Bethany Welc
Biography
Bethany Welc is a third-year PhD student in the School of Social Work. Bethany graduated Summa Cum Laude from Oakland University's BSW program and went on to pursue her MSW from the University of Michigan, where she was selected as an Integrated Health Scholar. During her master's program, she also received additional certifications in trauma-informed practice and school social work. Bethany has worked clinically in schools and continues to work in private practice. Her clinical and personal experiences have informed her research interests which include the biopsychosocial effects of trauma to individuals, families, and communities. Bethany is particularly interested in evidence-based trauma intervention, the healing process, and effective program design that meets the needs of individuals, families, and communities affected, with particular attention to those affected by gun violence and chronic illness. Currently, Bethany is working on a study investigating the impact of mass school violence on caregiver's mental and physical health. Her research aims to identify the barriers and facilitators to healing within this population, to gain valuable insights into trauma and intervention for those affected by mass school violence. Bethany is committed to interdisciplinary work that involves and amplifies the voices of individuals, families, and communities affected by violence and trauma. Bethany is also a member of the Gun Violence Prevention Social Work Grand Challenge.
Education
Wayne State University, PhD Student
University of Michigan, MSW
Oakland University, BSW
Research Focus
• Traumatic Stress, Related to Violence Exposure and Chronic Health Disorders
• Post-Traumatic Healing
• Children and Families Exposed to Violence and Chronic Health Disorders
• Emotional Regulation and Biological Impacts of Trauma Exposure
• Gun Violence Prevention and Healing
• Community Participatory Intervention Research
• Clinical Trauma Intervention Research
• Policy Advocacy
Publications
Brown, S., & Welc, B. (2024). Parental warmth attenuates the impact of low and moderate levels of violence exposure on trauma symptoms among women with substance use disorders. Journal of Family Trauma, Child Custody & Child Development, 1-15.