Kristin Barker is a licensed clinical social worker and the former Manager of Clinical Operations at Children's Advocacy Services of Greater St. Louis. She has expertise in implementing evidence-based, trauma-focused, interventions to youth and their caregivers, overseeing the operations of a mental health outpatient clinic, and providing training to professionals across child-serving sectors. Ms. Barker is a recognized trainer in Integrative Treatment of Complex Trauma, the Child Welfare Trauma Training Toolkit, and the Resource Parent Curriculum. Ms. Barker’s areas of interest include the treatment and assessment of complex trauma, trauma-informed parenting, and supporting the implementation and sustainability of trauma-informed, evidence-based practices in communities and organizations. Ms. Barker is temporarily residing in London, England where she is seeking opportunities to work within, and learn from, the local system of trauma-informed care while staying connected and contributing to the work of the NCTSN. 

Chase Giroux, LMHC, has over 20 years of experience working in the field of community mental health and local non-profit agencies. After attaining their degree in counseling, Chase became a therapist trained in TF-CBT and ARC. They specialize working with children and families who exhibit a complex trauma response through a variety of interventions. Chase is passionate about building strong and resilient communities so that all children and families can thrive by utilizing a trauma-informed and culturally-responsive lens. After spending time in Buddhist monasteries, practicing mindfulness in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh, Chase was inspired to make this beautiful practice accessible to as many people as possible. Becoming trained in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and a certified Koru mindfulness trainer has allowed Chase to share this practice in a more secular context. Chase lives with their family in Northampton, Massachusetts, where they can be found playing and coaching sports in their community, hiking, and meditating.

Gil Reyes (he/him), PhD, was born and raised in California, where he lived until he finished college at University of California Santa Barbara. Before switching his major to psychology, Gil was involved in the performing arts as an actor, director, and musician/vocalist. His interests in psychology focus on human development (especially attachment theory and behavior) and emotional disturbance (especially trauma). Gil completed his doctorate at the University of Colorado with a dissertation examining the intersection of trauma, attachment security, shame, and sensitivity to rejection. Upon graduating, he began a tenure-track academic appointment in the Disaster Mental Health Institute within the Clinical Psychology Program at the University of South Dakota. There he remained for 6 years, became married to his wonderful spouse (April), gained wonderful maturational experiences, and was awarded tenure and promotion to Associate Professor. Gil moved back to Santa Barbara in 2005 and worked as an Associate Dean in the School of Psychology at Fielding Graduate University until 2013. Since then, he has mainly worked as a consultant, except for a brief stint as Behavioral Health Director for a Native American tribal government. Gil began his involvement with NCTSN when he was a co-investigator for the Terrorism and Disaster Center at the University of Oklahoma. He has contributed to a number of projects and training programs through the NCCTS at UCLA, and recently joined the Louisiana State University’s Terrorism and Disaster Center (TDC-4). He also has been among a NCTSN Affiliate Members for several years and is currently serving on the Affiliate Advisory Group.

Marisol Acosta, MEd, LPC-S, is the Director of Clinical Services at Any Baby Can in Austin, Texas where she oversees the Family Health Programs, including counseling services and medical case management for children and youth with special health care needs and cancer. She was the Director of a Category III NCTSN site at the Texas Department of State Health Services and the Health and Human Services Commission where she served as the state’s Children Mental Health Director and Manager of Child and Adolescent Services for the Behavioral Health Services and oversaw children mental health services, residential treatment services, suicide prevention, and substance abuse prevention services. Marisol contributed to the redesign of children community mental health programs and the Texas Resilience and Recovery service delivery system, including co-authoring the third version of the Texas CANS. From 2011-2019, she was the trauma subject matter expert for the state of Texas implementing trauma informed care policies, evidence-based practices (including TF-CBT, PCIT, Seeking Safety, and PFA) and systems change impacting behavioral health, child welfare, disaster behavioral health, schools and tribal nations in Texas. Marisol holds a BA degree from the University of Puerto Rico, a MA in Counseling from the University of Houston, and a Graduate Certificate from Harvard University and the Italy Ministry of Health on Global Mental Health: Trauma and Recovery. She is an NCTSN CCCT Facilitator and member of the Affiliate Advisory Group. She serves as a member of the Advisory Board of La Red Por los Derechos de la Niñez de Puerto Rico. She is the co-founder of Expertus Soulutions, LLC which provides training and consulting services focused on enhancing quality of care and competency through the use and implementation of best practices and trauma-informed care. She is a state and national speaker and trainer on matters of trauma, trauma informed care transformation, unaccompanied minors, and children mental health.