Speakers
Kelly Coker
Professional
Dr. Kelly Coker (PhD., LCMHC, QLS, NCC) is a professor in the Department of Counseling at Palo Alto University. She is also a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) in North Carolina and a Board-Certified Tele-Mental Health Provider. Dr. Coker has been a faculty member in CACREP accredited counseling programs for 25 years. Her areas of scholarship include culturally and contextually informed lifespan development, counselor training and supervision at a distance, and program assessment, accreditation, and evaluation.
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Alberta Arviso, PhD
Alberta A. Arviso, PhD is Dine’ from the Navajo Nation. She is currently the Senior Engagement Officer with the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion program at the University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine (UA CVM) in Oro Valley, Arizona. The mission of UA CVM is to develop career ready veterinarians who live healthy lives and serve communities and the animals they treat. Dr. Arviso works collaboratively with Tribal Nations, K-12 districts, community-Tribal colleges, and health professional schools to recruit, support, and encourage students from diverse marginalized communities to enter and succeed in the health professions, especially veterinary medicine. There are 22 Native American Tribes in Arizona. Dr. Arviso teaches, mentors, and provides support to students, many who are Indigenous/Native American. She is a skilled psychologist with vast experience in hospital and school-based programs. She is proud of her cultural heritage and is fluent in Diné Bizaad (Navajo Language). Dr. Arviso has a strong history of training and mentoring students in health profession programs which are demonstrated in her work with Native serving programs and her present work with UA CVM staff, faculty and students. Planning and programming encompassing an array of student-centered services and community engagement are her valued contributions. Individual support, group support, mentoring, faculty collaboration, providing referral resources, and policy development are examples. Dr. Arviso is continuously committed to students, and staff/faculty during their educational and life journey. She deeply cares about their sense of belonging, inclusivity, and the maximum growth potential across the age span. Dr. Arviso is a first-generation college student. Her doctoral degree is in clinical psychology from Washington State University (WSU) and her post-doctoral degree is in school psychology from the University of Arizona (UA). Dr. Arviso is a wife, mother, sister, auntie, and grandmother who honors Ke’ (relationships) and sustaining community. She loves storytelling, music, art, athleticism, and a good laugh. She enjoys riding horses, hiking treacherous trails, or running long distances. Her favorite movies are about horses, animals, and nature. You can find her reading books of many kinds. Lastly, she is skilled at making and sharing delicious Navajo frybread.
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Tameeka Hunter, Ph.D., LPC, NCC, CRC
Assistant Professor
Tameeka L. Hunter, Ph.D., LPC, NCC, CRC (she/her) is a licensed professional counselor, a nationally certified counselor, and a nationally certified rehabilitation counselor. She is a tenure track assistant professor, an intersectional diversity and social justice scholar, a professional diversity speaker, and a researcher. Her research focuses on the resilience of marginalized and multiply marginalized populations, including people living with disabilities and chronic illnesses, people of color, sexual- and gender-expansive people, and women. Her work examines the impact of resilience and strength-based approaches on marginalized and multiply marginalized populations' psychosocial, educational, and vocational functioning.
Sessions
Rafe McCullough, Ph.D., LPC, LMHC, NCC
Associate Professor
Dr. Rafe McCullough is an associate professor of professional mental health counseling at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon. He has specializations in both clinical mental health counseling and school counseling. His research and professional interests center on multicultural and social justice counseling and advocacy, addressing identity in counseling, critical disability perspectives in counseling, counseling with youth and families, and affirming practices for queer and trans individuals. Dr. McCullough is one of the authors of the Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling Competencies, and has been active in serving the American Counseling Association and its divisions. In addition to teaching and research, Dr. McCullough is currently working with trans and nonbinary youth and adults and their families in his counseling practice. He has been involved in advocacy efforts with LGBTQ and transgender communities for over 25 years.
Sessions
Gerald Corey, EdD, ABPP
Counselor Educator and Author
Gerald Corey, EdD, ABPP, currently is Distinguished Visiting Professor of
Counseling at the University of Holy Cross in New Orleans and is Professor Emeritus of Human Services at California State University, Fullerton. He is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association (Division of Counseling Psychology and Division of Group Psychotherapy) and a Fellow of the Association for Specialists in Group Work and was the recipient of the ASGW’s Eminent Career Award in 2001. He has authored or co-authored sixteen books (which are currently in print) in the field of counseling psychology, and several books on group counseling
Counseling at the University of Holy Cross in New Orleans and is Professor Emeritus of Human Services at California State University, Fullerton. He is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association (Division of Counseling Psychology and Division of Group Psychotherapy) and a Fellow of the Association for Specialists in Group Work and was the recipient of the ASGW’s Eminent Career Award in 2001. He has authored or co-authored sixteen books (which are currently in print) in the field of counseling psychology, and several books on group counseling
Sessions
Cassie Storlie, Ph.D., LPCC-S, NCC, RN
Cassie Storlie is Professor and Doctoral Program Coordinator in Counselor Education & Supervision at Kent State University. She earned her Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from the University of Iowa. Dr. Storlie has held a variety of leadership positions in counseling at the state, regional, national, and international levels. She has an active history with ACES and NCACES. She is a past president of NCACES where she also served as secretary. Dr. Storlie chaired the ACES Advocacy Interest Network for four years, served as an ACES proposal reviewer/mentor, and served on a variety of ACES committees and taskforces in the last 10 years. She chaired the ACES Bylaws & Resolutions Committee, was ACES Secretary, Co-Chair of the ACES Strategic Planning Committee and currently serves as ACES president. She also has had an active history with CSI for over 20 years and serves as the Co-Editor for the Journal of Counselor Leadership and Advocacy. Dr. Storlie has served on ACA’s Professional Advocacy Taskforce, co-chaired ACA’s Awards Committee, and has chaired the Ohio Emerging Leaders program for the Ohio Counseling Association. She has been the recipient of several awards for her writing and research, but she is most proud of the state and national awards she has received for being an outstanding mentor. As a Latina, Dr. Storlie’s research is focused on leadership and advocacy in counseling and on the career development of Latinx/os/as and BIPOC communities. She was senior editor for the book, Counseling Leaders & Advocates: Strengthening the Future of the Profession. She was funded by the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation for 7 years to research and support college and career readiness among historically marginalized youth in Northeast Ohio. She has authored/coauthored 50 peer reviewed journal articles and 10 book chapters
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Dr. Alisha Guthery, Ph.D., LMHC, CATP, Visiting Professor
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M Sylvia Fernandez, PhD
President & CEO
Dr. M. Sylvia Fernandez, CACREP President and CEO, was a counselor educator and administrator for 29 years prior to joining CACREP. Dr. Fernandez has extensive professional service and leadership experience in state, national, and international Counseling professional membership, accreditation, and regulatory organizations. Dr. Fernandez's publications and presentations are in the areas of multicultural issues in counseling and related disciplines, counselor education and credentialing, professional identity and ethics, and clinical supervision.
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Keiko Sano, Ph.D., LMHC, NCC, BC-TMH
Dr. Sano was born and raised in Japan and moved to Washington State to pursue her career as a counseling professional. She earned MA in CMHC and Ph.D. in CES programs from a CACREP-accredited institution, and she currently teaches at Antioch University Seattle in Masters and Ph.D. programs. Dr. Sano actively engages with professional counseling organizations including Chi Sigma Iota as a Chapter Faculty Advisor and a Chair of the Chapter Faculty Advisor Committee, Chair of the International Committee of the American Counseling Association, and an Administration Support of Network for Antiracism Teaching in Counseling. Dr. Sano's primary research interest includes international matters in counseling and counselor education, as well as the diversity of counselors, counselor educators, and supervisors in deconstructing Eurocentric counseling and counselor education approaches.
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Dr. Wendy Wade, PhD LPCC CADC 1, Assistant Professor
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Daniel Cisneros PhD, LPCC, NCC, PPSC
Dr. Cisneros is a faculty member in the Counselor Education program, specializing in Mental Health, School and Career Counseling. Dr. Cisneros started his counseling career as a Professional School Counselor in an alternative high school in North Sacramento. He is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) and National Board Certified (NCC) bilingual, strength-based counselor. Prior to working in Higher Education he served as Coordinator of Mental Health for the Sacramento County Office of Education. Previously he served as the Coordinator of Sacramento City Unified Connect Center, a central hub that provides access to social, emotional, and mental health needs of students’ district wide. In this role he coordinated District wide LGBTQ+ affirmative services, trainings and assists in highlighting support services needed for LGBTQ+ Youth. Dr. Cisneros also
worked as a School Counselor in elementary and secondary settings for Twin Rivers Unified School District and Gateway Charter Schools where he received the Certificated Educator of the year award. Dr. Cisneros has extensive experience working with diverse communities from different ethnicities and socioeconomic backgrounds including youth, families, adults, adolescents and the LGBTQ community. Dr. Cisneros obtained his PhD in Counselor Education & Supervision and Oregon State. His research was focused on the LGBTQ+ coming out process as well as utilizing corpus linguistics and films to navigate the transgender transition process. In addition, he has published research focused on Anti-racist mentorship strategies in Counselor Education. Finally, Dr. Cisneros was awarded the NBCC Minority Fellowship (MFP) Award in 2016 as a Masters student and again as a NBCC (MFP) Doctoral awarded student in 2020.
worked as a School Counselor in elementary and secondary settings for Twin Rivers Unified School District and Gateway Charter Schools where he received the Certificated Educator of the year award. Dr. Cisneros has extensive experience working with diverse communities from different ethnicities and socioeconomic backgrounds including youth, families, adults, adolescents and the LGBTQ community. Dr. Cisneros obtained his PhD in Counselor Education & Supervision and Oregon State. His research was focused on the LGBTQ+ coming out process as well as utilizing corpus linguistics and films to navigate the transgender transition process. In addition, he has published research focused on Anti-racist mentorship strategies in Counselor Education. Finally, Dr. Cisneros was awarded the NBCC Minority Fellowship (MFP) Award in 2016 as a Masters student and again as a NBCC (MFP) Doctoral awarded student in 2020.
Sessions
Jorge Lopez, PhD, LPC, CRC, NCC
Assistant Professor
Jorge Rosales Lopez (he/him/el) is a Scholar Educator Professor in the Counseling Department at Palo Alto University. He is a bilingual (English and Spanish) licensed professional counselor in Idaho, a national certified counselor (NCC), and nationally certified rehabilitation counselor (CRC). With a specialization in clinical rehabilitation and clinical mental health counseling, he has rendered bilingual counseling services to historically underserved individuals in private and community settings.Growing up in a predominately Latine community, he witnessed first-hand the need for accessible and culturally sensitive helping services offered to marginalized groups. A hope of his is to continue to serve the Latine community through collaborative efforts and comunidad. Through his experience community or, comunidad, efforts have proven to be such a great way of both connecting and serving the Latine population.
His professional interests seek to continue expanding the availability of culturally sensitive resources and services to marginalized populations. His research interests include exploring multicultural sensitivity, serving the Latin(a/o/e) population, liberation oriented research, Relational Cultural Theory, social justice, & disability. He currently strives to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts within the counseling profession through serving on the Western Association of Counselor Education & Supervision’s DEI committee. He previously has earned a scholarship from the US Department of Education’s Rehabilitation Services Administration Scholarship Program and was selected as a 2022-23 NBCC Doctoral Minority Fellow for the National Board for Certified Counselors and Affiliates. As a MFP doctoral fellow, his professional aspirations seek to continue expanding and advocating for the availability of resources to overlooked and underserved communities.
Se Feliz
His professional interests seek to continue expanding the availability of culturally sensitive resources and services to marginalized populations. His research interests include exploring multicultural sensitivity, serving the Latin(a/o/e) population, liberation oriented research, Relational Cultural Theory, social justice, & disability. He currently strives to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts within the counseling profession through serving on the Western Association of Counselor Education & Supervision’s DEI committee. He previously has earned a scholarship from the US Department of Education’s Rehabilitation Services Administration Scholarship Program and was selected as a 2022-23 NBCC Doctoral Minority Fellow for the National Board for Certified Counselors and Affiliates. As a MFP doctoral fellow, his professional aspirations seek to continue expanding and advocating for the availability of resources to overlooked and underserved communities.
Se Feliz
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Kristina DePue, Ph.D., NCC
Associate Professor
Dr. DePue is an Associate Professor of Counseling at the University of Nevada. Dr. DePue’s research goals are motivated by her clinical observations within the addictions counseling field, which has resulted in two research areas: (a) chemical and process addictions, specifically concentrating on the role of negative experiences in behavioral change; and (b) counselor development and supervision, focusing on how both counseling trainees and clients change. Prior to joining the faculty at Nevada, Dr. DePue was an Assistant Professor at the University of Florida, where she also held an Affiliate appointment with UF Psychiatry. Dr. DePue is active in the American Counseling Association, serves on multiple editorial review boards, and has held various leadership positions for the International Association of Addictions and Offender Counselors (IAAOC). In her spare time, Dr. DePue and her husband love traveling, skiing, and live music.
Education:
Ph.D., Counselor Education, University of Central Florida
M.Ed., Human Development and Counseling, Vanderbilt University
B.A., Sociology, Vanderbilt University
Education:
Ph.D., Counselor Education, University of Central Florida
M.Ed., Human Development and Counseling, Vanderbilt University
B.A., Sociology, Vanderbilt University
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S. Tyler Oberheim, PhD, LPC-MHSP (TN), LMHC (FL), NCC
Dr. S. Tyler Oberheim graduated from the University of Florida with his Doctor of Philosophy degree in Counseling and Counselor Education in 2018. He has spent majority of his counseling career working with adults in residential treatment settings (specific focus on addictions [SUDs and behavioral], psychiatric disorders and Autism) and adolescents aged 11 to 18 in a school setting. He holds a license to practice in the state of TN (LPC-MHSP) and FL (LMHC). He currently serves as an Assistant Professor at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga while also maintaining a small-private practice in the Chattanooga, TN area. Through these experiences he has developed research interests surrounding addictions within affectional and gender minority individuals, psychedelic assisted therapy, instrument development and adaptation, quantitative research methodology in the counseling literature and multicultural/social justice issues in counseling.
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Marianne Schneider Corey, M.A., NCC
Marianne Schneider Corey, M.A., NCC, is a licensed marriage and family therapist in California (Retired) and is a National Certified Counselor. She is a Fellow of the Association for Specialists in Group Work and was the recipient of the ASGW’s Eminent Career Award in 2001.
She is the co-author of: Groups: Process and Practice; Group Techniques; I Never Knew I Had a Choice; Becoming a Helper; and Issues and Ethics in the Helping Professions. With Gerald, she has conducted training workshops in group counseling in Ireland, Korea, Germany, and in many states in the United States.
She is the co-author of: Groups: Process and Practice; Group Techniques; I Never Knew I Had a Choice; Becoming a Helper; and Issues and Ethics in the Helping Professions. With Gerald, she has conducted training workshops in group counseling in Ireland, Korea, Germany, and in many states in the United States.
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Dr. Mariaimee Gonzalez
Executive Director, Clinical Operations and Community Outreach
Dr. Mariaimeé “Maria” Gonzalez (pronouns: she/her/ella) is currently the co-founder of the Latinx Social Justice Mental Health Institute and serves as the Executive Director, Clinical Operations and Community Outreach at Antioch University Seattle. Previously she served as the Chair of the Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program and Leadership Chair Committee, a collaborative leadership model, for the PhD in Counseling and supervision program, bringing 16 years of experience as a counselor educator. With an extensive leadership background, she has held prominent positions, including president of the American Counseling Association (ACA) of Washington, president for the Western Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (WACES) (2023-24), chair of the ACA International Committee (2021-22), ACA Foundation Member (2022-2025), ACA Parliamentarian (2021-2022) and observer (2023-24), and served on the Western Association for Counselor Education and Supervision- Journal of Technology in Counselor Education and Supervision (JTCES) as a board member (2020-2023). During the Covid epidemic, she served as a United Nations Delegate (2020-2021) advocating for global mental health support. Mariaimeé has co-edited a book on teaching social justice and advocacy competence in counseling, showcasing her commitment to promoting positive change in her field. Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and raised in the states within the United States, Mariaimeé is a first-generation Latiné college graduate, cisgender, disabled, heterosexual woman. She is a licensed professor counselor, approved clinical supervisor, and enjoys spending time with her familia and friends, traveling, being outdoors, loves animals, and learning about cultures from around the world.
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Jeremiah L. Peck, PhD
Program Director, WACES Conference Coordinator
Dr. Jeremiah (he/him) is the Director of the Master of Arts in Counseling program at the Portland, Oregon campus of Western Seminary. He has earned a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision from University of the Cumberlands.
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Ryan Reese
Associate Professor
Dr. Ryan Reese, an Associate Professor of Counseling at Oregon State University and the visionary force behind EcoWellness Counseling & Consulting LLC, stands as an inspiration of innovation in the fields of professional counseling and counselor education. Dr. Reese's unwavering commitment revolves around the exploration of EcoWellness within professional counseling, with a recent emphasis on the profound intersection of climate change and mental health.
Dr. Reese served as President for the Western Association for Counselor Education & Supervision (WACES) in 2022-2023, where his leadership sparked an initiative focused on raising climate change awareness within counselor education. This dynamic project culminated in a climate change summit at the 2022 WACES conference, followed by the development of draft competency areas that are set to redefine counselor education in an era of environmental consciousness, rooted in the principles of human rights and dignity.
Having previously served on the ACA Climate Change Task Force, he now leads as the co-chair of the climate change task force within the Association for Counselor Education & Supervision (ACES). This group introduced draft competencies aimed at embedding climate change awareness and mental health considerations alongside principles of human rights and dignity into counselor education programs. Dr. Ryan Reese's legacy of innovation and advocacy continues to be a beacon of hope and transformation within counselor education and supervision.
Dr. Reese served as President for the Western Association for Counselor Education & Supervision (WACES) in 2022-2023, where his leadership sparked an initiative focused on raising climate change awareness within counselor education. This dynamic project culminated in a climate change summit at the 2022 WACES conference, followed by the development of draft competency areas that are set to redefine counselor education in an era of environmental consciousness, rooted in the principles of human rights and dignity.
Having previously served on the ACA Climate Change Task Force, he now leads as the co-chair of the climate change task force within the Association for Counselor Education & Supervision (ACES). This group introduced draft competencies aimed at embedding climate change awareness and mental health considerations alongside principles of human rights and dignity into counselor education programs. Dr. Ryan Reese's legacy of innovation and advocacy continues to be a beacon of hope and transformation within counselor education and supervision.
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Donna Sheperis
Professor
Dr. Donna S. Sheperis is a Professor and Department Chair of the Counseling Department at Palo Alto University. She earned her Ph.D. in Counselor Education from the University of Mississippi where she was recently named a Practitioner of Distinction. Donna has taught for land based and online programs since 2000. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Arizona and Texas; a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in California; a Board Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor; a Board Certified Telemental Health Provider; and an Approved Clinical Supervisor with over 30 years of experience in clinical mental health counseling settings. Donna has served as co-chair of the ACA Ethics Committee and currently serves on the ACA Ethics Appeals Committee. She has published multiple texts and research articles on mental health counseling and ethics; technology and counseling; and distance counselor education.
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Debbie Sturm, PhD, LPC
Professor
Dr. Debbie Sturm is a 2008 graduate of UNC-Charlotte's Counselor Education program, a Licensed Professional Counselor, and currently a Professor at James Madison University. Her clinical specialties and research intersect to include trauma, community violence, family systems, nature-connectedness, leadership & advocacy, and climate change & mental health. She teaches, mentors, and shines a light on her students in the PhD in Counseling & Supervision program.
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Carl J. Sheperis, PhD
Dr. Carl J. Sheperis, Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies at Kutztown University, brings extensive expertise in pediatric and family mental health. He is a sought-after expert, contributing to media outlets such as The Huffington Post, The Conversation, Parenting, Prevention, Disney Family, The Hill, and more. With over 25 years of experience in the field, Dr. Sheperis has represented professional counseling globally, collaborating with UNESCO, the International Association for Counseling, and various international organizations and governments, including the US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Taiwan, Turkey, and the Kingdom of Bhutan. As a member and speaker for the National Academies of Medicine, Science, and Engineering, he frequently presents and publishes on the use of AI in counseling and counselor education.
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Manivong J. Ratts, Ph.D., L.M.H.C., N.C.C.
Manivong J. Ratts is a tenured full professor of counseling in the College of Education and professor of counseling at Seattle University. Dr. Ratts received his Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from Oregon State University (OSU). He holds an associate’s degree from Yakima Valley Community College, a bachelor's degree in psychology from Western Washington University, and a master's degree in counseling from OSU. In 2018, he was awarded a Doctorate of Humane Letters, Honors Causa from Lewis and Clark College (Portland, OR) for his work in advancing multiculturalism and social justice in the counseling profession and was the graduate commencement keynote, Advocating for Social Change in a Toxic Political Climate.
Dr. Ratts is a licensed mental health counselor (L.M.H.C.) and past President of Counselors for Social Justice, a division of the American Counseling Association (ACA). His research is in multicultural and social justice counseling. He is one of the nation’s leading scholars in the area of social justice counseling. He coined the term “social justice counseling” and argued that social justice is a “fifth force” among counseling paradigms, following the psychoanalytic, cognitive-behavioral, humanistic, and multicultural traditions. He has given many keynote addresses focused on advancing multiculturalism and social justice in counseling.
Dr. Ratts chaired a committee which developed the Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling Competencies (MSJCC) for the counseling profession with Drs. Anneliese Singh, Sylvia Nassar-McMillan, Kent Butler, and Rafe McCullough. The MSJCC serve as a guide to help counseling professionals develop multicultural and social justice competence. The competencies have been adopted by the American Counseling Association (ACA), the leading organization for professional counselors and they are used in counselor training programs across the country. Dr. Ratts has served on the editorial boards of the Journal of Counseling and Development and the Journal for Social Action in Counseling and Psychology. He has published in various peer reviewed journals on social justice counseling and is lead author of the following books Counseling for Multiculturalism and Social Justice: Integration, Theory, and Application (2014) with Dr. Paul B. Pedersen and ACA Advocacy Competencies: A Social Justice Framework for Counselors (2010) with Dr. Judy Lewis and Dr. Rebecca Toporek. He has produced two video series through Alexander Street Press titled Four Approaches to Counseling One Client: Medical, Intrapsychic, Multicultural, and Social Justice Counseling Paradigms (2011) and Five forces of Counseling and Psychotherapy: Psychoanalytic, Cognitive-Behavioral, Existential-Humanistic, Multicultural, and Social Justice (2013).
Dr. Ratts is a licensed mental health counselor (L.M.H.C.) and past President of Counselors for Social Justice, a division of the American Counseling Association (ACA). His research is in multicultural and social justice counseling. He is one of the nation’s leading scholars in the area of social justice counseling. He coined the term “social justice counseling” and argued that social justice is a “fifth force” among counseling paradigms, following the psychoanalytic, cognitive-behavioral, humanistic, and multicultural traditions. He has given many keynote addresses focused on advancing multiculturalism and social justice in counseling.
Dr. Ratts chaired a committee which developed the Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling Competencies (MSJCC) for the counseling profession with Drs. Anneliese Singh, Sylvia Nassar-McMillan, Kent Butler, and Rafe McCullough. The MSJCC serve as a guide to help counseling professionals develop multicultural and social justice competence. The competencies have been adopted by the American Counseling Association (ACA), the leading organization for professional counselors and they are used in counselor training programs across the country. Dr. Ratts has served on the editorial boards of the Journal of Counseling and Development and the Journal for Social Action in Counseling and Psychology. He has published in various peer reviewed journals on social justice counseling and is lead author of the following books Counseling for Multiculturalism and Social Justice: Integration, Theory, and Application (2014) with Dr. Paul B. Pedersen and ACA Advocacy Competencies: A Social Justice Framework for Counselors (2010) with Dr. Judy Lewis and Dr. Rebecca Toporek. He has produced two video series through Alexander Street Press titled Four Approaches to Counseling One Client: Medical, Intrapsychic, Multicultural, and Social Justice Counseling Paradigms (2011) and Five forces of Counseling and Psychotherapy: Psychoanalytic, Cognitive-Behavioral, Existential-Humanistic, Multicultural, and Social Justice (2013).
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Maritza Cha
Adjunct Professor
Dr. Maritza Cha graduated from Garfield High School in East Los Angeles and became the first in her family to attend and graduate from college. She graduated in 2005 with two Bachelor’s Degrees in Political Science and History, with a minor in Education. UCLA was so nice she went there twice, earning a Master’s Degree in Education, as well as a teaching credential, from UCLA’s Teacher Education Program in 2007. She taught social studies at her alma mater, Garfield High School for 4 years. In 2010, Dr. Cha and several colleagues designed and launched a pilot school within the Los Angeles Unified School District – Social Justice Leadership Academy at Esteban Torres High School. Dr. Cha then decided to work towards her lifelong dream of becoming a college counselor. Dr. Cha earned her second Master’s Degree, a counseling credential and child welfare and attendance credential, from Cal State Dominguez Hills in 2015. Dr. Cha was a school counselor and completed her PhD at Claremont Graduate University in Education, Urban Leadership. Dr. Cha has presented about school counseling topics at the national, state and local level including NACAC and AERA. Dr. Cha co-authored book chapters named “Servant Leadership: School Counseling During the Pandemic” and "Student-Centered Advocates: A Holistic Approach on Supporting K-12 Undocumented Students." Recently, Dr. Cha contributed to the 6th edition of Fundamentals of College Admission Counseling (NACAC). Dr. Maritza Cha currently is a National School Counselor Fellow and part of the Professional School Counseling Emerging Scholars Fellow Program.
