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Steven Marans, MSW, PhD

Harris Professor in the Child Study Center; Director, National Center for Children Exposed to Violence/Childhood Violent Trauma Center at the Yale Child Study Center; Director, Trauma Service; Professor of Psychiatry

Contact Information

Steven Marans, MSW, PhD

Office Location

Mailing Address

  • Child Study Center

    PO Box 207900, 230 South Frontage Road

    New Haven, CT 06520-7900

    United States

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Yale Medicine

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Research Summary

Over the past two decades, Dr. Marans' research has focused on acute, intermediate and longer-term responses to violent and catastrophic events in the lives of children, families and communities. The mental health-law enforcement partnership developed by Marans and colleagues has led to innovative approaches to identification and response to traumatized children and families impacted by abuse, exposure to domestic violence, criminal and violent acts in the community as well to communities impacted by both mass casualty events. In addition, Dr. Marans is the co-developer with Prof. Carrie Epstein of the Child Family Traumatic Stress Intervention (CFTSI), a brief, early and evidence-based approach to children and families affected by potentially traumatic events. CFTSI has demonstrated effectiveness in interrupting and reducing the development of longer-term post-traumatic disorders in children who have been impacted by overwhelming, traumatic events.

Specialized Terms: Child psychoanalysis and psychotherapy; adolescent psychoanalysis and psychotherapy; Adult psychoanalysis and psychotherapy; Trauma consultation and treatment

Extensive Research Description

Our research has been focused on the experience of violent trauma in the lives of children and families as well as changes in systems of care that can improve services and clinical outcomes. The partnership between mental health and law enforcement professionals in New Haven and around the country has generated broad opportunities to identify and respond to thousands of children and families each year who have experienced violence in their homes, schools and communities. Our work in responding to acute, peri-traumatic and longer-term responses to violent and catastrophic events has led to the development of new clinical approaches to meeting the needs of traumatized children and families. These innovative intervention strategies are also grounded in an integration of developmental, psychodynamic, behavioral and neurophysiologic aspects of the traumatic response. We have applied a similar perspective in developing new collaborative responses to domestic violence and to psychologically-informed approaches to emergency management responses to mass casualty man-made and natural disasters.

The Trauma Section at the Yale Child Study Center is currently involved in several research initiatives aims to influence practice and service delivery with mental health, law enforcement agencies, child advocacy centers, pediatric emergency care and to improve direct clinical service for children and their families.

1. Domestic Violence Home Visit Intervention Program (DVHVI)
The DVHVI is an innovative outreach program in which an advocate and a patrol officer conduct follow-up home visits to improve physical and psychological security in the aftermath of a domestic violence incident. Our initial findings showed that women who received this intervention felt officers were more helpful, they were more likely to call the police again and were more willing to engage their children into treatment. This model is currently being disseminated in three other communities with the goal of doing a cross site data collection and analysis of the program.

2. Child and Family Traumatic Stress Intervention (CFTSI)
The CFTSI is a 4-session secondary prevention approach to children and families exposed to violence and other traumatic events. The intervention is currently being evaluated to determine its effectiveness in reducing post-traumatic stress disorders and symptoms. Initial findings have shown positive results.

Coauthors

Research Interests

Adolescent Psychiatry; Psychology, Adolescent; Mental Disorders; Child Abuse; Child Psychiatry; Psychiatry; Psychoanalysis; Psychotherapy; Violence; Domestic Violence

