Rachel Wamser

Dr. Rachel Wamser serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Psychological Sciences at the University of Missouri–St. Louis' College of Arts and Sciences, where she directs the THRIVE Laboratory (Trauma, Hope, Resiliency and Interventions for Victims of adverse Experiences). Her work focuses on traumatic stress impacts across developmental stages with clinical expertise in PTSD interventions for infants through adults.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, University of Missouri–St. Louis (2012)
• Internship: Tulane University School of Medicine–Infant Mental Health Track
• Post-doctoral fellowship: University of Michigan, Trauma and Grief Center for Youth

Research Focus: Dr. Wamser investigates childhood/complex trauma through multiple lenses including polyvictimization, parental support systems post-maltreatment, and co-occurring grief. Her NIH-funded work prioritizes underserved communities and develops trauma-focused interventions to improve clinical retention and outcomes, particularly regarding gun violence exposure.

Supervision & Funding: As active research/clinical supervisor accepting new graduate students for Fall 2025's Clinical Psychological Program, her THRIVE Laboratory operates through National Institutes of Health grants and University of Missouri system support.

THRIVE Mission: The laboratory systematically examines trauma impacts across populations while identifying resilience factors and refining evidence-based treatments through three core objectives: trauma impact delineation, protective factor identification, and clinical outcome optimization for affected individuals and families.