Biography
Academic and Professional Qualifications
- PhD, Barry University
- MSW, Barry University
- BS, Indiana University of Pennsylvania (Major: Community Services; Minor: Sociology)
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW – Florida)
- Certified Thanatologist and Grief Counselor
- Expressive Arts Facilitator and Educator
- Bereavement Counselor
- Health Care Social Worker
- Guidance Counselor
- Hospice Social Worker
- Clinical Therapist – Inpatient Behavioral Health Facility (Dual Diagnosis Program)
- Child Protective Case Coordinator
- Suicide Hotline Coordinator
- Residential Care Provider – Therapeutic Group Home for Abused and Neglected Adolescents
Trauma- and Grief-Informed Clinical Practice
- Person-Centered, Idiographic, Trauma- and Grief-Focused Clinical Approach
- Certified Thanatologist
- Expressive Arts Facilitator in individual and group clinical practice
- Group and workshop facilitator for women and children impacted by domestic violence
- Facilitator of self-care workshops for professionals experiencing vicarious trauma and disenfranchised grief
Commitment to Trauma-Informed Education
As a Thanatologist and clinical social work educator, I integrate the study of grief, loss, and end-of-life issues into trauma-informed and focused coursework. My group facilitation pedagogy is grounded in the understanding that trauma and grief frequently co-occur and can be disenfranchised. I intentionally design group-based, experiential learning experiences that reflect this interplay, allowing students to explore the layered dimensions of trauma and loss through collective reflection and clinical discussion. While I do not position the classroom as a space for therapy, I offer a safe and brave space for sharing as well as strongly encourage students to explore their own self-care healing practices as part of their professional development. Trauma and grief work requires lifelong reflection and intentional coping, and I prepare students to carry this commitment into their post-graduate practice with clarity and resilience.
Community Engagement
- Board Member & Workshop Leader – Healing Stitches, Fort Myers, FL
Contribute to the strategic direction of an organization serving underserved and often undocumented populations through trauma-informed outreach and expressive arts initiatives. - Community-Based Trauma Educator & Group Facilitator – Healing Stitches, Fort Myers, FL
Designed and led trauma-informed expressive arts-based self-care workshops for underserved communities and nonprofit staff, focusing on resilience, nervous system regulation, and burnout prevention. - Volunteer Bereavement Counselor
- Former Member – Diversity and Inclusion Committee, South Florida Red Cross.
- Former Volunteer Trauma & Resiliency Facilitator – South Florida Red Cross, Service to the Armed Forces
Trauma-Focused Publications, Presentations, and Research
- Daniels, C. (2024, April 25). The power of expressive arts in social work [Invited presentation]. Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, FL.
- Daniels, C. (2024, June 14). Exploring online group chats and associated group dynamics in social work programs [Conference presentation]. National Association of Social Workers Florida Chapter Annual Conference, Orlando, FL.
- Daniels, C. (Ongoing). Self-care for volunteers and staff serving the underserved [Community workshop]. Healing Stitches, Fort Myers, FL.
- Daniels, C., & Levenson, J. (Pending 2025). Trauma-informed care in schools [Workshop presentation]. Broward County School System, FL.
- Daniels, C. (In preparation). Exploring the emotional and spiritual impact on first responders from faith-based organizations in response to natural disasters [Qualitative research study].
- Johnson, E., Steen, J., Tedrow, T., Daniels, C., & Chanan, D. (Under review). Exploring online group chats in undergraduate and graduate social work programs. Journal of Social Work Education.