ll find that we offer a range of treatments that have demonstrated effectiveness  with evidence supported outcomes and are committed to working with you to develop plans uniquely suited to you. Further, we know that people exist within larger systems (i.e., families and communities) and whenever possible we encourage the involvement of family (birth or chosen) in the treatment process.  

TASK Clinic | The TASK Clinic = Interdisciplinary Trauma-Sensitive Assessment Services for Kids and is a multidisciplinary assessment clinic for children ages 3-12 in (or at risk of involvement with) Child Welfare who have complex diagnostic profiles with concerns for trauma effects and developmental/cognitive delays.

Our Mission

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Trauma is pervasive and impacts how we thrive as individuals, families, communities and systems.  Our mission is to inspire and support the prevention and healing of stress and traumatic injuries that impact all domains of life. We recognize that trauma comes in many forms and is inherent in all systems of oppression. We believe that to recognize, understand and treat trauma, we must also identify, address and end injustice. As a center of excellence for trauma treatment, training, research and advocacy, we commit to preventing and treating trauma in all forms, from the interpersonal to the systemic, and will partner with those seeking to eliminate all sources of traumatic injury, including those stemming from racism and other forms of systemic oppression. 

Our Vision 

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We intend be a leader in the recognition of trauma as central to all aspects of society’s ills and are dedicating to intervening to decrease the ubiquity of traumatic experiences and injury from any cause. 

• Trauma and adversity are part of the human condition
• We help people manage and cope with that human condition more effectively