Our Team
Faith Summersett Williams, Ph.D.
Post doctoral fellow
Faith Summersett Williams joined the Center for Childhood Resilience in 2018 as a Post-Doctoral Fellow. As a clinical-scientist, trauma has been the unifying theme in her clinical work and research. With over 10 years of experience working with underserved groups, Dr. Summersett Williams’ academic and clinical interests are focused on the development and translation of evidence-based and trauma-informed mental health assessments and interventions to systems that serve children such as schools, hospitals, community mental health centers, child welfare agencies, and juvenile justice departments.
Dr. Summersett Williams’ clinical work focuses on addressing trauma exposure, mood disorders, attachment difficulties, parenting practices, and externalizing behaviors. Dr. Summersett Williams provides mental health services through Lurie Children’s Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry through the Trauma Treatment and General Outpatient programs, with a specific focus on youth with complex trauma exposure.
Dr. Summersett Williams received her Bachelor of Science degree from Howard University and a Master of Science degree from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. She recently completed her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, and her dissertation titled: Dually-Involved Youth and the Crossing of Two Systems: Identifying Protective Factors among Youth and Caregivers in the Child Welfare System to Prevent Justice System Involvement, explored the factors that reduce the likelihood of justice involvement for vulnerable youth.