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Stephen DiDonato, PhD, LPC

Associate Professor

Contact Information

Stephen DiDonato

901 Walnut Street
Suite 721
Philadelphia, PA 19107

Email Stephen DiDonato

Associate Professor

RESEARCH & CLINICAL INTERESTS

  • Impact of trauma on clients/patient coping mechanisms
  • Impact of provider social attitudes and myth adherence on clinical Outcomes
  • Impact of stress and adversity on providers and their decision making
  • Focus on well-being of family units during and post complex trauma exposure

Education

  • PhD, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, International Psychology (2017)
  • MS, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Counseling/Clinical Psychology (2012)
  • BS, Drexel University, Behavioral Health Counseling (2010)
  • Certified Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy Therapist, TFCBT.org (2012)
  • Certified Child and Family Trauma Secondary Intervention, Yale University (2012)

Publications

  • Tobias, J., DiDonato, S., Whitfield-Harris, L., Okupniak, C., Santulli, G., Das, N., & Marino, M. (2025). Creation of a novel virtual reality simulation to increase nursing skills in management of workplace violence. Journal of Nursing Administration. https://doi.org/10.1097/NNA.0000000000001548
  • Roettger, L., Tobias, J., DiDonato, S., Wenocur, K., Paige, A., & Wycoff, K. (2024). Interprofessional simulation learning using pediatric nurse practitioner and counseling students. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 21(2). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nurpra.2024.105269
  • Appel, G., Shahzad, A.T., Reopelle, K., DiDonato, S., Rusnack, F., & Papanagnou, D. (2024). Exploring medical students experiences of trauma in the emergency department: Opportunities for trauma-informed medical education. Western Journal of Emergency Medicine: Integrating Emergency Care with Population Health. https://doi.org/10.5811/westjem.18498
  • DiDonato, S., Thiel, V., Felter, J., Philips, R., Jimenez, L., Riordan, K., Banegas, A., & Frasso, R. (2023). Utilizing focus groups to inform the development of a standardized pre-certification resource parent training curriculum. Journal of Child Public Welfare. https://doi.org/10.1080/15548732.2023.2282539
  • Gannon M, Hand D, Short V, McLaughlin K, Flood T, Shaffer K, Lenegan N, Abatemarco D, DiDonato S. (2023) Maternal Perspective of Inpatient Methadone Initiation: Opportunities to Increase Retention in Treatment. Journal of Addiction Medicine.
  • Kates, J., King, A., DiDonato, S., Hass, R., Randazzo, A., & vonDohlen, A. (2023). The Power of Storytelling: Impact of an Interprofessional Substance Use Disorder Symposium on Stigma and Bias in Health Professions Students Journal of Interprofessional Education & Practice.
  • Ryan, J.E., McCabe, S.E., DiDonato, S., Voepel-Lewis, T., Ploutz-Snyder, R.J. & Veliz, S. (2023). Racial/ethnic disparities in mental healthcare in youth with incarcerated parents. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2023.03.008
  • Felter, J., Chung, H.L., Guth, A. & DiDonato, S. (2023). Implementation and outcomes of the Trauma Ambassadors Program: A case study of trauma-informed leadership development. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10560-022-00910-z. 9. Felter, J., DiDonato, S., Johnson, N., Moh, Y. S., Richardson, A., & Czerny, A. (2022). Creating sanctuary: A DiDonato, Stephen PhD, LPC programmatic approach for integrating trauma competencies across graduate counselor education and supervision. Counselor Education & Supervision. https://doi.org/10.1002/ceas.12249
  • LaRosa, J., Doran, C., Guth, A., Varshney, K., Anaele, B., Davis, K., DiDonato, S., Romney, M., Keddem, S., & Frasso, R. (2021). Life during COVID-19: The student experience. Pedagogy in Health Promotion: The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. https://doi.org/10.1177/23733799211017562
  • Becker-Haimes, E., Wislocki, K., DiDonato, S., & Jensen-Doss, A. (2021). Predictors of clinician-reported self-efficacy in treating trauma-exposed youth. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.22688 
  • Becker-Haimes, E.M., Wislocki, K., DiDonato, S., Beidas, R.S., & Jensen-Doss, A. (2021). Youth trauma histories are associated with under-diagnosis and under-treatment of co-occurring youth psychiatric symptoms. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1080/15374416.2021.1923020
  • Alderfer, M.A., Logan, B.A., DiDonato, S., Jackson, L., Hayes, M.J., Sigmon, S.T. (2020). Change Across Time in Cancer-Related Traumatic Stress Symptoms of Siblings of Children with Cancer: A Preliminary Investigation. Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings 27, 48–53. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10880-019-09618-2
  • DiDonato, S. & Berkowitz, S.J. (2018). Childhood stress and trauma. In Driver, D. & Thomas, S. (Eds.). Severe Childhood Psychiatric Disorders. Elveiser.
  • DiDonato, S. (2017). Comparing medical students’ adherence to child sexual abuse myths in South Africa and the United States of America. Available from ProQuest Dissertations and Thesis database. (UMI No. 10640648).
  • Felter, J., DiDonato, S., Baker, A., Hass, R., & Gorenberg, M. (2017). Using trauma case-based learning to inspire interprofessional readiness among future health professionals. Collaborative Healthcare: Interprofessional Practice, Education, and Evaluation, 8(2), 2-4.
  • Mudzanapabwe, J. & DiDonato, S. (2017, September). APA President’s International Initiative: Perspectives from a relationship formed between Namibia and the U.S. Psychology International. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/international/pi/2017/09/president-initiative.aspx.
  • Kazak, A.E., Abrams, A.N., Banks, J., Christofferson, J., DiDonato, S., … Kupst, M.J. (2015). Psychosocial assessment as a standard in of care in pediatric cancer. Pediatric Blood and Cancer, 62(Suppl 5), S426-459. doi: 10.1002/pbc.25730.
  • Kazak, A.E., DiDonato, S., Schneider, S. & Pai, A. (2015). Assessing family psychosocial risks in pediatric cancer. In Weiner, L., Muriel, A. & Abrams, A. (Eds). Pediatric Psychosocial Oncology: A Textbook of Multidisciplinary Care (51-65). New York: Springer.
  • Kazak, A.E., Schneider, S., DiDonato, S. & Pai, A.L.H. (2015). Family psychosocial risk screening guided by the Pediatric Psychosocial Preventative Health Model (PPPHM) using the Psychosocial Assessment Tool (PAT). Acta Oncologica, 54(5), 574-580.
  • Centrone, W., Greenman, W., Zavala Thompson, C.E., & DiDonato, S. (2021, May). A Center of Excellence model for serving marginalized youth and young adults. International Psychology Bulletin
  • McCarthy, C. J., Lynch, R. J., & DiDonato, S. (2024). Research on College Stress and Coping. IAP
  • Weppner, C., McCarthy, C. J., Miller, T., Tian, Y., Di Renzo, F., Lynch, R. J., & DiDonato, S. (2024). A rapid scoping review of collegiate student’s stress, coping, and help-seeking during COVID-19. In C. J. McCarthy, R. J. Lynch, & S. DiDonato (Eds.), Research on College Stress and Coping (pp. 225–230). IAP.
  • DiDonato, S. & Jack, D. (2021). Behavioral and psychosocial conditions. In Fitzgerald, M. & Jack, D. (Eds). Pediatric Nurse Certification Review. Springer Publishing