Selected Publications

  • Extending Law Enforcement Reach to Children Exposed to Violence: Police Training Evaluationde la Fontaine N, Hahn H, Stover C, Marans S. Extending Law Enforcement Reach to Children Exposed to Violence: Police Training Evaluation. Journal Of Police And Criminal Psychology 2021, 37: 68-79. DOI: 10.1007/s11896-021-09448-9.
  • Addressing Childhood TraumaMarans S, Hahn H, Epstein C. Addressing Childhood Trauma. 2019, 320-344. DOI: 10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190694395.013.16.
  • Innovation in Early Trauma TreatmentMarans S, Epstein C, Hahn H, Goslin M. Innovation in Early Trauma Treatment. 2019, 610-628. DOI: 10.1017/9781108235655.030.
  • Psychoanalytic responses to violent trauma: the Child Development–Community Policing partnershipMarans S. Psychoanalytic responses to violent trauma: the Child Development–Community Policing partnership. 2018, 267-292. DOI: 10.4324/9780429473654-20.
  • 6. Program DevelopmentNagler S, Marans S, Berkman M, Schaefer M. 6. Program Development. 2017, 96-103. DOI: 10.12987/9780300146080-009.
  • 3. Training SeminarsNagler S, Marans S, Berkman M. 3. Training Seminars. 2017, 40-61. DOI: 10.12987/9780300146080-006.
  • 1. IntroductionMarans S, Berkman M, Esserman D. 1. Introduction. 2017, 1-18. DOI: 10.12987/9780300146080-004.
  • 4. Consultation ServiceBerkman M, Marans S, Macdonald D. 4. Consultation Service. 2017, 62-83. DOI: 10.12987/9780300146080-007.
  • 2. Child Development FellowshipsBerkman M, Macdonald D, Marans S, Nagler S, Wearing M. 2. Child Development Fellowships. 2017, 19-39. DOI: 10.12987/9780300146080-005.
  • The Child and Family Traumatic Stress InterventionEpstein C, Hahn H, Berkowitz S, Marans S. The Child and Family Traumatic Stress Intervention. 2017, 145-166. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-46138-0_7.
  • Findings of an Early Intervention to Address Children’s Traumatic Stress Implemented in the Child Advocacy Center Setting Following Sexual AbuseHahn H, Oransky M, Epstein C, Smith Stover C, Marans S. Findings of an Early Intervention to Address Children’s Traumatic Stress Implemented in the Child Advocacy Center Setting Following Sexual Abuse. Journal Of Child & Adolescent Trauma 2015, 9: 55-66. DOI: 10.1007/s40653-015-0059-7.
  • Phenomena of Childhood Trauma and Expanding Approaches to Early InterventionMarans S. Phenomena of Childhood Trauma and Expanding Approaches to Early Intervention. International Journal Of Applied Psychoanalytic Studies 2013, 10: 247-266. DOI: 10.1002/aps.1369.
  • Responding to Child Trauma: Theory, Programs, and PolicyMarans S, Smolover D, Hahn H. Responding to Child Trauma: Theory, Programs, and Policy. 2012, 453-466. DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4614-0905-2_29.
  • Preliminary Results of a Police-Advocate Home-Visit Intervention Project for Victims of Domestic ViolenceCasey R, JD and W M, Stover C, Gill K, Durso and N S, Marans S. Preliminary Results of a Police-Advocate Home-Visit Intervention Project for Victims of Domestic Violence. Journal Of Aggression Maltreatment & Trauma 2007, 6: 39-49. DOI: 10.1300/j513v06n01_04.
  • In the best interests of societyHarris WW, Lieberman AF, Marans S. In the best interests of society. Journal Of Child Psychology And Psychiatry 2007, 48: 392-411. PMID: 17355403, DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2007.01732.x.
  • Out‐of‐Home Placement of Children Exposed to ViolenceHarpaz‐Rotem I, Berkowitz S, Marans S, Murphy R, Rosenheck R. Out‐of‐Home Placement of Children Exposed to Violence. Children & Society 2007, 22: 29-40. DOI: 10.1111/j.1099-0860.2006.00073.x.
  • Police–Mental Health Collaboration on Behalf of Children Exposed to ViolenceMarans S, Berkman M. Police–Mental Health Collaboration on Behalf of Children Exposed to Violence. 2005, 426-440. DOI: 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195159226.003.0027.
  • When We All Need Someone to Lean OnMarans S. When We All Need Someone to Lean On. International Journal Of Group Psychotherapy 2005, 55: 443-454. PMID: 16175996, DOI: 10.1521/ijgp.2005.55.3.443.
  • Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy: Psychoanalytic PrinciplesMarans S, Dahl K, Schowalter J. Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy: Psychoanalytic Principles. 2002, 381-400. DOI: 10.1016/b0-12-343010-0/00044-1.
  • “That's What My Imagination Says”Marans S. “That's What My Imagination Says”. The Psychoanalytic Study Of The Child 2000, 55: 61-86. PMID: 11339001, DOI: 10.1080/00797308.2000.11822516.
  • The Child Development-Community Policing Program: a partnership to address the impact of violence.Berkowitz S, Marans S. The Child Development-Community Policing Program: a partnership to address the impact of violence. Israel Journal Of Psychiatry And Related Sciences 2000, 37: 103-14. PMID: 10994294.
  • Police and Mental Health Professionals Collaborative Responses to the Impact of Violence on Children and FamiliesMarans S, Berkowitz S, Cohen D. Police and Mental Health Professionals Collaborative Responses to the Impact of Violence on Children and Families. Child And Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics Of North America 1998, 7: 635-651. PMID: 9894059, DOI: 10.1016/s1056-4993(18)30233-5.
