Patricia Fox-West

Patricia Fox-West Ph.D., LMFT and George West J.D., BCCC came to the work of treating trauma from different, yet complementary, viewpoints, Pat as the LA Director of the Vietnam Veterans Family Counseling Program, George as a Hospital Chaplain. This mix of the psychological and the spiritual yielded professional and personal relationships with a common concern of mitigating and alleviating the emotional and spiritual impact of trauma. Patricia's research and experience in treating PTSD in Vietnam veterans and their families led her to a chance meeting with Charles Figley when they were both presenters at the National Symposium on the Legacy of Vietnam Veterans and Their Families, in Washington D.C. In 2005 the collegiality between Patricia and Charles was renewed.
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The Traumatic Stress & Traumatology Institute of California was established by Patricia in continuation of this important work of helping institutions and individuals build resilience in order to cope with disasters and Compassion Fatigue resulting from the constant onslaught of human suffering and trauma.

Patricia Fox-West

Patricia Fox-West, Ph.D., LMFT, Adjunct Instructor

Patricia Fox-West, Ph.D., LMFT

Patricia Fox-West completed her undergraduate training at Northern Michigan University (B.S.-psychology with a minor in math/statistics--cum-laude). Then embarked in graduate work in Guidance and Counseling. Pat eventually completed her M.A. (psychology) and Ph.D. (psychology- summa cum laude).

Pat is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in the state of California since 1991 and her human services experience includes private practice, St. John's Regional Medical Center and serving as LA Director of the American GI Forum Veterans and Family Counseling Center where she specialized in psycho-social assements, clinical testing, diagnosis and treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), dissociative disorder and treatment of addictive disorders including eating disorders. This included specialized work in disabilities and problems related to a child's developmental and other chronic conditions, especially where it affected the child's or adolescent's performance in school, and with numerous other issues related to Veteran's with PTSD.

Teaching experience includes: graduate assistantship at NMU in psychology, La Salle High School, Ventura College and Antioch University. Pat was a consultant as an oral examiner for the California Board of Behavioral Science, and has mentored graduate students in individual and group therapy, crisis interventions and clinical methodology in the California State College/University system, Fuller Theological Seminary and other private colleges. Pat also provided continuing education classes to LCSWs and LMFTs. Pat has engaged in research in PTSD, sports anxiety and behavior modification and is recognized as an expert by the VA and California Courts in PTSD. Her current interests include traumatology and compassion fatigue.