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Carrie Rye, Ph.D., LPC-S
Associate Professor
Carrie Rye, Ph.D., LPC-S, has been a clinician for close to 30 years in a variety of settings working with people across the lifespan. Throughout her career she has presented at local, state, and national level conferences, consulted with schools and organizations, along with maintaining a practice. She has been a Counselor Educator for 10 years with Capella University, she enjoys teaching the clinical courses and has a research agenda focused on the skill of broaching, clinical experiences of counselors, the ethics of mentoring doctoral students, and the developing counselor post-graduation.
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Gianna Russo-Mitma, LMFT
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist; Adjunct Faculty
Gianna Russo-Mitma is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and Approved Supervisor. She is also a counselor educator and current/former leader for several state, regional, and national counseling organizations. In her private practice, she specializes in working with adults who have parents/caretakers with narcissistic tendencies, folks facing stigma in fat/bigger bodies, co-parenting after separation and divorce, generational trauma & family of origin issues, and self empowerment.
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Regina Moro, PhD, LCPC, LMHC, LCAS, NCC, BC-TMH
Dr. Regina Moro is licensed as a Licensed Professional Counselor (Idaho), Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist (North Carolina) and a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (Florida). She is also a National Certified Counselor and a Board Certified TeleMental Health Provider. Her clinical passion involves work with crisis and trauma, including a focus on addiction with individuals and families. She has experience working in community mental health, integrated care settings, and private practice.
Dr. Moro's doctoral coursework included a specialized focus on multicultural counseling which is something she integrates into her courses and clinical supervision practice. Dr. Moro is an active member of the American Counseling Association, the Association of Counselor Education and Supervision, and the International Association of Addictions and Offender Counselors. She is the recipient of the Idaho Counseling Association's 2019 Counselor Educator of the Year award.
Dr. Moro's doctoral coursework included a specialized focus on multicultural counseling which is something she integrates into her courses and clinical supervision practice. Dr. Moro is an active member of the American Counseling Association, the Association of Counselor Education and Supervision, and the International Association of Addictions and Offender Counselors. She is the recipient of the Idaho Counseling Association's 2019 Counselor Educator of the Year award.
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Cindy Black M.Ed., Doctoral Candidate
Doctoral Student
My name is Cindy Black. I have been a professional school counselor for 29 years. Currently, I am a second year doctoral student at the University of Nevada, Reno in the Counselor Education and Supervision program. I am originally from Wyoming. I earned my M.Ed. from Eastern New Mexico University and completed a licensure program in Educational Diagnostics from the University of the Southwest. My professional goal is to be a counselor educator. Specifically, I want to teach school counselors. My research interests center around school counseling topics.
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Megan Speciale
Associate Professor
Dr. Megan Speciale is an Associate Professor in the Counseling Department at Palo Alto University. She received her Ph.D. in Counselor Education (CACREP) from the University of New Mexico, where she served as the Clinical Coordinator at the UNM Manzanita Counseling and Training Center and co-founded the LGBTQ Counseling Center at the UNM LGBTQ Resource Center.
Megan has worked as a professional counselor and advocate in a variety of community settings, focusing primarily on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA) populations and sexuality wellness with children, adolescents, adults, and families. As a counselor educator, she draws from social justice and equity-centered pedagogies in her teaching of Sexuality in Counseling, Group Counseling, Substance Abuse Counseling, Multicultural Counseling, and others. Her research explores the intersection of sexual, mental, and relational health and focuses on such topics as kink/BDSM, sexual shame, sexual and gender identity, sex education, and sex work. She is also the current Editor-in-Chief for The Thoughtful Counselor Podcast and the former Associate Editor for the Journal of Counseling Sexology and Sexual Wellness.
Megan has worked as a professional counselor and advocate in a variety of community settings, focusing primarily on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA) populations and sexuality wellness with children, adolescents, adults, and families. As a counselor educator, she draws from social justice and equity-centered pedagogies in her teaching of Sexuality in Counseling, Group Counseling, Substance Abuse Counseling, Multicultural Counseling, and others. Her research explores the intersection of sexual, mental, and relational health and focuses on such topics as kink/BDSM, sexual shame, sexual and gender identity, sex education, and sex work. She is also the current Editor-in-Chief for The Thoughtful Counselor Podcast and the former Associate Editor for the Journal of Counseling Sexology and Sexual Wellness.
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Karen Roller, PhD, MFT, FAAETS, DNCCM, CT, CFT, C-SCR, RYT
Associate Professor
Karen Roller, PhD, MFT, is an Associate Professor of Counseling at Palo Alto University and Clinical Coordinator of Family Connections, a parent-involvement preschool system serving predominantly Spanish-speaking migrant families in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her doctorate from Santa Barbara Graduate Institute in Clinical Psychology with a specialization in Somatic Psychology included experiential coursework in Pre-and-Perinatal Psychology, thus she works to foster earned secure attachment with all she serves. Karen has spent her clinical career in family therapy through community mental health for the marginalized and underserved including fostered youth, adjudicated youth, and the Latinx migrant community, as well as international trauma training outreach in Haiti. She co-authored Lifespan Development: Cultural and Contextual Considerations for the Helping Professions (Coker et al., 2023) where she was charged with the Infancy into Childhood chapters; she centered force migration and other social determinants of health for underserved and marginalized families. Further publications focus on NSSI/suicide intervention training, trauma treatment and prevention approaches, language access and bilingual clinical pedagogy, and anti-oppressive service-learning. Karen is a Fellow with the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress, Diplomate with the National Center for Crisis Management, Certified Clinical Traumatologist and Compassion Fatigue Therapist, Certified in School Crisis Response, and a Registered Yoga Teacher. She is vice-president of the United States Association of Body Psychotherapy; contributor to best practices development for the International Association of Resiliency and Trauma Counseling, and currently completing a 115-hour certification to become a Pre-and-Perinatal Educator.
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Cristen Wathen, PhD, LPCC, NCC, BC-TMH
Associate Professor
Dr. Wathen is an Associate Professor in the Counseling Department at Palo Alto University and the director of PAU's Center for Educational Excellence. Her research and writing center on innovative pedagogy and andragogy both online and in person, Group Counseling, and mental wellness needs for those with chronic illnesses and organ transplantation. She has a background in working with survivors of trauma and child sexual abuse. She also has experience counseling and advising college students and working with underserved populations in educational settings. Cristen attended Baylor University for her master’s and Idaho State University for her PhD. Before joining PAU, she was an Assistant Professor at Montana State University for four years. She has served as the Rocky Mountain Association for Counselor Education and Supervision president and as the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision's secretary among other professional service positions. She is a licensed counselor in California, Montana and in Idaho and is Board Certified in Telemental Health.
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Shaun Sowell
Associate Professor & Program Director
Dr. Shaun Sowell trains graduate students to become School and Clinical Mental Health Counselors. My teaching and research focus is multicultural counseling, with an emphasis on power and privilege, consequences of structural racism (access to opportunity and mental health), social, historical, and political impacts on counseling outcomes, and training anti-racist and culturally competent counselors. Prior to joining the faculty at Western, I was a school counselor and worked to identify, remove, challenge, and change policy within the schools I worked, especially those policies which disproportionately affected students from current and historically under-resourced populations.
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Shauna Ferrese, PhD, LPC-S, LAC, NCC
Clinical Counselor
Shauna Ferrese received her PhD in Counseling from Oregon State and graduated from LSU in Shreveport with her Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology. Following graduation from LSUS, she worked as a case manager for a Veterans Transitional Living Program in Louisiana where she worked with homeless veterans with co-occurring disorders. Shauna returned to South Carolina in 2016 where she worked as the Drug Court Counselor and the IOP Counselor with the Dorchester Alcohol and Drug Commission. Shauna has also taught two online graduate courses on psychopharmacology and addiction for the counseling program at Cameron State University. Currently, she runs a weekly relapse prevention group and sees individuals with a variety of mental health issues at Barrier Islands Psychiatry in Charleston.
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Justin D. Henderson, PhD
Assistant Professor & Program Co-Director
Dr. Justin D. Henderson is program co-director, co-clinical coordinator, and assistant professor of Professional Mental Health Counseling with specialization in Addictions at Lewis & Clark College. He is also faculty in the Eating Disorders Certificate. He is a licensed psychologist and a National Certified Counselor. Dr. Henderson’s scholarship focuses on improving individual and community wellbeing and advancing social justice. He is particularly interested in the application of compassion orientations and skills in counseling and systems change. His writing focuses on burnout, self-care, social justice, addiction, and mental health. Dr. Henderson values contributions both in traditional academic domains as well as produced works for general audiences. For example, he is a Medium Top Writer in the area of Leadership with his focus on systemic approaches to burnout. Nationally, he is a member of the American Counseling Association, the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision, and Counselors for Social Justice.
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Donya Wallace, Ph.D., NCC, LPC/S (SC)
Assistant Professor
Dr. Donya Wallace is an Assistant Professor at Palo Alto University. She is a licensed professional counselor and supervisor in South Carolina where she maintains a small private practice. Dr. Wallace specializes in the treatment of depression and anxiety disorders in African American women. Her research focuses on the intersections of historical trauma and African American mental health and the strong Black woman archetype. She is a 2019 NBCC Minority Fellow and currently serves as co-chair of the Leadership and Advocacy committee for ACES.
Sessions
Alexandria Capraro, LPC, M.S.
Licensed Professional Counselor, Doctoral Student
My name is Alexandria Capraro and I am 4th year doctoral student, currently in the dissertation process. I have completed my course work at the University of Northern Colorado where I am pursuing my doctorate in Counselor Education and Supervision. I graduate with my Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at the University of North Texas, where I specialized in play therapy. I completed my Bachelors in Psychology at New Mexico State University. I am originally from Southern California, so I've lived pretty much across the South West. In May of 2024, I will be moving back to the west coast, Washington state around the Seattle-Tacoma area. I consider myself a somatic Gestalt therapist, currently being trained at the Gestalt Equine Institute of the Rockies. I utilize Gestalt interventions, as well as nature based therapies with my clients. My therapeutic style has also influenced my teaching and research identity. I teach from an experiential, constructivist lens where my hopes are to engage students in hands on learning and encourage them to bring in their own experiences. My favorite type of research is Participatory Action Research (PAR) where I work collaboratively with co-researchers (participants) in the research process. I incorporate liberation and un(learning) in my various identities throughout counselor education. When I am not involved in work, I enjoy spending my time outdoors fishing, hiking, and communing with nature.
Sessions
Jason Rose, Ph.D., LPC, LAC, NCC
Dr. Jason Rose is an Assistant Professor at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, and holds a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from the University of Northern Colorado. As a Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Addiction Counselor, Dr. Rose employs an existential approach in his practice, teaching, and research. His research notably focuses on death anxiety and professional competence, and Dr. Rose integrates these theoretical perspectives in his role as an educator.
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Yun-Zhuo (Zoey) Liu, MA, LMHC-NY, LPCC-OH, NCC
The presenter is a Kent State University doctoral student and independently licensed in two states. She has served a diverse group of clients in college counseling and a community crisis center. She is also a counselor educator who has co-caught and been an instructor on record for many classes. She is currently conducting research on counselor educators' biases on non-monogamy relationships and broaching. Her bilingual and international background gives her a unique perspective on diversity, equality, and inclusivity.
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Stacey Carrillo
Associate Dean
Stacey has utilized her counseling background working in higher education for over 25 years. She has significant experience working at a university career counseling center that served a diverse student population and in a clinical training facility as a counselor and clinical supervisor. She has also utilized her counseling education working in human resources management with a focus on training and development, employee relations, and organizational change. As a faculty member she has helped students explore various social and cultural identities, and how these identities affect the therapeutic relationship, as well as helping students understand the intersection between career development and wellbeing. Stacey has spent almost half of her time in higher education in leadership roles such as chair, associate dean, and dean. She gains tremendous satisfaction from creating processes and procedures that provide stability and consistency so that faculty members can do what they do best; educate, create, and innovate! Areas of research interest are professional identity development, best practices with online and blended learning formats that enhance student experiences, and counselor self-care. She is an avid yoga practitioner and is a certified yoga instructor, and if not on the mat Stacey will be on a trail with her partner and dogs!
Session
Brian Clarke PhD, LAC, NCC
Assistant Professor
I am an Assistant Professor in the Disability and Psychoeducation Department at the University of Arizona. I earned a BS in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh and an MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Northern Arizona University. In May 2022, I earned a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from The University of Arizona. In addition to my teaching and research responsibilities at The University of Arizona, I am a practicing mental health counselor in Tucson, AZ. My personal and clinical experience research interests.
I have great enthusiasm and drive for producing research that can have a tangible impact on individuals and the community. My initial work has focused on enhancing counseling students' personal and professional development, with a strong emphasis on mindfulness and self-compassion. Contemplative principles and practice are cornerstones in my identity as a researcher, teacher, and clinical supervisor.
My experience teaching undergraduates has been inspiring and connected me directly with the challenging lived experiment many students face. The mental health crisis among college students is well documented and has worsened through the Covid pandemic. In my students, I see resilience and suffering, enthusiasm and a lack of connectedness. Guided by compassion, I have broadened my research focus to include the wellbeing of college students and the work of fostering a climate and culture of compassion for self and others in the classroom and across campus. My long-term goal is to alleviate suffering and facilitate thriving in college students via innovative mindfulness and compassion practice applications.
I have great enthusiasm and drive for producing research that can have a tangible impact on individuals and the community. My initial work has focused on enhancing counseling students' personal and professional development, with a strong emphasis on mindfulness and self-compassion. Contemplative principles and practice are cornerstones in my identity as a researcher, teacher, and clinical supervisor.
My experience teaching undergraduates has been inspiring and connected me directly with the challenging lived experiment many students face. The mental health crisis among college students is well documented and has worsened through the Covid pandemic. In my students, I see resilience and suffering, enthusiasm and a lack of connectedness. Guided by compassion, I have broadened my research focus to include the wellbeing of college students and the work of fostering a climate and culture of compassion for self and others in the classroom and across campus. My long-term goal is to alleviate suffering and facilitate thriving in college students via innovative mindfulness and compassion practice applications.
Session
Lillian Martz MA PSC, PCLC
Lillian Martz is a Doctoral Candidate in Counselor Education and Supervision at The University of Montana and part-time school counselor at Seeley-Swan High School. Her dissertation work is focused on evaluating a brief positive psychology group intervention with secondary students to determine effectiveness for improving overall wellbeing and academic performance. Her research interests include positive psychology interventions for adolescents, risk and protective factors for suicidality among adolescents, advocating for school counselors, and crisis counseling training for school counselors. She has been a licensed professional school counselor since 2009, working in elementary and high schools in Virginia, Montana, and Washington. She currently holds a class 6 license for school counseling and a PCLC professional counseling candidate license in Montana. She has presented more than a dozen times on topics related to school counseling at local, regional, and state conferences. Lillian is a member of the board of directors with the Montana School Counselor Association where she is co-chair of the Conference Committee and Chair of the Professional Development Committee. She is passionate about social justice and is a member of the inaugural class of National School Counseling Fellows with the Center for Equity in Postsecondary Attainment hosted by San Diego State University where she and other fellows are working on leadership and advocacy projects supporting school counselors and an active member of Counselors for Social Justice. When she’s not working on her research, teaching, or providing counseling services, she enjoys spending time with her husband and getting outdoors!
Sessions
Arien Muzacz, Ph.D., NCC, LPC, LMHC, BC-TMH, ACS
Clinical Associate Professor
Dr. Arien Muzacz (she/her) has been a State-licensed professional counselor since 2011 and a clinical supervisor of mental health counselors and counselors-in-training (CITs) in public, non-profit, and healthcare settings since 2012. Arien has served as a full-time counselor educator, teaching and supervising in CACREP-accredited counseling programs, since 2016, and is currently a Clinical Associate Professor of Counseling at Oregon State University, where she teaches and mentors master's and doctoral students. As a humanistic counselor, Arien has worked with LGBTGEQIAP+ (i.e., lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender/two-spirit, gender expansive, queer, intersex, asexual, polyamorous/pansexual) and ethnically diverse adolescent and adult clients in private practice, including people living with HIV and serodiscordant couples. Arien also advocates for diversity, equity, and inclusion in healthcare and education at local, state, and national levels and co-leads the Oregon Supervisor Equity Initiative (OSEI) at Revolution Consulting, LLC, which is designed to increase racial, ethnic, and sexual diversity in the LPC and LPC supervisor workforce. Revolution Consulting, LLC, is an organizational development firm that delivers anti-oppressive, timely continuing education. Arien is a member of ACA, SAIGE, AMCD, AHC, the Oregon Counseling Association (ORCA), and the Oregon Association of Counselor Educators and Supervisors (OACES). She is currently serving as OACES president.
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Lorraine DeKruyf, PhD
Professor
Lorraine DeKruyf, Ph.D., is a professor and School Counseling Program Director at George Fox University in Portland, Oregon. Dr. DeKruyf’s research interests include school counselor professional identity, clinical and peer clinical supervision in school counseling, and narrative counseling.
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Elisabeth Simpson, Ph.D., NCC, CRC
Assistant Professor
Elisabeth Simpson, Ph.D., CRC, NCC, is an Assistant Professor in the Mental Health Counseling Program at Methodist University. Dr. Simpson completed her doctoral degree in Counselor Education & Supervision from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA. She has previously worked in the counseling programs at West Virginia University and Fort Valley State University. Dr. Simpson currently serves as a Co-PI on the Innovative Training Grant, AIR4VR, through the Rehabilitation Services Administration. She has experience developing and teaching graduate courses in online and in person programs. Dr. Simpson completed her Master's degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from West Virginia University (WVU) and is a nationally certified rehabilitation counselor (CRC) and nationally certified counselor (NCC).
Session
Ashley Kreeger, NCC, LPC, ACS
Behavioral Health Clinician
Ashley Kreeger, NCC, LPC, ACS (she/her) is a National Certified Counselor, Licensed Professional Counselor and instructor with the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, working in the Pediatric Mental Health Institute at Children’s Hospital Colorado. She completed her master's degree in clinical mental health counseling at Denver Seminary. She has over 18 years of clinical experience working with children and adolescents struggling with anxiety, OCD, and behavioral concerns. She is the director of the Unlicensed BHC Pathway Program, a training program for post master’s level clinicians. She has been a clinical supervisor for 10 years and has earned her Approved Clinical Supervisor credential. She is dedicated to helping train the next generation of clinicians in the field.
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Vladyslav Logos, MS, MA, LPC-Intern
Vladyslav Logos is an experienced mental health clinician and researcher who holds two master's degrees from the most prestigious universities in Ukraine. Currently, he is a graduate student in CACREP-accredited Clinical Mental Health Counseling master's program and an actively contributing Graduate Research Assistant at his department.
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Chris Wood
Assoc Professor & Department Chair, Counselor Education, School Psychology, & Human Services
Dr. Chris Wood is an Associate Professor in the counseling program at UNLV. Previously he has been an Associate/Assistant Professor at Old Dominion University, Seattle University, the Ohio State University, and the University of Arizona. Before becoming university faculty, he was a high school counselor, a counseling/guidance department chair, a counselor/group leader at a residential youth facility for adjudicated youth/troubled teens, and a career counselor at an alternative school serving grades 7-12. Dr. Wood has been Principal Investigator, Faculty Research Associate, or Research Methodologist on over $3 million in grants including over a dozen research projects investigating the efficacy of career development interventions in K-12 settings. Dr. Wood has over 30 conference presentations and 30 publications including articles in Professional School Counseling, the Journal of Counseling & Development, the Journal of College Counseling, Counselor Education & Supervision, Career Planning and Adult Development Journal, and The Elementary School Journal. He co-edited the 5th and 6th editions of A Counselor's Guide to Career Assessment Instruments. He is formerly the Head Editor for the Professional School Counseling journal, the flagship research journal for the American School Counseling Association (ASCA). Dr. Wood is an American Counseling Association Fellow, the highest honor awarded by the American Counseling Association. He is most proud of being the father to two wonderful girls.
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Margarita Landeros, Ed.D.
Assistant Professor
Dr. Margarita Landeros is an Assistant Professor for the School and College Counseling Program at CSU Dominguez Hills, where she started as a part-time faculty in 2021. Prior to becoming an Assistant Professor, Dr. Landeros has primarily served K-12 charter schools. Most recently, Dr. Landeros was a Counselor Support Specialist at Green Dot Public Schools (GDPS) for three years where she coached and supported school counselors, developed and facilitated professional development, and focused on bolstering school counselor effectiveness. Dr. Landeros also consulted for GDPS facilitating the development of the organization’s Counselor Core Curriculum in collaboration with the district school counselor leads. Dr. Landeros also served as a counselor for six years at Camino Nuevo High School No. 2, where she was also part of the school administration team, and served as lead counselor and manager for the counseling team. Dr. Landeros focused her doctoral dissertation on school counseling to elevate the school counselor voice in a positive lens. Dr. Landeros has a BA in Psychology and Sociology with a minor in Education from the University of California, Berkeley, an M.Ed. in School Counseling from the University of Southern California, and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership, Administration and Policy from Pepperdine University. She is also a proud alumna of the Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE) Leadership Institute (HLI) 2021 Cohort. Finally, Dr. Landeros serves in different leadership capacities as Membership Delegate and Chair of the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access Committee for the Western Association for College Admission Counseling (WACAC), Co-Chair of the Greater Los Angeles National College Fair for the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), President of the UC Berkeley Chicanx Latinx Alumni Association, proposal reviewer, session Chair and discussant for the American Educational Research Association (AERA) Annual Meeting, and Chair for the College of Education Student Sustainability Committee at CSU Dominguez Hills, to name a few.
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HyunGyung Joo, Ph.D., NCC
Associate Professor
Associate Professor, The California State University, Sacramento
Sessions
Carrie VanMeter, Ph.D., LPCC, LSC
associate faculty
Carrie VanMeter has been a counselor educator since 2010 and currently is an associate faculty at Capella University. She earned her Masters degree in Community Counseling from Heidelberg University and Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision and School Counseling Certificate from The University of Toledo. She is licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) and a Licensed Professional School Counselor (LSC) in the state of Ohio.
Sessions
Carrie Rye, Ph.D., LPC-S
Associate Professor
Carrie Rye, Ph.D., LPC-S, has been a clinician for close to 30 years in a variety of settings working with people across the lifespan. Throughout her career she has presented at local, state, and national level conferences, consulted with schools and organizations, along with maintaining a practice. She has been a Counselor Educator for 10 years with Capella University, she enjoys teaching the clinical courses and has a research agenda focused on the skill of broaching, clinical experiences of counselors, the ethics of mentoring doctoral students, and the developing counselor post-graduation.
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Nelandra Anselmo, MS, LMFT
Nelandra Anselmo is a private practice clinician and consultant supporting organizations with a focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and belonging in the workplace. She is an adjunct instructor in the Couple & Family Therapy graduate program at the University of Nevada Las Vegas Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine and instructs in the UNLV Department of Continuing Education. Nelandra is an AAMFT-Approved Supervisor for MFT and CPC interns in Nevada and a certified EMDR therapist. She is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), Certified Hospitality Educator (CHE), and Certified Job and Career Development Coach. Nelandra received a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Studies and Sociology and a Master of Science in Counseling from UNLV and is currently a PhD candidate in Counselor Education at Oregon State University.
Session
Heather Hadraba, LPSC, PhD
Program Director and Assistant Professor
Heather Hadraba is from the Chicago area, however she does consider herself an Oregonian. After working as school counselor and supervising counseling interns, she felt drawn back to the classroom which led to her receiving a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision. She is a counselor educator and supervisor at Lewis & Clark College Graduate School of Education and Counseling. She believes in the work that school counselors can do to create affirming and empowering spaces for students in the k-12 school context. In her humble opinion, this can be done by engaging in collaborative equity work, examining systemic barriers, and using creative practices to meet the needs of diverse school communities. As a counselor educator and program director at Lewis & Clark College, she is committed to creating graduate level classroom spaces that encourage the exploration of the personhood of the counselor, professional identity development, and strength-based counseling approaches in the K-12 content. She is inspired by the creative and dynamic energy of her Lewis & Clark graduate school community. In all of her professional endeavors she strives to always operate from a place of cultural and intellectual humility.
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Monica Adams, BA, Counselor-in-Training, Oregon State University Counseling Program
Monica holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Oregon State University (OSU) and is currently a master's student in OSU’s counseling program on the clinical mental health counseling track. She has been actively involved in disability advocacy for the past five years and currently volunteers as a member of her local disability services agency’s Disability Advisory Council where she is involved in legislative advocacy work at the state level in Oregon.
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Paul Bourgeois
Associate Professor
Paul Bourgeois, PhD, CRC, NCC is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor and National Certified Counselor.
Paul received his doctorate in rehabilitation counselor education at the University of Arizona. He earned a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling and bachelor’s degree in rehabilitation and disability studies from Springfield College.
Paul has over a decade of experience as a professor, researcher, and rehabilitation counselor. In addition to his private practice work as a vocational consultant, Paul is an associate professor at the University of New Haven in the Department of Psychology.
Paul is an active researcher with scholarly articles published in a variety of refereed journals. Paul is a frequent speaker to counseling, rehabilitation, and disability related groups and professional organizations.
Paul received his doctorate in rehabilitation counselor education at the University of Arizona. He earned a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling and bachelor’s degree in rehabilitation and disability studies from Springfield College.
