Dr. Cody Hollist is an Associate Professor in the Department of Child, Youth, and Family Studies. His research seeks to understand and treat the impact of traumatic experiences through family therapy. He has written numerous research articles, book chapters and presented nationally and internationally on family therapy for complex trauma. Working to address trauma he leads the Trauma and Resiliency Explored Lab at UNL. He has worked extensively in many regions of Brazil to strengthen families in the face of significant adversity.

In Northeastern Brazil, Recife, he is working with researchers to develop better family supports for those who have a child with Microcephaly due to Congenital Zika Virus Syndrome. He received a Fulbright Scholar award to work in Sao Paulo to understand and address the high suicide rate among young adults who experienced childhood trauma. In Southern Brazil, Rio Grande do Sul, the team uses a community based participatory research approach to address developmental risks of youth growing up in extreme poverty and high-risk neighborhoods. The work in the south builds on a collaborative 20-year longitudinal study of family development. He writes and presents frequently in Portuguese and feels at home surrounded by Brazilians.

Dr. Hollist is a Licensed Independent Marriage and Family Therapist and specializes in treatment of complex trauma, especially the treatment of childhood sexual abuse. He is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) a leading treatment modality for PTSD. His teaching includes the clinical training of family therapists and treatment of diverse couples and families. He also teaches human service works, early childhood and elementary educators how to work with children and their families who have experienced trauma.

Hollist was the director of the UNL Marriage and Family Therapy program and the former President of the Nebraska Marriage and Family Therapy Association. He is also a Chaplain in the Air National Guard and in 2018 deployed to the middle east. For peace he spends time with his family on their farm where they care for animals (cat, dogs, chickens, cows), gardens and enjoys time outside.

• Marriage and Family Therapy
• Global Family Health and Wellbeing
• Family & Community Services
• Human & Family Services Administration
• International Family Studies