Consortium for Research and Treatment

What is the CRT’s Mission?

The CRT is an innovative collaboration that provides training, development, and a therapeutic program for veterans, service members, and first responders designed to enhance their quality of life. The program equips participants with essential life and self-regulatory skills. The CRT also serves as a training site for doctoral students in clinical psychology, many of whom will work with veterans, active-duty military, or first responders. Students receive immersive training experiences with psychoeducation, assessment, and research while working closely with veterans and first responders.  

 

How did it start?

Over a decade ago, Lee Hediger, chairman and founder of The Veterans Trust (TVT), sought a connection to expand support for veterans and outreach activities by linking with an established academic institution. Hediger approached Dean Kimberly Durham, Psy.D., (Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and the School of Criminal Justice), to forge a relationship with her college and the university. Durham, with Dana Mills, Ph.D., (assistant professor in the Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and the School of Criminal Justice) connected the Trust with Matthew Chenworth (NSU Veterans Resource Center), then with Dean Karen Grosby, Ed.D. (NSU College of Psychology), and Tom Kennedy, Ph.D., (director, Academic Affairs in the NSU College of Psychology). At a meeting at the NSU Veterans Resource Center, they proposed a collaboration that increased interdisciplinary support and led to the creation of an innovative cross-disciplinary Veterans Race Camp.

Faculty from the education and psychology colleges joined together to develop a sustainable research and psychoeducation-based program to serve the military and first-responder community. Stephen Kantarze, (director of Race Camp Operations at TVT), introduced the idea of blending motorsports interest with an enjoyable, innovative, and interactive treatment program that would teach participants how to manage trauma-related symptoms.  Kennedy and Alex Edmonds, Ph.D., worked closely with TVT, their executive director, and veteran Alli Morgan. They developed and piloted a functional research model to test Race Camp's viability, initially funded by an NSU Quality of Life research grant. Kennedy then created a CRT practicum experience for doctoral students in clinical psychology. After assessing the outcomes of Race Camp, Edmonds and Kennedy published several articles in peer-reviewed journals, and their practicum clinical psychology students presented multiple posters at peer-reviewed conferences demonstrating the approach's success. 

Race Camp

Our flagship program is Race Camp. Completers of Race Camp become part of our community and may serve as mentors to fellow race-camp participants. At Race Camp, veterans, first-responders, and active-duty military personnel learn the four major components of psychological skills training, including goal setting, self-talk, imagery, and arousal regulation, with the assistance of biofeedback. Participants learn how to apply these skills (e.g., controlling breathing and managing heart rate) in both stress-free environments and performance-based scenarios. Specifically, the simulated-race environment will serve as a stress-inoculation technique (phasing from easy to difficult), with the primary aim of enhancing self-awareness and self-regulatory skills, thereby improving performance applicable in the field or at home.

We offer several variants of race camp, each designed for the population it serves.

Veterans

Enduro Series (ES)—ES is a three-day experience specifically designed for veterans suffering from symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It allows them to use the simulated-race environment to strengthen psychological skills and improve specific clinical outcomes, such as quality of life, well-being, and self-regulation.

Enduro Series+ (ES+)—ES+ is a full-day experience with multiple telehealth meetings. It is also designed for veterans suffering from symptoms of PTSD who cannot devote three in-person visits to the lab. ES+ enables them to use the simulated race environment to strengthen psychological skills and improve specific clinical outcomes, such as quality of life, well-being, and self-regulation.

First Responders

Super Series (SS)—SS is a program that satisfies the two-hour (2 CEUs) mental health and wellness requirement for criminal justice officers (see 2022 Florida Legislature House Bill 3, creating s. 943.1745, F.S.). SS is recognized and approved by the International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training (IADLEST) to provide CEUs: iadlest-ncp.org. It is also designed to help public safety professionals learn and apply advanced psychological skills and mental health concepts in a simulated race car environment. This course provides durability training for future military personnel, focusing on foundational knowledge in performance-based psychology and overall physical and mental health.

 

Active Duty and ROTC Cadets

Tactical Series (TS)—TC is an eight-week, 3-credit course offered through the Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice. This course, titled EDUC 2500 Mental and Tactical Readiness, is designed specifically for first- and second-year students planning to enter the ARMY ROTC Military Science program. Veterans who complete Race Camp will serve as guest speakers and mentors during the course to support students and prepare them for future military careers. This course is a form of durability training for future military personnel, focusing on foundational knowledge in performance-based psychology and overall physical and mental health. As part of the course, students will work on these skills in the race simulators at the CRT’s Race Café.

We are actively working on additional offerings, including

• biofeedback for pain management
• CBT-I and CBT-N for sleep issues
• diet and nutrition
• ESTAIR
• neurofeedback
• STAIR Narrative

Students who work in the practicum will gain experience in assessment, biofeedback, neurofeedback, and research.

 

Clinical and Research Personnel

• Tom D. Kennedy, Ph.D., BCB—Director of Clinical Operations. Tom Kennedy is an associate professor and the director of Academic Affairs for the College of Psychology at NSU. He serves as a representative for the NSU IRB and is a forensic practicum supervisor. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Miami. He is a licensed psychologist and board-certified fellow in biofeedback. His research interests include two convergent tracks, one focused on forensic psychology and one on therapeutic interventions with Veterans and active-duty military. He has procured grant funding and served as lead evaluator for multiple organizations, including catholic charities, Miami-Dade Schools Police, and national bullying programs. He has published books, book chapters, and articles on juvenile crime, psychopathy, IPV, psychological assessment, military psychology, psychophysiology, and research design. Click HERE for his résumé.
• W. Alex Edmonds, Ph.D., BCB—Director of Research. Alex Edmonds is a professor of research at the Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice. He is a board-certified biofeedback practitioner and recognized as a senior fellow through the Biofeedback Certification International Alliance. He graduated from Florida State University and received his doctoral degree in educational psychology with a minor in statistics and measurement. He has published extensively in a variety of areas such as psychophysiology, educational psychology and has worked as a practitioner across a variety of domains.

