RICHARD KAGAN

Richard Kagan, PhD, is a trauma treatment educator and consultant, as well as a treatment model developer, curriculum developer and NCTSN Project Director. He developed Real Life Heroes®, a treatment approach for children and families affected by traumatic stress. Today, he also provides training and consultation on traumatic stress and complex trauma therapy.

In addition to his work with Real Life Heroes, Richard serves as a trainer for the Complex Trauma Treatment Initiative at Adelphi University’s Institute for Trauma Training and Treatment. He also works as a training consultant for the Center for the Treatment of Developmental Trauma Disorder at the University of Connecticut Health Center.

Richard brings years of clinical work with children in child welfare programs into his trainings. As a result, his teaching connects trauma theory with practical tools that therapists and caregivers can use with children and families.

He currently leads the NCTSN’s Guiding Stars Project, which works to increase and sustain engagement of youth and caregivers who have experienced complex trauma or developmental trauma disorder. Through that project, he developed the Multi-Dimensional Treatment Planning (MTP) Guide, and the project has since published two peer-reviewed articles and a practice paper. For more, visit reallifeheroes.net.