Paul has over a decade of experience as a professor, researcher, and rehabilitation counselor. In addition to his private practice work as a vocational consultant, Paul is an associate professor at the University of New Haven in the Department of Psychology.
Paul is an active researcher with scholarly articles published in a variety of refereed journals. Paul is a frequent speaker to counseling, rehabilitation, and disability related groups and professional organizations.
Sessions
J. Kelly Coker, Ph.D., LCMHC, QLS, BC-TMH, NCC
Dr. Kelly Coker (she/her) is a professor in the Counseling Department at Palo Alto University and also serves as the Faculty Director of Assessment and Student Learning Outcomes at PAU. Dr. Coker has been a counselor educator for more years than she can count and as part of this work, has published and presented a lot.
She loves to encourage emerging counselors to be their best selves and to always strive to meet their clients where they are. Dr. Coker is particularly excited these days by considering how lifespan development through a cultural and contextual lens can directly inform our work with clients.
As a licensed clinical mental health counselor (LCMHC) in North Carolina, Dr. Coker works with adult clients in a small, tele-mental health private practice. On a personal note, she is also a fierce and loyal wife, mother, sister, daughter, and aunt, and friend. She believes in advocacy, taking an anti-racist stance in education, society, and life, and acknowledges that she is humbly still learning, growing, and evolving.
She loves to encourage emerging counselors to be their best selves and to always strive to meet their clients where they are. Dr. Coker is particularly excited these days by considering how lifespan development through a cultural and contextual lens can directly inform our work with clients.
As a licensed clinical mental health counselor (LCMHC) in North Carolina, Dr. Coker works with adult clients in a small, tele-mental health private practice. On a personal note, she is also a fierce and loyal wife, mother, sister, daughter, and aunt, and friend. She believes in advocacy, taking an anti-racist stance in education, society, and life, and acknowledges that she is humbly still learning, growing, and evolving.
Session
Pit Kolodinsky, PhD
Professor
Pit is a CES Professor at Northern Arizona University's Flagstaff campus and is a long-time LPC. Clinical experiences involved working with adolescents and adults in individual, couple, family, group, and multi-family group therapy modalities in a variety of settings. For the past 3+ years, Pit has been co-facilitating men's issues groups for a university EAP as well as men's cancer support groups. Recently, he's led the creation of a newly formed Climate Justice in Counseling ACES Interest Network. Current research related to this presentation involves focusing on men's issues groups.
Sessions
Chloe Benson, BHPP, MA Student
Chloe Benson is a nonbinary, autistic counseling intern in the UOPX Counseling Clinical Mental Health program and a member of SAIGE. As someone who was not diagnosed with Autism and ADHD until they were 30, the consequences of gender disparities in neurodivergent diagnoses hit close to home. This has resulted in a passion for dissecting American sociological systems to increase understanding and acceptance of marginalized identities. In the future, they hope to specialize in treating trauma survivors, neurodivergent clients, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Session
David Hart, Ph.D., LPCC
Clinical Training Director
Dr. David Hart is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor with over 20 years of experience working with older adults and people living with dementia and their families. Dr. Hart received his Ph.D. in Counseling from the University of Missouri – St. Louis and currently holds positions as the Director of Community Health at Always Best Care Senior Services and Director of Clinical Training in the Department of Clinical Mental Health Counseling at California State University, Fullerton, where he is also a faculty member. Dr. Hart is the Founding Chair of the South Bay Dementia Education Consortium, is Co-Chair of the Orange County MFT Consortium, and has presented his published research at national and international conferences
Session
Arien Muzacz, Ph.D., NCC, LPC, LMHC, BC-TMH, ACS
Dr. Arien Muzacz (she/her) has been a State-licensed professional counselor since 2011 and a clinical supervisor of mental health counselors and counselors-in-training (CITs) in public, non-profit, and healthcare settings since 2012. Arien has served as a full-time counselor educator, teaching and supervising in CACREP-accredited counseling programs, since 2016, and works as a Clinical Associate Professor of Counseling at Oregon State University, teaching and mentoring master's and doctoral students. As a humanistic counselor, Arien has worked with LGBTGEQIAP+ (i.e., lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender/two-spirit, gender expansive, queer, intersex, asexual, polyamorous/pansexual) and ethnically diverse adolescent and adult clients in private practice, including people living with HIV and serodiscordant couples. Arien advocates for diversity, equity, and inclusion in healthcare and education at local, state, and national levels. She is currently co-leading the Oregon Supervisor Equity Initiative (OSEI) at Revolution Consulting, LLC, an organizational development firm that delivers timely, anti-oppressive, research-based continuing education. Arien is a member of ACA, SAIGE, AMCD, AHC, the Oregon Counseling Association (ORCA), and the Oregon Association of Counselor Educators and Supervisors (OACES) and is the president of OACES for 2024-25.
Session
Tricia Woodliff, CPC, NCC, PhD
Assistant Professor
Dr. Tricia Woodliff has a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from the University of Nevada, Reno and is an Assistant Professor of Counseling and Educational Psychology at the University of Nevada, Reno. She researches counseling practices with young children and counselor education. She has presented at national counseling and early childhood mental health conferences. She is a member of the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES), American Counseling Association (ACA), International Association for Resilience and Trauma Counseling (IARTC) and the Association for Child and Adolescent Counseling (ACAC).
Tricia’s counseling focus is on early childhood trauma and relationship building. She is a nationally approved clinical supervisor and a national board- certified counselor. She is licensed as a Clinical Professional Counselor (CPC) in Nevada. Tricia is a rostered clinician and supervisor for Child Parent Psychotherapy (CPP). She is a trainer for the Diagnostic Classification of Mental Health and Developmental Disorders of Infancy and Early Childhood (DC 0-5). She has provided therapeutic services for children and families for 20 years.
Tricia’s counseling focus is on early childhood trauma and relationship building. She is a nationally approved clinical supervisor and a national board- certified counselor. She is licensed as a Clinical Professional Counselor (CPC) in Nevada. Tricia is a rostered clinician and supervisor for Child Parent Psychotherapy (CPP). She is a trainer for the Diagnostic Classification of Mental Health and Developmental Disorders of Infancy and Early Childhood (DC 0-5). She has provided therapeutic services for children and families for 20 years.
Session
Brad Imhoff, PhD, LPC
Program Director & Associate Professor of Counseling
Dr. Brad Imhoff earned his Ph.D. in Counselor Education from Ohio University. He is the Director of the MA in Addiction Counseling program and is an Associate Professor in the Department of Counselor Education & Family Studies at Liberty University. Dr. Imhoff’s scholarly interests include the understanding and treatment of Social Anxiety Disorder, substance and behavioral addictions, and counselor well-being and self-care.
Sessions
Nicole Holby
Dr. Holby joined Capella University as a core faculty member in 2018 with a focus on school counseling. In 2021, she joined the counselor education leadership team as the assistant program director for clinical training and licensure. Most recently, she was promoted to Associate Program Director, overseeing the master’s level school counseling and clinical mental health counseling programs. Outside of Capella, Dr. Holby’s background includes school counseling and community mental and behavioral health where she spent her clinical career working with children and families. Proudly residing in the great city of Pittsburgh, she earned her Master of Science in school counseling and Doctor of Philosophy in counselor education and supervision from Capella University.
Session
Jeffrey Christensen, PhD
Associate Professor
Dr. Jeffrey Christensen is associate professor of counseling and co-director of the Professional Mental Health Counseling program at Lewis & Clark College. Dr. Christensen’s research interests include disaster mental health, counselor burnout, and most recently, helping first responders in disaster relief. He has been deployed to respond to national disasters throughout the country, working with both victims of the disaster, as well as first responders around vicarious traumatization and burnout. Another area of his research is on student evaluation, student remediation, and teaching pedagogies, which he has presented at several national conferences and workshops. He is a licensed professional counselor in Oregon and maintains a small private practice working with clients in areas of racial and sexual traumas, severe anxiety, and wellness. He is a member of several professional organizations, including the American Counseling Association, the Association of Counselor Educators and Supervisors, and the Western Association for Counselor Educators and Supervisors, and is a past President of the Oregon Association of Counselor Educators and Supervisors and the Oregon Counseling Association.
Sessions
Nayara Beall, LMHC
Naya is a second-year doctoral student in the Counselor Education and Supervision Program at Antioch University and a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Washington who earned her master’s degree in Applied Child and Adolescent Psychology from the University of Washington. Naya’s research interests center around the Brazilian immigrant community, OCD, and barriers to accessing care. She is a Brazilian immigrant and fluent in Portuguese.
Sessions
Fanghui Zhao
assistant professor
Fanghui Zhao is an Assistant Professor in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program at Seattle University. Her research focuses on two primary areas: (1) exploring cross-cultural counseling processes and outcomes, and (2) investigating the development of Multicultural Social Justice Counseling Competencies (MSJCC) among counselor trainees. She is dedicated to leveraging research to improve access to high-quality mental health care for marginalized populations, with a particular emphasis on addressing the needs of racial and ethnic minority clients. With experience in diverse settings such as college counseling centers, community clinics, and career services, she brings a wealth of expertise in working with young adults.
Session
Evan Engle-Newman, LPC (AZ, CO, & ID), NCC
Assistant Clinical Professor
Evan is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Counseling at Northern Arizona University. He is a doctoral candidate at the University of Northern Colorado and his dissertation is titled: LGBTGEQ Client Experiences Discussing Consensual Nonmonogamy: An Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis. He holds his counseling licenses in AZ, CO, and ID and see clients and supervisees through his private practice in CO and ID. He currently supervises and counsels clients who are in the LGBTGEQ+ community as well as individuals and couples exploring or navigating CNM in their personal lives. He is currently a member of SAIGE and has served on the Advocacy Committee for SAIGE’s Colorado Chapter.
Sessions
Kelly King
Kelly M. King, PhD, is Counselor Educator, a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (CA) and a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (NC). King’s research agenda includes projects counselor broaching skills, cultural immersion, and grief and loss related to incarceration.
Sessions
Desa Karye Daniel, PhD NCC LMHC
Assistant Professor
Dr. Dèsa Karye Daniel is an assistant professor at the University of Colorado Denver. She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in New Mexico and Colorado. Daniel’s research interest focuses on supervision relationships for racial/ethnic minorities, the lived experiences of racial/ethnic college students, and the experiences of Black/African American Womxn in academic spaces. Dr. Daniel advocates for inclusive spaces for racial/ethnic minority students within academia and within organizations for increasing graduate student resources. She received her doctoral degree in counselor education at the University of New Mexico. Daniel holds dual master’s degrees in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Higher Education Administration from New Mexico State University. Dr. Daniel was named a 2021 New Mexico Office of African American Affairs Everyday Hero for her mental health work with Black communities. Daniel is the recipient of the 2020 NBCC Minority Fellowship.
Sessions
Heidi Morton, PhD, NCC, ESA
Program Director and Assistant Professor
Dr. Heidi Morton is the Program Director and an Assistant Professor for the MEd Counseling program at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington. Before transitioning to higher education, Dr. Morton served as a professional school counselor for over 20 years in urban and rural settings at the elementary and high school levels. Her professional research focuses on professional identity development, school counseling collaboration and consultation, social-emotional learning, improving access to educational and professional growth opportunities, and improving the quality of professional development. She is a National Certified Counselor (NCC), a certified School Counselor in Washington State, and a board member on the Ethical and Professional Development Coalition's External Quality Review and Advisory Board.
Session
Mark Young, PhD
PhD
Dr. Mark A. Young is an Associate Professor at Gonzaga University where he serves as Director of the Marriage and Family Counseling program in the Department of Counselor Education. His research and professional areas of interests are healthy couple relationships, couples counseling, experiential learning, and live supervision.
Sessions
Janine Wanlass, Ph.D.
Janine Wanlass PhD is the founding and Program Chair of Westminster University’s Counseling & Counselor Education Program. Janine is a psychoanalyst and psychologist practicing in Salt Lake City, Utah. Janine is a member of ApsA, past director of The International Psychotherapy Institute (IPI) in Chevy Chase, Maryland and current chair of IPI’s Combined Program in Child Psychotherapy and Child Analysis; Program Director and Professor of Counseling and Counselor Education at Westminster University; and Director of the online psychoanalytic psychotherapy training program at the International Psychotherapy School in Moscow, Russia.
Session
Vanessa Center, LPC, LPCC, NCC
Counselor
Vanessa Center is a professional counselor, business owner, and doctoral candidate at Oregon State University, specializing in person-centered and sex-positive counseling. Vanessa actively works to challenge societal norms and promote sexual health, autonomy, and agency in individuals. She is also passionate about improving education for professional counselors on effectively addressing sexual issues in therapy with clients.
Session
Hogun Lee
Hogun graduated from the University of California, Riverside with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and a minor in Education. He is pursuing a Master of Science in School Counseling at California State University, Sacramento, and works as a school counselor intern at a Title I middle school. Hogun seeks to engage in research opportunities and learn how to best support students in his graduate studies to serve many students as an aspiring high school counselor.
Sessions
Nikki Hurless, PhD, LPC, NCC, Assistant Professor of Counseling
Assistant Professor of Counseling
Dr. Hurless is an experienced mental health researcher, clinician, and educator. Her research focuses on quantitative and qualitative methods exploring trauma-informed counseling, supervision, and counselor development. Currently, she works as an Assistant Professor of Counseling and holds her private practice in the state of Texas.
ResearchGate Profile: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Nicole-Hurless
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=2P-P9BYAAAAJ&hl=en
ResearchGate Profile: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Nicole-Hurless
Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=2P-P9BYAAAAJ&hl=en
Session
Adrienne Witherspoon, MA
Doctoral Candidate, Educational Leadership
Masters in Counseling Brandman University
Licensed School Counselor
Published author
Research agenda includes wellness practices for educators, trauma informed care and restorative justice.
Masters in Counseling Brandman University
Licensed School Counselor
Published author
Research agenda includes wellness practices for educators, trauma informed care and restorative justice.
Session
Lisa Belknap, MA, LPC-S, LMHC
Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor
Lisa is known for a compassionate approach and is intentional to address systemic factors and intersectionality. Lisa’s clinical experience includes treatment of acute mental health difficulties for adults across the lifespan, substance abuse issues, as well as providing outpatient therapeutic services, both in-person and via telehealth. Lisa has taught as an adjunct university instructor and served as a consultant for advanced psychiatric nurse practitioner students on therapy rotation. Lisa is passionate about empowering individuals to access anti-oppressive mental health care and strives to confront myths that perpetuate stigma and serve as a barrier to connecting with effective support. Above all, Lisa believes in the worthiness of all people and is committed to creating an environment that is safe and honoring of individual experience.
Lisa earned her Master of Arts in Counseling and Bachelor of Science in Psychology from East Texas Baptist University. While in pursuit of both her undergraduate and graduate degrees, Lisa has conducted her own research focused on eating disorders, non-suicidal self-harm, as well as correlates of incarceration. She appeared in two publications while acting as a research assistant on projects related to metacognition and spirituality, and Cognitive Behavioral Analysis. Lisa is currently a doctoral student at Antioch University Seattle’s Counseling Education and Supervision program and was recognized in 2023 with a research fellowship.
Lisa earned her Master of Arts in Counseling and Bachelor of Science in Psychology from East Texas Baptist University. While in pursuit of both her undergraduate and graduate degrees, Lisa has conducted her own research focused on eating disorders, non-suicidal self-harm, as well as correlates of incarceration. She appeared in two publications while acting as a research assistant on projects related to metacognition and spirituality, and Cognitive Behavioral Analysis. Lisa is currently a doctoral student at Antioch University Seattle’s Counseling Education and Supervision program and was recognized in 2023 with a research fellowship.
Session
Maiko Xiong, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Dr. Maiko Xiong is an Assistant Professor in the Counselor Education program. Her interests are centered on equity and social justice, culturally responsive counseling practices, and how school counseling can serve as an effective basis for supporting the well-being and educational outcomes of marginalized K-12 youth. She was a school counselor for 9 years and these practitioner experiences shape her research agenda, approach to teaching, and service.
Sessions
Jiale Man, PhD, NCC, LMHC-A
Assistant Professor
Jiale Man is an assistant professor at the clinical mental health program (ground) at Seattle University. He has extensive work experience with clients from diverse backgrounds in both school and clinical settings in China and the US. His research agenda builds from his professional experiences to investigate the stress and resilience in various relationship configurations within the LGBTGEQIAP+ community. His clinical work centers on individual experiences of marginalization, particularly concerning sexual/affectional identities and relationship orientations, and how these experiences impact an individual’s navigation of social systems.
Sessions
Hongshan Shao, PhD, NCC, CCC
Assistant Professor
Hongshan Shao is an assistant professor of counseling at California State University, Northridge. She is a National Certified Counselor and Certified Career Counselor. Her research interests include career counseling and development with international students/Asian populations; cross-cultural training, counseling, and supervision; multicultural and social justice advocacy.
Sessions
Anna James Krzemieniecki
M.S, M.Coun, LCPC
Anna James Krzemieniecki (she/her) serves as Clinical Assistant Faculty, Counseling Clinic Director, and Adjunct Faculty at Idaho State University, overseeing clinical operations and ensuring the delivery of high-quality mental health services to rural and underserved communities. Beyond her institutional roles, Anna is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and maintains a thriving private practice focused on women's mental health. Drawing on her extensive clinical experience and specialized training, she offers personalized counseling and therapeutic interventions tailored to the unique needs of her clients. Committed to advancing the counseling profession, Anna serves as a board member appointed to the Idaho Board of Professional Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists and is also an active scholar. She has publications and presentations exploring topics such as posttraumatic stress disorder, perinatal mental health, trauma-informed care, and research aligned with counselor identity and practice.
Session
Tamara Tribitt, LPSC, PhD
Session
Esther McCartney
Assistant Professor
Dr. Esther McCartney is an Assistant Professor and Program Director at Northwest University and is also a child & adolescent counselor. She has worked with numerous students in providing counseling services that meet the cultural needs of their clients and has also supported students from diverse backgrounds.
Sessions
Mike Bouck, AZ LCSW,
Mike Bouck is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) currently in practice at the Office of Employee Assistance and Wellness at Northern Arizona University as well as a part time private practice. Mike has 20+ years of clinical experience working with youth, adults, couples, families, and groups and is also a qualified mindfulness meditation instructor through UCSD. Mike became interested in men's work during the pandemic when he realized how few safe spaces there were for men to be their authentic selves and talk about feelings and relationships. He has since cofacilitated 3 ongoing men's groups and hosted multiple men's retreats.
Session
Bernadet DeJonge, PhD, CRC, LMHC
Assistant Professor
Dr. Bernadet (Bernie) DeJonge has been an assistant professor at SUNY Empire State University since July of 2022. She holds a Ph.D. in Counseling Supervision and Education from Oregon State University and an MA in Rehabilitation Counseling from Western Washington University. Bernie is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) and maintains full mental health licensure (LMHC) in Washington State. Bernie has extensive experience working in the disability field. In addition, she has developed and taught courses at the bachelor’s and master’s level, including multicultural counseling at multiple institutions. Bernie has had extensive training and experience in DEIB curriculum development, particularly around course development in the online or hybrid environment.
Sessions
Tanisha Sapp, EdD, LPC, CST, NCC, ACS, CPCS
Assistant Professor
Dr. Sapp is an Assistant Professor of Counseling at Liberty University. She is currently a member of the ACA ethics committee and serves on review panels for CACREP and NBCC. Dr. Sapp has also served on a number of committees and provided various services to the profession and her community. Additionally, Dr. Sapp is the owner of Tanisha Sapp, LLC where she provides professional development training, clinical supervision services, and individual and couples sex therapy. Her areas of research, professional identity, and interests include: professional counselor identity, Anti-Racism in counseling and counselor education, DEISJB counseling and counselor education, BIPOC sexual health and wellness, and professional advocacy in leadership.
Session
Cort Dorn-Medeiros, PhD, LPC, CADCIII
Associate Professor
Dr. Dorn-Medeiros is an Associate Professor in the Professional Mental Health Counseling - Specialization in Addictions program and chair of the Department of Counseling, Therapy, and School Psychology at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, OR. Dr. Dorn-Medeiros is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor III in the state of Oregon.
Sessions
Leah Brew, PhD, CCMHC, NCC, PhD
Professor
Dr. Brew is Professor at California State University, Fullerton. She served as Department Chair for 15 years. In the last few years in her role as Chair, she worked with her colleagues to make major changes to the Department focusing on anti-racist practices. They are working to change tenure standards and teaching expectations to require faculty integrate anti-racist practices in teaching, service, and scholarly pursuits. She has a scholarly and teaching interest in a variety of areas related to cultural competency, including anti-racist practices. She also served on the state licensure board in California as the LPCC representative and focuses on legal and ethical issues in counseling and supervision.
Session
Lisa Forbes, PhD, LPC, RPT
Assistant Clinical Professor
Lisa K. Forbes is an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Counseling Program at the University of Colorado Denver. Lisa is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Registered Play Therapist. Lisa’s research centers around intensive mothering practices, gender conformity, and mental health as well as playful pedagogy and play in adulthood. Lisa is the co-founder of a global faculty network called Professors at Play.
Sessions
Deborah Rubel, PhD (she/her)
Professor
Deborah Rubel is a professor of counselor education at Oregon State University. Her areas of specialization include group work and qualitative research methods. Her research interests include mental health stigma and equitable, inclusive, and antiracist and anti-oppressive practices in counselor education, group work, and research.
Sessions
Jess Jones
Jess is a graduate student in the counseling program at Sacramento State University. She earned her bachelor's degree in Social Science, developing an interest in the societal factors that influence mental health. As an aspiring mental health counselor and play therapist, it is her goal to promote equitable systems through research and advocacy and to explore creative ways counselors can make an impact.
Sessions
Benjamin Saubolle-Camacho, LPC Intern, APCC
Associate Professional Clinical Counselor
Benjamin Saubolle-Camacho, (APPC, PPS) works as a mental health clinician in high schools in the Sacramento region of California. He holds an M.S. in Counseling (School) and an M.A. in Humanities from Sacramento State, during which he specialized in the historical, cultural, and philosophical study of mindfulness in modern western countries. Benjamin maintains a daily contemplative practice that is connected to both Buddhist and psychotherapeutic traditions.
Session
Emily Kay Anderson, BA
I am a current masters-level counseling student at Seattle University that is passionate about engaging in LGBTQ+ research topics to inform counseling practice and counseling education.
Sessions
Daniel Sweeney, PhD, LPC, LMFT, RPT-S
Professor
Daniel Sweeney, PhD, LMFT, LPC, ACS, RPT-S™ is a Professor of Marriage & Family Counseling, Clinical Director of the CMHC & MCFC programs, and Director of the NW Center for Play Therapy Studies at George Fox University in Portland, Oregon. He is an international presenter [having presented on six continents], past president of the Association for Play Therapy, and maintains a small private practice. Daniel is author or co-author of several books, including: Sandtray Therapy: A Practical Manual, The Handbook of Group Play Therapy, and Group Play Therapy: A Dynamic Approach. His books have been translated into Chinese, Korean, Turkish, and Russian. Daniel and his wife live in Portland, Oregon near their four adult children and grandchildren.
Session
David Kleist, Ph.D
Session
Molly Moran, PhD, LPC, Licensed School Counselor
Clinical Assistant Professor
Dr. Molly Moran is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Counseling at Oregon State University -Cascades in Bend, OR. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Idaho and a Licensed School Counselor in Oregon. Dr. Moran has over two decades of experience in various capacities within K-12 educational environments. Her research interests include the evaluation of culturally responsive, school-based interventions aimed at improving student outcomes, and counselor education pedagogy. Dr. Moran serves as the co-director of the Department of Education grant-funded program: Promoting and Advancing the Training of High Desert School Counselors (PATH-SC). This initiative has significantly increased the number of qualified school counselors in rural Central Oregon, thereby amplifying access to essential counseling services for underserved student populations.
Sessions
Garrison Iams
Garrison Iams is currently a student in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program at Northwest University. He graduated with a Bachelor’s in Psychology from Central Washington University. As he prepares for clinical training, he is interested in researching evidence-based practices for grief and loss, so he can better support his future clients.
Session
Amy Broadwater, Ph.D., LAC, NCC
Assistant Professor/Department Chair
My name is Amy Broadwater, Ph.D., LAC, NCC. I am a counselor educator and work as an Assistant Professor and Department Chair in the Counseling Department at University of Alaska Fairbanks. I specialize in college counseling and currently serve as President of the American College Counseling Association. I am passionate about research and am involved in active research in the areas of suicide, supervision, underrepresented individuals, microaggressions, and critical pedagogy.
Session
Nikki Golden
Session
Dianne Vargas, Ed.D., PPS
Associate Professor
Dr. Dianne Vargas is an Associate Professor of School Counseling at California State University Stanislaus in Turlock, California. She also works as an adjunct professor at Modesto Junior College in Education. She holds a Doctorate in Education Leadership with an Administrative Credential, a Master’s in School Counseling with a Pupil Personnel Services Credential, and a Business Degree with a Teaching Credential. Her expertise is in Education Law and Ethics as it relates to school counselors and administrators. She also teaches other subjects such as Suicide prevention & Intervention, Counseling Exceptional and At-Risk Youth, Guidance and Curriculum, Consultation and Supervision, among many others. Dr. Vargas is a Certified Master Online Teacher and trained university faculty in the transition to remote teaching during the pandemic. Dr. Vargas remains an active trainer and consultant to County Offices of Education and Districts around California in the area of AI-generated tools, AI plagiarism policies, Suicide Procedures & Policies, Non-Suicidal Self-Injury, Anxiety, Depression, Conflict/De-escalation, and other mental health topics. She has trained thousands of teachers, administrators, mental health professionals, health care providers, and college students to improve their clinical assessment and suicide risk management skills both in professional seminars and the university counseling program. Dr. Vargas has published two articles on best practices for online learning and has been accepted to publish an article on Netiquette this year. Other publications are on topics related to Suicide Policy, Social Emotional Learning, and working with partners in the K-12 environment.
Session
Dominique Avery
Associate Department Chair
1. Dominique Avery, PhD, NCC, LMHC is Associate Chair at Saybrook University with a focus on Humanistic and Cultural-Relational practices in counselor education. Her scholarship and teaching focus on culturally responsive counseling and counselor education, crisis and trauma interventions, human sexuality, and quantitative research. She has over 40 presentations on antiracism, cultural humility, crisis and trauma education, licensure portability, and mixed methods research. Dominique has experience developing courses focused on human sexuality, cultural humility, and anti-racism as well as integrating content across the curriculum. She was the founding secretary for the Idaho chapter of ALGBTIC (now SAIGE).
Sessions
Bita Rivas, Ed.D, LMFT, LPC, LPCC, LAC, MAC, ACS, NCC
Associate Professor and Counselor Education Program Coordinator
Dr. Rivas is an Associate Professor in the Counselor Education program, specializing in marriage, couple, and family counseling; clinical mental health counseling, and addiction counseling. She joined the Sacramento State Counselor Education program in 2018. She is currently serving as the Program Coordinator for Counselor Education.
Dr. Rivas has been a Counselor Educator since 2013. Prior to joining CSUS, Dr. Rivas held faculty positions at Western Connecticut State University and University of Colorado, Colorado Springs. Having worked in mental health since 2008, she has experience with inpatient residential treatment working with adolescents providing individual, family, and group counseling; as well as community mental health providing group counseling for court mandated clients. She operated a private practice from 2010-2018 working with individuals, couples, and families in addition to providing supervision for individuals seeking licensure. She holds three licenses in Colorado, Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), and Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC); and in California she holds her Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) licenses. She also holds her credentials as a National Certified Counselor (NCC), Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS), and Master Addiction Counselor (MAC).
Dr. Rivas is currently serving on the Board of Directors, as a Counselor Education member, for the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) serving a five year term from 2020-2025. Previously she served as a Board Member, and Chair of the Legislative and Advocacy Committee, for the California Association for Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (CALPCC). She has previously held positions at the Colorado Association for Marriage and Family Therapists, Colorado Counseling Association, and the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision.
Dr. Rivas has been a Counselor Educator since 2013. Prior to joining CSUS, Dr. Rivas held faculty positions at Western Connecticut State University and University of Colorado, Colorado Springs. Having worked in mental health since 2008, she has experience with inpatient residential treatment working with adolescents providing individual, family, and group counseling; as well as community mental health providing group counseling for court mandated clients. She operated a private practice from 2010-2018 working with individuals, couples, and families in addition to providing supervision for individuals seeking licensure. She holds three licenses in Colorado, Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), and Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC); and in California she holds her Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) licenses. She also holds her credentials as a National Certified Counselor (NCC), Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS), and Master Addiction Counselor (MAC).
Dr. Rivas is currently serving on the Board of Directors, as a Counselor Education member, for the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) serving a five year term from 2020-2025. Previously she served as a Board Member, and Chair of the Legislative and Advocacy Committee, for the California Association for Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (CALPCC). She has previously held positions at the Colorado Association for Marriage and Family Therapists, Colorado Counseling Association, and the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision.
Sessions
Amaris Molina, Doctoral Candidate, LPC Associate, NCC
Amaris Molina is a Doctoral Candidate at Sam Houston State University in the Department of Counselor Education. Her research interests include play therapy with underrepresented populations, first-generation college students and access to counseling, sandtray therapy with children, and training on mandated reporting. Presently, she is concluding her dissertation titled Registered Play Therapists' Experiences when Working with Spanish-Speaking Children and Parents. Amaris is also a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate in Texas supervised by Dr. Fitzgerald, LPC-S, RPT-S. She earned her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Texas at San Antonio. She is passionate about working with children and believes in the power of play to help heal. She is experienced in working with bilingual Spanish-speaking families overcoming behavioral issues, separation/divorce, anxiety, depression, and loneliness.
Session
Maggie Yowell Wilson, LMHC, CMHS, GMHS, RDT/BCT, REAT
Teaching Faculty (Drama Therapy Coordinator beginning July 1)
Maggie Yowell Wilson is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Registered Drama Therapist/ Board Certified Trainer, Registered Expressive Arts Therapist, Washington approved supervisor, child mental health specialist and geriatric mental health specialist. She is also an Intentional Creativity® Teacher, Sand Story® Therapist, SoulCollage® Facilitator and Veriditas Trained Labyrinth Facilitator. Maggie graduated in 2013 from Antioch University and has been licensed for over six years. She is currently a student in Antioch University's PhD program in Counselor Education and Supervision.
Maggie’s work as a therapist has included community mental health, inpatient treatment, and private practice. She also served as Clinic Manager for Valley Cities’ Renton and Rainier Beach clinics. In her current practice at Owl's Well Counseling, she sees clients of all ages and particularly likes working with trauma, loss and grief. Many of her clients are Veterans and military family members that she sees under King County grants administered by the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs. Maggie also supervises several mental health counselors and creative arts therapists, and serves as Teaching Faculty at Antioch University in its Master's level Creative Arts Therapy program. Prior to attending Antioch, Maggie was a practicing lawyer for over twenty years.
Maggie’s work as a therapist has included community mental health, inpatient treatment, and private practice. She also served as Clinic Manager for Valley Cities’ Renton and Rainier Beach clinics. In her current practice at Owl's Well Counseling, she sees clients of all ages and particularly likes working with trauma, loss and grief. Many of her clients are Veterans and military family members that she sees under King County grants administered by the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs. Maggie also supervises several mental health counselors and creative arts therapists, and serves as Teaching Faculty at Antioch University in its Master's level Creative Arts Therapy program. Prior to attending Antioch, Maggie was a practicing lawyer for over twenty years.
Sessions
Rachael Marshall, PhD
Dr. Rachael C. Marshall (They/Them/Their) is an Associate Professor and Clinic Coordinator at Sac State Counselor Education Program. With their Master’s in Counseling, they worked as a clinical and career Counselor in universities, homeless shelters, and schools. Their work focused on trauma, grief, and advocacy with first-generation college students, international students, and LGBTQ+ clients. They currently research career identity and counselor identity development in relation to self-care, wellness, mindfulness, and contemplative techniques in both classroom and clinical settings.
They are currently serving as the clinic coordinator for the counseling clinic on campus. The Center for Counseling and Diagnostic Services (CCDS) Clinic, which offers three distinct services: counseling, psychoeducational assessments, and reading intervention. The functional nature of this clinic dedicates time and resource to collaboration across multiple helping professions, including school psychology, counseling, and language and literacy. Dr. Marshall is the Counseling Faculty Advisor for Sacramento State’s Chi Sigma Sigma. They are also the immediate Past-President of the European Branch of the American Counseling Association (EB-ACA).
They are currently serving as the clinic coordinator for the counseling clinic on campus. The Center for Counseling and Diagnostic Services (CCDS) Clinic, which offers three distinct services: counseling, psychoeducational assessments, and reading intervention. The functional nature of this clinic dedicates time and resource to collaboration across multiple helping professions, including school psychology, counseling, and language and literacy. Dr. Marshall is the Counseling Faculty Advisor for Sacramento State’s Chi Sigma Sigma. They are also the immediate Past-President of the European Branch of the American Counseling Association (EB-ACA).
Session
Kimberlee Ratliff, EdD, LMHC, NCC, NCSC
Associate Professor
Kimberlee Ratliff is an Associate Professor in the MEd counseling program at the University of Puget Sound. She also serves as the Practicum/Internship coordinator and has 16 years of supervision experience as a site supervisor and university supervisor. Her research interests include multiracial identity, self-care, suicide bereavement and professional identity.
Sessions
Tony Lai
Tony Lai, LPC, RPT-S™ is an Advanced Practice Behavioral Health Clinician at Yamhill County Family and Youth Programs in McMinnville, Oregon. He is a Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor™ and board member with the Association for Play Therapy (APT), and the Oregon Association for Play Therapy. Tony is on the Oregon Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists registry as an Approved Supervisor and provides supervision and consultation for supervisors, licensees, Registered Interns, and Graduate Interns, both at his agency and in his private practice. As a member of his city's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Committee, Tony is deeply committed to issues of justice and diversity for both professionals and clients.
Session
Erin Burgess, MS, LPC
Doctoral Student
Erin Burgess, MS, LPC (they/she) is a Licensed Professional Counselor and current doctoral student in Counselor Education & Supervision at Idaho State University, specializing in Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling. She completed her MS in Professional Mental Health Counseling—Addictions Specialization at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, OR, and was awarded the NBCC Foundation Minority Fellowship in Addiction Counseling in 2022. Her research interests include how to best prepare CITs to help clients explore sexuality, as well as best practices in the treatment of clients with SUDs. Clinically, she has worked in multiple residential centers where she has supported clients in recovery, advocated for client rehabilitation needs, conducted individual and group counseling with justice-involved youth, and developed group counseling curriculums centering creative interventions when working with Black and Brown youth.
Sessions
Pam Vance
Pam Vance, LPC, CRC (she/they) is a doctoral student in Counseling Education and Counselor Supervision at Idaho State University. She recently graduated with her master’s degree in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling which emphasizes disability wellness and disability counseling competencies. Her current interests in CES include the intersection of climate justice and disability, and disability as it intersects with sexual orientation and gender identity development.
Session
Lucy Purgason, PhD, LSC, ACS
Dr. Lucy L. Purgason is an assistant professor of Counseling at Oregon State University-Cascades.
With licenses and certifications as a school counselor and approved clinical supervisor, she has
taught and supervised graduate counseling students for 10 years. She has five years prior
experience as an elementary and high school counselor, including at a school specifically for
newcomer immigrant and refugee students. Her research centers on recognizing and harnessing
the cultural strengths of students and their families. In addition, she also pursues scholarship
related to mentoring and supervision, with a specific emphasis on relational-cultural
approaches. She is the recipient of the North Carolina Counseling Association Research Award
and has been recognized by the Journal of Counselor Leadership and Advocacy as an
outstanding article recipient. She is co-director of the Department of Education grant-funded
program, Promoting and Advancing the Training of High Desert School Counselors (PATH-SC),
aimed to increase the number and diversity of qualified school counselors in high-needs, rural
K-12 schools in the Central Oregon region
With licenses and certifications as a school counselor and approved clinical supervisor, she has
taught and supervised graduate counseling students for 10 years. She has five years prior
experience as an elementary and high school counselor, including at a school specifically for
newcomer immigrant and refugee students. Her research centers on recognizing and harnessing
the cultural strengths of students and their families. In addition, she also pursues scholarship
related to mentoring and supervision, with a specific emphasis on relational-cultural
approaches. She is the recipient of the North Carolina Counseling Association Research Award
and has been recognized by the Journal of Counselor Leadership and Advocacy as an
outstanding article recipient. She is co-director of the Department of Education grant-funded
program, Promoting and Advancing the Training of High Desert School Counselors (PATH-SC),
aimed to increase the number and diversity of qualified school counselors in high-needs, rural
K-12 schools in the Central Oregon region
Sessions
Jill Minor, Ed.D., LSC
Assistant Professor/Director of School Counseling
Jill Minor is an assistant professor and program director of Wright State University’s School Counseling Program in Dayton, OH. Dr. Minor is an accomplished school counselor with over 17 years of experience at all levels K-12. Her research interests include crisis planning and response, teaching effectiveness, and career counseling. Dr. Minor has presented on topics such as school counselor leadership and ethical practices, crisis response, giftedness, and college and career counseling services.
Session
Alicia Lamar, Ph.D., LPC, NCC
Term Assistant Professor
Alicia Lamar is a Term Assistant Professor in the Counseling Program at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) where she serves as the CACREP liaison. Alicia graduated with her Doctor of Philosophy in Counselor Education and Supervision from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas. Her dissertation focused on the relationships among experiences of gatekeeping, perceptions of support, and burnout for counselor educators. Her research interests include gatekeeping, self-care, and burnout. Alicia is a practicing Licensed Professional Counselor (TX) in Houston, Texas.
Session
Laura Owen, PhD, NCC, NCSC
Dr. Laura Owen (she, her), NCC, NCSC, is the Executive Director for the Center for Equity and Postsecondary Attainment at San Diego State University. A prior urban school counselor, district counseling supervisor, and district crisis team lead, she is a passionate advocate for closing postsecondary opportunity gaps. Her research focuses on evaluating the impact of practices designed to address the systems, structures and policies needed to remove barriers for historically marginalized communities. Dr. Owen has researched interventions targeting FAFSA completion, the high school to college transition, virtual advising, the use of technology in college counseling, how students prefer to receive college and career information and the pandemic’s impact on students’ postsecondary choices. She is committed to the discovery of models that support access, retention and completion of postsecondary credentials aligned to the workforce and connected to high wage, high demand jobs. Dr. Owen received teaching awards from Johns Hopkins University and San Diego State University. She co-led the SDSU White House Convening on Strengthening School Counseling and College Advising and assisted with American University's White House Convening on Culturally Sustaining Practices in College Counseling. She serves on the California Cradle to Career Data and Tools Advisory Board, is currently a co-editor for the Journal of College Access, and co-edited the 2022 Equity-Based Career Development and Postsecondary Transitions book. Dr. Owen is the 2023 California School Counselor Educator of the Year.
Session
Christina Cantwell, MA, LMHC (she/her/hers)
Session
Sara Pula, PhD, NCC, ACS, LCPC
Assistant Professor/CES Site-based Learning Lead
Dr. Pula is counseling professional with 25 years’ experience ranging from School Counselor, Clinical Mental Health Counselor, Program Manager of a DOD-funded RCT trial, Counselor Educator, and private clinician. She currently serves as an Assistant Professor in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Counselor Education and Supervision programs at Capella University. She has held numerous leadership positions, including CES Site-based Learning Lead, Director of Clinical Training, Past President of the Maryland Counseling Association, Past President of the Maryland Association for Counselor Education and Supervision, and Past President and Treasurer of the Board of Advisors of the Anne Arundel County Department of Social Services. As a leader in the field, Dr. Pula has presented at national and local conferences, facilitates workshops, supervises counselors toward licensure, and provides advocacy at the national and local levels. Dr. Pula is a subject matter expert, a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP), a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in Maryland, a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC), and an Approved Clinical Supervisor in Maryland. Dr. Pula specializes in working with adolescents and young adults, treating body image dissatisfaction, ADHD, autism-spectrum issues, anxiety, depression, suicide ideation, and trauma-related issues.
Session
Anthony Rivas, Ed.D, LAC, LMFT, MAC, ACS
Dr. Rivas is an Assistant Professor and Fieldwork Coordinator in the Counselor Education program at CSU Sacramento, specializing in rehabilitation, addiction, marriage and family, and clinical mental health counseling. He is currently serving as the Fieldwork Coordinator for the Counselor Education program.
Dr. Rivas began his career in academia at the director level in academic advising, student retention, student disability services, and student conduct before moving on to teaching at both the community college, baccalaureate, and graduate levels. Prior to coming to CSUS, he taught at the undergraduate and graduate level at MSU Denver and prior to that, at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs in the Department of Counseling and Human Services at the graduate level. At UCCS, he taught: clinical mental health counseling, substance abuse counseling, student development theory, educational psychology, educational leadership, and within the Air Force Officer Commanding (AOC) Leadership program. This program teaches US Air Force Academy Officers: counseling, human growth/ lifespan/ student development, leadership, and higher education administration specific material.
Dr. Rivas has clinical experience providing mental health & substance abuse counseling in both private practice and community mental health, working with court-mandated offenders, first responders, couples, military members and their families, health care professionals, and supervision for CAC/LAC. Dr. Rivas holds clinical licensure in Colorado as both a Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC) and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with national credentials of Master Addiction Counselor (MAC) and Substance Abuse Professional (SAP, US DOT credential). His research interests focus on student development of 1st generation students and the effect of socio-economic-status on clinical relationships, diagnosis, and prognosis. Dr. Rivas currently serves on the Board of Directors for California Association for Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (CALPCC) and on the CALPCC Legislative and Advocacy Committee.
Dr. Rivas began his career in academia at the director level in academic advising, student retention, student disability services, and student conduct before moving on to teaching at both the community college, baccalaureate, and graduate levels. Prior to coming to CSUS, he taught at the undergraduate and graduate level at MSU Denver and prior to that, at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs in the Department of Counseling and Human Services at the graduate level. At UCCS, he taught: clinical mental health counseling, substance abuse counseling, student development theory, educational psychology, educational leadership, and within the Air Force Officer Commanding (AOC) Leadership program. This program teaches US Air Force Academy Officers: counseling, human growth/ lifespan/ student development, leadership, and higher education administration specific material.
Dr. Rivas has clinical experience providing mental health & substance abuse counseling in both private practice and community mental health, working with court-mandated offenders, first responders, couples, military members and their families, health care professionals, and supervision for CAC/LAC. Dr. Rivas holds clinical licensure in Colorado as both a Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC) and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with national credentials of Master Addiction Counselor (MAC) and Substance Abuse Professional (SAP, US DOT credential). His research interests focus on student development of 1st generation students and the effect of socio-economic-status on clinical relationships, diagnosis, and prognosis. Dr. Rivas currently serves on the Board of Directors for California Association for Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (CALPCC) and on the CALPCC Legislative and Advocacy Committee.
Sessions
Curtis Garner, Ed.D., LCPC, NCC
Professor
Dr. Curtis Garner is a licensed clinical professional counselor and licensed psychologist. Dr. Garner taught as a tenured faculty member in Counseling and Human Development at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas from 1997 to 2007 and at Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, Idaho from 2007 to 2019. Currently Dr. Garner continues as Professor of Counselor Education at Gonzaga University.
Session
Sarah Joyce Clapp, LMHCA, PhD
Clinical Assistant Professor
Dr. Clapp is a clinical assistant professor at University of Puget Sound with experience and research interests spanning suicide prevention, graduate student mental health, LGBTQIA+ affirmative counseling, and counselor education pedagogy. She earned her PhD in Counselor Education with a minor focus in Women, Gender and Sexuality studies from The Ohio State University in 2022. Her current courses include internship, diagnosis, cognitive and behavioral theories, and multicultural and social justice counseling.
Session
Hope Schuermann, PhD, LMHC, QS
Director
Dr. Hope Schuermann is the director of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program at Eastern Oregon University, and a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Qualified Supervisor in the state of Florida. She holds a Masters of Science in Community Counseling from Loyola University New Orleans, and a Ph.D. in Counselor Education from the University of Central Florida. Dr. Schuermann’s academic areas of specialization include trauma, specifically trauma in children and trauma from disasters, and pedagogy and supervision in Counselor Education. Her clinical areas of expertise are treating children, trauma recovery, and creative therapy approaches. Dr. Schuermann has published over 20 peer reviewed articles, and presented at over 40 international, national, and regional conferences.
Session
Kathy Ho, Graduate Student at Sacramento State
I am currently a graduate student at Sacramento State in the school counseling concentration. I am working towards receiving my Pupil Personnel Services Credential and a School-Based Play Therapist certificate. This topic on high-achieving students is important as they commonly go unnoticed for mental health support in educational settings. I also resonate with this population from personal experience and have recognized the minimal mental health support students receive as they appear secure at school.
Session
Yi-Wen Su, PhD, NCC
Assistant Professor
Yi-Wen Su, Ph.D., NCC, is an assistant professor in the Counselor Education Department at Portland State University. She currently serves as a program coordinator for the school counseling program at PSU. She is a nationally-certified counselor and a licensed school counselor registered with the Iowa Board of Education. Dr. Su’s research interests include school counseling, bullying/cyberbullying prevention, mindfulness, and multicultural issues in the counseling field. Dr. Su has several publications published in the Professional School Counseling Journal, the Journal of Counselor Education and Supervision, the Journal of Humanistic Counseling, and other peer-reviewed journals.
Sessions
Pao-Yin Huang
Assistant Clinical Professor
Pao-Yin Huang is an Assistant Clinical Professor of the Clinical Mental Health Program at Seattle University. She is an international scholar from Taiwan. Growing up in an era where democracy, liberation, diversity, equity, and inclusion are rapidly promoted in Taiwan, she recognizes promoting systemic change requires resilience, patience, and passion. The lived experiences in Taiwan also fostered her calling in bringing social justice and advocacy into her research, teaching, supervision, counseling, and leadership.
Sessions
Phebe Brako-Owusu, LMFT, LMHC, NCC
Doctoral Student
Born and raised in Ghana, Phebe Brako-Owusu immigrated to the United States as an international student and got her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at Salem College, NC. Phebe went on to receive her Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy at Seton Hill University, PA and currently working towards her PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision. As an immigrant, Phebe is passionate about serving fellow immigrants and encouraging them to prioritize their mental health. Her current research interests include transracial adoption and the mental health experiences of BIPOC transracial adoptees. She is also the Founder and CEO of 253 Therapy and Consult in University Place, WA where she is an Approved Supervisor and mentors the next generation of therapists.
Session
Lori Andrews, LMHC, NCC
Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Lori Andrews, LMHC, NCC, is a doctoral candidate in the counseling program at Oregon State University. She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in New York and Florida. Lori is a mental health counselor for BayCare Medical Group, maintains a small private practice, and is an adjunct instructor at Molloy University. Lori has co-presented on various topics at local, national, and regional conferences. Her research interests include ageism, cultural competence in counselor supervision, and creative pedagogy in counselor education.
Session
Kimberly Farley-Smith
Lecturer and Doctoral Candidate
Kimberly Farley-Smith is a counselor educator lecturer at Wright State University and served as a school counselor. She completed her bachelor’s degree in Adolescent Education in Language Arts and a bachelor’s degree in English with a concentration in Writing from the University of Toledo. She pursued her Master’s degree in Administration and Leadership from West Virginia University and a Master’s in School Counseling from Xavier University. She began her career as an English and reading teacher in West Virginia for two years and spent 3 years teaching in Virginia. She served as an Academy Coordinator and Data Specialist for 6 years with DC Public Schools at both Ballou SHS and Eastern SHS. She found her love of college counseling at the DC College Success Foundation where she served as a College Preparatory Advisor for 2 years. She relocated back to her hometown of Cincinnati where she taught Reading in Norwood City Schools and was the Director of College Counseling in the Cristo Rey Network. She is currently enrolled as doctoral student at the University of Cincinnati studying counselor education. She volunteers on several committees for the Ohio Association of Academic Counseling (OACAC) and Ohio School Counseling Association (OSCA).
Session
Susan Stuntzner PhD, LPC, LMHC, LCPC, LMHP, ACS, CRC, NCC, BC-TMH
Therapist/Part-time Faculty/Supervisor
Dr. Susan Stuntzner, PhD, LPC, LMHC, ACS, CRC, NCC provides behavioral health and mental health services to injured workers as a part of their coping and return to work process. She also provides counseling and resilience building skills to individuals with disabilities in her collaboration with Vocational Rehabilitation Division in Oregon and is an approved supervisor for LPC-Associates in Oregon. She is a part-time lecturer at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and the University of Providence. Previously, she was a Director of Accessible Education at a local college, and an Assistant Professor in the School of Rehabilitation Services and Counseling at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. She has 27 years of experience working in the rehabilitation counseling profession. During this time, she has worked as a vocational evaluator, counselor, psychology staff member, and faculty member and has a wide breadth of experience in helping people live with and move past a disability or difficult life event.
Dr. Stuntzner has published several articles on forgiveness, self-compassion, and resilience within the context of disability and has given over 85 trainings and workshops. She has written three books pertaining to coping and adaptation and/or resilience-based skills: Living with a Disability: Finding Peace Amidst the Storm; Reflections from the Past: Life Lessons for Better Living; and Resiliency and Coping: The Family After. Each one focuses on ways to help individuals, families, and/or professionals consider and develop strategies to improve coping, adaptation, and resilience following a disability.
More recently, she co-authored an article for Counseling Today on the Therapeutic Triad as well as a book chapter that discusses the Therapeutic Triad as a component of behavioral health service delivery. Currently, she is working on a fourth book and workbook pertaining to the Therapeutic Triad which incorporates the use of forgiveness, self-compassion, and resilience as approaches for a better way of life. She is also the developer of a 7-module forgiveness intervention (i.e., Stuntzner’s Forgiveness Intervention: Learning to Forgive Yourself and Others) and a co-developer of a 10-module resilience intervention (i.e., Stuntzner & Hartley’s Life Enhancement Intervention: Developing Resiliency Skills Following Disability) for persons with disabilities.
Dr. Stuntzner is the creator of CRCC’s online e-university courses, Resilience and Disability: Enhancing Rehabilitation Professionals’ Understanding and Application of Resilience to Rehabilitation Counseling, Enhancing Your Well-being: Making Self-care and Resilience a Priority, and Forgiveness and Disability: Embracing Inner Healing as a Part of the Rehabilitation Process, and Self-compassion: Integrating Compassionate Practices into Our Daily Lives which are currently being offered through the Commission on Rehabilitation Counseling Certification. Dr. Stuntzner has been interviewed four times for Psychology Talks (CCTV) by Dr. Angela Plowhead to share information about resilience, living well with a disability, supporting people with disabilities, and COVID-19: being resilient during and after the pandemic. Additional information can be found at her website: https://therapeutic-healing-disability.com.