Operations and Community Liaison

• Alli Morgan—Executive director of The Veterans Trust. Allison Morgan served for 13 years as a Blackhawk helicopter pilot in the U.S. Army. She completed five combat tours.
• Steven Kantarze—Program manager of The Veterans Trust. Steve Kantarze is a seven-year U.S. Army Veteran. He completed one combat tour in Iraq and one tour in South Korea and finished his service in “The Old Guard.” 

Administrative Personnel

• Awilda Carozza, M.S.—Awilda is the NSU Director of Military Affairs, at the Milton and Barbara Jones Office of Military Affairs at NSU. She provides resource services, community outreach, and recruitment opportunities.

Students

Participating doctoral students in clinical psychology and their roles are as follows:

• Leah Lancellotta—Coordinator/lab clinician/tech. Leah Lancellotta is a Ph.D. student in the clinical psychology program with a concentration in forensic psychology. Her interests involve trauma, forensics, military psychology, and child psychology. Her research involves trauma-based interventions for veteran populations, as well as forensic assessments within diverse communities.
• Michael Garcia—Coordinator/lab clinician/tech. Michael Garcia is a Psy.D. student studying clinical psychology. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard for 14 years.
• Komini Pardalos—Coordinator. Komini Pardalos is a Psy.D. student in the clinical psychology program whose research and clinical interests include forensics, first responders, and military psychology.
• Brenna Divoky—Brenna Divoky is a Psy.D. student in the clinical psychology program. Her research interests are in military psychology and first responders. She currently works as a first responder with Fort Lauderdale Ocean Rescue.
• Roshan Patel—Roshan Patel is a Ph.D. student in the clinical psychology program. His interests include military and veteran psychology, forensic psychology, and personality disorders.
• Kamea Peterman—Kamea Peterman is a Psy.D. student in the clinical psychology program. Her research interests include trauma, cross-cultural perspectives, and military psychology. She comes from a military family.

Community Partners

The Veterans Trust (TVT)—Located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the TVT is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization #46-4677773. The Trust works with Full Send Sims, LLC, to provide race car simulators, including remote services, support, and maintenance, and to provide the CRT with support and veteran participants.

Full Send Sims (FSS)—FSS is owned and operated by Cort Schmidt, a racing simulation company that offers turnkey and custom simulators, as well as trackside rental opportunities.

Neurohealth Treatment Centers—Neurohealth specializes in cutting-edge, FDA-approved treatments like TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) therapy, SPRAVATO® (Esketamine), and expert psychiatric care. Some veterans may be referred to the center for further treatment.

The Concours Club—The Club sets a new global standard for automotive country clubs. The private resort blends high-performance driving with impeccable service and world-class amenities, offering experiences that transcend the traditional motorsport environment. They have extended support to the Veteran’s Trust and the Project so that veterans and trainees can visit the club.

International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training (IADLEST)—IADLEST is a National Certification Program (NCP) to establish law enforcement training standards and best practices relating to improved professionalism and skill sets for our nation’s first responders. NCP courses are recognized nationally and designed to count towards officers' mandatory in-service training requirements.

QRFup—QRFup is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to ending the suicide epidemic afflicting our U.S. military service men and women, veterans, first responders, and their families through an emergency response application.

• Edmonds, W. A., Kennedy, T. D., Lancellotta, L., Garcia, M., & Mills, S. (in press). Integrating Psychological Skills Training with Simulated Racing to Improve Clinical Outcomes in a Veteran with PTSD: A Single-Case Design. Case Studies in Sport and Performance Psychology.
• Edmonds, W. A., Kennedy, T. D., Pardalos, K., Divoky, B., Lancellotta, L., & Garcia, M. (in press). Examining the Effects of a Psychological Skills Training Program with Simulated Racing to Improve Clinical Outcomes in Veterans with PTSD: A Multiple Case-Study Design. Journal of Military and Veterans’ Health.
• Edmonds, W. A., Kennedy, T. D., Visconti, D., & Patel, R. (in progress). Examination of the Effectiveness of a One-Day Simulated Race-based Psychological Resiliency Training Program for First Responders.
• Edmonds, W. A., Kennedy, T. D., Lancellotta, L., Garcia, M. (in progress). A case report of HRV-BFB and psychoeducational assistance as an adjunct to SPRAVATO® Esketamine therapy in a veteran with severe PTSD: The Anchor Protocol.
• Lancellotta, L., Kennedy, T. D., Edmonds, W. A., & Garcia, M. (in progress). Integrating Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy alongside a Psychoeducation and Heart-Rate Variability Biofeedback Protocol to Intramuscular Ketamine Treatment in a Veteran with PTSD

We are grateful for all the support in the form of donations, grants, and sponsorship from

• The WAWA Foundation
• The Cecelia Lipton Farris & Victor W. Farris Foundation
• Quality of Life (2024). An Experimental examination of a race car simulation psychoeducational intervention and the effects on health and performance-based outcomes of veterans diagnosed with PTSD
• Quality of Life (2026). Examination of the Effectiveness of a One-Day Simulated Race-based Psychological Resiliency Training Program for First Responders

We welcome your questions at CRT@nova.edu. For more on specifics of the research or questions concerning the CRT, please feel free to reach out to

• Tom Kennedy, Ph.D., BCB
  Professor/Director of Academic Affairs
  College of Psychology

• W. Alex Edmonds, Ph.D., BCB 
  Professor
  Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice