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Sarah Subhan, PhD, is a 2025 graduate of the PhD program in Counselor Education & Supervision at Antioch University, Seattle.

Dissertation Committee:

Stephanie Thorson-Olesen, PhD, Committee Chair

Christine Descartes, PhD, Committee Member

Najla Hrustanovic, PhD, Committee Member

Keywords

Trauma-informed care, child protection, Caribbean, alternative care, deinstitutionalization

Document Type

Dissertation

Publication Date

2025

Abstract

This study explored the perceptions and experiences of child welfare professionals on trauma-informed care and implications for deinstitutionalization in Trinidad and Tobago. The qualitative study utilized research interviews from 21 participants to inform findings. The participants included professionals from various agencies who work with children in care and protection. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data, yielding six overarching themes (1) the need for training and capacity building in child protection, (2) systemic and organizational challenges to trauma informed care, (3) cultural and community factors impacting child protection, (4) the need to support family units as a pathway to deinstitutionalization, (5) evaluating and sustaining effective child-centered interventions, policy and systemic approaches, and (6) emphasizing well-being and sustainability. These themes showed that systemic, cultural, and individual factors play significant roles in the utilization of trauma-informed care. Training in trauma-informed care, awareness initiatives, and systemic reform were identified as opportunities for the use of trauma-informed care with child protective systems. Implications for child welfare practice and recommendations for counselor education are also discussed.

Comments

Sarah Subhan, PhD, 2025

ORCID Scholar No. 0009-0007-9621-364X

Dr. Sarah Lisa Subhan is a counselor educator, clinical supervisor, sandtray therapist, mental health consultant, and child and family therapist based in Trinidad and Tobago. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of the West Indies, a Master of Science in Clinical Psychology from Loyola University Maryland, and a Ph.D. from Antioch University Seattle. She specializes in trauma and neurobiologically informed therapy for children and families. Dr. Subhan collaborates with regional agencies to strengthen trauma-informed practices across the Caribbean, with particular attention to intergenerational trauma, systemic gaps in child welfare, and the impact of natural disasters.

She is a passionate advocate for decolonizing education and research, centering culturally responsive and community-grounded approaches in both her clinical and academic work. Her scholarship explores trauma, child welfare reform, and the psychosocial effects of crises within Caribbean contexts. Dr. Subhan is often consulted by the media in Trinidad and Tobago related to trauma, child mental health, and child welfare; she utilizes these opportunities to advocate for mental health resources in her community.

In addition to clinical practice, Dr. Subhan is actively involved in teaching, student mentorship, and conducting court-ordered psychological evaluations. Her supervision style integrates a person-centered, neurobiological, and strengths-based lens, fostering a safe, collaborative, and culturally attuned environment for supervisees to grow. She emphasizes the importance of multicultural competence and systemic awareness in both supervision and the counseling process.

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