Dr. Stuntzner has published several articles on forgiveness, self-compassion, and resilience within the context of disability and has given over 85 trainings and workshops. She has written three books pertaining to coping and adaptation and/or resilience-based skills: Living with a Disability: Finding Peace Amidst the Storm; Reflections from the Past: Life Lessons for Better Living; and Resiliency and Coping: The Family After. Each one focuses on ways to help individuals, families, and/or professionals consider and develop strategies to improve coping, adaptation, and resilience following a disability.
More recently, she co-authored an article for Counseling Today on the Therapeutic Triad as well as a book chapter that discusses the Therapeutic Triad as a component of behavioral health service delivery. Currently, she is working on a fourth book and workbook pertaining to the Therapeutic Triad which incorporates the use of forgiveness, self-compassion, and resilience as approaches for a better way of life. She is also the developer of a 7-module forgiveness intervention (i.e., Stuntzner’s Forgiveness Intervention: Learning to Forgive Yourself and Others) and a co-developer of a 10-module resilience intervention (i.e., Stuntzner & Hartley’s Life Enhancement Intervention: Developing Resiliency Skills Following Disability) for persons with disabilities.
Dr. Stuntzner is the creator of CRCC’s online e-university courses, Resilience and Disability: Enhancing Rehabilitation Professionals’ Understanding and Application of Resilience to Rehabilitation Counseling, Enhancing Your Well-being: Making Self-care and Resilience a Priority, and Forgiveness and Disability: Embracing Inner Healing as a Part of the Rehabilitation Process, and Self-compassion: Integrating Compassionate Practices into Our Daily Lives which are currently being offered through the Commission on Rehabilitation Counseling Certification. Dr. Stuntzner has been interviewed four times for Psychology Talks (CCTV) by Dr. Angela Plowhead to share information about resilience, living well with a disability, supporting people with disabilities, and COVID-19: being resilient during and after the pandemic. Additional information can be found at her website: https://therapeutic-healing-disability.com.
Session
Diana Camilo, EdD, LCP, NCC
Dr. Diana Camilo, Ed.D., LCP, NCC is an Assistant Professor at CSU San Bernardino. Her expertise is in school counseling, student services, and administration. As an administrator for Chicago Public Schools, she provided district-wide planning, management, and the evaluation of interventions and policies to support and sustain the implementation of school counseling programs. Her teaching and research interests include culturally responsive practices and supervision, school counseling, the college and career readiness of minoritized populations, stress management, and practitioners’ experienced secondary traumatic stress disorder. Dr. Camilo is a Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) national trainer. She also served as the Director of the San Diego State University School Counseling program. She was the founder and chair of the Supporting Access to Higher Education for Immigrant and Undocumented Students conference and is a member of the UndocuResearch Collaborative. She has served as an advisor to the Career Council for the University of Mississippi, Chi Sigma Iota-Epsilon Mu Chapter, and Education Without Borders at SDSU. She also served as a mentor for the MANA-Hermanitas Mentoring Program. Dr. Camilo earned her BA and MS from the University of Rochester, NY, and Ed.D. from Argosy University, Chicago.
Session
David R. Romanelli, LMHC
David is a licensed mental health counselor with over ten years of experience in the field and is currently a first-year doctoral student in the Counselor Education and Supervisor program at Antioch University - Seattle. New to the Pacific NW, he relocated to Seattle with his husband in the spring of 2022. Before moving, he was a resident of the District of Columbia, where he completed a master’s degree in counseling from the University of Maryland, College Park. He has a diverse counseling background, working in private practice, community mental health centers, and educational institutions. His specialties include anxiety disorders, depression, trauma recovery, relationship issues, and stress management. He is also skilled in supporting individuals navigating life transitions, such as career changes, grief and loss, relocation, and other major life events. Passionate about destigmatizing mental health issues and promoting mental wellness, David is involved in several community outreach and advocacy efforts. He is committed to training the next generation of mental health professionals. He looks forward to attending his first WACES conference and is excited to have the opportunity to share insights and collaborate with fellow counseling professionals and educators.
Session
Robert Switala, MA, MHC-LP
Robert Switala earned his master's degree from Liberty University in 2022 where he graduated with honors. He is the founding president of Liberty's northeastern region online chapter of Chi Sigma Iota (CSI) and served as cohost of the RENAR Voice podcast for the Liberty Online CSI chapter. Robert is a Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT) Candidate and is in the process of obtaining full CSAT certification. He has presented at several conferences on the topic of burnout and self-care. Prior to his career as a mental health counselor, Robert was a professional engineer for over 20 years.
Session
Graham Johnson
Graham Johnson is a 2nd Year Graduate Student in the Rehabilitation Counseling Concentration at the Sacramento State Counselor Education Program. They have worked at youth commissions, youth centers, and online youth programs. Their work has focused on youth engagement, multicultural outreach, and POC advocacy. They are currently researching the importance of multiculturalism and intersectionality in counseling, and new ways to improve competency for counselors in said topics.
Session
Brenda Freeman, Ph.D., LCPC, NCC
Brenda Freeman, Ph.D., L.C.P.C., N.C.C. is a Professor of Counseling and Educational Psychology/Cooperative Extension at the University of Nevada, Reno. Her research interests include gatekeeping in counseling and American Indian Alaska Native youth and families.
Session
Sara Al-Khedairy, NCC, APCC
Sara Al-Khedairy (she/her) is a doctoral candidate in the Counselor Education and Supervision program at Antioch University Seattle. Sara is the current Graduate Student Representative for the WACES region and a recipient of the 2023 NBCC Doctoral Minority Fellowship award. She currently resides and practices as an Associate Counselor in San Diego, CA where she specializes in working with consensual non-monogamy/polyamory, neurodivergence (Autism and ADHD), and racial trauma. Sara is the child of Egyptian and Iraqi immigrants and a first-generation college graduate, two identities that sustain and inspire her both personally and professionally. Sara's professional interests include advocating for clinicians-in-training and pre-licensed clinicians, increasing affirming care for consensually non monogamous clients, and infusing social justice practices into counselor education. Sara has recently facilitated professional presentations pertaining to equitable practices in counselor education admissions, advocating for pre-licensed clinicians, White racial identity development, and MENA representation. Aside from counseling, Sara is passionate about jazz music, reading non-fiction, cooking as much Middle-Eastern food as humanly possible, and spending time with her fur baby, Wesley.
Sessions
Monty Faidley
Monty Faidley is a second-year Masters of Counseling student in the California State University - Sacramento State Counselor Education program. He has a strong passion for mental health equity, multicultural counseling, and social justice advocacy. Prior to attending Sacramento State University, Monty worked as a Vice President at LexisNexis, where he led teams of dreamers, analysts, and strategic thinkers to build innovative social service solutions for programs including Medicaid, SNAP, and Public Housing. In his role as an advocate, Monty implemented a multi-year people development program that championed diversity and inclusion initiatives through mentoring, team training, and crucial conversation skills. He is a founder of TheMulticulturalCounselor.com, an online resource for education and support of expanding multicultural competencies and resources. Monty holds a Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science from New York University and is a multiple patent holder who has been recognized for his work with various awards, including the Reed Elsevier Innovation Honor Roll and LexisNexis CEO Awards.
Session
David A. Scott, PhD, LPC
Associate Professor
The presenter has over 20 years of experience as a researcher and counselor educator. His research in the area of identity development has been cited in numerous publications, including journal articles and books. He has expanded his research agenda to examine how identity development can impact career counseling and college counseling settings and supervision.
Session
Krystal Lazaro, LPC-A, MS
Doctoral Student, Graduate Research Assistant
Krystal Lazaro is a doctoral student and graduate researcher in the Counselor Education and Supervision program at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Krystal grew up in California and attended the University of California, Santa Barbara where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology. After her undergraduate program, she pursued a career in education and taught 5th, 7th, and 11th-grade English in Texas and California.
Krystal earned her master's at the University of Texas at San Antonio in 2022 and is now a licensed professional counselor-associate with a bilingual counseling certificate. Her scholarship is centered around bilingual and cross-cultural counseling and supervision, and she aims to research the relationship between mental health and physical movement through creative interventions.
Krystal earned her master's at the University of Texas at San Antonio in 2022 and is now a licensed professional counselor-associate with a bilingual counseling certificate. Her scholarship is centered around bilingual and cross-cultural counseling and supervision, and she aims to research the relationship between mental health and physical movement through creative interventions.
Sessions
Christine Mayorga, MS
Graduate Research Assistant
Christine Mayorga is a doctoral student and graduate assistant researcher in the Counselor Education and Supervision program at the University of Texas at San Antonio. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in forensic science from New Mexico State University. She has obtained a master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling specializing in trauma and crisis from Walden University.
Christine has gained valuable experience as an addiction case manager and a community clinician in Massachusetts.
Christine's research interest lies in trauma and adapting generalized interventions to culturally competent approaches. Her expertise in the field of counseling and her commitment to cultural competence have made her a valuable asset in the academic and professional communities. Her dedication to the field is evident in her work as a graduate assistant researcher and her willingness to explore new counseling approaches tailored to the needs of diverse populations.
Christine has gained valuable experience as an addiction case manager and a community clinician in Massachusetts.
Christine's research interest lies in trauma and adapting generalized interventions to culturally competent approaches. Her expertise in the field of counseling and her commitment to cultural competence have made her a valuable asset in the academic and professional communities. Her dedication to the field is evident in her work as a graduate assistant researcher and her willingness to explore new counseling approaches tailored to the needs of diverse populations.
Sessions
Victor Vargas
Masters Counseling Student
I'm a second-year graduate student pursuing a Master of Science in Counseling (Career) at California State University, Sacramento. With a Bachelor's in Business Administration from UC Berkeley and experience in education and career counseling, I'm passionate about helping first-generation college students navigate their academic and professional journeys. Currently a Student Support Specialist at Sacramento City College, I streamline internship resources and coordinate industry presentations. I've also interned as a Career Counselor at CSUS, where I developed workshops on resumes and job search strategies. I'm dedicated to empowering students to achieve their goals and look forward to making a positive impact in career counseling.
Session
Elizabeth C Mattia
Clinical Mental Health Counselor in Practicum
Elizabeth C. Mattia is a CMHC master's student at The Family Institute at Northwestern University, president of Chi Sigma Iota’s Nu Upsilon Omega chapter, and part of the Emerging Scholar program under Dr. Gideon Litherland. Identifying within the LGBTQIA+ umbrella through gender expression and sexuality, Elizabeth holds research interests in LGBTQIA+, grief, human sexuality, and trauma. Elizabeth is a member of AMHCA, ACA, SAIGE, IARC, and CSJ, and is completing clinical training at The Kaman Center for Wellness. Elizabeth has over 8+ years of experience within the behavioral and mental healthcare field, with plans to pursue her licensure post-graduation, open a private practice, and engage in more advocacy, leadership, and research opportunities.
Sessions
Melissa Luke, PhD, LMHC, NCC, ACS
Dr. Melissa Luke is a Dean’s professor in the School of Education at Syracuse University. Dr. Luke is an international leader in counselor education. Her scholarship focuses on counselor preparation and practice to more effectively respond to the needs of underserved persons, particularly LGBTIQ+ youth. Having fifteen years of experience in the P-12 educational context, Dr. Luke’s research has a specific focus on school counselors, and she has published extensively in the area of counselor supervision and group work. Towards that end, Dr. Luke is involved in a number of interdisciplinary research projects including the design and implementation of training simulations that use actors as standardized school stakeholders (e.g., administrators, teachers, students, family members), the professional identity development and ethical decision-making of counselors across global settings, as well as more recently the role of attachment and cognitive distortion in the experience of and receptivity to feedback within clinical supervision.
Session
Xiaoxuan Qu
Xiaoxuan Qu is currently a doctoral candidate in counselor education at Syracuse University. She is a Chinese international individual. Her research interests center around professional identity development, theoretical orientation development, and mentorship.
Sessions
Derek Seward, PhD, LMHC, NCC, ACS
Derek Xavier Seward is an associate professor in the Counseling and Human Services Unit in the School of Education at Syracuse University. Dr. Seward's scholarly interests focus primarily on the multicultural and social justice development of mental health professionals, with a particular interest in professionals of color.
Session
Wendy Wade PhD, LPCC, CADC
Assistant Processor
Wendy Wade, PhD, LPCC and CADC, has facilitated educational support groups with children of parents with substance use disorder beginning in the 1980s, and later at Betty Ford Center.. From 2017 to 2020 she volunteered at Camp Mariposa for COAs bi-monthly. She was an elementary school teacher and principal before her position as inpatient drug and alcohol counselor and family program coordinator. She has trained professionals and presented at addiction and counseling conferences for many years. She is Assistant Professor at Palo Alto University, teaching Addiction Counseling which includes a week on young COAs who do not receive treatment and the effects of parental addiction on adult behavior and relationships She has worked in community mental health agencies with children and families.
Session
Katherine Feather, PhD, CPC
Assistant Professor
Katherine Feather received her Ph.D. in counselor education and supervision from the University of South Carolina and her M.A. in community counseling from the University of Akron. As a counselor educator, she is committed to enhancing multicultural and social justice counseling competencies, promoting leadership development, as well as helping students become reflective, skilled practitioners. In addition, she actively integrates clinical and supervision experiences as a clinical professional counselor into the classroom. She has an extensive clinical background working with persons with disabilities; specifically, working with children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families, as well as counseling individuals adjusting to their visual disability. Her scholarly and research interests include establishing ASD counseling competencies for the counseling profession, school-to-career transition of students with disabilities, and psychosocial adjustment and family adaptation to a disability.
Sessions
Morgan Stohlman
Session
Heather Dahl-Jacinto
Associate Professor
Dr. Heather Dahl-Jacinto received her Ph.D. in counseling from Old Dominion University, with cognates in qualitative research and supervision. She received her M.S. in mental health counseling from Central Washington University. She previously was an assistant professor at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Her research interests are focused on mental health and include crisis intervention (e.g., suicide prevention and assessment), mental health education, qualitative research methodology. She has held service positions at the local, regional, national, and international level, including president of the Western Association of Counselor Education & Supervision (2018-2019), and has received awards for her research and service in counselor education.
Sessions
Yun Shi, PhD, LMFT
Yun Shi, PhD., LMFT, is an Assistant Professor in the Counselor Education department at the College of Education. Dr. Shi received her PhD in Counseling from Oregon State University in 2022 and joined the College of Education the same year. Dr. Shi’s research interests focus on culturally responsive application of counseling to diverse populations both in the United States and internationally, and how trauma impacts relationships and systems. She is passionate about training and supporting counselors and counselors-in-training, and has been engaged in training, presentations, and publication both in and outside the U.S. since 2010. A Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) and Counselor Educator, she is a member of the American Counseling Association, Association of Counselor Education and Supervision, American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, and International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors. Dr. Shi teaches both MCFC specialty courses and general counseling courses such as Theories and Interventions, Career Counseling, and Internship. In addition to her interest in counseling, Dr. Shi loves exploring new experiences – books and movies, food, places, people, etc. She lives in Southeast Portland with her family.
Session
Rachel Kerrigan, Ph.D., LMHC, LPC, LPC-S
Associate Professor
Rachel Kerrigan graduated with her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 2000 from Western Washington University, her Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from Wheaton College in 2002, and her Doctorate in Counseling Education and Supervision from Regent University in 2022. Rachel is licensed in Mental Health Counseling in Washington State and in both Professional Counseling and Counseling Supervision in South Carolina. She has over 20 years of clinical experience, including helping to found a growing professional counseling center in Kigali, Rwanda, where she worked for four years specializing in trauma work. Rachel currently works as an associate professor in Northwest University's Mental Health Counseling graduate program, where she serves as clinical director for their on-ground program. She recently partnered in writing NU's CACREP self-study application for accreditation.
Session
Helen Runyan, Ph.D., LPC, NCC, ACS
Session
Sonah Kho, MS, NCC, PPC (WY)
Sonah Koh is a doctoral student at the University of Wyoming and holds National Certified Counselor and Provisional Professional Counselor credentials. Identifying as an international counselor from an Asian background, she is dedicated to enhancing multicultural competency, advocating for minority graduate students, and supporting international students in counselor education programs through scholarly and conference activities.
Session
Rachael Fuller
The first presenter is an mental health counselor, working in local crisis services. They are an adjunct professor, a member of Chi Sigma Iota, and works with a local Indigenous tribe for mental wellness and liberation. They identify as Indigenous and is focused in research rooted in liberation and sovereignty.
Session
Susan Branco
Associate Professor
The second presenter is an Associate Professor at Palo Alto University. She is a licensed professional counselor (VA), an Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS), and board certified counselor and TeleMental health provider. She earned her BA in Human Services, MA in Rehabilitation Counseling, and a doctorate in Counselor Education and Supervision and completed a graduate certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy. She previously served in brick and mortar institutions as a Clinical Assistant Professor overseeing a clinical mental health counseling training clinic, a Director of Clinical Training, and Department Chair prior to her role at Palo Alto University. Her scholarship and teaching focus on training, supervision, and wellness strategies for BIPOC identifying students.
Sessions
Katie Atkins, Licensed Counselor, NCC, ACS, PEL
Assistant Professor
Katherine (“Katie”) M. Atkins, PhD., is a clinical assistant professor and clinical training director at The Family Institute at Counseling@Northwestern. She holds a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision and a master’s degree in counseling both from Northern Illinois University as well as a BA in psychology from Roosevelt University. She is a licensed professional counselor, nationally certified counselor, an approved clinical supervisor, and holds a professional educator license in school counseling. Prior to coming to higher education, she worked as a school counselor, community mental health counselor, and home-based mental health clinician. She is also the co-founder/owner of Blooming Life Institute, LLC.
She has authored or co-authored 10 peer reviewed articles and eight book chapters in professional publications. She is an award-winning teacher, and has also delivered over 65 presentations at conferences, seminars, trainings, and workshops at the local, state, regional, national, and international levels. She was the recipient of the 2023 Teaching Excellence Award, a national award granted by the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision. She was also the recipient of the 2023 Excellence in Teaching Award at The Family Institute. Additionally, she received the 2016 School Counselor Educator of the Year Award from Illinois School Counseling Association and the 2015 Outstanding Woman Student Award from Northern Illinois University.
Her research interests have focused on developing the Transcending Model for Grief and Loss, military advocacy, counseling military service personnel, veterans, and military-connected children and families, cultural immersion, and study abroad opportunities, international counseling, social constructivist approaches to counseling, teaching, and supervision, and school counselors and supervision.
She is the co-author of the book, Reconceptualizing Grief: Developmental Considerations for Counseling Clients Experiencing Loss. She is also currently working on several manuscripts with the Griefly Speaking Research Lab at TFI at Northwestern University that shares ways to incorporate the Transcending Model of Grief and Loss (TMGL) with various non-death losses.
Katie is a member of the American Counseling Association (ACA), Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES), Illinois Counseling Association (ICA), Military and Government Counseling Association (MGCA), and the North Central Association for Counselor Education and Supervision.
She has authored or co-authored 10 peer reviewed articles and eight book chapters in professional publications. She is an award-winning teacher, and has also delivered over 65 presentations at conferences, seminars, trainings, and workshops at the local, state, regional, national, and international levels. She was the recipient of the 2023 Teaching Excellence Award, a national award granted by the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision. She was also the recipient of the 2023 Excellence in Teaching Award at The Family Institute. Additionally, she received the 2016 School Counselor Educator of the Year Award from Illinois School Counseling Association and the 2015 Outstanding Woman Student Award from Northern Illinois University.
Her research interests have focused on developing the Transcending Model for Grief and Loss, military advocacy, counseling military service personnel, veterans, and military-connected children and families, cultural immersion, and study abroad opportunities, international counseling, social constructivist approaches to counseling, teaching, and supervision, and school counselors and supervision.
She is the co-author of the book, Reconceptualizing Grief: Developmental Considerations for Counseling Clients Experiencing Loss. She is also currently working on several manuscripts with the Griefly Speaking Research Lab at TFI at Northwestern University that shares ways to incorporate the Transcending Model of Grief and Loss (TMGL) with various non-death losses.
Katie is a member of the American Counseling Association (ACA), Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES), Illinois Counseling Association (ICA), Military and Government Counseling Association (MGCA), and the North Central Association for Counselor Education and Supervision.
Sessions
Tonya Elliott, Ph.D. LMFT
Dr. Elliott is an Associate Professor of Counseling at University of Louisiana Monroe and a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She holds a PhD in Counselor Education and Clinical Supervision. She is of Cherokee and Pawnee descent and has been deeply immersed in her cultural practices for over 25 years. She has 14 years of graduate level teaching experience both in online and in-person in counseling-specific programs, 10 years in counseling program administrative leadership and 20+ years in the field of mental health conducting psychotherapy and clinical supervision via agency work, private practice and consulting. Her strengths are in teaching cultural competency, trauma recovery, social justice and community building. She regularly engages in social justice advocacy for the Native American Community, both in research and program implementation. She has always looked to positively affect social change, as a counselor, clinical supervisor and educator. She believes that working in higher education is not just a job, it’s a calling. Being part of the solution in decolonizing theoretical approaches to therapy is her life’s work and joy.
Session
Cedar Stagner Kile, PhD, LPC, LASAC
Assistant Professor
Cedar Stagner Kile, Ph.D., LPC, LASAC, earned her doctorate degree in Counselor Education and Supervision from Walden University, with a specialization in Forensic Mental Health Counseling, in 2015. Since 2019, she has served as Assistant Professor and Subject Matter Expert for Legal and Ethical Issues in Counseling at the University of the Cumberlands. More recently, she was named Director of Clinical Experience for the Clinical Mental Health Counseling master’s program, and is also the Co-Chair for the Department of Counseling’s annual conference.
Dr. Kile has facilitated men’s Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) offender groups for 16 years. Her dissertation research also focused on IPV and offender outcomes. She has served as Clinical Director of a large behavioral health agency and supervised counselors providing services to offenders. She is a founding and current member of a community collaboration focused on specific ways to reduce IPV in her community, which began in 2008. She was recently nominated and Court-appointed into the Domestic Violence (DV) Service Provider Seat on the Arizona Supreme Court’s Committee on Impact of DV and the Courts and is also a member of the DV Offender Treatment Work Group on this committee. She has also recently begun serving on Pima County’s DV Fatality Review Board and co-authored Tucson City Court’s DV Offender Treatment Provider Standards.
Dr. Kile has facilitated men’s Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) offender groups for 16 years. Her dissertation research also focused on IPV and offender outcomes. She has served as Clinical Director of a large behavioral health agency and supervised counselors providing services to offenders. She is a founding and current member of a community collaboration focused on specific ways to reduce IPV in her community, which began in 2008. She was recently nominated and Court-appointed into the Domestic Violence (DV) Service Provider Seat on the Arizona Supreme Court’s Committee on Impact of DV and the Courts and is also a member of the DV Offender Treatment Work Group on this committee. She has also recently begun serving on Pima County’s DV Fatality Review Board and co-authored Tucson City Court’s DV Offender Treatment Provider Standards.
Sessions
Daniela Maya Castellanos
Session
Lindsay Vik, PhD, LPC
Assistant Professor
Lindsay M. Vik PhD, LPC is an assistant professor in the Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling track in the Counselor Education department at the College of Education. Dr. Vik received her PhD in Counselor Education and Counseling, with a specialization in Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling, from Idaho State University. She joined the College of Education in 2022. Dr. Vik’s research often focuses on adventure-based counseling, both clinical and teaching applications, and how access (or lack thereof) to natural spaces intersects with identity, experiences, and mental health. In addition, Dr. Vik is curious about culturally responsive relational counseling and improving training supports for clinicians supporting families and relationships. Dr. Vik is interested in professional identity development and supporting counselors-in-training developing sustainable advocacy practices. Dr. Vik has published in the Journal for Creativity in Mental Health, The Family Journal, The Journal of Wellness, and contributed to textbooks focusing on education and counseling practice. Dr. Vik is an active member in the American Counseling Association and has enjoyed engaging in several of the different divisions, as well as attending and presenting at state and national conferences. Dr. Vik has enjoyed working with students as a Chapter Faculty Advisor for our honor society, Chi Sigma Iota, and loves mentoring students in this role. Dr. Vik typically teaches courses in the Marriage, Couple, and Family counseling track and clinical courses such as practicum and internship. In addition to working clinically and teaching, Dr. Vik can often be found on the trails or paddling with her partner and 2 dogs or at home embroidering while reading a good fantasy book.
Session
Kelly Knox
Kelly Knox is currently attending Palo Alto University in her second year as a Master's in Counseling student, pursuing the Clinical Mental Health Counselor track. She has worked in mental health across many fields in her past careers, and has returned to further her education in hopes of becoming a counselor to those in need. Kelly spends a lot of her free time outdoors, she is an avid cyclist and nature enthusiast. She is also hoping to focus her counseling career on alternative therapies, including incorporating outdoor spaces and animal assisted therapy. Kelly also hopes to continue working in research and creation of counseling education programs.
