Rae-Jean Cook-Hansel is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with 25+ years of experience in the human services field. She received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Master of Psychology from Texas A&M-Killeen Campus. Rae-Jean received a Master of Social Work (MSW) from Indiana University-Indianapolis. She is currently a doctoral candidate pursuing her Doctor of Social Work (DSW) from the University of Kentucky, with a prospective graduation date of May 2023.
Rae-Jean began her career working with the Department of the Army in the Family Advocacy Program, working with soldiers and family members at risk for intimate partner abuse, child abuse, and neglect for three years. She then worked with the Indiana Department of Child Services for 17 years as an investigator in child protective services. She returned to the Department of the Army Family Advocacy Program for eight more years, specializing in child abuse and fatality cases.
Rae-Jean previously worked with the Northern Indiana Health System’s Suicide Prevention Program and has recently taken on a new position with the Tennessee Valley Health Care System as a Suicide Prevention Coordinator being a subject matter expert on risk assessments and implementation of suicide risk mitigation strategies for the Veteran population.
Rae-Jean is trained in several evidence-based therapy modalities, including Eye Movement Desensitization (EMDR) and Reprocessing, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)-techniques, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing Skills, and Brief Solution Focused Therapy. Rae-Jean strives to empower others to improve their lives through a client-centered approach to clinical practice and firmly grounds her work in core social work values and ethics. Her main interest includes the abuse and exploitation of children, and her capstone project focuses on the Human Trafficking of Children.
Rae-Jean had the privilege of being selected as one of only six individuals across the Department of Defense to be chosen as a member of the Family Advocacy Command Assistance Team (FACAT) (multi-victim cases worldwide), a certified forensic interviewer since 2000, trained in structured child interviewing in 2016, certified provider of Batter Intervention Program (BIP), member of the Sexual Assault Response Team (SART), Problematic Sexual Behaviors (PSB) committee member, Army Social Work Intern (SWIP) rotational supervisor, and mentor.
Outside of being a social worker, Rae-Jean loves to garden, travel, and spend time with her husband, children, grandchildren, and four beautiful golden retrievers.