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• MSW — 2015 — Masters of Social Work (University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN)
• BSW – 2013– Bachelor of Social Work (Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, TN)
• AAS – 2010– Associate of Applied Science in Aviation Maintenance Technology (Community College of the Air Force, Montgomery, AL)

Timothy L. Hook started his training at Middle Tennessee State University’s social work program where he learned the fundamentals of human development, the therapeutic relationship, and how people make positive changes. While in the undergraduate program he interned at Soldiers And Families Embraced in Clarksville, TN. He learned how to gather information and identifying needs of veterans, located services through supplementary organizations, and advocated for veterans in the community.

After the first semester in his master’s program he started specialized training in a inpatient treatment program at The Ranch, Nunnelly, TN where he provided individual assessment, biopsychosocial interviews, and psychotherapy services to sociocultural diverse adult population diagnosed with depression, addiction, PTSD, and other affective disorders. He learned to provide crisis intervention and emergency services, co-led process groups. He also participated in somatic seminars and campus wide in-service training.

After he finished with his master’s degree with University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN he started as Primary Therapist dealing with addictions at The Ranch, Nunnelly, TN in the Center for Relationship and Sexual Recovery at for treatment for men with sex or love addiction. He provided individual and group psychotherapy services to culturally diverse male adults diagnosed with psychiatric disorders, attention disturbances, anxiety, depression, and substance abuse. He also collaborated with treatment clinical team of licensed professional counselor, licensed alcohol/drugs of abuse counselor, social workers, psychiatrists, psychologists, and rehabilitation counselors to develop individualized treatment plans.  He led daily psychotherapy groups using multi-modal approaches: cognitive therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, somatic/experiential therapy, and psycho-educational information.

After he left the primary therapist position Tim’s next step was being assigned to the Emergency Department within the VAMC Tennessee Valley Healthcare System with responsibility to provide direct services to veterans and their families who present for services and/or treatment in the Emergency Department. The he evaluated psychosocial needs and applies social work interventions to complex situations that arise in the Emergency Department setting during his tour of duty.

He assessed and provided appropriate social work emergency care treatment options and interventions, and ED discharge and placement options. Special attention was be provided to potential acute care admissions for reasons of self-care deficit, lack of medical necessity, homelessness, placement, acopia, and/or social or environmental factors.

CSAT: Certified Sex Addiction Therapist

Tim also completed the approximately four weeks of intensive training with faculty of the International Institute for Trauma and Addiction Professionals (IITAP) required to become a Certified Sex Addiction Therapist. The CSAT training involves gaining expertise in assessing the level and type of sexual dependence, the clients sexual and trauma history and an assessment of family of origin issues and other addictions and addiction interactions that may be present.  Next, there is training in using a highly manualized, 30 task approach to treatment designed to be followed in individual and group sessions as well as being consistent with any 12-step self-help program for addiction.  Following the training, the trainee is required to get 30 hours of supervision (by CSAT supervisors) of actual clinical work with sex addiction clients prior to certification.

EMDR: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing

Tim has completed training in EMDR. These eye movements dampen the power of emotionally charged memories of past traumatic events. The EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) approved EMDR Training courses provided him with the knowledge and skills to utilize EMDR therapy, a comprehensive understanding of case conceptualization and treatment planning, and the ability to integrate EMDR therapy into his clinical practice. An EMDRIA Approved EMDR Training provides, at a minimum, instruction in the current explanatory model, methodology, and underlying mechanisms of EMDR through lecture, practice, and integrated consultation.

While the EMDRIA Approved EMDR Training Curriculum outlines the minimum requirements, which need to be met, the developer of a specific curriculum can enhance or expand any portion as they see fit. These minimum training requirements include: 20 hours instructional material, 20 hours supervised practicum, and 10 hours consultation.

Tim was enlisted active duty United States Air Force from 1990 to 2011 and retired as an Master Sergeant. During that time, he deployed fourteen times totaling over four years in austere locations. Notable duty titles were Unit Fitness Program Manager for one year in 2010 he was responsible to Commander for 750+ personnel and fitness assessment center. He was the Non-Commission Officer in Charge of Technical Administration for one year in 2009 he answered to the Commander for 750+ personnel for all administrative needs. Tim was the Non-Commission Officer in Charge of Consolidated Tool Room for two years and managed 24 personnel that controlled and tracked $1.2 million in equipment. He was also an Aircraft Section Chief for one year in 2006 accountable for welfare and supervision of over 120 personnel assigned to the unit. From the beginning of his enlistment up to that point he was an aircraft maintenance technician on C-130 aircraft.