Session
Thomas A. Field, PhD, LMHC (MA, WA), LPC (OR, VA), LPC-MH (SD), NCC, CCMHC, ACS
Associate Professor and Department Head
Thomas A. Field, PhD, LMHC (MA, WA), LPC (OR, VA), LPC-MH (SD), NCC, CCMHC, ACS, is an associate professor and department head of counselor, adult, and higher education in the College of Education at Oregon State University. Thom holds a PhD in counseling and supervision from James Madison University. His research focuses on the integration of neuroscience into counseling practice and professional and social justice advocacy. He has published numerous articles and authored two books on the topic of neuroscience integration. Thom is currently a member of a research team that is studying the development of an emerging counseling theory called neuroscience-informed cognitive behavior therapy. Since 2017, Thom has served as the associate editor of the Neuroscience-Informed Counseling section of the Journal of Mental Health Counseling. He is a former coeditor of the “Neurocounseling: Bridging Brain and Behavior” column in Counseling Today magazine. In addition to performing faculty responsibilities, he has actively helped clients with mental health concerns since 2006. He has provided counseling to more than 1,000 clients during his career and currently maintains a small
private practice.
private practice.
Session
Jinok Lim, LMFT
Doctoral student
Jinok Lim is a women of color doctoral student at James Madison University and has worked as an adjunct faculty, supervisor in internship classes, and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in VA. She has attended several conferences to give presentations in regard to promoting multicultural competency for counselor educators, supervisors, and counselors as an advocate for minority doctoral students, international students in counseling programs, and immigrants in the U.S.
Session
Betsy Perez, MA, NCC
Betsy M. Perez is a current doctoral candidate in the Counselor Education and Supervision program at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA. Betsy was previously a school counselor in both California and Washington state working exclusively in Title I schools. Betsy has a strong commitment to social justice advocacy and dismantling systemic barriers faced by historically marginalized populations. The proud daughter of Guatemalan immigrants, Betsy’s research and advocacy interests are motivated by her intersectional identities as a first-generation Latina.
Betsy earned her Master of Arts in Counseling at the University of San Diego (CA) and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Trinity College (CT). She is a licensed school counselor (CA and WA) and a Nationally Certified Counselor. She is a doctoral fellow for the NBCC Minority Fellowship Program and an Emerging Scholar through ASCA’s journal, Professional School Counseling. She is a past doctoral intern for Counselors for Social Justice and the founder of the Counselors for Social Justice - Old Dominion University chapter.
Betsy earned her Master of Arts in Counseling at the University of San Diego (CA) and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Trinity College (CT). She is a licensed school counselor (CA and WA) and a Nationally Certified Counselor. She is a doctoral fellow for the NBCC Minority Fellowship Program and an Emerging Scholar through ASCA’s journal, Professional School Counseling. She is a past doctoral intern for Counselors for Social Justice and the founder of the Counselors for Social Justice - Old Dominion University chapter.
Session
Megan F. Mantey MA, LCMHC, NCC
Megan is a doctoral student at Oregon State University in the counselor education and supervision program. She is a clinical mental health counselor practicing in East Africa providing counseling services and teaching.
Session
Sonya Lorelle
Associate Clinical Professor
Sonya Lorelle received her PhD in Counselor Education from Old Dominion University and her MS in Community Agency Counseling from Missouri State University. She is a licensed professional counselor in Virginia. Clinically she has worked at a university counseling center counseling undergraduate students. She was also the children’s counselor at an agency that provided services to homeless families, counseling children ages 3-18 and their parents. She also developed and implemented adult education programs on parenting. She is a registered play therapist supervisor. Her interests include play therapy, supervision, neurocounseling, and grief.
Lorelle also has an interest in international counseling and has volunteered to train counselors and provide counseling overseas. She is a Master Trainer of the Mental Health Facilitator (MHF) program through the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC). During four trips to Bhutan, she provided counseling services and training at an alternative high school and elementary school. She provided a week-long workshop on MHF to lay helpers in the country. She also provided inpatient and outpatient counseling in the psychiatric hospital, and provided a play therapy training to counselors at a domestic violence shelter. She is involved with the International Association for Counseling as well.
She received the Counselor Educator of the Year Award for the doctoral program from the Association of Child and Adolescent Counseling in Illinois (2018) and the North Central Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (NCACES) Outstanding Professional Teaching Award (2018).
Lorelle also has an interest in international counseling and has volunteered to train counselors and provide counseling overseas. She is a Master Trainer of the Mental Health Facilitator (MHF) program through the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC). During four trips to Bhutan, she provided counseling services and training at an alternative high school and elementary school. She provided a week-long workshop on MHF to lay helpers in the country. She also provided inpatient and outpatient counseling in the psychiatric hospital, and provided a play therapy training to counselors at a domestic violence shelter. She is involved with the International Association for Counseling as well.
She received the Counselor Educator of the Year Award for the doctoral program from the Association of Child and Adolescent Counseling in Illinois (2018) and the North Central Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (NCACES) Outstanding Professional Teaching Award (2018).
Sessions
Blair Vincent, Ph.D., NCC
Dr. Blair Vincent is an assistant program director in the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences at Capella University. She joined Capella in 2019 since then has served as lead clinical coordinator for the school counseling program; co-faculty advisor for the Chi Upsilon Chi chapter of Chi Sigma Iota; subject-matter expert for multiple courses, dissertation mentor; and doctoral supervisor. She has received the Stephen Shank Recognition for teaching and mentoring excellence each year.
Dr. Vincent serves on the Tennessee School Counselor Association (TSCA) Board of Directors and is the past Board Chair. She was selected as a Chi Sigma Iota Leadership Intern and was appointed student representative for the American Counseling Association Governing Council.
Vincent earned a B.S. in Special Education from University of Memphis, a M.S. in Counseling from The University of Tennessee, an Ed.S. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from University of Memphis, and a Ph.D., in Counselor Education from The University of Tennessee.
Dr. Vincent serves on the Tennessee School Counselor Association (TSCA) Board of Directors and is the past Board Chair. She was selected as a Chi Sigma Iota Leadership Intern and was appointed student representative for the American Counseling Association Governing Council.
Vincent earned a B.S. in Special Education from University of Memphis, a M.S. in Counseling from The University of Tennessee, an Ed.S. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from University of Memphis, and a Ph.D., in Counselor Education from The University of Tennessee.
Sessions
Shantelle Tjaden, MA
Shantelle Tjaden, LPC, NCC, C-AAIS is a doctoral candidate in Counselor Education and Counseling at Idaho State University. Shantelle's research interests focus on creative interventions in counseling and counselor education. Shantelle currently serves as the assistant director of the Research on Anthrozoological Relationships (ROAR) lab.
Session
Michelle Dobson, Ph.D., LPC, RPT
Assistant Professor
Dr. Michelle Dobson is a licensed professional counselor in the State of Arkansas. She received both her Masters in Mental Health Counseling and her Doctorate in Counselor Education and Supervision from Capella University. In addition, she is a Registered Play Therapist and Certified Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant. She has counseling experience with all ages and in many diverse settings including school-based, home-based, private practice, community clinic, and telehealth. She began teaching with the University of Louisiana Monroe in January 2021 as an adjunct professor. In Fall, 2023, became an assistant professor at ULM teaching Law and Ethics in Counseling, Multicultural Counseling, and Crisis Counseling. She additionally provides faculty supervision for practicum and internship students. Her research interests include ethics of counseling in non-traditional settings (including telehealth and home-based counseling) and integration of religion/spirituality into counseling. Dr. Dobson believes relationships provide the keys to both learning and healing. “It is through our relationships we are able to meet both our needs and the needs of others.”
Session
Mikayla Norton
Doctoral student and a teaching assistant in the Counseling Department at the University of Holy Cross at New Orleans.
Session
Nandini Ramakrishna
Nandini is an Assistant Clinical Professor and the Program Coordinator for the Master’s in Counseling program at Northern Arizona University’s North Valley campus. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and a National Certified Counselor (NCC). Her education in the United States encompasses the fields of linguistics, speech-language pathology, and counseling which taught her that language - the stories we tell ourselves about our lives and the world we live in - plays a central role in our well-being. Nandini counsels a diverse population of adult clients with Severe Mental Illness (SMI) in the greater Phoenix area. She also has experience working with children, adolescents, young adults, parents, and the elderly. Her teaching philosophy is aimed at integrating theory and practice and encouraging students to view multicultural competence as central to their counseling skills. She considers herself a lifelong learner with research and reading interests in grief, trauma, psycholinguistics, and the use of language as a tool of therapy.
Session
Gretchen Schulthes, PhD, LAC, NCC
Gretchen Schulthes works as the Director of Advisement at Hudson County Community College. As part of her work, she co-leads the Hudson Scholars Program, an innovative student support initiative which has yielded increased retention and revenue in its first year. In addition to her work at HCCC, she is an Adjunct Instructor in Montclair State University’s Family Science & Human Development department and an active researcher within the counseling profession. She has published articles in peer-reviewed journals, as well as encyclopedia entries and a book chapter. She holds a PhD in Counseling from Oregon State University and an MA in Counseling from Kean University.
Session
Garrett Phillips, M.Coun., CCC-Q
Garrett Phillips is a graduate of Gonzaga University’s Master of Counselling Canada program. He has attained a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Mount Royal University. He has previously worked with adults with disabilities through the Developmental Disabilities Resource Centre and with high-risk youth in the Secure Services program at Hull Services. He completed his counselling practicum with Mosaic Primary Care Network wherein he worked with adults experiencing mild to moderate mental health concerns. He is a professional member of the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association.
He has student licensure to practice counselling and psychotherapy through the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association.
He has student licensure to practice counselling and psychotherapy through the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association.
Session
Justin D. Henderson, PhD
Assistant Professor
Dr. Justin D. Henderson is program co-director, co-clinical coordinator, and assistant professor of Professional Mental Health Counseling with specialization in Addictions at Lewis & Clark College. He is also faculty in the Eating Disorders Certificate. He is a licensed psychologist and a National Certified Counselor. Dr. Henderson’s scholarship focuses on improving individual and community wellbeing and advancing social justice. He is particularly interested in the application of compassion orientations and skills in counseling and systems change. His writing focuses on burnout, self-care, social justice, addiction, and mental health. Dr. Henderson values contributions both in traditional academic domains as well as produced works for general audiences. For example, he is a Medium Top Writer in the area of Leadership with his focus on systemic approaches to burnout. Nationally, he is a member of the American Counseling Association, the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision, and Counselors for Social Justice.
Session
Kellie Aponte
Meditation Instructor
As a Chopra-certified meditation instructor, I am dedicated to integrating mindfulness and meditation practices with psychotherapy, enhancing the holistic wellbeing of individuals.
Session
James P Norris, PhD, LMHC (WA), LPC (AZ), LPCC (CA) NCC
James P. Norris received his Master of Arts in Existential-Phenomenology Psychology degree in 2009 from Seattle University and a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from the University of the Cumberlands’ CACREP-accredited doctoral program in 2022. He is an Assistant Professor at the University of the Cumberlands. He is a licensed mental health counselor in the state of Washington and has worked in a variety of clinical settings since 2009. Also, he is a licensed professional counselor in the state of Arizona and California. Dr. Norris has served in administration and leadership in the community mental health clinic he developed in 2012 in Seattle, WA, and he has been teaching in higher education for the past two years. Dr. Norris has been in private practice since 2018, where he discovered that most of the traditional counseling approaches lacked the cultural nuance and relevance to connect with communities of color. This has inspired him to pursue and develop a framework specifically designed for effectively working with marginalized groups through Hip Hop and creativity. His primary research interests are in Hip Hop, creativity, and counseling theories. Dr. Norris has published and presented on the integration of Hip Hop in Counselor Education for BIPOC identified-males, Hip-Hop and Counseling practice, and multicultural cultural issues in counseling.
Session
Nikki Golden, PhD, LMFT, SUDP, MAC, CMHS
Assistant Professor
Dr. Nikki Golden, LMFT, SUDP, MAC, CMHS is an assistant professor in the Seattle University counseling program. She earned her PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision at Antioch University and her MA in Marriage and Family Therapy from Antioch University.
Dr. Golden is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), a Substance Use Disorder Professional (SUDP), a Masters of Addiction Counselor (MAC), and a Child Mental Health Specialist (CMHC). She is also an AAMFT approved clinical supervisor.
Dr. Golden has extensive clinical experience in both the mental health and substance use disorder fields. She was the program director at two residential co-occurring programs and the program manager in multiple outpatient co-occurring, mental health, and substance use disorder programs.
Dr. Golden’s areas of clinical expertise include addictions, clinical supervision, co-occurring disorders, relationships, sexuality, trauma and working with the LGBTGEQIAP+ population.
Dr. Golden’s research interests include sociocultural identities and relationships, burnout as a systemic issue, and sexuality and counseling
Dr. Golden is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), a Substance Use Disorder Professional (SUDP), a Masters of Addiction Counselor (MAC), and a Child Mental Health Specialist (CMHC). She is also an AAMFT approved clinical supervisor.
Dr. Golden has extensive clinical experience in both the mental health and substance use disorder fields. She was the program director at two residential co-occurring programs and the program manager in multiple outpatient co-occurring, mental health, and substance use disorder programs.
Dr. Golden’s areas of clinical expertise include addictions, clinical supervision, co-occurring disorders, relationships, sexuality, trauma and working with the LGBTGEQIAP+ population.
Dr. Golden’s research interests include sociocultural identities and relationships, burnout as a systemic issue, and sexuality and counseling
Session
Christine Cook, PhD
Assistant Professor
My name is Dr. Christine Cook. I have a doctorate in Counselor Education from the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF), an M.S. in Psychology from Western Washington University, earned a Teaching Certificate from Washington State University, and a Counselor Certification from UAF. I have lived in Alaska since 1999 and worked in the Counseling Department of UAF from 2000-2016, and returned to the department Fall of 2022. During the 6 years away from UAF I worked as a school counselor in the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District in elementary and K-8 settings. Prior to moving to Alaska, I worked in the community setting mainly in the state of Washington. I enjoy traveling, reading, hanging out with family, and walking in the warm sunshine.
Session
Michael Joshua Esquejo, M.S., CPC-Intern (NV)
1st Year Doctoral Student, Graduate Teaching Assistant
Michael is a 1st year Doctoral Student in Counselor Education and Supervision at the University of Nevada, Reno. His clinical interests and experiences include working with the LGBTQIA+ community, youth and adolescents, and individuals experiencing substance use issues. His research interests include mentorship, clinical supervision, and Filipino/Filipino-American issues.
Session
Briana N. Smith, LPC, CADCI (she/they)
Licensed Professional Counselor
Briana N. Smith, LPC, CADCI (she/they) is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Portland Oregon, and is currently a doctoral student at Oregon State University pursuing her Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision. Her orientation as a clinician is strongly informed by an anti-oppressive, relational-cultural, sex-positive feminist lens. They practice as a Professional Counselor at Oregon Health Science University's Avel Gordly Center for Healing focusing on providing culturally specific care to underserved populations, specifically the African American community and the LGBTQIA2S+ community that is reflective of her own most salient identities. Furthermore, she takes pride in helping her respective communities by continuing to challenge the stigmas of mental health by normalizing therapy for everyone regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, migration status, acculturation, ability, body size, age, social class, or alternative relationship structures.
Session
Cambria McDonald
Dr.
Cambria McDonald is a Future Faculty Fellow in the Department of Educational Psychology (EPS) at Northern Arizona University. Cambria McDonald is originally from El Paso, Texas and received her PhD in counselor education and supervision at St. Mary's University. In addition to her role at NAU, she works as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and specializes in shame, body image issues, relational trauma, perfectionism, and eating disorders. Cambria McDonald has gained extensive clinical experience in working at varying counseling settings such as inpatient, outpatient, treatment centers, and private practices. Her research focuses on how professional counselor provide counseling services while undergoing personal adversity.
Session
William Snow, PhD
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Rodrigo Navarro
Masters of Science in Counseling, Career, CSU Sacramento. Student Success Advisor. Member of the Research Committee.
Session
Isabelle Mackell, MA
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Pamela C. Wells, Ph.D., LPC, ACS, NCC
Associate Professor
Pamela C. Wells, Ph.D., LPC, ACS, NCC, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Leadership, Technology, and Human Development at Georgia Southern University. She is a member of the Counselor Education faculty and a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Georgia. Her research interest areas include mindfulness and counseling, grief and loss, and creativity. She has experience with several qualitative methodologies, including grounded theory and Photovoice.
Session
Vanessa M. Perry, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Practice
Dr. Vanessa M. Perry is Associate Professor of Practice at The University of Arizona. There she enjoys teaching M.A. Counseling students and mentoring Ph.D. Counselor Education and Supervision students. In addition to serving as faculty, Vanessa is Director of Graduate Studies for her department. This role has enabled her to develop and implement a holistic admissions toolkit that furthers the HSI mission of UArizona. Vanessa enjoys researching and learning about Spanish-English bilingual counseling, clinical supervision, and counselor education. In her free time she works as a Disaster Mental Health Volunteer for the American Red Cross.
Session
Jackie Bicas, APCC, AMFT
Session
Carlee D Smith, APCC, MA
Associate Professional Clinical Counselor
Carlee D. Smith (she/her) is a doctoral candidate in the Counselor Education and Supervision program at Antioch University Seattle. She currently resides and practices in community mental health for children, adolescents, and families in Southern California. Carlee was born and raised in the Midwest of the United States and relocated to sunny California to pursue her career as a Clinical Counselor. Carlee’s professional interests include antiracist practices for white-bodied individuals, inadequacy within community mental health and its impact on marginalized communities, and advocating for clinicians-in-training. She has yet to have the pleasure of presenting at a conference but has guest lectured and presented on topics such as: the intersection between trauma and addiction, positive psychology, and creative arts within counseling. Outside of her love for counseling, Carlee spends her time playing video games, painting, and binging the latest dating show.
Session
Metasebia Dejemo, LMHCA, MA
Metasebia Dejemo currently works as an Outpatient Behavioral Health Counselor in a community mental health facility. She has a MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program from Northwest University and is pursuing her doctoral study in Counseling Psychology (PsyD).
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Dr. Cristen Wathen
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Brett Muskavage, MEd
School Counselor & Doctoral Student
Brett is a school counselor at Meridian Middle School and a Doctoral student at Oregon State University.
Session
Stephanie Times
Looking forward to growing as a counselor in training hoping to work in higher education!
Session
Ismael Ramirez
I am a student at Sacramento State University in the Counselor of education masters program with a specialization in Career Counseling . I have experience working with a variety of different populations. My work experience includes working at community college and meeting a diverse student population. I have worked with refugees, asylees, undocumented students, transfer students, and economically disadvantaged students. I have also worked in the K-12 school system, specifically with high school students. Some departments I have worked in the past at different colleges are: EOP&S, Basic Needs Center, Resident Housing, Upwardbound, and Refugee Career Pathways.
Session
Shannon Kratky, MS, LPC, LCDC, NCC, TTS
Shannon Kratky (they/she), MS, LPC, LCDC, NCC owns Courageous Story Counseling, PLLC in San Antonio, TX, where she specializes in counseling adults with complex trauma, LGBTQiA2S+ needs, and substance use through EMDR and provides continued education related to complex trauma, LGBTQiA2S+ care, disability social justice, and more. They are a PhD Student in CES at Oregon State University. Her current research is the experiences of healing for LGBTQiA2S+ survivors of childhood sexual abuse.
Session
Lourdes Calzada-Santacruz, MA, LMFT (NV), NCC
Lourdes is a doctoral student at Oregon State University in the counselor education and supervision program. She is a first-generation Mexican American. She is a mental health counselor working as a school-based therapist for the Washoe County School District. Lourdes also has a small private practice where she prioritizes pro bono work with Spanish speakers. Lourdes co-founded, Acá Entre Nos, an initiative to destigmatize therapy among Latinx populations, through this initiative she is a bi-monthly guest on Juan 101.7 FM in Reno, NV.
Session
Angel Manjarrez, MA, LPC
Licensed Professional Counselor
Angel Manjarrez, MA, LPC (CO) is a doctoral student at Oregon State University and adjunct faculty at Regis University. He is currently an LPC working as a community mental health agency, primarily with Spanish-speaking clients. His dissertation research focuses on the provision of neuroeducation to Spanish-speaking clients currently receiving counseling services in a community setting. His past research includes presentations at ACES and the Colorado Counseling Association.
Session
Elena Perrello
Associate Professor
Dr. Elena Perrello grew up in Rhode Island and did her undergraduate work at Boston College. She earned her master’s degree, CAS and doctorate at the University of Maine. As a National Certified Counselor (NCC), she was a preK-8 School Counselor for almost 30 years in Maine. She taught adjunct at the University of Maine and Husson University for 15 years before joining Capella University as an Associate Professor 5 years ago. She is past president of the Maine School Counseling Association and served a term on the American School Counseling national board. Currently, she serves as a co-facilitator for the ASCA Counselor Affinity Group, is on the editorial board of the School Counseling Professional journal, and a Disaster Mental Health provider for the American Red Cross. She is also a big sister for the Big Brother, Big Sister organization. She spends winters in sunny Florida and summers on the beautiful coast of Maine.
Session
Leo Gonzalez Jr., PhD, LMHC
Assistant Professor
Leo Gonzalez is a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) in the state of New York. Leo graduated from St. John's University with my M.S. Ed. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and is currently a PhD student in Oregon State University's Counseling doctoral program. Leo currently runs his own private practice, New Generation Mental Health Counseling, and serves as an adjunct counseling instructor for St. John's University in New York. Leo provides provide psychotherapy and counseling services for adults seeking help with various mental, emotional, and behavioral problems.
Session
Gideon Litherland PhD, LCPC, ACS
Core Faculty
Gideon Litherland, PhD, LCPC, NCC, CCMHC, BC-TMH, serves as core faculty in the Counseling@Northwestern master’s program at the Family Institute at Northwestern University where he teaches, supervises, and serves on the distributed clinical training team. Gideon earned his PhD in Counseling from Oregon State University and his MA in Counseling Psychology from the Family Institute at Northwestern University. Gideon has served in multiple leadership roles within the Illinois Association for LGBT Issues in Counseling, the Alumni Advisory Board of the Family Institute at Northwestern University, and the Counseling Research and Leadership Lab at Oregon State University. His research interests include clinical supervision, instrumentation, psychometrics, and relational-cultural praxis.
Sessions
Erica L. Gutierrez (M.S. Counselor Education, PPS School Counseling),
I am a recent graduate (2023) from the counseling program at Sacramento State University. I attended UC Berkeley for my undergraduate program where my interest is promoting equity led me to major in Chicano Studies and Latin American History. Currently, I am employed with the Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District as the English Learner counselor. I am passionate about supporting minority students. This is especially true as it relates to addressing mental health concerns among historically marginalized populations.
Session
RiaQueen Abelon, LMHCA, MA
RiaQueen Abelon received a Bachelor's in Science in Biology with a minor in Psychology at Seattle University, a Master's in Science in Counseling Studies at Capella University, and recently a Master in Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Northwest University. Currently, an LMHCA Clinician II at Compass Health working with children & families and as a Biofeedback Therapist seeing adolescents with chronic pain at Seattle Children's Hospital.
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Melanie Person
Associate Professor
Dr. Melanie Person is a tenured Associate Professor in the Department of Counselor Education at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington where she directs the Master of Counselling program offered in British Columbia, Canada. She has a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and doctorate in Counseling and Counselor Education from Idaho State University. Melanie is passionate about teaching and research related to counselor development and professional identity, in addition to supporting the research identity development of students. She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in the State of Washington and a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in the State of Idaho. In conjunction with her role as an educator, Melanie has maintained a private practice for the past 15 years specializing in working with individuals with personality disorders, addictions, and adolescents.
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Kat Evans, MA CMHC Student
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Thomas Field, Ph.D., LPC, LMHC, NCC, CCMHC, ACS
Associate Professor and Department Head
Thomas Field, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the College of Education at Oregon State University. He has taught graduate counseling students since 2011 and previously worked as a faculty member at Boston University School of Medicine. His research focuses on the integration of neuroscience into counseling practice, and professional and social justice advocacy. During his academic career, he has published more than 30 peer-reviewed articles. He has also authored two books on the topic of neuroscience integration. He has received grant funding from agencies that include the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA). His research and teaching has been recognized nationally. In 2019, he received the Counselor Educator of the Year award from the American Mental Health Counselors Association. He is also a current standards revision committee member of the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), the recognized specialized accreditation body for counseling. In addition to faculty responsibilities, he has actively helped clients with mental health concerns since 2006. He has provided counseling to more than 1,000 clients during his career and currently maintains a small private practice where he sees adolescents and adults. He is board certified as a counselor and clinical supervisor by the National Board of Certified Counselors and affiliates.
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Jennifer Gess, Ph.D., LMHC (WA), LCPC (ID)
Program
Jennifer Gess (she/her/hers), PhD, LMHC, LCPC, is the Program Director and Associate Clinical Professor for the Online Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at Seattle University. Her commitment to empowerment and social justice for those who are underrepresented is central to her pedagogy, clinical engagement, scholarship, and service. She is licensed in Idaho and Washington and has served as a licensed counselor for over ten years specializing with queer and transgender children, couples, and families. Dr. Gess has presented at over thirty conferences on topics related to social justice and has published in various peer reviewed journals on social justice counseling. Dr. Gess is previous president of Idaho Counseling Association and the Idaho Association of LGBT Issues in Counseling.
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Sangmin Park, Ph.D., NCC
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Natasha Hendricks, LMHC, MA
Natasha (she/her) is an adjunct faculty at Multnomah University, in Portland, Oregon, and a PhD student at University of the Cumberlands. She is also the founder of Alpine Christian Counseling in White Salmon, Washington.
