DSW CANDIDATES

Cayce Batts

LCSW, MSW

Reconsidering How to Treatment Plan for Trauma-Related Diagnoses

Abstract

More now than ever, mental health professionals are seeing an uptick in the number of clients they serve. Therapists have a never-ending waitlist as clients patiently wait to receive psychotherapy treatment. Once seen, some clients report sudden improvement of symptoms while others struggle for years. To improve the effectiveness and efficiency of psychotherapy, this research project sought to answer the question, “How can client data be used to improve treatment outcomes in trauma-related diagnoses?” This presentation will explore the findings. Three scholarly products, including a systematic literature review (SLR), conceptual paper, and practice application paper, will be covered within this presentation. In the SLR, relevant literature is explored and three recurring themes are identified: biopsychosocial markers may predict treatment outcomes, improvements are needed to treatment planning, and the therapeutic relationship plays an important role in treatment outcomes. Drawing from this information, this second portion of this research overview will explore the strengths and pitfalls of the biopsychosocial theory in practice and present the Biopsychosocial Treatment Model. Finally, the Biopsychosocial Treatment Model Assessment Tool (BTM-AT) will be introduced and demonstrate how clinicians can utilize this measure may determine if a top-down or bottom-up treatment approach is most effective for their client. This presentation is a brief overview of extensive research conducted on this topic over the past two years. Research implications provide strategic and systematic processes to treatment planning, may improve treatment outcomes, and subsequently promote efficiency in treatment.

Bio

Cayce Brockwell Batts is a licensed clinical social worker in the state of Kentucky. Cayce earned her Master of Social Work degree from Louisiana State University where she graduated with a 4.1 GPA. With a commitment to continuous learning, Cayce returned to college to obtain her doctoral degree in Clinical Social Work at the University of Kentucky. As a doctoral candidate, Cayce plans to defend her research in April of 2024 with an anticipated graduation date in May of 2024. Her culminating research examines biopsychosocial factors that guide mental health therapists to select between a top-down or bottom-up treatment approach for trauma-related diagnoses. As part of her novel research, Cayce developed the Biopsychosocial Treatment Model, a systematic protocol for conceptualizing trauma-related symptomology and treatment plans.

Cayce is currently a clinical school social worker and is trained in CBT, EMDR, TF-CBT, and play therapy. The majority of her professional experience has been in the school setting, where she has also served as an after-school program director and clinical therapist. Other professional experiences include working in children’s advocacy centers, a children’s hospital, and teaching at the collegiate level. As the regional chair for NASW-KY board of directors, Cayce enjoys networking with fellow social workers and advocating for rural mental health treatment. She is committed to life-long research, specifically around evidence-based trauma treatment, social-emotional learning, faith-based treatment, and low socioeconomic status at-risk youth. Outside of her work, Cayce is a Christian, wife, daughter, aunt, and dog mom.