JAIMIE LUSK, PSYD  

Oregon Board of Psychology 3054  

Idaho Board of Psychology 3771445

EDUCATION:  

  • PsyD, Clinical Psychology, Graduate School of Professional Psychology, University of Denver, Denver, CO (Aug 2015)

  • Master of Arts, Community Counseling, Denver Seminary, Denver, CO  (Aug 2010)

  • Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD  (May 2001)

CERTIFICATIONS:

  • Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) Certification, National Center for PTSD

  • Cognitive Processing Therapy National Trainer Certification, National Center for PTSD

  • Prolonged Exposure (PE) Certification, National Center for PTSD

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Depression (ACT-D) Certification

  • Certified HeartMath Biofeedback Practitioner

  • Emotion-Focused Therapy Level 1 Certification

  • Prevention and Relationship Education Program (PREP) Certification

LICENSED PSYCHOLOGIST EXPERIENCE:

Threshold Psychological Services Founder and Clinical Psychologist (Nov 2024– Present): 

  • Provide evidence-based, trauma-focused therapy for individuals and couples navigating loss, trauma, and morally injurious events. Specialize in working with complex cases requiring nuanced integration of difficult experiences.

  • Offer innovative therapeutic approaches including nature-based adventure therapy, incorporating activities like surfing and mountain biking to facilitate emotional processing and skills practice in real-world settings.

  • Develop customized treatment plans combining cognitive-behavioral techniques with experiential learning to help clients build emotional efficacy, resilience and expanded life meaning.

  • Collaborate on research and thought leadership in areas of moral injury and healthcare provider wellbeing, including consulting for national-level projects.

Vet Center Psychologist (Jan 2019 to present): 

  • Provide individual treatment for a caseload of 80+ Veterans.

  • Received grant from HeartMath for equipment to offer biofeedback.

  • Created a comprehensive phase-based trauma therapy approach within the Salem Vet Center.

  • Implemented two weekly stabilization groups, a drop-in skills group, and a mindfulness group for emotion management and distress tolerance.

  • Offered Trauma-Processing Groups on a rotating basis, including moral injury, CPT, and ACT groups.

  • Organized reintegration groups, including a biking group and special community events.

  • Received $70,000 over three years to implement surfing events and ocean therapy for Veterans.

  • Conducted national RCS training and consultation in Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT).

  • Regularly led community trainings on PTSD, TBI, suicide risk, military sexual trauma, moral injury, and readjustment challenges to groups like local law enforcement, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), and State and county services.

Psychologist PTSD Clinical Team, VA Portland Healthcare System (Sept 2015-Jan 2019):

  • Provide evidence-based PTSD treatment (PE/CPT) for approximately 25 Veterans and Couples per week.

  • Offer stabilization treatment (STAIR, DBT, PTSD symptom management and psychoeducation).

  • Conduct treatment related to moral injury (Adaptive Disclosure, Trauma Informed Guilt Reduction).

  • Conducted CPT and CPT-A Groups.

  • Facilitated PTSD Symptom Management Groups.

  • Conduct weekly PTSD consultations, including psychodiagnostic assessment and creation of initial treatment plans.

  • Developed ACT for Moral Injury and ACT Beyond Betrayal curriculum in collaboration with chaplain services. Facilitated groups and conducted extensive program evaluation.

  • Supervised practicum students, psychology interns, and postdoctoral students.

PSYCHOLOGY INTERNSHIP 

VA Portland Healthcare System (July 2014-July 2015)

  • Completed CPT initiative and received CPT certification.

  • Provided individual and group psychotherapy using evidence-based treatment modalities such as CPT, PE, ACT, Marlatt’s CBT Relapse Prevention, Miller’s Harm Reduction protocol, Seeking Safety, and Motivational Interviewing (MI).

  • Completed twenty Neuropsychological assessments, four extensive PTSD assessments, as well as three liver transplant candidacy evaluations.

CLINICAL PRACTICUM EXPERIENCE

  • VA Eastern Colorado Healthcare System, Inpatient Psychiatric Unit (May 2012-May 2014): Co-facilitated and co-created over 100 ACT-based groups in SATP, the inpatient PTSD unit, and the inpatient psychiatric unit. Provided individual and group psychotherapy to Veterans with acute care needs and severe and persistent mental illness. Integrated strategies from evidence-based practices including Illness Management and Recovery (IMR), Social Skills Training (SST), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Skills Training in Affective and Interpersonal Regulation (STAIR), Functional Analytic Psychotherapy (FAP), MI, and ACT.