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Claudia Interiano-Shiverdecker, PhD, LPC
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Kelsey H. Sarasqueta-Allen, PhD, LCPC, LAMFT
Assistant Professor
Dr. Kelsey H. Sarasqueta-Allen (she/her) is a core faculty member and Assistant Professor of Counselling Psychology at Adler University in Vancouver, BC, Canada. She received her Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Counseling from Idaho State University and holds licensure as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (Idaho) and Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (Idaho). Her clinical experience includes working with adolescents, college students, couples, and families in rural settings. Her research agenda includes abortion rights, community organizing, psychometrics, and public policy engagement. She has held several regional, state, and national public policy and legislative chair positions in the counseling field, and was awarded the Association for Adult Development and Aging (a national division of the American Counseling Association) 2020 Government Relations award.
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Alexia DeLeon, PhD
Dr. de León currently serves as co-director of the Professional Mental Health Counseling-Addictions Specialization program. She is also the Director of Lewis & Clark’s Latino Problem Gambling Services. Her clinical experience includes working with adolescents and families struggling with substance abuse, as well as working with college-aged students and athletes struggling with a myriad of mental health concerns. She currently provides culturally responsive supervision to Latino Problem Gambling Services and works with problem gamblers and their families at Lewis & Clark’s Problem Gambling Services. Her research interests include: cross-cultural supervision and support for Latina supervisors, integrating contemplative practices into learning environments to foster social justice learning and the intersection of communities of color and addictions counseling.
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Savita Srivastava, LMHCA, MA
Savita Srivastava completed her M.A. in Clinical and Mental Health Counseling in 2023 and is currently working as a mental health counselor at a nonprofit behavioral health and recovery center in Washington with a specific focus on serving immigrant populations, as well as underserved and marginalized individuals.
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Zachary McNiece, PhD
Zachary McNiece (he/they) is an assistant professor in the Counselor Education department at San José State University. Their research agenda centers on systemic and oppression-based traumas, including intergenerational and race-based trauma; anti-racist counseling; and expressive pedagogy, counseling interventions, and research methods.
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James K. Ingram PhD
Assistant Professor
Dr. James Ingram is an assistant professor at Northern Arizona University in the College of Education. Ingram teaches courses and conducts research associated with special education at the secondary level. Ingram has been a participant in a men’s group organized by Employee Assistance and Wellness (EAW) at NAU for the past four years. This year, Ingram is participating in the EAW men’s group as a peer facilitator.
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Christopher W. Cheung, PhD, LMFT
Dr. Cheung is a Marriage and Family therapist with a specific focus on youth, couples, and family. He received his Masters from the University of Miami and his PhD from the University of Florida. His academic and career focus is on multi-generational issues, such as acculturation, communication, and cultural identity. Dr. Cheung was born in Suriname and is of Chinese descent. His academic interest is born from his personal connection as a second-generation Asian American.
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Rachel Heffield, PhD, LPC (Oregon), LPCC-S (Ohio), NCC
Counseling Center Chair
Dr. Rachel Heffield has been mentoring and equipping counselors across the US and around the world for the past fifteen years. She served as a contributor and trainer for counseling training building the foundation of counseling in China, and as a supervisor for international trainees serving the local and expat communities. Her passion for formation and development of future counselors has led to her current position as Assistant Professor of Counseling and Center Chair of the Master of Arts in Counseling Program at Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon. She has been honored to serve on the ACES Supervision Committee for the past three years and is excited to contribute to and collaborate with you in refining this resource of Best Practices in Counselor Supervision.
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Dylan Gonzales, MA, NCC, LPC-Associate Under the supervision of Dee Ray, Ph.D., LPC-S, NCC, RPT-S
Doctoral Studen
Dylan Gonzales is an LPC-Associate, under the supervision of Dee C. Ray, Ph.D., LPC-S, NCC, RPT-S in Texas. A first generation, second-year doctoral student in the University of North Texas that specializes in both group therapy and play therapy. In his career, Dylan has explored the impacts of the therapeutic relationship of culturally diverse individuals across the life span. More recently, Dylan has moved to the world of play therapy with the desire to explore the effects of humanistic play therapy on diverse populations and aims to move the modality toward a more culturally inclusive space. Dylan is an existential play therapist who emphasizes the importance of entering the child’s realm in an experiential manner. Through this deep authentic relationship, Dylan believes that healing occurs. He currently provides play therapy services to Latinx Children in the Denton Independent School District along with services at UNT’s Child and Family Resource Clinic.
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Cindy Steenstra, PhD, LPC
Dr. Cindy Joy Steenstra
Cindy Steenstra, Ph.D., LPC, is a mental health counselor working with clients from diverse backgrounds, spanning lifespan stages, and presenting with a variety of life challenges. She has presented at local and state conferences. She also provides consulting services with local schools and agencies. Cindy is a Counselor Educator at Cornerstone University and City Vision University. She is an active member of Chi Sigma Chi Chapter of CSI. Cindy is committed to promoting the mental health of counselors and counselors-in-training so that they are best equipped to serve their clients well.
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Pei-Yu Lee
Pei-Yu Lee (Peggy) is a graduate student of Clinical Mental Health Counseling program in Seattle University. She has actively participated in social service projects and pursued any educational and extracurricular learning opportunities that related to counseling profession. When she was in Taiwan, she specialized tutoring for children with ADHD and ASD, worked in a hospital with a diverse population from pediatric patients with neurodevelopmental disorders, to adult patients with chronic illnesses, and to geriatric patients diagnosed with dementia, and volunteered in different countries, immersing herself into various cultures. To extend more approaches, she is now particularly concerning about relationships in LGBTQIAP+ community, couples ,and family orientations.
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Cassandra Hirdes, M. Ed.
Cassandra Hirdes holds a Masters of Education degree in school counseling and is currently in her fourth year as a doctoral student in the Counselor Education and Supervision program at the University of Arizona. She works full time as Assistant Director for the Counseling and Psych Services department at the University of Arizona where she focuses on systemic mental health support, increasing access, and utilizing innovative methods of care. Her research interests include school counselor identity and antiracist approaches in counselor education.
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Colleen Lam Nguyen, LMFT, PhD Candidate
Colleen Lam Nguyen, (she/her/hers), LMFT, PhD Candidate at Oregon State University in Counseling Education and Supervision has been in the mental health profession for 15 years and specializes in anxiety, depression, and trauma in her counseling practice. She is also an adjunct faculty instructor at Palo Alto University in California and supervises associate clinicians in her private practice. Her research interests lie in the intersection of trauma, BIPOC counseling and transformative antiracist teaching practices in counseling education.
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Tessa Davis-Price, PhD. LMHC, LCPC
Tessa Davis-Price, PhD. LMHC, LCPC (she/her) is a licensed counselor and approved supervisor in two states. She works as an Assistant Professor and has a PhD in Counselor Education and Counseling from a CACREP Accredited university. She has previously held leadership positions at the local, regional, and national level of the American Counseling Association(ACA), including ACA Foundation Trustee and Western Region Chair for the ACA. She also has a private practice and has worked in several community-based counseling settings.
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Tavona Lindo
Dedicated professional with a track record of providing coordination support for disproportionately impacted student populations, particularly those from first-generation, low socio-economic, and non-traditional backgrounds. Over 4 years of experience in advising students across academic, career, and professional development realms, with a specialized focus on course planning and scheduling support. Proven expertise in supervising staff within higher education settings, encompassing comprehensive training and performance evaluations. Possesses a nuanced understanding and commitment to equity, demonstrating responsiveness and sensitivity to the diverse facets of student experiences, including academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic diversity.
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April LaGue, Ph.D., NCC
Clinical Assistant Profesor, Chair, Oregon State University Counseling Program
Dr. April LaGue (she/her) currently serves as an Assistant Clinical Professor, Clinical Coordinator, and Chair for the Counseling program within the College of Education at Oregon State University. Dr. LaGue provides clinical support to all MCoun and Ph.D. students at Oregon State University’s hybrid counseling program, offering guidance, training, and advocacy. Her research areas are focused on school counseling leadership and advocacy. As Program Chair, Dr. LaGue is a dedicated educator and advocate committed to student support through diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice.
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Tyler Klein, BA, Counselor-In-Training, Oregon State University
Tyler holds a BA in English Literature from Lewis and Clark College and is currently attending Oregon State University's clinical mental health counseling master's program. She works as an office manager at a non-profit that provides case management to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
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Mengyun Chen, M.Ed.
Mengyun Chen is a first-year doctoral student in Human Development and Family Studies at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Mengyun is interested in exploring and understanding what factors would impact youth positive development and what stress coping looks like from childhood to adolescence. In addition, she would like to know how it influences current or future mental health and psychological wellbeing. She is also interested in how family could function as a whole system to connect and support different family members, especially how couple relationships could interact with parent-youth relationships. Mengyun is passionate about connecting research and clinical practice to build socioemotional development and mental health focused on prevention and intervention.
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Adriana Wissel, Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Chair
Dr. Wissel is an Associate Professor, the Department Chair, and the Director of School Counseling program. Her areas of focus include well-being and joy, trauma, and creating community-based learning opportunities for her students. Dr. Wissel is the past-president of the Washington School Counselor Association and is a member of the Salvation Army of Spokane Advisory Board. During her sabbatical in 2020, Dr. Wissel launched a 40+ part podcast called, That Green Dress, on which she engaged in interviews and reflection on living a more joyful life. Prior to her work in higher education, Dr. Wissel was a school counselor and school psychologist in the K-12 system in Southwest Idaho.
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Hopoate Koloamatangi, Career Counseling Specialization
1st year student at Sacramento State's Counselor Education Graduate Program
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Sabriya K. Mutize, MS, NCC, LCMHC, LPC (she/her/hers)
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Marcela Kepic, PhD, LPC
Professor
Dr. Marcela Kepic, a professor of practice at the University of Arizona, specializes in human development across the lifespan, with a dedicated focus on enhancing the life satisfaction and wellness of adults navigating trauma, loss, and grief. Dr. Kepic has a rich academic background, having served as the esteemed past president of the Association for Adult Development and Aging (AADA) and presently leading the Middle Adulthood Task Force for the same organization. Her professional engagement extends across various professional platforms, including membership in key state, national, and international associations such as ACA, ACES, WACES, AMHCA, and the Arizona Counseling Association. Notably, Dr. Kepic actively contributes to the advancement of grief competencies within the counseling profession. As a scholar, she contributes to peer-reviewed publications, delivers insightful presentations at national, international, and state conferences, and generously dedicates her expertise as a reviewer for peer-reviewed journals. Additionally, Dr. Kepic plays a pivotal role as a counseling program liaison for CACREP, further solidifying her commitment to the profession's growth and standards. Beyond academia, she maintains a thriving private practice, compassionately serving couples and individuals grappling with life's challenges. Dr. Kepic's unwavering passion for education, supervision, and mentorship underscores her multifaceted dedication to the betterment of individuals and the counseling profession.
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Tara Hill, Ph.D., LPCC-S
Tara Hill, PhD, LPCC-S is an associate professor in the Department of Human Services at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. Licensed as Professional Clinical Counselor in Ohio for over 20 years. She has worked clinically with adolescents and adults, in community mental health agencies, schools, private practice, and correctional settings.
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Kiri Horsey, M.S., NCC, LPC
Mrs. Kiri Horsey has 18 years of clinical experience in counseling practice, 14 years of experience as an Oregon-licensed LPC, and 12 years of experience as a clinical supervisor of interns and masters-level counseling students. Mrs. Horsey has taught undergraduate and graduate students and has supervised students across the healthcare professions. She has conducted hundreds of workshops and CEUs for practitioners, parents, and colleagues about mental health, gender identity, sexuality, relationships, and the practice of clinical supervision. She is currently practicing at Marion County Children’s Behavioral Health working with ethnically diverse cultures of poverty, LGBTGEQIAP+, and child welfare systems, counseling infants, toddlers, children, adolescents, and their families. Mrs. Horsey is a doctoral candidate at Oregon State University.
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Bibbi (Nicole) Taylor, MA
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Brittany Wyche
Dr.
Dr. Brittany Wyche is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Supervisor in North Carolina, and is a National Certified Counselor. She works as an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Department of Counseling at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She completed her PhD in Counseling and Counselor Education at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and her MA in Counseling with a Clinical Mental Health focus at Wake Forest University in 2012. She has experience working in community mental health, integrated care settings, college counseling, and private practice. Her primary interests are teaching and supervision, and her research focuses on how to prepare clinicians to work with trauma. She started Salem Bloom Counseling, PLLC, a private practice in Winston-Salem, in the summer of 2019 and currently works there part-time as well, seeing clients and providing supervision for licensure.
Brittany has experience teaching in both online and face-to-face Master’s in Counseling programs, as well as teaching undergraduate students on counseling related topics. Some of her favorite courses at the undergraduate level have included: Stress Management, Group Work, and Helping Skills. At the Master’s level, Brittany has most frequently enjoyed teaching: Crisis Counseling, Trauma Counseling, Research and Statistics, Appraisal Procedures for Counselors, and Capstone. Additionally, she has worked as a supervisor for MA students in Advanced Practicum and Internship at multiple institutions.
Brittany has experience teaching in both online and face-to-face Master’s in Counseling programs, as well as teaching undergraduate students on counseling related topics. Some of her favorite courses at the undergraduate level have included: Stress Management, Group Work, and Helping Skills. At the Master’s level, Brittany has most frequently enjoyed teaching: Crisis Counseling, Trauma Counseling, Research and Statistics, Appraisal Procedures for Counselors, and Capstone. Additionally, she has worked as a supervisor for MA students in Advanced Practicum and Internship at multiple institutions.
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Kristi Cannon, Ph.D., LPC
Dr. Cannon has been a counselor educator since 2007. Prior to her work as clinical faculty and Director of Counseling Programs, Assessment and Evaluation at SNHU, she held the roles of Director of Assessment and Accreditation and Director of Field Experience for the School of Counseling at Walden University, where she also served as a core faculty member of the MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. Her clinical practice experience includes work with women’s issues, adolescent issues, and neurofeedback for the treatment of mood disorders.
Dr. Cannon regularly presents at the state and national levels and publishes scholarly writings for professional counseling journals and textbooks. She serves an editorial board member for the the Journal for Creativity in Mental Health. Her research interests include neurofeedback, counselor development, Relational-Cultural Theory, and assessment practices in higher education.
Dr. Cannon regularly presents at the state and national levels and publishes scholarly writings for professional counseling journals and textbooks. She serves an editorial board member for the the Journal for Creativity in Mental Health. Her research interests include neurofeedback, counselor development, Relational-Cultural Theory, and assessment practices in higher education.
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Anna Baird, PhD, LPC, NCC
Anna (she/her) is an ISU graduate who originally hails from sunny California. She has a strong background in Feminist Counseling Theory, with a trauma lens emphasis. She began her certification in EMDR during the completion of her Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Anna is passionate about amplifying the voices and experiences of historically excluded persons and working with diverse populations. She enjoys spending time in the sun, at the beach, and in the water any chance she can get.
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Diana Charnley, PhD, LMHC, LPC, ACS, NCC
She completed her master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling and her doctorate in counselor education and supervision. Her research, including her dissertation, is focused on gatekeeping and training in counselor education. She is a licensed in both Michigan and Washington, is an Approved Clinical Supervisor and National Certified Counselor, has taught and supervised at several universities across the U.S., and serves as a CACREP Liaison and Site Visitor. She is currently a core faculty member at City University of Seattle and maintains a small telehealth practice.
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Jodie Yorg, MA, MEd, MBA
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Kelly King, PhD, LPC
Program Chair and Faculty Member
Dr. King is a Licensed Professional Counseling (LPC) in Colorado and Arizona and a Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC) in Colorado. She has been a practicing counselor for over six years, with much of her professional experience with those who struggle with substance abuse issues and their families. She has served in clinical, administrative, mentor, supervisor/ director roles in the field. Dr. King graduated with her PhD from Walden University in 2021. She now serves as program chair and faculty member for the on-ground Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program at University of Phoenix, where she prides herself in student/ faculty connections.
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Kok-Mun Ng, PhD, NCC, LPC, LCMCHC, ACS
Kok-Mun Ng is a professor of counselor education at Oregon State University. He teaches both master’s and doctoral classes. His teaching, research, and service interests include multicultural and social justice advocacy issues (e.g., anti-oppression, antiracism, internationalization) in counselor training and practice across various areas (e.g., couples and relationship counseling, theory and technique, leadership, assessment, etc.). He regularly presents at conferences internationally, nationally, regionally, and locally. He is the founder of the International Network for Antiracist Teaching in Counseling (NARTIC) and a lead collaborator for The Counseling Roundtable.
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Rachael Fuller
PhD Student; Designated Crisis Responder
Rachael (she/her) is a second year student at Antioch University Seattle in Counselor Education and Supervision Doctoral program. She is an adjunct professor at Multnomah University in Portland, Oregon, a member of Chi Sigma Iota Omega Mu Gamma Chapter, and a research fellow working on a grant with an Indigenous Tribe in the Pacific Northwest to establish an accessible mental health clinic. Rachael’s research interests include Indigenous sovereignty and liberation.
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Stacey Guthrie
Dr. Guthrie received her EdD in Counselor Education and Supervision from Argosy University in Nashville, TN, in 2014. She is a Licensed Professional School Counselor as well as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with the Mental Health Service Provider (MHSP) designation for the State of TN. Dr. Guthrie has the National Counselor Credential (NCC) along with being an Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS). She currently supervises interns in/outside of her practice. In her practice, she works with children, adolescents, and adults, specializing in addiction, anxiety, and depression.
Dr. Guthrie spent 22 years in public education as an elementary teacher and elementary school counselor. Currently, she is an Associate Professor at Capella University.
Dr. Guthrie spent 22 years in public education as an elementary teacher and elementary school counselor. Currently, she is an Associate Professor at Capella University.
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Aubrey Uresti, Ph.D., LPCC, PPS-SC
Assistant Professor
Dr. Aubrey Uresti is an Assistant Professor of Counselor Education in the Lurie College of Education at San José State University. A California credentialed K-12 school counselor and a National Certified School Counselor (NCSC), Dr. Uresti has experience in all levels of K-12 education as a teacher, school counselor, therapist, supervisor, and consultant. She is a licensed professional clinical counselor (LPCC) and a National Certified Counselor (NCC). Her research focuses on the individual, family, and extended family-level experiences of adolescents who have a parent in jail or prison, as well as adolescents’ meaning-making processes regarding parental incarceration. Dr. Uresti’s experience working with K-12 students, undergraduates, graduate students, and adult learners also informs her exploration of urban education and school counseling, school-based support, grief and loss, peer victimization, child and adolescent development issues, and lifelong learning for counselors through qualitative interview, image-based research, critical discourse analysis, and ethnography.
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ThienThy Nguyen
M.S. Candidate
ThienThy Nguyen is a graduate student in the MS Counseling (Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling) program at California State University, Sacramento. She is currently involved in research about bullying in higher education and how the structure and culture of academic institutions influence the persistence of bullying. She serves as Treasurer of our chapter of Chi Sigma Iota, Chi Sigma Sigma, and works alongside committee members to serve her fellow students. She is completing her supervised field study experience at a community health clinic and plans to graduate May 2025.
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Kathryn Van Asselt, PhD, LPC, CCTP
Associate Professor
Dr. Van Asselt has been with Capella University for over a decade and has served in various governance and leadership roles, most recently as Associate Professor. Previously, Dr. Van Asselt has served on the Capella University board of trustees as a faculty representative, on the presidential search committee, on the university policy committee, on the school faculty review panel, and as chair of the counseling programs’ professional standards committee.
Dr. Van Asselt has more than 20 years of experience in education and leadership, including special education teaching and school counseling. Leadership roles include president of the Oregon School Counselor Association, president of the Western Association of Counselor Education and Supervision (WACES), and curriculum instructor with the Oregon Department of Education. She has published peer-reviewed articles, including the Journal of Counseling and Development, and has presented at national conferences. She has been recognized for excellence in teaching, mentoring, and professional scholarship, including the Harold Abel Distinguished Faculty Award, the Stephen Shank Outstanding Faculty Award, the Deans Excellence Award in Scholarship and Research, and the WACES Outstanding Mentor Award, and the WACES publication Award.
Dr. Van Asselt earned her bachelor of science in special education from the University of New Mexico, her master of arts in school counseling from Western Carolina University, and her doctorate of philosophy in counselor education and supervision from the University of Northern Colorado with a minor in statistics. She volunteers as a team manager for Destination Imagination and enjoys reading, running, and raising her family in Oregon.
Dr. Van Asselt has more than 20 years of experience in education and leadership, including special education teaching and school counseling. Leadership roles include president of the Oregon School Counselor Association, president of the Western Association of Counselor Education and Supervision (WACES), and curriculum instructor with the Oregon Department of Education. She has published peer-reviewed articles, including the Journal of Counseling and Development, and has presented at national conferences. She has been recognized for excellence in teaching, mentoring, and professional scholarship, including the Harold Abel Distinguished Faculty Award, the Stephen Shank Outstanding Faculty Award, the Deans Excellence Award in Scholarship and Research, and the WACES Outstanding Mentor Award, and the WACES publication Award.
Dr. Van Asselt earned her bachelor of science in special education from the University of New Mexico, her master of arts in school counseling from Western Carolina University, and her doctorate of philosophy in counselor education and supervision from the University of Northern Colorado with a minor in statistics. She volunteers as a team manager for Destination Imagination and enjoys reading, running, and raising her family in Oregon.
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Ellen Chance
Dr. Ellen Chance serves as a core faculty member and program coordinator for Capella University’s Department of Counselor Education. Her career journey began as a K-12 school counselor, where she cultivated a deep commitment to mental health and social-emotional advocacy. With a commitment to lifelong learning and growth, she pursued advanced certification in perinatal mental health and specializes in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. As a counselor educator, she leverages her diverse expertise to support learners pursuing careers in both school counseling and mental health counseling. Actively involved in professional counseling organizations at both state and national levels, she remains a passionate advocate for the indispensable role of school counselors and the promotion of mental health advocacy in schools and diverse communities.
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Mindi Barta, LPC, NCC, EMDR Certified
Mindi Barta (she/her/hers) is a Ph.D. Student at Oregon State University and a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Oregon. She brings over a decade of clinical experience to her current role as Interim Program Director and Assistant Professor at Bushnell University, where she continues to advance CACREP standards and program vision. She owns and operates MJB Counseling and Consulting and is a part of Bolante.Net Research Team.
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Lorri Capizzi, Ed.D.
Assistant Professor
Dr. Lorri Capizzi is an assistant professor in the Department of Counselor Education at San Jose State University. For the last 15 years she has taught both undergraduate and graduate level courses. She serves as the faculty advisor for the CSU Guardian Scholars Program for emancipated foster youth in higher education at San Jose State and advises SJSU administration on program design and curriculum development for this program. Dr. Capizzi has over 10 years of placing and supervising school counselors in their internships/field-work in high need districts and in juvenile court schools for students under court supervision.
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Madeline Clark, PhD, CPC, LPC (VA), CCMHC, NCC, ACS
Associate Professor
Madeline Clark, PhD, LPCC-S (OH), LPC (VA), NCC, ACS, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Associate Professor: She graduated with her Ph.D. in counselor education and supervision from ODU in 2016, along with cognates in qualitative research and educational research methodology. She earned her M.S.Ed. in clinical mental health counseling from ODU in 2013. Her research interests include poverty and social class issues in counseling, specifically best practices and improvement of client outcomes.
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Diana Ward, PhD, PLPC, NCC
Former administrator at Loyola University New Orleans, a therapist at River Oaks Hospital for the New Orleans Institute for Trauma and Compulsive Behaviors, and an adjunct professor in the Educational Administration Program at the University of New Orleans.
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Saumya Arora
Associate Clinical Professor
Saumya Arora, Ph.D. is an Associate Clinical Professor at Northern Arizona University, Tucson campus. She has been with the program since 2015 and is the coordinator for the Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program. She teaches all core courses in the program and particularly enjoys- Diagnosis and
Psychopathology, Advanced Skills, Practicum and Internship. She has clinical experience working with adults in a mental health agency. She is also trained in EMDR and has worked with several clients using this modality.
Her research interests include- Mindfulness in counseling and supervision, technology in counseling, and trauma informed counseling.
Psychopathology, Advanced Skills, Practicum and Internship. She has clinical experience working with adults in a mental health agency. She is also trained in EMDR and has worked with several clients using this modality.
Her research interests include- Mindfulness in counseling and supervision, technology in counseling, and trauma informed counseling.
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Nikhila Pokkuluri, LMHCA, MA
Nikhila Pokkuluri has received her master's in social work and MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She is currently working as a mental health counselor and a domestic violence provider at a nonprofit behavioral health and recovery center in Washington with a specific focus on serving immigrant populations, as well as underserved and marginalized individuals.
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Martha Hernández, PhD, MFT
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Maureen Buckley
Dr. Maureen Buckley is a professor in the Counseling Department at Sonoma State University. She earned her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Boston College. Dr. Buckley's counseling experience includes work in school counseling, community mental health, pediatric behavioral medicine, child trauma and psychological assessment. Her scholarship focuses on mentoring, emotional competence, and contextual interventions for promoting positive developmental outcomes for youth.
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Laura Smestad, PhD, LMHC, NCC
Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Dr. Laura Smestad is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in the state of Washington who specializes in treating OCD, anxiety disorders, and related disorders. Laura is currently the owner of Informed OCD Counseling, a practice based in Seattle, Washington that focuses on using evidence-based treatments for OCD and OC-related disorders, and she is an adjunct faculty member at Antioch University Seattle where she teaches classes on psychopathology and OCD.
