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Paul Krauss Therapist Counselor

As a Mental Health Expert, I get asked a lot about my perspective on a wide range of topics. 

From people attempting to weigh the pros and cons of a large decision, or families dealing with financial issues (the psychological aspects). Other times, I have had organizations contact me wanting my opinion on what to do about certain employees’ behavior, or how to create an incentive-based workplace environment.

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As a therapist, I do not give my opinions, or offer advice to my clients.

Psychotherapy is a process and one that is governed by a whole host of rules at the state level, ethics and techniques from the counseling profession, as well as time, space, and boundary limitations.

As a consultant, I will be speaking for myself.

I will utilize my expertise as a Mental Health Expert to give yourself or your organization my ideas without restraint. This will be nothing like therapy at all. However, I will draw on my experiences helping others to offer you multiple perspectives in these confusing times.

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In the field of Mental Health:

I have been a Private Practice Therapist, Adjunct Graduate School Professor, Clinical Supervisor, Clinical Director, Professional Speaker, Behavioral Health Trainer, EMDR Consultant, Mentor, and Podcast Host (Regarding Psychology and Philosophy). Interacting in such a wide range of places and roles helps me draw on a vast variety of experiences and knowledge that will make consulting with me, worth your while.

For inquiries for your life or project, please contact me at [email protected]

Paul Krauss MA LPC

Paul Krauss MA LPC is the Clinical Director of Health for Life Counseling in Grand Rapids MI, home of The Trauma-Informed Counseling Center of Grand Rapids. Paul is also a Private Practice Psychotherapist, an Approved EMDRIA Consultant, host of the Intentional Clinician podcast, Behavioral Health Consultant, Clinical Trainer, and Counseling Supervisor. Paul is the creator of the National Violence Prevention Hotline (in progress) as well as the Intentional Clinician Training Program for Counselors. Paul has been quoted in the Washington Post, NBC News, and Wired Magazine.

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Presentations Available

1. A-CRA (Adolescent Community Reinforcement Approach)

  • 2 Day In-Person or Online Training
    • Created by Dr. Robert Myers (At University of New Mexico)
      • Endorsed by SAMSHA, etc.
    • Paul Krauss MA LPC is an ACRA certified Clinician and Trainer (was trained and endorsed by Dr. Robert Myers and Associates)
  • Includes: Worksheets for Clinicians, a PDF workbook, roleplays with staff.
    • If requested, Paul will teach your training staff how to “grade” recordings of clinicians working with clients using A-CRA to ensure they do not drift from protocol.
    • Paul is happy to engage in 1-1.5-hour coaching sessions with your staff post the 2-day training (every 2-4 months or whatever you request).

Presented 2-3 times per year between 2012-2021 at the request of Jewish Family and Children’s Services of Arizona.

  • Description: The Adolescent Community Reinforcement Approach (A-CRA) is a developmentally-appropriate behavioral treatment for youth and young adults ages 12 to 24 years old with substance use disorders.
  • A-CRA seeks to increase the family, social, and educational/vocational reinforces to support recovery. This intervention has been implemented in outpatient, intensive outpatient, and residential treatment settings. A-CRA includes guidelines for three types of sessions: individuals alone, parents/caregivers alone, and individuals and parents/caregivers together. According to the individual’s needs and self-assessment of happiness in multiple life areas, clinicians choose from a variety of A-CRA procedures that address, for example, problem-solving skills to cope with day-to-day stressors, communication skills, and active participation in positive social and recreational activities with the goal of improving life satisfaction and eliminating alcohol and substance use problems.
  • Practicing new skills during sessions is a critical component of the skills training used in A-CRA. Every session ends with a mutually-agreed-upon homework assignment to practice skills learned during sessions. Often these homework assignments include participation in pro-social activities. Likewise, each session begins with a review of the homework assignment from the previous session.
  • The initial training workshop is designed for clinical staff who plan to implement A-CRA and/or provide clinical supervision to clinicians implementing A-CRA, as well as those in support and administrative roles for programs implementing A-CRA. The training uses demonstrations to model how A-CRA is used with individuals and their families, and trainees have an opportunity to practice procedures and receive feedback from the training team.
  • The A-CRA treatment manual is available in English, Dutch, French, Spanish, and Portuguese.
  • A-CRA has been implemented by more than 470 organizations in the United States and in several other countries. It is noted as one of the three interventions for adolescents described in Anne Fletcher’s book, Inside Rehab.

2. The Intentional Clinician Training

  • 1 Day In-Person or Online Training
    • Created by Paul Krauss MA LPC and Dr. Nicole Cain

Presented Independently and also for Jewish Family and Children’s services multiple times since 2015.

  • Description:
    • This training explores the foundations for becoming an exceptional therapist, based upon empirically proven methods and outcomes studies. A thorough overview of the topic and related topics will be discussed including: What does the research say really works in therapy? Using Mindfulness in clinical practice. Enhancing skills for a strong therapeutic alliance with your patient. How to relate to your patients in a powerful & dynamic way. Advanced observation and case-taking skills. Developing strong personal and professional boundaries in-line with the American Counseling Association’s code of ethics. How to address symptoms of clinician burnout. How to become intentional in your work as a clinician. Workshop elements include: Finding your purpose as a clinician. Creating your essential mission as a clinician. Working on bringing the concepts of resilience and transformation to clinical practice. A case conceptualization will be explored in relation to working with patients who may not be motivated for treatment, for one reason or another.

