The Stress, Trauma, and Recovery Lab

Western Kentucky University

  • Dr. Matt Woodward is a clinical psychologist and Associate Professor at Western Kentucky University. Dr. Woodward is the head of the Stress, Trauma, and Recovery lab. Dr. Woodward received his Ph.D. from the University of Memphis and completed his internship at the Medical University of South Carolina/Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center. He conducts research on the psychological impact of trauma and related mental health issues such as PTSD, anxiety, depression, and substance use. For more info, please see this link.
  • Lily Milam is a 2nd year graduate student from Johnson City, TN. She completed her undergraduate degree in psychology with a clinical concentration at ETSU in Johnson City and was working in the PETAL lab, before coming here to WKU and the STAR Lab. Her current research interests involve understanding the influence of coping motives within substance use among trauma exposed individuals. During the Spring and Summer, she enjoys going on hikes in the mountains with her friends and family.​ She is currently planning to obtain her PhD in Clinical Psychology and work with populations of substance use and trauma throughout her research and career.
  • Cassie Barrett is a senior from La Grange, KY. They are currently majoring in Psychological Sciences with concentrations in Clinical and Developmental Psychology and a minor in Neuroscience. They are starting their second semester in the STAR lab. ​They are involved in the marching band and music fraternity Delta Omicron. They are interested in Neuropsychology and the effects of brain trauma.​ They currently plan on earning their Master's degree and eventually a PhD focusing on Clinical Neuropsychology. They would like to work with individuals who have experienced brain injuries and continue researching in that area.
  • Alex is a senior from Owensboro, KY. She is majoring in psychological sciences with a clinical concentration and is starting her first semester in the STAR lab. Her interest is in the treatment of Cluster B Personality Disorders, specifically Borderline Personality Disorder. In their free time, she is a member of the WKU marching band and loves playing video games. She currently plans to get her Master's degree in either counseling or clinical psychology and become certified in Dialectal Behavior Therapy and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy. She also hopes to contribute to research on the early identification and prevention of Borderline Personality Disorder, as well as the treatment of other Cluster B Personality Disorders.


  • Sophie Jerome is a junior from Louisville, Kentucky. She is majoring in psychological sciences and criminology with a concentration in clinical psychology. This is her first semester in the STAR lab. In her free time, she likes to hike, rock climb, run, and take photos! She hopes to become a clinical psychologist focusing on trauma, specifically sexual trauma.
  • Amina Sulejmanovic is a sophomore from Bowling Green, Kentucky. She is majoring in Psychological Sciences with a concentration in Clinical Psychology and a minor in Neuroscience. This is her first semester in the STAR lab. She is interested in medicine and the relationship between the physical brain and the psychology of the mind. She currently plans on attending PA school for Psychiatry or Neurology. In her free time, she likes to read, crochet, and run.
  • Dalton Dickerson is a 1st year graduate student from Athens, OH. He completed his undergraduate degree in Psychology at Ohio University in Athens, OH, and was working in the Relationships and Physiology Lab (RAP LAB) before coming here to WKU and the STAR Lab. His current research interests involve understanding how trauma effects interpersonal processes. More specifically understanding the potential alleviating effects interpersonal processes have on the aftermath of trauma exposure. His future goals are to pursue a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and in the future, serve in underrepresented areas of the United States.

Meet the Team

The primary focus of the Stress, Trauma, and Recovery lab is in to conduct research aimed at improving our understanding and treatment of trauma.


Many of our projects are aimed at understanding how to increase resilience and improve treatment outcomes for those exposed to abuse, violence, and other traumatic experiences.


  • Our work generally focuses on trauma-related mental health conditions such as posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, and substance use.

