Elected for a two-year term as the president of the European Traumatic Stress Research Association (ESTSS), the largest organization in the world uniting psychotraumatologists from European countries Vilnius University (VU) professor psychologist dr. Evaldas Kazlauskas. The mission of ESTSS, which has been operating for almost 30 years, is to ensure that persons who have experienced psychological trauma receive research-based, high-quality and effective psychological help.
Prof. E. Kazlauskas was elected president of ESTSS after evaluating his long-term contribution to psychotraumatology in Europe and outstanding scientific achievements in the field of traumatic stress research. in 2007 prof. E. Kazlauskas received the ESTSS Young Mind in Psychotraumatology Award for young researchers for his unique doctoral dissertation on political violence.
Since 2011 prof. E. Kazlauskas was a member of the ESTSS board and actively participated in promoting the involvement of young researchers in psychotraumatology research, coordinated the organization of ESTSS scientific conferences. Currently, the scientist is an extremely active member of the ESTSS initiative group dedicated to solving the psychosocial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The professor also conducts international scientific research on the psychological impact of the pandemic. ESTSS board members during the election of the president of the association evaluated prof. E. Kazlauskas' leadership, international academic reputation and notoriety, an extremely wide international network of cooperation with other countries, openness to innovation and excellent ability to integrate scientific knowledge in clinical practice.
For two decades, Prof. The field of scientific interests of E. Kazlauskas is psychotraumatology. He works purposefully in the areas of recognition of psychological traumas, coping and development of psychotraumatic assistance. In his research, the professor analyzes the impact of trauma on personal development, the importance of social context and the effectiveness of online psychosocial interventions. In the last few years, prof. The main activity of E. Kazlauskas is devoted to the recognition of trauma and post-traumatic stress, especially to the psychodiagnostic challenges of the complex psychological effects of trauma.
Prof. The team of VU psychologists at the Center for Psychotraumatology established by E. Kazlauskas actively cooperates with scientists from other countries while conducting scientific research. Currently, the Psychotraumatology Center is preparing recommendations and providing expert consultations in order to overcome the psychosocial challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prof. E. Kazlauskas 2010-2016 was the president of the Lithuanian Association of Psychologists, since 2013 is the president of the Lithuanian Trauma Psychology Association. In addition, the professor heads the VU Psychotraumatology Center. Prof. E. Kazlauskas will take up the position of the president of ESTSS from 2021. beginning of January.