Certifications

  • Licensed Professional Counselor, Pennsylvania & New Jersey

AWARDS & HONORS (selected)

Fellow, Jefferson Smart & Healthy Cities Fellowship, Designing a center of excellence for urban child welfare in Peru, Thomas Jefferson University

FUNDING (last five years)

  • DiDonato, S. (PI), Ryan, J., Hand, D., McLaughlin, K., Bellot, J., & Gannon, M. (Co-I’s) Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) PCSS-U Project TINES (Trauma-Informed Nursing Education on Substance Use)
  • DiDonato, S. (PI), Banegas, A., Jimenez, L., & Felter, J. (Co-I’s) Caroline A. Buck Foundation. Transformational Support Grant Standardized Trauma-Informed Resource Parent Pre-Certification Training Curriculum
  • DiDonato, S. (PI), Banegas, A., Jimenez, L., & Felter, J. (Co-I’s), Caplan Foundation for Early Childhood Standardized Trauma-Informed Resource Parent Pre-Certification Training Curriculum
  • DiDonato, S. (PI), Banegas, A., Jimenez, L., & Felter, J. (Co-I’s), Caplan Foundation for Early Childhood Standardized Trauma-Informed Resource Parent Pre-Certification Training Curriculum
  • Co-PI, Stratton Foundation Primary Stakeholder Evaluation of Acute Care Induction Period Women Entering Substance Use Treatment
  • Investigator, Methodist Hospital Foundation Fortifying Furness: Building Capacity to Address the Trauma-Related Needs of Students
  • Co-PI, Thomas Scattergood Foundation Jefferson Trauma Education Center Development
  • Co-PI, Thomas Jefferson University SEED Grant Perinatal Support Needs of Women in Maternal OUD Treatment
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