Caroline Easton Headshot

Caroline Easton

Research Faculty

Behavioral Health
College of Health Sciences and Technology

Office Location

Caroline Easton

Research Faculty

Behavioral Health
College of Health Sciences and Technology

Education

BS, Rochester Institute of Technology; Ph.D. University of Connecticut

Bio

Dr. Caroline Easton is the Training Director of RIT’s internship program and over the past 20 years, has been highly committed to mentoring trainees [60] ranging from undergraduate students, practicum students, pre-doctoral psychology interns, post-doctoral fellows, and junior faculty, including several T32 trainees and K awardees. Dr. Easton is also a licensed psychologist and Professor of Clinical and Forensic Psychology in the College of Health Science and Technology at RIT. Dr. Easton is nationally and internationally known for her expertise on ‘best practice procedures’ for the treatment of clients with co-occurring addiction and IPV. She has expertise in assessment, treatment and translational research among forensic populations, populations with chronic and persistent mental illness as well as within the field of clinical neurosciences. She presents at international/national conferences, publishes in peer-reviewed journals and has been the clinical director of large outpatient drug diversion/family violence treatment clinics across New Haven County, CT and now director of programs and clinics in Upstate, NY. She has also received funding as PI and Co-I from NIH regarding the implementation of randomized controlled trials and development of treatment products. Dr. Easton has been collaborating with Investigators from India, Brazil and England regarding the treatment of IPV among substance abusers and using digital CBT treatments among clients with trauma, addiction and medical related problems. Dr. Easton and her team collaborate with investigators from India and the U.K. regarding the development of models of care to treat chronic mental illness, addiction, co-occurring mental health and medical health (e.g., cardiac health) and Intimate Partner Violence. Their model of care is patent pending and they have submitted $17 Million dollars in funding this past 2 years and obtained nearly $7 Million dollars of funding in less than 2 years. More recently, Dr. Easton has adapted this therapeutic modality into a digital therapy platform with an interactive Avatar Therapy Coach ( RITch®-CBT ) that is customizable and client centered. Modules were developed to be narrated and deployed by the Avatar in a user friendly fashion. This new innovative tool has the ability to progress the field with a transferable platform that can be disseminated across the globe. The goal is to help provide clients in need with best care that is accessible to all. provide a supervised, intensive, experiential learning opportunity focused on the delivery of efficient and comprehensive psychological services. Dr. Easton’s experience makes her well qualified to lead this training program which provides a supervised, intensive, experiential learning opportunity focused on the delivery of efficient and comprehensive psychological services.


