Dr. Laurie Benton obtained a Doctorate of Clinical Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology in 1998. She is a licensed Clinical Psychologist in Illinois. She worked for 10 years at the Allendale Association. While there, she provided individual, family and group therapy to children and adolescents removed from their homes and communities due to severe emotional and behavior disorders stemming from chronic maltreatment and trauma. Also at Allendale Association, she coordinated the diagnostic testing program and supervised diagnostic practicum students and pre-doctoral interns. Dr. Benton currently is on the medical staff at Lake Forest Hospital and maintains a private practice in Grayslake, IL. She provides psychological consults often related to trauma and crisis for children and adolescents admitted to Lake Forest Hospital. Dr. Benton began teaching at The Chicago School as an adjunct faculty in September 2002. She moved to Associate Professor and half-time faculty in September 2005. Beginning in September 2008, Dr. Benton took a position as full-time faculty. Her areas of interest continue to be child and adolescent psychology and psychopathology, complex trauma and the impact of chronic child maltreatment, child and family psychotherapy and psychological testing. Dr. Benton is also active in providing services within The Forensic Center. She integrates a trauma informed treatment approach with her interests in parent-child reunification, recidivism reduction and psychological testing. In addition, she is also the Training Coordinator for the Center. In this role, she has helped develop diagnostic and therapy practicum programs as well as a pre-doctoral internship program. She is actively involved in training and supervision of students. Her interests are parent-child reunification, recidivism reduction and psychological testing.