Connor Sullivan, BS CSW

Connor Sullivan (he/they) is completing his internship at Kindred Psychology for his Master of Social Work at Nebraska Wesleyan University. Connor gives focus to the impacts of trauma, from neurobiological effects to cultural and political, because of the trauma-conscious specialization throughout his education. Connor is a Certified Social Worker in the state of Nebraska and is currently finishing classes at Southeast Community College to become a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor. 

Connor previously graduated with a Bachelor of Social Work from Nebraska Wesleyan University in 2021 and an Associate of Human Services from Southeast Community College in 2019. Connor has seven years of direct-care and case management experience working with system-involved adolescents at HopeSpoke’s therapeutic group home for youth with problematic sexualized behaviors and the crisis stabilization shelter at CEDARS Youth Services. He also has experience as a Family Advocate at BraveBe Child Advocacy Center, a volunteer for Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Lancaster County, a Mental Health Technician in the inpatient youth psychiatric unit at Bryan West Hospital, and in a macro social work role at the City of Lincoln Mayor’s Office. 

Connor is passionate about civic engagement. As a social worker, he understands that interventions for social change must be at all levels – systemic/political, community, family, and individual. Connor is an advocate for harm reduction practices and would like to work toward helping create legislation to integrate approaches focused more on harm reduction for people who use substances. 

Connor identifies as queer and neurodivergent and understands the individual and systemic challenges of navigating a cisheteronormative, neuronormative world. His therapeutic orientation is rooted in Humanism and includes pulling core concepts from different theoretical approaches with focuses in Resilience Therapy, Family Systems Therapy, Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Polyvagal Theory, and Mindfulness/Somatic-Based Therapy. Connor understands the value of meeting people where they’re at while taking environmental context into account for a well-rounded trauma-conscious approach. With self-determination being a core value of his, Connor believes that a trusting, fruitful relationship between the client and the therapist is vital to create self-determination towards growth and sustaining change.