Areas of Expertise

Select Scholarship

Journal Paper
Buchanan, A., et al. "Risk Factors of Violence During a 4-week Period in a Psychiatric Outpatient Population." Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease 201. 12 (2013): 1021-6. Print.
Oberleitner, L.M., D.L. Mandel, and C.J. Easton. "Treatment of Co-occurring Alcohol Dependence and Perpetration of Intimate Partner Violence: The Role of Anger Expression." Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment 45. 3 (2013): 313-8. Print.
Crane, C.A., C.J. Easton, and S. Devine. "The Association Between Phencyclidine Use and Partner Violence: An Initial Examination." Journal of Addictive Diseases 32. 2 (2013): 150-7. Print.
Crane, C.A., et al. "Relationship Status Acceptance, Alcohol Use, and the Perpetration of Verbal Aggression Among Males Mandated to Treatment for Intimate Partner Violence." Journal of Interpersonal Violence 28. 13 (2013): 2731-48. Print.
Stover, C.S., C.J. Easton, and T.J. McMahon. "Parenting of Men with Co-occurring Intimate Partner Violence and Substance Abuse." Journal of Interpersonal Violence 28. 11 (2013): 2290-314. Print.
Crane, C., L. Oberleitner, and C. Easton. "Sub-clinical Trauma in the Treatment of Partner Violent Offenders with Substance Dependence." Advances in Dual Diagnosis 6. (2013): 5-13. Print.
Easton, Caroline J. "Co-Occurring Mental Health Problems Among Substance Dependent Offenders of Intimate Partner Violence." Advances in Dual Diagnosis 5. 2 (2012): 86-93. Print.
Easton, Caroline J., et al. "Fathers Entering Substance Abuse Treatment: An Examination of Substance Abuse, Trauma Symptoms and Parenting Behaviors." Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment. (2012) Print.
Stover, C.S., Easton, C.J., and McMahon, T. "Depression as a Mediator of the Association Between Substance Abuse and Negative Parenting of Fathers." American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse 38. (2012): 344-349. Print.
Carroll, K.M., et al. "Combining Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Contingency Management to Enhance Their Effects in Treating Cannabis Dependence: Less Can Be More, More or Less." Addiction 107. 9 (2012): 1650-9. Print.
Stover, C.S., et al. "Fathers Entering Substance Abuse Treatment: An Examination of Substance Abuse, Trauma Symptoms and Parenting Behaviors." Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment 43. 3 (2012): 335-43. Print.
Easton, C.J., et al. "Differences in Treatment Outcome Among Marijuana-dependent Young Adults With and Without Antisocial Personality Disorder." American Journal Drug Alcohol Abuse 38. 4 (2012): 305-13. Print.
Crane, C. and C. Easton. "The Influence of Intoxication and Psychological Distress on the Intent to Kill." The Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law 40. (2012): 135-137. Print.
Invited Keynote/Presentation
Easton, Caroline J. "Treating IPV Among Substance Abusers. One Size Does Not Fit All." Scholarship Series: Treating Co-occurring Addiction and Domestic Violence. University of Greenwich. Greenwich, London. 14 Dec. 2012. Keynote Speech.
Easton, Caroline J. "Best Practice Procedures for the Treatment of Clients with Co-occurring Addiction and Intimate Partner Violence." National Webinar on Addiction and Domestic Violence Treatments: JWI. JWI Webinar Series on Domestic Violence Interventions. Washington, DC. 21 Mar. 2013. Keynote Speech.
Easton, C.J., et al. "Using FaceReader, Interactive Technology and Avatar Coaches to Treat Addiction and Aggression." RIT at the LPGA. Wegmans LPGA. Rochester, NY. 6-9 Jun. 2013. Guest Lecture.
Easton, Caroline. "Treating Substance Abusing Male Offenders of Intimate Partner Violence with Best Practice Procedure: Moving Beyond a One Size Fits All Approach." Treating Family Violence as a Contagious Diesase: "Moving Beyond a One Size Fits All Approach". Rochester Institute of Technology College of Health Science and Technology. Rochester, NY. 11 Mar. 2013. Guest Lecture.
Easton, Caroline J. "Treating Co-occurring Addiction and IPV: A One Size Does Not Fit All Approach." Department of Human Services Guest Lecture. The Department of Human Services and the Commissioner of Human Services. Rochester, NY. 22 Jan. 2013. Guest Lecture.
Easton, Caroline. "Using Interactive Technology in Treating Co-Occurring Addiction and IPV. Illustrating the Use of Avatar Coaches and the Noldus FaceReader." RIT's Effective Access Interactive Technology Conference. RIT INN and Conference Center. Rochester, NY. 11 May 2013. Keynote Speech.
Easton, Caroline. "Treating IPV Among Substance Abusing Offenders." Presentation to Monroe County's Key Stakeholders [Judges Doran/Schwartz/Elliott, Defense and State's Attorneys , Probation, Diversionary Court Staff, Ambulatory Clinic Leaders, Victim Advocacy Groups]. Monroe County's Key Stakeholders. Rochester, NY. 10 Jul. 2013. Guest Lecture.
Easton, Caroline. "Using Interactive Technology: FaceReader, Avatar Coaches and Educational Videos in the Treatment of Addiction and IPV." Invited Lecturer at CCSI Luncheon. Coordinated Care Services. Inc. Rochester, NY. 11 Jul. 2013. Guest Lecture.
Easton, Caroline. "Using a Substance Abuse-Domestic Violence Intervention to Treat Substance Using Offenders of IPV." Rochester General Hospital's Guest Lecture. Rochester General Hospital's Ambulatory Treatment Facility, Genesee Mental Health. Rochester, NY. 30 Jan. 2013. Guest Lecture.
Easton, Caroline. "Treating Substance Using Offenders of IPV with Evidenced Based Science." Monroe County's Office of Mental Health. The Office of the Commissioner of Mental Health. Rochester, NY. 6 Feb. 2013. Guest Lecture.
Easton, Caroline. "Treating Addiction Among Offenders of IPV." Delphi Drug and Alcohol Treatment Center. Domestic Violence Conference. Delphi. Rochester, NY. 3 May 2013. Guest Lecture.
Easton, Caroline J. "Addressing Co-occurring IPV and Addiction in Substance Abuse Treatment: One Size Does Not Fit All." Domestic Violence Safety Network Conference. Safenet. Erie, PA. 1 Dec. 2013. Keynote Speech.
Easton, Caroline J. "Using Innovative Technology and Avatars in the Treatment of Addiction and Aggression." Channel 13 News. Channel 13. Rochester, NY. 2 May 2013. Guest Lecture.
Easton, Caroline J. "One Size Does Not Fit All: Addressing Co-occurring Intimate Partner Violence and Addiction in Substance Abuse Treatment." University of Rochester School of Public Health Grand Rounds. University of Rochester School of Public Health. Rochester, NY. 6 Dec. 2013. Guest Lecture.
Easton, Caroline J. "Treating IPV within the Context of Substance Abuse Treatment: One Size Does Not Fit All." St. Vincent's Medical Hospital Grand Rounds Lecture. St. Vincent's Medical Hospital. Erie, PA. 1 Nov. 2013. Guest Lecture.
Easton, Caroline J. "Treating Co-Occurring Addiction and IPV with Evidenced Based Practices." National Public Radio (NPR). National Public Radio. Rochester, NY. 15 Apr. 2013. Guest Lecture.
Easton, Caroline J. "Treating IPV Among Substance Abusers. One Size Does Not Fit All." Scholarship Series: Treating Co-Occurring Addiction and Domestic Violence. University of Greenwich, U.K. Greenwich, London. 14 Dec. 2012. Keynote Speech.
Book Chapter
Easton, Caroline J. "Alcohol-Related Violence." Treatments for Intimate Partner Violence. Ed. McMurmann. Chichester, UK: Wiley-Blackwell, 2012. Print.

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