Chelsey Torgerson

Dr. Chelsey Torgerson is a therapist, educator, clinical supervisor, and researcher with a passion for training the next generation of family therapists to be addiction-informed, trauma-centered, and culturally responsive practitioners. Dr. Torgerson holds the AAMFT Approved Supervisor designation and is an Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate and a Certified Addictions Counselor (CADC III) in the state of Oregon. Dr. Torgerson uses her clinical experiences to inform her teaching, research projects, and community training opportunities for clinical professionals and the general public.

Personal Statement

Operating within a self-of-the-therapist framework, I firmly believe that in order to be effective therapists, we must stand in our own humanity to bear witness to the humanity of others. I care less about the regurgitation of information in the classroom and care more about curiosity, exploration, flexibility, and integration as we learn from each other. I teach MCFT concepts through a broader sociological and contemporary issues lens, encouraging students to expand the ways in which they think, integrate, and apply knowledge and skills into their clinical work.

Current Research

Dr. Torgerson is interested in using scientific inquiry to understand how to promote community-wide healing from systemic disparities such as intergenerational trauma, poverty, historical and cultural trauma, and substance use. She is also interested in training practices that prepare graduate students to meet the needs of clients in their communities. Her current research projects include:

1. The examination of mental health and trauma symptoms, coping strategies, and help-seeking behaviors in first responders (firefighters and paramedics) working in rural, suburban, and urban areas in Oregon.
2. The integration of addiction and recovery into the graduate training of MFTs.
3. The relationship between group belonging and the motivations of using substances in emerging adults
4. Using self-of-the-therapist frameworks to train MCFT students

Publications

• Scroggs, B. W., Love, H. A., & Torgerson, C. N., Rosenberger, J. (In press). Substance use in sexual minority emerging adults: Insights into use by pansexual and asexual individuals. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity

• Scroggs, B. W., Love, H. A., & Torgerson, C. N. (2020). COVID-19 and LGBTQ emerging adults: Risk in the face of social distancing. Emerging Adulthood. DOI: 10.1177/2167696820968699

• Torgerson, C. N, Love, H., & Vennum, A. (2018). The buffering effect of belonging on the negative association of childhood trauma with adult mental health and risky alcohol use. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 88, 44-50. doi: 10.1016/j.jsat.2018.02.005.
• Love, H. A., & Torgerson, C. N. (2018). Traumatic experiences in childhood and adult substance use in a nonclinical sample: The mediating role of arousal/reactivity. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.12348
• Torgerson, C. N. (2018). Road map to recovery: An expressive arts therapy intervention. Alcohol Treatment Quarterly, 36(2), 286-290. https://doi.org/10.1080/07347324.2017.1407223

Presentations

Community Presentations and Trainings (2020 – Present)

• Torgerson, C. N. (2023, August). Becoming Culturally Responsive Therapists through Self-of-the-Therapist Work. Presented at Oklahoma Baptist University, Shawnee, OK.

• Torgerson, C. (2021, March). Becoming Culturally Responsive Behavioral Health Professionals: Critical Conversations. Presented at Cultural Awareness Training at KBBH, Klamath Falls, OR.