  • VA Eastern Colorado Healthcare System, Family Program (2013): Conducted co-therapy for couples using Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy (IBCT). Conducted a seminar in November 2013 tailored to LGBTQ couples.

  • A Eastern Colorado Healthcare System, Substance Abuse Treatment Program (SATP) (Aug 2011 - July 2012): Provided weekly individual psychotherapy, group psychotherapy, and case management.

  • Buckley Air Force Base Outpatient Mental Health Clinic, Denver, CO (Aug 2013 - Feb 2014): Provided individual and group psychotherapy to active-duty Service Members across all branches. Co-led CPT group.

  • University of Denver Professional Psychology Clinic (Oct 2010-May 2015): Provided adult individual and couples psychotherapy on a weekly basis. Conceptualized treatment using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Functional Analytic Psychotherapy (FAP), and a contextual, two-person, psychodynamic self-psychology approach called Intersubjectivity.

  • National Jewish Health Pediatric Neuropsychological Assessment (Sept 2012-May 2014): Completed 42 neuropsychological assessments of children ages 5-18, presenting with a variety of psychological and neuropsychological problems.  

PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

  • Lusk, J.L., Dobscha, S., Kopacz, M., Ritchie, M., Ono, S. (2018). Spirituality, religion and  suicidality among veterans: A qualitative Study. Archives of suicide research, 22(2), 311-326. 

  • Lusk, J.L., (2017). The Relevance & Influence of Moral Injury on Veteran Incarceration. Still At  War: A Guide for Defenders, Prosecutors, & Judges Dealing with Oregon’s Veteran Defendant  Crisis, 8:1-8:11.  

  • Lusk, J.L., Brenner, L.A., Betthauser, L.M., Terrio, H., Schwab, K., Scher, A. (2015). A  qualitative study of potential suicide risk factors among Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation  Enduring Freedom Soldiers returning to the Continental United States (CONUS). Journal of  Clinical Psychology, 71(9), 843–855. 

  • Smith-MacDonald L., Lusk J., Lee-Baggley D., Bright K., Laidlaw A., Voth M., Spencer S.,  Cruikshank E., Pike A., Jones C., Bremault-Phillips S. (2022). Companions in the Abyss: A  Feasibility and Acceptability Study of an Online Therapy Group for Healthcare Providers  Working During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 12: 801680. 

  • Rehder, K., Lusk, J., Chen, J. (2021). Deaths of Despair: Conceptual and Clinical Implications.  Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 28:1, 40-52.  

  • Kopacz, M.S., Lockman, J., Lusk, J., Bryan, C.J., Park C.G, Sheu, S.C., Gibson, W.C., (2019).  How meaningful is meaning-making? New Ideas in Psychology, 54, 76-81.  

  • Grant, C., Lusk, J.L. (2015). A multidisciplinary approach to therapeutic risk management of  the suicidal patient. Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare, 8, 291–298.  

  • Brenner, L.A., Betthauser, L.M., Bahraini, N., Lusk, J.L., Terrio, H., Schwab, K.(2015).  Soldiers returning from deployment: A qualitative study regarding exposure, coping, and  reintegration. Rehabilitation Psychology, 60(3), 277-285.  

  • Lusk, J.L. (2012). The relationship between dementia & PTSD in the older Veteran population.  The Colorado Psychologist, XL(2), 9-11.  

AWARDS AND PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS  

  • Lusk, J.L. (2016, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024) Cognitive Processing Therapy Two-Day  Training. Conducted workshops at the VA Portland and nationally for Vet Center.  

  • Lusk, J.L. (2019, 2022, 2023, 2024) Military Sexual Trauma. Conducted yearly trainings for  NAMI Multnomah Counseling Peer Support Training.  

  • Lusk, J.L. (2023, 2024) Military Culture and Risk of Violence. Conducted workshops for crisis  response team for Salem Police Force. 

  • Lusk, J.L. (2018, March). Mountain biking, Veteran Reintegration, and Whole Health; One  Woman Veterans’ Experience. Presented In conjunction with International Women’s Day,  Women Veterans & Athletics exhibit.  

  • Lusk, J.L. (2018, May) Veterans, Moral Injury, and the Justice System. Presentation for  Western Oregon University class PS 458 Veterans in Transition, Monmouth, OR.  

  • Lusk, J.L. (2018, September). Veteran Culture and Suicidality. Presentation for Tillamook  County Suicide Prevention Stand Down, Tillamook, OR.  