About Us

Recent
Projects

  • This is an ongoing clinical trial aimed at testing a digital intervention augmented with peer support to improve treatment outcomes for interpersonal trauma survivors.
  • Using technology and peer support to improve outcomes in trauma survivors
  • This project is a partnership with the Lifeskills Child Welfare Education and Research Center and Kentucky’s Cabinet for Health and Family Services to improve services for families in the child welfare system. The purpose of this clinic is to provide free mental health services to parents and children and examine how this impacts outcomes for families. For more info, click here.
  • The Inter-generational family trauma treatment clinic
  • This project aims to understand the relationship between technology use and well-being including the impact of smartphone and social media use on mental health.
  • The impact of social media use on mental health
  • This project was a laboratory study to examine how friendship influences stress response and memories when exposed to an upsetting film clip. To check out some of the results, click here.
  • the influence of social support

Recent Publications

  • Milam, L.C., Dick, O.G., McGettrick, C.R., Brown, J.B., Woodward, M.J. PTSD Symptoms and Problematic Smartphone Use
    in Young Adults Are Indirectly Associated Via Avoidance-Focused Coping. International Journal of Mental Health and
    Addiction (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11469-024-01415-9


  • Woodward, M.J., McGettrick, C.R., Dick, O.G., Ali, M., Teeters, J.B. (2024) Time Spent on Social Media and Associations
    with Mental Health in Young Adults: Examining TikTok, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Youtube, Snapchat, and Reddit.
    Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science. (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41347-024-00474-y


  • Woodward, M. J., Griffith, E. L., Free, B. L., Bowen, M. E., Majeed, R., Beyer, M. S., & Beck, J. G. (2024). Do latent profiles
    of self-reported anxiety, depression, and PTSD map onto clinician ratings? An examination with intimate partner violence
    survivors.     Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 101, 102806. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2023.102806


  • McCollum, D. C., Teeters, J. B., Moskal, K. R., & Woodward, M. J. (2024). Does social support moderate the association
    between adverse childhood experiences and substance-related problems?     Substance Use & Misuse, 59(2), 269–277.
    https://doi.org/10.1080/10826084.2023.2269570


  • Cassity-Caywood, W., Griffiths, A., Woodward, M. J., & Hatfield*, A. (2023). The benefits and challenges of shifting to
    telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic: Qualitative feedback from Kentucky’s sexual violence resource centers and
    children’s advocacy centers. Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science. 8(1), 87–99. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41347-
    022-00296-w


  • Woodward, M. J., Clapp, J. D., Cotney, S. E., & Beck, J. G. (2022). Interacting with a friend after a trauma film reduces
    anxiety and intrusive memories.     Psychological trauma: Theory, Research, Practice and Policy, 10.1037/tra0001381.
    Advance online publication.     https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0001381


  • Teeters, J. B., Woodward, M. J., Meshesha, L. Z., Tripp, J. C. (2020). Cannabis use in civilian college students and college
    student service members/veterans: The moderating effect of anxiety. The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse,
    46(6), 777-783. https://doi.org/10.1080/00952990.2020.1753758



Recent Presentations

  • Dickerson, D. W., & Woodward, M. J. (April, 2025). The impact of friend support after a trauma analogue. Poster to be presented
    at the annual meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association


  • Milam, L. C., & Woodward, M. J., & Teeters, J. B. (April, 2025). A mobile brief intervention’s impact on trauma survivors’
    substance-related coping. Poster to be presented at the annual meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association


  • Dickerson, D. W., & Woodward, M. J. (January, 2025). The impact of a trauma-informed brief intervention on PTSD, depression,
    and anxiety. Poster to be presented at the annual meeting of the Kentucky Idea Network of Biomedical Research Excellence
    Conference.


  • Dickerson, D. W., & Woodward, M. J. (January, 2025). The impact of a trauma-informed brief intervention on PTSD, depression,
    and anxiety. Poster to be presented at the annual meeting of the Kentucky Idea Network of Biomedical Research Excellence
    Conference.


  • Milam, L. C., & Woodward. (January, 2025). Preferences and utilization of stress management techniques among young adult heavy
    drinkers enrolled in a digital health intervention. Poster to be presented at the annual meeting of the Kentucky Idea Network of
    Biomedical Research Excellence Conference.