3. What is Trauma-Informed Counseling and What is the Science Behind It?

  • 2 hour In-Person or Online Training
    • Created by Paul Krauss MA LPC

Presented for Acadia Healthcare in 2020 and 2021

  • Description:
    • When given information about trauma-informed counseling techniques and the science that inspired it participants will
    • Describe at the dominant paradigm of Trauma-Informed Counseling that differentiates it from traditional talk-therapy,
    • Identify at least two of the basic scientific premises, gleaned from research, that validate the need to incorporate a trauma-informed baseline understanding into all forms of psychotherapy and psychological assessment in the future and be able to take some knowledge of what trauma is and how it may affect a person, and what trauma-informed counseling can look like and be able to incorporate that information into their particular clinical setting.
  • The neurobiology studies and scientific research which launched the trauma-informed care initiative in the last 20 years, is one of the most important developments in understanding the human condition, the way in which symptoms originate, how life experiences and “trauma” influence the spectrum of human adaptation, thoughts, behaviors, physical health and more—and is the key to understanding the importance of the entire mind-body therapy paradigm as well as why integrated care is paramount for the prevention of and recovery from mental illness.
  • This presentation outlines some of the copious amounts of research that have proven the trauma-informed care paradigm to be empirically valid, and how knowledge of trauma-informed counseling techniques can lead to improved outcomes in all forms of healthcare—including, and especially mental health interventions.
  • This presentation will educate practitioners on how to recognize the common experiences and reactions to trauma. In addition, this presentation will equip practitioners with simple ways to begin utilizing a trauma-informed care paradigm with counseling techniques to empower and educate clients—so that they may begin the journey of recovery and continue on into personal resiliency.

4. Family engagement for sustainable recovery when dealing with trauma, and the after effects of trauma

  • 2 hour In-Person or Online Training
    • Created by Paul Krauss MA LPC

Presented for Newport Healthcare in 2022

  • Description: This presentation covers how to engage with a family system that has lived through traumatic events or is dealing with current traumatic circumstances. To do this, first, trauma is defined through a scientific and sociological lens; a discussion of how trauma effects may affect a person takes place, and the differences between PTSD, trauma and stress are discussed. The Adverse Child Experiences (ACE) study is explored in how it links traumatic events to long-term negative health events in most people and in most family systems—and how these findings can help clinicians understand clients better. The presentation then focuses on the environment of the family home, the particular family’s behaviors, and the neighborhood in which they reside as important aspects in both understanding trauma, mental health, and working on preventing long-term trauma. The presentation concludes with methods to help families that have endured environmental trauma, how to work with individuals who have experienced trauma that impacts their mental health, and concludes with tips on how clinicians can help families on the road to a sustainable recovery from the after-effects of trauma.

5. Why We Need a National Violence Prevention Hotline

  • 1 hour In-Person or Online Presentation
    • Created by Paul Krauss MA LPC

Presented for The Cultural Impact Conference in Psychology in Chicago (2019)

  • Description: This presentation will discuss the problem of both fatal and non-fatal violence in the United States as well as its associated long-term psychological, physical health, and economic costs. This presentation will detail the statistics of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and National Domestic Violence Prevention Hotline in their efforts to prevent suicide and help survivors of domestic violence. This presentation proposes the creation of a National Violence Prevention Hotline (NVPH), which would be the first hotline dedicated to helping those contemplating acts of violence as its main focus. (There would also be education and resources and help for victims of any type of violence as well). Imagine if the NVPH was as well-known and publicized as either of the 2 hotlines discussed earlier– it may actually have a large statistical effect on the levels of premeditated violence in the USA. This presentation will discuss the issue of the stigma against “Violence thoughts and impulses” in the culture and how this may deter certain individuals from seeking direct help locally; and thus, the hotline may be a good step for helping individuals who are contemplating violence get the help they need. The presentation outlines the success of de-escalation strategies as well as different mental health interventions aimed at people on the brink of violence or suicide. Lastly, the presentation will cover how a proposed hotline (The National Violence Prevention Hotline) would operate and how, we as mental health professionals could work together to create it.
  • As far back as 1958 local crisis lines were established to help people who were struggling with suicidal thoughts. It took until 2004 for our nation to establish The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which provides 24/7 support for people in crisis. Recently there has been an awakening in our society regarding pervasive public and private violence. Currently, there are very few resources targeted toward those who are escalated and feel compelled to act on violent impulses. The National Violence Prevention Hotline (NVPH) proposes to provide free, confidential, expert support for people in distress. It would help people struggling with compulsions toward committing acts of violence and those threatened by violence. These include: lone wolf shooters, workplace violence, domestic violence, revenge scenarios, gang violence, school violence, relationship violence, sexual abuse, harassment situations, and also victims of violence. Timely intervention is critical in preventing a violent act from being carried out. The NVPH would provide such intervention. We must not wait to launch a national effort to confront these issues.
  • Curriculum Vitae Attached.

More Information about Paul: https://healthforlifegr.com/paul-krauss-ma-lpc/

Connect with Paul on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulkraussmalpc49546

Check out Paul’s Podcast about Psychology and Philosophy: https://healthforlifegr.com/the-intentional-clinician/

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Paul Krauss MA LPC In The News