  • Psychoanalysis on the BeatMarans S. Psychoanalysis on the Beat. The Psychoanalytic Study Of The Child 1996, 51: 522-541. PMID: 9029975, DOI: 10.1080/00797308.1996.11822445.
  • Silent Victims Children Who Witness ViolenceGroves B, Zuckerman B, Marans S, Cohen D. Silent Victims Children Who Witness Violence. JAMA 1993, 269: 262-264. PMID: 7678044, DOI: 10.1001/jama.1993.03500020096039.
  • The Child-Psychoanalytic Play Interview: A Technique for Studying Thematic ContentMarans S, Mayes L, Cicchetti D, Dahl K, Marans W, Cohen D. The Child-Psychoanalytic Play Interview: A Technique for Studying Thematic Content. Journal Of The American Psychoanalytic Association 1991, 39: 1015-1036. PMID: 1800550, DOI: 10.1177/000306519103900407.
  • Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy with ChildrenMARANS S. Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy with Children. Journal Of The American Academy Of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry 1989, 28: 669-674. PMID: 2676962, DOI: 10.1097/00004583-198909000-00005.
  • Analytic Discussions with Oedipal ChildrenCohen D, Marans S, Dahl K, Marans W, Lewis M. Analytic Discussions with Oedipal Children. The Psychoanalytic Study Of The Child 1987, 42: 59-83. PMID: 3438387, DOI: 10.1080/00797308.1987.11823482.
  • Marans, S., (2005) Listening to Fear: Helping Kids Cope from Nightmares to the Nightly News; Henry Holt and Company (eds), New York, NY.Marans, S., (2005) Listening to Fear: Helping Kids Cope from Nightmares to the Nightly News; Henry Holt and Company (eds), New York, NY.
  • Marans, S., (2008) Fear and trauma: Challenges to listening and hearing. Journal of Infant, Child, and Adolescent Psychotherapy, 7:165-175Marans, S., (2008) Fear and trauma: Challenges to listening and hearing. Journal of Infant, Child, and Adolescent Psychotherapy, 7:165-175
  • Stover, C., Berkowitz, S., Kaufman, J., & Marans, S., (2007) Childhood PTSD. Volkmar and Martin (Eds) Lewis Textbook of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, W.B. Saunders and Co., Baltimore, MD 701-711Stover, C., Berkowitz, S., Kaufman, J., & Marans, S., (2007) Childhood PTSD. Volkmar and Martin (Eds) Lewis Textbook of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, W.B. Saunders and Co., Baltimore, MD 701-711
  • Marans, S., Berkman, M., (2006) Police-Mental Health Collaboration on Behalf of Children Exposed to Violence: The Child Development-Community Policing Model. Handbook of Community Based Clinical Practice. A. Lightburn and P. Sessions (eds.); Oxford University.Marans, S., Berkman, M., (2006) Police-Mental Health Collaboration on Behalf of Children Exposed to Violence: The Child Development-Community Policing Model. Handbook of Community Based Clinical Practice. A. Lightburn and P. Sessions (eds.); Oxford University.
  • Marans, S., Murphy, R.A., Rosenheck, R.A., Berkowitz, S. (2005) Clinical Response Modality and Timing in a Police-Mental Health Program for Children Exposed to Violence. Psychiatric Quarterly, Springer, Germany, 107-121.Marans, S., Murphy, R.A., Rosenheck, R.A., Berkowitz, S. (2005) Clinical Response Modality and Timing in a Police-Mental Health Program for Children Exposed to Violence. Psychiatric Quarterly, Springer, Germany, 107-121.
  • Marans, S., Berkman, M., Berkowitz, S., Casey, R., (2004) Police in the lives of children exposed to domestic violence: Collaborative approaches to intervention. Ending Domestic Violence in the Lives of Children. In Jaffe, Baker and Cunningham (eds.), GuMarans, S., Berkman, M., Berkowitz, S., Casey, R., (2004) Police in the lives of children exposed to domestic violence: Collaborative approaches to intervention. Ending Domestic Violence in the Lives of Children. In Jaffe, Baker and Cunningham (eds.), Gu
  • Marans, S., (2003) Tribute to Donald J. Cohen: Childhood Trauma, Psychoanalytic Study of the Children. Vol 58, R. King, P. Neubauer, S. Abram, S. Dowling (Eds), Yale University Press.Marans, S., (2003) Tribute to Donald J. Cohen: Childhood Trauma, Psychoanalytic Study of the Children. Vol 58, R. King, P. Neubauer, S. Abram, S. Dowling (Eds), Yale University Press.
  • Marans, S., and Cohen, D.J. (2002) Child Psychoanalytic Theories of Development.. Lewis, M. (ed.) Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: A Comprehensive Textbook, 3rd Edition. Baltimore, MD: Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins, Inc. 196-211.Marans, S., and Cohen, D.J. (2002) Child Psychoanalytic Theories of Development.. Lewis, M. (ed.) Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: A Comprehensive Textbook, 3rd Edition. Baltimore, MD: Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins, Inc. 196-211.
  • Marans, S., Dahl, K. and Schowalter, (2002) J. Psychoanalytic Principles of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Zimmer, G. (ed.) Encyclopedia of Psychotherapy, Volume 2. New York, NY: Academic Pres..Marans, S., Dahl, K. and Schowalter, (2002) J. Psychoanalytic Principles of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Zimmer, G. (ed.) Encyclopedia of Psychotherapy, Volume 2. New York, NY: Academic Pres..
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