  • Dickerson, D. W., Milam, L. C., Forest, H., *Woodward, K. C., & Woodward, M. J. (November, 2024). The influence of negative
    network orientation in the relationship between shame and perceived social support in sexual assault survivors. Poster presented at
    the annual meeting of the Kentucky Academy of Science


  • McCollum, D. C., Teeters, J. B., Moskal, K. R., & Woodward, M. J. (April, 2024). Does social support moderate the association
    between adverse childhood experiences and substance-related problems? Poster presented at the annual meeting of the
    Collaborative Perspectives on Addiction Conference.


  • McGettrick, C. R., Dick, O. G., Teeters, J. B., & Woodward, M. J. (April, 2024). Relationships between substance use motives,
    PTSD, and alcohol-related problems across two samples. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Collaborative Perspectives
    on Addiction Conference.


  • *Hoskins, K. A., *Milam, L. C., & Woodward, M. J. (April, 2024). The relationship between alcohol consumption and alcohol-related
    problems is stronger for college student service members/veterans compared to traditional college students. Poster presented at the
    annual meeting of the Collaborative Perspectives on Addiction Conference.


  • Woodward, M. J., Teeters, J. B., McGettrick, C. M., Forrest, H., Schueler, A., Dick, O. G., & Milam, L. (April, 2024). A trauma-
    informed, peer-supported digital intervention for heavy drinkers with interpersonal trauma. In L. Holt (Chair), Harnessing digital
    technologies to prevent substance misuse in young adults. Symposium to be presented at the annual meeting of the Collaborative
    Perspectives on Addiction conference.
    • To view a poster overview, click here


  • Hoskins, K. A., Milam, L. C., & Woodward, M. J. (April, 2024). The relationship between alcohol consumption and alcohol-
    related problems is stronger for college student service members/veterans compared to traditional college students. Poster
    presented at the annual meeting of the Collaborative Perspectives on Addiction Conference.
    • To view full poster, click here


  • McGettrick, C. M., Dick, O. G., Teeters, J. B., & Woodward, M. J. (April, 2024). Relationships between substance use
    motives, PTSD, and alcohol-related problems across two samples. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the
    Collaborative Perspectives on Addiction Conference.
    • To view the full poster, click here


  • Milam, L. C., Traxler, S., Teeters, J. B., & Woodward, M. J. (March, 2024). Cannabis coping motives moderate the
    relationship between recent cannabis use and suicide ideation. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the Kentucky Idea
    Network of Biomedical Research Excellence Conference.
    • To view full poster, click here




Hanna currently plans on earning hery Master's degree with a Clinical concentration to then become a therapist and continue doing research.


  • Hannah Forrest(2024)
  • Olivia is also entering the workforce for a time before applying to PhD programs in Clinical Psychology.
  • Olivia Dick (2024)

What our Alumni are up to!

  • Kaitlyn is currently applying to masters of social work programs with a concentration in
    Military Behavioral Health, with the hopes of working as a behavioral health provider in the
    military
  • Kaitlyn Hoskins (2024)
  • Anne is currently in her second year in WKU’s Master’s in Counseling program, thanks to the JUMP program here at WKU, and plans to become a Licensed Professional Counseling Associate.
  • Anne Schueler (2024)
  • Grace is currently working as a Project Coordinator with plans to apply to PhD programs in Experimental Psychology.
  • Grace Salloum (2023)
  • Cailtin currently plans on entering the workforce as a project coordinator with future plans to purse a PhD in Community Psychology with a focus on trauma and substance use.
  • Caitlin McGettrick (2024)

If you are interested in joining the Stress, Trauma, and Recovery lab, please
complete this form and Dr. Woodward will get back to you.


Please note that I get a lot of applications to the lab, so you should contact me
the semester prior to the one you want to begin working in the lab in order to
have the best chance of obtaining a spot.

Interested in Joining the Lab?

If you’re an undergrad, you can earn course credit for working in
the lab! And it’s a great resume builder for graduate school or
employment.


You may be able to join the lab if you are:


  1. A student at Western Kentucky University
  2. Majoring in Psychological Sciences
Designed with