Who we are
Welcome to the International Institute for Trauma, Abuse and Society.
We are an independent research, development, and knowledge-exchange institute dedicated to understanding trauma, abuse, and harm without pathologising those who experience it.
We bridge rigorous research with real-world practice across policing, health, law, social care, education, governance, and public policy.
Our work challenges dominant diagnostic-led and individualised models of suffering, centring instead on social context, power, violence, systemic oppression, and accountability. IITAS exists to support professionals, institutions and governments to respond to trauma in ways that are evidence-based, ethical, and grounded in the lived realities of victims and survivors.
We are:
International - exploring, testing, and considering evidence from all over the world
Independent - from government, universities, funders, and publishers
Anti-pathology - against the pathologisation and labelling of humans as disordered
Trauma-informed - working from the position that trauma, violence and abuse are common across all populations in the world, and that trauma manifests and is sustained in many different ways
Evidence-led - ensuring that our work is guided and shaped by rigorous evidence, and lived experience of those who know the subject or experience best
Our Founders
Dr Jessica Taylor
FounderDr Jessica Taylor is a Chartered Psychologist, multi-Sunday Times bestselling author, and internationally recognised expert in victimology, trauma, and forensic psychology.
Jessica has a PhD in Forensic Psychology from University of Birmingham and in 2019, she was awarded a Fellowship of Royal Society of Arts (FRSA) for her contribution to feminism and psychology. In 2023, she was awarded the Associate Fellowship of the British Psychological Society (AFBPsS) to recognise her contribution to the field of psychology.
Jessica is the author of over 150 reports, articles, books, chapters and resources exploring psychological concepts of trauma, abuse, violence, systemic oppression, and blame.
She specialises in anti-pathology, trauma-informed approaches to understanding and responding to trauma and abuse of women and girls, leading projects and lecture series in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and USA. Dr Taylor co-authored The Indicative Trauma Impact Manual with Jaimi Shrive, the first comprehensive, anti-pathology A-Z reference book of trauma responses and coping mechanisms.
With a wealth of frontline experience working directly with victims and survivors, Jessica brings a grounded, practice-informed perspective to her research, writing, and leadership. A leading voice in the development of trauma-informed, anti-oppressive frameworks for systems and services, she has advised on national policing strategies, government VAWG and mental health policy, and institutional reform in the UK and internationally.
Through her leadership work with VictimFocus and LegalMed180, she leads on psychological and social research, trauma-informed practice, and the development of educational resources and training for professionals across the world. Her work spans the development of evidence-based psychological theory, high-impact resources, service frameworks, and consultancy models used across health, justice, education, and social care.
FounderJaimi Shrive
Jaimi Shrive is Co-Founder of IITAS and a doctoral researcher in Political Economy specialising in criminal justice, state responses to trauma, and violence against women and girls.
Her PhD research focuses on how political priorities, institutional frameworks, and government-led approaches shape criminal justice outcomes for those subjected to abuse and violence.
Jaimi is the author of several reports and cultural audits across police forces, healthcare and social care, research articles, books, and educational resources exploring relationships and sexual education, cultures, attitudes and experiences within policing and investigations, trauma, abuse, and violence towards children and adults.
Alongside her academic work, Jaimi plays a central role in research, policy analysis, and consultancy across health, justice, education, and social care. Through her international work with VictimFocus and LegalMed180, she contributes to cross-system thinking at the intersection of law, healthcare, and public policy, with a particular focus on trauma-informed practice, safeguarding, and system accountability.
Jaimi brings extensive experience in strategic development, evaluation, and implementation, and has contributed to national policing work, government policy discussions, and multi-agency initiatives. She also has a background in frontline voluntary work supporting people who have experienced trauma.
A bestselling author, she co-authored The Indicative Trauma Impact Manual with Dr Jessica Taylor, the first comprehensive A-Z reference of trauma responses and coping mechanisms. She is known for translating complex political and institutional systems into practical, accessible insight for professionals and services.
Contact us
Interested in working together? Fill out some info and we will be in touch shortly.