• Torgerson, C. N. (2021, March). Teens & feelings: Parenting an emotionally intelligent teen. Workshop presented at Klamath County Take Root Parenting Connection Parenting Class, Klamath Falls, OR.
• Torgerson, C. (2021, February). Becoming Culturally Responsive Behavioral Health Professionals: Critical Conversations. Presented at Cultural Awareness Training at KBBH, Klamath Falls, OR.
• Torgerson, C. N. (2021, February). Children & feelings: Parenting an emotionally intelligent child. Workshop presented at Klamath County Take Root Parenting Connection Parenting Class, Klamath Falls, OR.
• Torgerson, C. N. (2021, January). Connection & Belonging: Self-Care for Students. Presented to Oregon Tech Faculty, Staff, and Students through the Oregon Tech Student Involvement and Belonging Program, Klamath Falls, OR.
• Torgerson, C. (2021, January). Becoming Culturally Responsive Behavioral Health Professionals: Privilege, Oppression, and Behavioral Health. Presented at Cultural Awareness Training at KBBH, Klamath Falls, OR.
• Torgerson, C. (2020, December). Becoming Culturally Responsive Behavioral Health Professionals: Assumption & Bias. Presented at Cultural Awareness Training at KBBH, Klamath Falls, OR.
• Torgerson, C. (2020, November). Becoming Culturally Responsive Behavioral Health Professionals: Intersecting Identities & Worldviews. Presented at Cultural Awareness Training at KBBH, Klamath Falls, OR.
• Torgerson, C. (2020, October). Becoming Culturally Responsive Behavioral Health Professionals. Presented at Cultural Awareness Training at KBBH, Klamath Falls, OR.
• Torgerson, C. N. (2020, September). Being the frontlines with struggling students. Presented to the Bridge Program Student Mentors through the Oregon Tech TOP Program, Klamath Falls, OR.
• Torgerson, C. (2020, August). Staying connected and relationally healthy in a global pandemic. Presented virtually at the Klamath County Symposium, Klamath Falls, OR.
• Torgerson, C. (2020, March). Cultural Competency, Cultural Humility, & Supervision. Presented at Supervisor Training at KBBH, Klamath Falls, OR.
• Torgerson, C. (2020, March). Culture and Self-Understanding. Presented for Sexual Assault Prevention & Response Program Victim Advocate Refresher Training, Klamath Falls, OR.
• Torgerson, C. (2020, March). The Courage of Stepping into who you are and who you want to be. Presented to the Oregon Tech Leadership Academy, Klamath Falls, OR.
• Torgerson, C. N. (2019/2020, September). Stress and self-care. Presented to the Bridge Program through the Oregon Tech TOP Program, Klamath Falls, OR.
• Torgerson, C. N. (2020, February). Self of the therapist work in supervision. Presented at Supervisor Training at KBBH, Klamath Falls, OR.

Research Posters and Presentations

• Torgerson, C. N. & Vennum, A. V. (2020, November). Trauma-informed schools: MFTs as advocates for change. 5-hour Institute to be presented during the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy Annual Conference, Orlando, FL. *Cancelled due to COVID-19
• Love, H. A., & Torgerson, C. N. (2017, November). PTSD clusters, substance use, and childhood trauma. Poster presented at the National Council on Family Relations Conference, Orlando, FL.
• Torgerson, C. N, Love, H., & Vennum, A. (2017, November). Childhood trauma, belonging, and alcohol use in adulthood. Poster presented at the National Council on Family Relations Conference, Orlando, FL.
• Torgerson, C. N., & Vennum, A. (2017, October). Experiences of school connectedness, teacher connectedness, family relationships, and young adult alcohol use. Poster presented at the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy Conference, Atlanta, GA.
• Staats, N., Lafleur, C., Torgerson, C. N., & Su, Y. (2016, November). Enhancing home-based clinicians’ self-care with an online monitoring tool. Poster presented at the National Council on Family Relations Conference, Minneapolis, MN.
• Torgerson, C. N., Vennum, A., Dharnidharka, P., Grant, D., Van, K., & Gonzalez, N. (2016, September). WoWW: Impact of solution-focused classroom interventions. Poster presented at the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy Conference, Indianapolis, IN.
• Vennum, A., Dharnidharka, P., Shilts, L., Torgerson, C. N., Clifford, C., & Berryill, M. (2016, September) Working on what works: School-based systemic change. Workshop presented at the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy Conference, Indianapolis, IN.

Academic Credentials

2018 – PhD in Human Ecology with a specialization in Couple and Family Therapy from Kansas State University

2015 – MA in Marriage and Family Therapy with a Graduate Certificate in Addictions Counseling from Appalachian State University

2009 – BS in Sociology with a Minor in Health Communication from North Dakota State University