  • Lusk, J.L. (2017, September). PTSD and Moral Injury treatment within VAPORHCS.  Presentation for OHSU School of Public Health, Portland, OR.  

  • Lusk, J.L. (2016, March). PTSD treatment within VAPORHCS. Presentation for class on  treatment of Veterans, George Fox University Masters In Counseling Program, Tigard, OR.  

  • Lusk, J.L. (2016, May). Moral Injury in the Veteran Population. Presentation for class on  Veteran Issues within the criminal justice department, Western Oregon University, Monmouth,  OR.  

  • Lusk, J.L. (2016, June). ACT for Moral Injury: Program evaluation of an ACT for Moral Injury  group with combat Veterans at VAPORHCS. Program evaluation presented at the Association for  Contextual Behavioral Science World Conference, Seattle, WA.  

  • Lusk, J.L. (2016, June). A Qualitative Study on Religious/Spiritual Coping and Suicidality  among Veterans: Findings and implications. Presentation for Oregon Chaplains Association,  Portland, OR.  

  • Lusk, J.L. (2016, August). Collaborating with Chaplains in the Treatment of Moral Injury.  Presentation for Moral Injury symposium, Portland, OR.  

  • Lusk, J.L. & McKelvie, M. (2014, June). Supercharging contextual behavioral couple  therapy. Workshop conducted at the World Conference for the Association for Contextual  Behavioral Science, Minneapolis, MN.  

  • Vandenberghe F., Kanter J., Lusk J.L., McKelvie M. Manduchi K., Allegri R.. (2014, June). The  integrative contribution of Functional Analytic Psychotherapy. Symposium conducted at the  World Conference for the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science, Minneapolis, MN.  

  • Lusk, J.L (2014, May) Functional Contextual Couples Therapy. Presentation conducted at the  University of Denver Graduate School for Professional Psychology Scholarship Day, Denver,  CO.  

  • Lusk, J.L. & McKelvie, M. (2013, September). FAP enhanced IBCT Couple Intimacy  Enhancement Group at the Denver VA. Paper presented at the Rocky Mountain ACBS Regional  Conference, Golden CO. 

  • Military Suicide Research Consortium's American Association of Suicidology Pre Conference Training Day/Travel Award. $1,000 Travel Fellowship Award (April 9-13, 2014).  

SPECIALIZED COURSEWORK  

  • Colorado Teacher’s License, Metro State, Denver, CO  (May 2009)

  • Certified Level II International Baccalaureate Certification, Austin, TX (August 2008)

  • United States Marine Corps Logistics Officer Course, Camp Lejeune, NC (August 2002)

  • United States Marine Corps Basic Officer Course, Quantico, VA (April 2002)

ADDITIONAL PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

  • Henry Middle School 7th Grade Mathematics Teacher, Denver, CO (Jun 2008-Jun 2009): Taught honors, special education, and mainstream classes using an International Baccalaureate Philosophy. Received a grant to begin “Math Doesn’t Suck,” a math club for teen girls.

  • Montbello High School Mathematics Teacher, Denver, CO (Sep 2007-Jun 2008): Established classroom routine and curriculum for three different high school math courses, educating 250 students. Planned and executed Montbello High School’s first “Math Night” to celebrate students' mathematics achievement and engage parents in the education process.

  • Network Ministries Shift Director, Denver, CO (Sep 2006-Sep 2007): Served as shift director for Network Ministries, providing a "living room" environment for homeless individuals. Provided brief counseling interventions for more than 50 men and women.

  • Denver/Boulder Couriers & Shamrock Delivery Bike Messenger (May 2005-Sep 2007): Won the Cycle Messenger World Championships, Dublin, Ireland (August 2007). Served as secretary for the Denver Professional Bike Messenger Association. Organizer of the 2007 Road Rash Bash, the largest messenger event in Denver's history. Recognized as the only woman to be inducted into the Denver Bike Messenger Hall of Fame.

MILITARY EXPERIENCE  

United States Marine Corps Logistics Officer  (May 2001-Feb 2005): 

  • Directed the largest single-port offload in Marine Corps History as Port Operations Officer in Kuwait during Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF).

  • Created the United States Marine Corps wash rack system, crucial for the return of all USMC equipment after the initial invasion into Iraq.

  • Managed armory for 1,500 personnel and $2.1 million worth of equipment.

  • Received the Marine Corps Safety Unit of the Year as unit safety officer (2004).

  • Officially recognized by the Marine Corps for superb performance in planning pre-deployment training for 1,500 personnel.

  • Won Military Mountain Bike National Championships (2002).