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Faculty

Valerie Seney

PhD, MA, LMHC, PMHNP-BC, FNAP
Director of DNP and CAGS, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
University of Dartmouth and Foundations for Wellness

Dr. Valerie Seney, PhD, MA, LMHC, PMHNP-BC, FNAP, is a nationally recognized leader in psychiatric–mental health nursing, advanced practice education, stigma reduction, and trauma-informed care. She serves as Director of the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study (CAGS) programs at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, where she is also an Assistant Clinical Professor. In this role, Dr. Seney leads curriculum innovation, program development, and accreditation efforts aligned with national competencies, with a strong emphasis on preparing practice-ready, resilient nurse practitioners. Dr. Seney is the CEO and Partner of Foundations for Wellness, a multi-provider psychiatric practice specializing in integrated, patient-centered mental health care. Her clinical and leadership work focuses on improving access to care, reducing stigma, and supporting both patients and providers in high-demand clinical environments. A Past President of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA), Dr. Seney has contributed extensively to national conversations on psychiatric nursing practice, workforce sustainability, and professional advocacy. Her scholarly work centers on secondary traumatic stress, stigma reduction, removing barriers to care, and innovative educational strategies, including the development of the CARE+ model, a framework designed to enhance reflective practice and mitigate provider burnout. Dr. Seney is a frequent presenter at regional and national conferences and is committed to advancing the psychiatric nursing profession through leadership, mentorship, and practice innovation.

2026 Sessions

Beyond Trauma-Informed Care: Addressing Emotional Drivers of Provider Stigma in Substance Use Treatment

Individuals with substance use disorders (SUD) experience disproportionately high rates of trauma exposure across the lifespan. Although trauma-informed care is widely endorsed in behavioral health settings, its application in substance use treatment often focuses on structural principles while overlooking the relational and emotional factors that shape clinical encounters.
This interactive 90-minute session explores the psychological and interpersonal mechanisms that influence engagement in SUD treatment, including trauma exposure, shame activation, provider bias, and emotional imprinting. Drawing on psychiatric nursing research, qualitative inquiry with nurses, and outpatient behavioral health practice, this presentation examines how unrecognized emotional responses and countertransference can contribute to stigma, distancing behaviors, and compromised therapeutic alliance.
Participants will explore how clinician experiences, beliefs, and emotional reactions influence interactions with individuals living with addiction and dual diagnoses. Practical strategies will be introduced to strengthen reflective awareness, reduce shame activation during clinical encounters, and support trauma-responsive engagement in both brief and longitudinal treatment settings.
This work reflects an evolving program of scholarship examining how emotional awareness and reflective practice may improve engagement and reduce stigma in behavioral health care.

Presenter

Saturday, October 10 1:15–2:45 PM
Room Oceana Ballroom D
Faculty

Valerie Seney

PhD, MA, LMHC, PMHNP-BC, FNAP
Director of DNP and CAGS, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
University of Dartmouth and Foundations for Wellness

Dr. Valerie Seney, PhD, MA, LMHC, PMHNP-BC, FNAP, is a nationally recognized leader in psychiatric–mental health nursing, advanced practice education, stigma reduction, and trauma-informed care. She serves as Director of the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) and Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study (CAGS) programs at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, where she is also an Assistant Clinical Professor. In this role, Dr. Seney leads curriculum innovation, program development, and accreditation efforts aligned with national competencies, with a strong emphasis on preparing practice-ready, resilient nurse practitioners. Dr. Seney is the CEO and Partner of Foundations for Wellness, a multi-provider psychiatric practice specializing in integrated, patient-centered mental health care. Her clinical and leadership work focuses on improving access to care, reducing stigma, and supporting both patients and providers in high-demand clinical environments. A Past President of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA), Dr. Seney has contributed extensively to national conversations on psychiatric nursing practice, workforce sustainability, and professional advocacy. Her scholarly work centers on secondary traumatic stress, stigma reduction, removing barriers to care, and innovative educational strategies, including the development of the CARE+ model, a framework designed to enhance reflective practice and mitigate provider burnout. Dr. Seney is a frequent presenter at regional and national conferences and is committed to advancing the psychiatric nursing profession through leadership, mentorship, and practice innovation.
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