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Mary Kay Meintzer, LPC, LAC, ACS
Mary Kay Meintzer, LPC, LAC, ACS (she/her; ella) is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Addictions Counselor and Assistant Professor with the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, working in the Pediatric Mental Health Institute at Children’s Hospital Colorado. She has over 13 years of experience training and supervising both beginning and seasoned therapists within academic healthcare settings and has been credentialed as an Approved Clinical Supervisor for four years. She is motivated to influence behavioral health care at a systems level, most notably by increasing access to culturally responsive care and decreasing behavioral health care disparities for underserved communities.
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Alyson Hatten, NCC, LPC, RPT
Alyson Hatten, NCC, LPC, RPT (she/her) is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Registered Play Therapist, and Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, working in both the Pediatric Mental Health Institute and the Child Health Clinic at Children’s Hospital Colorado. She received her master of science in Rehabilitation Counseling Psychology from UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. She has spent the majority of her 20-year career in academic medical centers providing individual, dyadic, family, and group therapy to youth and caregivers, as well as mental health consultation in early care and school settings. She has provided clinical supervision to pre-licensed and licensed professional counselors in community and hospital-based outpatient counseling centers. She currently provides consultation and teaching to medical providers in training, including nurse practitioner students, physician assistant students, medical students, and pediatric and family residents as an integrated behavioral health provider in pediatric primary care.
Session
Anna James Krzemieniecki, MS, MCoun, LCPC
Anna James Krzemieniecki (she/her) serves as Clinical Assistant Faculty, Counseling Clinic Director, and Adjunct Faculty at Idaho State University, overseeing clinical operations and ensuring the delivery of high-quality mental health services to rural and underserved communities. Beyond her institutional roles, Anna is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and maintains a thriving private practice focused on women's mental health. Drawing on her extensive clinical experience and specialized training, she offers personalized counseling and therapeutic interventions tailored to the unique needs of her clients. Committed to advancing the counseling profession, Anna serves as a board member appointed to the Idaho Board of Professional Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists and is also an active scholar. She has publications and presentations exploring topics such as posttraumatic stress disorder, perinatal mental health, trauma-informed care, and research aligned with counselor identity and practice.
Session
Suzy Thomas
Professor
Dr. Suzy Thomas is a former middle and high school counselor and teacher who earned her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology at the University of California, Davis. She is a Professor in the Counseling Department at Saint Mary’s College of California, a credentialed school counselor (PPS), and a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC). She is actively involved in numerous professional organizations, including the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), the California Association of School Counselors (CASC), the American Counseling Association (ACA), the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES), and the Western Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (WACES). She is a founding member of the Action Research Network of the Americas (ARNA), an international group of educators and community activists dedicated to the use of action research as a tool for social justice and grassroots change. Suzy is an advocate for school counselors and school-based reform in local, statewide, regional, national, and international venues. She presents regularly at school counseling and counselor educator conferences and has various publications in the areas of mentoring, collaboration, LGBTQ+ youth, legal and ethical issues in counseling, group counseling, action research, and school counseling reform. She was inducted into the H.B. McDaniel Hall of Fame in 2013, recognized in 2017 as the School Counselor Educator of the Year by the California Association of School Counselors, given the 2021 Saint Mary’s College Pandemic Pedagogic Excellence Award, and honored with the 2023 ARNA Community Development Award.
Sessions
Adriean Mancillas, PsyD
Professor
Dr. Adriean Mancillas is a professor at California State University, Dominguez Hills, where she serves as the graduate director of the School and College Counseling program. As a clinical psychologist and former school counselor, her current teaching and research focus on school counselor training and supervision and counseling skill development, especially pertaining to mental health intervention in schools. She has provided counseling services and implemented mental health programs to students in K-12 schools, community colleges, and university settings, as well as authored a number of works on topics ranging from counselor training, the development and well-being of only children, and stigma and bias within family systems, therapy, and education.
Sessions
Ph.D., LMHC
Dr. Janys Murphy Rising is a Clinical Associate Professor. They have practiced for over two decades counseling adolescents, families, LBGTQ, co-occurring substance use disorders, and eating disorders. Dr. Murphy Rising has led research on a yoga intervention for counselors with compassion fatigue and has published on career counseling resources for lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth. Janys has presented at numerous conferences on topics including spirituality in counseling, motivational interviewing, treating suicidal patients, self-care and counselor identity, trauma and the brain, and the Enneagram. Dr. Murphy Rising received a BA in from The Evergreen State College, her MA in Counseling Psychology from St. Martin’s University, and their Ph.D. in Counselor Education from Oregon State University. She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) and Substance Use Disorder Professional (SUDP), an Accredited Child Mental Health Specialist (CMHS), and an Approved Clinical Supervisor in Washington State. When not counseling or teaching, they enjoy gardening, drinking coffee, podcasting, swimming, being out in nature, and hanging with their spouse, dog, and 3 cats.
Session
Ryan Cheung, Ph.D.
Assistant Clinical Professor
Assistant Clinical Professor at Northern Arizona University.
Session
Jessie Wedell, MA, LGPC
Jessica Wedell, MA, LGPC, is a counselor and yoga instructor in the community heath sector in Washington, D.C. She serves the city's most vulnerable populations, including direct and indirect victims of gun violence, individuals experiencing homelessness, and residents of the acute psychiatric crisis center. Jessie completed her MA in Mental Health Counseling at Northwestern University.
Session
Anna Lieber, LCMHC, NCC, CCMHC
Counseling & Counselor Education Clinical Director
Anna Lieber (she/hers) has over 25 years of experience in behavioral health in direct client care, program development, and administration. Anna is the current Clinical Director of Westminster University’s Counseling & Counseling Education program, and her clinical work is currently focused on clinical supervision, suicide treatment/prevention, and continued learning. Prior to starting at Westminster Anna was the Chief Clinical Officer of a large psychiatric hospital and oversaw all inpatient and outpatient clinical services. Anna is passionate about behavioral health and the mental health counseling field and uses her drive to enhance the mental health profession by giving back through service. Anna is the Past-President of the Utah Mental Health Counselors Association, a Utah Crime Victim Reparations and Assistance Board member, and provides numerous trainings to therapists and medical providers. Anna is a Nationally Certified Counselor and member of the NBCC, American Association of Suicidology, ACA, ACEs, AMHCA, and the LGBTQ+ Affirmative Therapist Guild of Utah. Anna has extensive experience in treatment and program development for many disorders and populations, including developmental trauma, military issues, dual-diagnosis, addiction, psychosis, PTSD/trauma, anxiety, mood, personality, LGBTQIA+. Anna’s clinical interests include chronic suicidal behaviors, personality disorders, trauma/PTSD, obsessive-compulsive disorders, suicide prevention/postvention, and clinical supervision.
Session
Temoca Ramirez Dixon, MA in Education, MA in Mental Health Counseling, CPC-I, LCADC-I
Temoca Dixon, MA in Education, MA in Mental Health Counseling, is a visionary educator and counselor with over a decade of experience in leadership and instruction. As President of Sage Therapy & Consulting and a dedicated School Counselor in Washoe County School District, Temoca is passionately committed to fostering inclusive environments and dismantling systemic barriers in counselor education. Her expertise lies in cultivating empowering pedagogies that challenge and transform the landscape of mental health and school counseling practices. Armed with a master’s degree in education from the University of Nevada Reno and a master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling from Oregon State University, Temoca's insights have been shared in various platforms, including the Nevada Association of School Counselors 2023 Conference. Beyond her professional endeavors, Temoca finds solace in spending time outdoors, traveling, and nurturing her Doberman companions, all while remaining deeply committed to healing her Indigenous communities. Contact Temoca at temoca@sagetherapyandconsulting.com or tdixon@washoeschools.net to embark on a journey toward inclusive excellence in mental health and school counseling and education. Join us as we collectively strive for a more equitable and anti-racist future in counselor education.
Session
Stephanie Bowman, JD, MA, LPC
Doctoral Student
Stephanie Bowman, JD, MA, LPC (she/her) is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Illinois. She earned an MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Northwestern University and is currently working to complete a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision at Adler University in Chicago. Stephanie is also a full-time staff clinician at The Family Institute at Northwestern University. She enjoys working with adults, couples, and teens. She uses a trauma-informed approach based in person-centered, Adlerian, and psychodynamic counseling theories. She is Gottman-informed in her approach to couples therapy. For about a decade, Stephanie was a civil litigator in Chicago, advocating for homeowners in foreclosure. She now sees herself as a mental health advocate and a fellow traveler with her counseling clients. Stephanie's research interests include empathy and attunement in clinical work and new technologies in counseling.
Sessions
Michael Hartley
Associate Professor
Update
Session
Hannah McCarthy, BA, Counselor-in-Training, Oregon State University
Hannah holds a bachelor's degree in Economics-Environmental Studies from Whitman College. She is currently a master's student at Oregon State University (OSU) in the counseling program's clinical mental health counseling track. She has lived experience with undiagnosed neurodivergence and chronic pain and is actively involved in activism, self-advocacy, and community organizing.
Session
Diana H Gruman
Professor
Diana Gruman, Ph.D. is a professor in the School Counseling Program at Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA. Dr. Gruman’s research interests include school counseling supervision and training, school climate and student outcomes, and the provision of school mental health services and SEL programs to elementary-age students.
Session
Katie Schmitz
Clinician & Faculty
Presentert (she/her) is a Doctoral Candidate (degree will be conferred before WACES 2024), at Antioch University Seattle, in the Counselor Education and Supervision program. She also adjuncts for Antioch in their Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. In addition to dissertation research, the present completed a year-long research Fellowship where she produced two manuscripts related to neurodiversity in family systems. Presenter is a Licensed Provider and has worked in multiple settings, from Community Mental Health, to private and group practices. She enjoys working with young adults launching from home, and parents who are dealing with child disability issues or neurodivergent couples. In addition to her clinical work, she works alongside Associate level clinicians and Counseling Interns and provides supervision and support developing their clinical skills and solidifying their counselor identity post-graduation. Presenter is in the middle of her dissertation, a Delphi study examining multicultural leadership development practices in counselor education to foster future leaders. She hopes to seek experts' consensus on best practices for teaching multicultural leadership.
Session
Michael Joshua Esquejo
1st Year Doctoral Student, Graduate Teaching Assistant
Michael is a 1st year Doctoral Student in Counselor Education and Supervision at the University of Nevada, Reno. His clinical interests and experiences include working with the LGBTQIA+ community, youth and adolescents, and individuals experiencing substance use issues. His research interests include mentorship, clinical supervision, and Filipino/Filipino-American issues.
Session
Jordan Shannon, Ph.D., LMHC, C-DMHC, NCC
Assistant Professor
Dr. Shannon is an assistant professor of counseling at Seattle University. His research interests center on racial identity development and experiences of racism in counseling, help-seeking behaviors and counseling utilization among diverse populations, mental health stigma and deterrents of counseling, and multicultural training in counselor education. His research has been published in peer reviewed outlets such as the Journal of Counseling & Development (JCD), Journal of Multicultural Counseling & Development, and Race, Ethnicity and Education. Alongside his scholarship he engages in multiple professional service roles. He currently sits on the editorial board for the Journal of Counselor Leadership and Advocacy and JCD, and he served as chapter faculty advisor for his local chapter of Chi Sigma Iota – International Counseling Honors Society.
Sessions
Dr. Chi Li, PhD., NCC, Assistant Professor
Assistant Professor
Dr. Li is a tenure-track Assistant Professor at Palo Alto University. Her research areas include counselor education and supervision, measurement development in counseling and supervision, and counselor training in IBH settings. She also had experience with several IBH-related grant projects at the state and national levels (e.g., provide training on IBH and conduct program evaluations). She has been a good standing member of different professional counseling associations such as American Counseling Association (ACA), Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES), and Association for Assessment and Research in Counseling (AARC). She served as the Co-chair of the ACES Supervision Interest Network and Reviewers for several top-tier counseling journals such as Counselor Education and Supervision and Counseling Outcome Research and Evaluation between 2019-2023. She is currently serving as one of the Associate Editors for AARC’s flagship journal, Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development. She was recently selected as the ACES secretary-elect.
Sessions
Jamie Bludworth, PhD
Clinical Associate Professor, Director of the Counselor Training Center
Jamie Bludworth is a licensed psychologist, director of the Counselor Training Center in the School of Counseling and Counseling Psychology at Arizona State University . He teaches Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy, Advanced Counseling Theories, Theories of Supervision, Masters and Doctoral Practica, and Doctoral Supervision Practicum. Dr, Bludworth has previous experience in administrative and clinical supervision as the associate director of ASU Counseling Services, where he supervised clinicians at all levels of professional development. He has worked in private practice, conducted psychological assessments for incarcerated youth, and has served as a psychological consultant for the state of Arizona. Dr. Bludworth’s primary areas of professional interest include: crisis assessment and intervention, training and supervision, and administrative and systemic practices that improve client and trainee outcomes. He is active in the American Counseling Association where he has been an invited speaker at the ACA national conference for 10 consecutive years. Dr. Bludworth received his doctorate in Counseling Psychology from Arizona State University in 2007.
Sessions
Abraham Cazares-Cervantes, Ph.D, LSC
Dr. Abraham Cazares-Cervantes is a State-license professional school counselor. He is an experienced bilingual/bicultural (English/ Spanish) counselor and counselor educator with experience in clinical mental health and school counseling. Abraham has served as a full-time counselor educator, teaching and supervising in CACREP-accredited counseling programs, since 2014. Currently he works as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Counseling at Oregon State University, serving as a clinical supervisor for master level and Ph.D level counseling training. In addition, he teaches and mentors master's and doctoral students. Abraham is the counselor educator representative in the state school counseling association and a part of the administrated team of NARTIC. He is also a member of ACA, ACES, WACES and ASCA.
Sessions
Madison Jones, BS, Counselor-in-Training, Oregon State University
Madison holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in Indigenous studies from Oregon State University (OSU) and is currently a master's student in OSU’s counseling program on the clinical mental health counseling track. She currently works with disabled families who are transitioning from long-term and emergency homeless shelters to permanent supportive housing.
Session
Ulash Thakore-Dunlap
Assistant Professor
Ulash Thakore-Dunlap, EdD LMFT, is assistant professor of school counseling at California State University, East Bay (CSUEB) teaching in the MS Counseling program and school counseling program coordinator. Her areas of interest include school-based mental health, Asian-American mental health, South Asian American counseling needs, and graduate counseling and psychology education. Dunlap is the senior editor of the book, Counseling South Asian Americans: Psychological and Clinical Implications (Thakore-Dunlap et al., 2023) published with Routledge. This is the first book published in the United States that addresses counseling South Asian American communities. Dunlap currently serves on numerous organizations to include the California Judges Association wellness committee as the mental health specialist; AsAM News board member; JED expert for the Jed Foundation; past commissioner of the San Francisco Behavioral Health Commission; past board member at MySahana and past board member at the Asian-American Psychological Association.
Session
Rachel Jacoby, PhD, LPCC-S (OH), NCC, ACS, CFLE
Assistant Professor
Rachel Jacoby, Ph.D., LPCC-S, NCC, is an Assistant Professor at Palo Alto University. She passionately enjoys working with children, adolescents, and families. Rachel’s clinical experiences include working with the foster care system, neurodiverse populations, and individuals who have experienced trauma. Rachel is passionate about enhancing the counseling field through education, advocacy, and scholarship. She has been recognized for her leadership and advocacy work with the 2023 Robert H. Rencken Emerging Professional Leader Award and the 2021 Carol Bobby Pioneer for Visionary Leadership Award.
Session
April Ferris, MS, LPC, NCC, Clinic Director at Portland State University Counselor Education Department Community Counseling Clinic.
Licensed Professional Counselor and Clinical Director
April Ferris (she/her), MS, LPC, NCC is a doctoral student at Oregon State University in the counselor education and supervision program. She currently serves as the clinical director for Portland State University in their graduate program for counselor education. April provides supervision to graduate level students throughout their internship process while also providing support and guidance to practicum faculty in their work with master's level students in their second year practicum experience. She has a small private practice that specializes in work with relationship constellations and adult clients navigating attachment trauma and interpersonal challenges.
Sessions
Alisha Guthery, PhD, LMHC, CATP
Alisha Guthery holds a doctorate in Counseling, Education, and Supervision, is a licensed mental health counselor in Washington State, and is the Director of Advocacy and Learning at a domestic violence agency in Seattle, Washington. Dr. Guthery is a committed leader, educator, and practitioner dedicated to anti-violence and trauma healing. Her clinical practice synthesizes emerging neurobiological research with embodied healing practices. She is a passionate educator who strives to cultivate collaborative classrooms through a trauma-informed lens, and she has had the privilege of designing and facilitating courses on trauma, somatic theory, and feminist theory. Dr. Guthery is a leader in domestic violence intervention and prevention in Washington State, and she has developed and implemented domestic violence programs for incarcerated women, youth, and adult batterers. She has presented her work nationally and internationally.
Session
SungWon Yoon-Lee, M.A.
SungWon Yoon-Lee (Pronouns: No pronouns) is a Ph.D. student in Counselor Education, The Pennsylvania State University. Based on the lived experiences as a Korean queer counselor since 2015, SundWon's interest of counseling, research, and advocacy have been focused around professional development of international/LGBTQ+ counselors, advocacy education for counselors-in-training, and community-based approaches and strategies to cope with minority stress.
Session
Jay Yeong-Tae Gomez, BFA, Officiated Shaman, Counselor-in-Training, Oregon State University
Jay is a master's student at Oregon State University (OSU) in the counseling program's clinical mental health counseling track. Their shamanic practice supports a holistic view of healing that bridges the gap between traditional and modern views of mental health as a reflection of multicultural competency. Before studying at OSU, they supported intellectually and developmentally disabled people in their care homes for four years as a disabled person themself, advocating for increased quality of care.
Session
Ana R. Reséndiz, MSC, PPS-SC (CA), APCC (CA)
Ana R. Reséndiz is a doctoral student at Oregon State University in the counselor education and supervision program. She is a bilingual school-based mental health professional and an associate professional clinical counselor in California. She earned her Master’s in Counseling (Dual concentration in School Counseling and Professional Counseling) and a Pupil Personnel Services (School Counseling) credential from California State University, San Bernardino. There, she trained and specialized in trauma, crisis intervention, social-emotional interventions, and Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS).
Session
Monica Minter, Doctoral Candidate, M.S. Resident of Counseling, VA
Session
Wendy Sanchez Rodriguez
Wendy is a student pursuing her Master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Northern Arizona University. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and has attended comprehensive workshops focusing on LGBTQ+ inclusivity and cultural competency.
She has a background in assisting LGBTQ youth and adults on Mobile Crisis Teams in Maricopa County and has operated multiple crisis lines, including her agency's LGBTQ+ crisis line. Wendy is committed to supporting her community and has provided on-site mental health first aid at community events, participated in AIDS/HIV fundraising and awareness initiatives, and provided mentorship to LGBTQ+ youth. After completing her graduate program, she plans to provide comprehensive and culturally competent ongoing outpatient therapy for marginalized communities.
She has a background in assisting LGBTQ youth and adults on Mobile Crisis Teams in Maricopa County and has operated multiple crisis lines, including her agency's LGBTQ+ crisis line. Wendy is committed to supporting her community and has provided on-site mental health first aid at community events, participated in AIDS/HIV fundraising and awareness initiatives, and provided mentorship to LGBTQ+ youth. After completing her graduate program, she plans to provide comprehensive and culturally competent ongoing outpatient therapy for marginalized communities.
Session
Emily Sallee PSC, PCLC NCC PhD
Emily Sallee is an Assistant Professor of Counseling at the University of Montana as well as the Executive Director of the Montana Safe Schools Center housed at UM. Emily engages in professional advocacy by serving on the MSCA Board of Directors as Board Chair and in various other roles throughout the state. Her research interests include adolescent suicidality and non-suicidal self-injury, school violence and prevention, and advocacy for the role of professional school counselors. Emily is also the part-time school counselor at a K-8 frontier school and has a small clinical practice working with youth. While other people’s kiddos tend to be easier to work with, Emily has three of her own to wrangle, in addition to a growing menagerie and ever-increasing lists of books to read, foods to eat, and trails to run.
Sessions
Megyn Shea
Dr. Megyn Shea has been a counselor educator for 12 years and is currently an assistant professor of school counseling at Capella University. She is the chair of Capella’s counseling program professional standards committee. Prior to becoming a counselor educator, she was a school counselor in WA. She served as co-PI on grants for career and college readiness in K-12 and has presented on numerous topics at state and national counseling conferences.
Session
Nishita Raut, M.Ed., NCC, LPC-Associate Under the supervision of Dee Ray, Ph.D., LPC-S, NCC, RPT-S
Nishita Raut is an LPC-Associate, under the supervision of Dee C. Ray, Ph.D., LPC-S, NCC, RPT-S in Texas. Nishita is an International student in second-year of her doctoral program at the University of North Texas that focuses on three areas clinical skills, research and academia. Nishita has been operating from a holistic, multicultural therapeutic approach in providing therapeutic services to diverse group of individuals belonging to various socio-economic and cultural backgrounds, age ranges, sexual identity and value systems, presenting with mental health concerns. Nishita has experience of working in varied levels of care and counseling facilities. Nishita is fluent in English, Hindi and Marathi and wishes to make advances in bilingual counseling and supervision.
In his career, Dylan has explored the impacts of the therapeutic relationship of culturally diverse individuals across the life span. More recently, Dylan has moved to the world of play therapy with the desire to explore the effects of humanistic play therapy on diverse populations and aims to move the modality toward a more culturally inclusive space. Dylan is an existential play therapist who emphasizes the importance of entering the child’s realm in an experiential manner. Through this deep authentic relationship, Dylan believes that healing occurs. He currently provides play therapy services to Latinx Children in the Denton Independent School District along with services at UNT’s Child and Family Resource Clinic.
In his career, Dylan has explored the impacts of the therapeutic relationship of culturally diverse individuals across the life span. More recently, Dylan has moved to the world of play therapy with the desire to explore the effects of humanistic play therapy on diverse populations and aims to move the modality toward a more culturally inclusive space. Dylan is an existential play therapist who emphasizes the importance of entering the child’s realm in an experiential manner. Through this deep authentic relationship, Dylan believes that healing occurs. He currently provides play therapy services to Latinx Children in the Denton Independent School District along with services at UNT’s Child and Family Resource Clinic.
Session
Dax Bevly, Ph.D.
Dr. Dax Bevly is full time core faculty for the Low Residency Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at Antioch University Seattle. The Low Res CMHC program is a 90 quarter credit online, synchronous program with two residency weeks each year. He typically teaches diagnosis, essential counseling skills, group counseling, and multicultural courses. Additionally, he serves as Faculty Co-Advisor for the Omega Mu Gamma chapter of Chi Sigma Iota. Dax received his master’s and doctorate degrees in counseling and counselor education from the University of North Texas. Before joining Antioch, Dax worked full time in private practice providing individual, family, group, play, and couples therapy to children, adolescents, and adults while adjuncting for UNT. Before entering private practice, they also worked with clients of all ages in several community mental health settings, specializing in children, adolescents, college students, older adults, and adults with disabilities. During this time, he also provided play therapy in various public schools. While completing his master’s and doctoral program, he served adults and families with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders at a psychiatric hospital at the inpatient, partial hospitalization, and outpatient level. Dax identifies as a nonbinary transmasculine Latine individual and also spends time working with mutual aid organizations centered around BIPOC, undocumented immigrants, and queer communities. Although Dax teaches remotely for the Low Res CMHC program that has an on the ground campus in Seattle, he lives in his home state of Texas.
Sessions
Robyn Trippany Simmons, Ed.D., LPC-S (AL), NCC, RPT-S
Professor
Robyn Trippany Simmons, LPC-S, RPT-S, NCC received her Ed.D. in Counselor Education from the University of Alabama in 2001. She serves as Professor and Director of Faculty Development in the Department of Counseling at the University of the Cumberlands. Dr. Simmons’s research and clinical interests include sexual trauma, vicarious trauma, play therapy, and professional identity issues.
Sessions
Ileana Gonzalez, PhD
Assistant Clinical Professor
Dr. Ileana Gonzalez is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Counseling, Higher Education and Special Education (CHSE). Prior to her appointment at the University of Maryland, she held a faculty position at Johns Hopkins University for over a decade. Prior to her career in higher education, she gained extensive experience in the field of K-12 education as a teacher and school counselor working with Caribbean populations in South Florida. She earned her Ph.D. in Counselor Education from the University of Maryland, College Park in 2013. Her identity as a first-generation college student and daughter of refugees informs her beliefs in equity and access to a quality education for all students, particularly those from marginalized populations. She has published and presented nationally on social justice action in schools and in higher education settings and on multicultural competence and antiracist training for counselors. Her research interests include multicultural and antiracist counselor education, cultural competence in counseling and social justice action in urban school settings. She is an active member of the American Counseling Association, Association of Counselor Education and Supervision, Counselors for Social Justice and the Association of Multicultural Counseling Development.
Session
Kashif Brown, LCPC, NCC
I am Chief, a dedicated mental health professional. Born and raised in the vibrant city of Las Vegas, my journey took me to Philadelphia for several years and then back home to Vegas.
Graduating with a Master's degree in 2019, I have since been deeply committed to furthering my expertise and am currently pursuing my Ph.D. at the University of the Cumberlands. My academic and professional endeavors are centered around a passion for EMDR, a field in which I specialize with a focus on helping trauma survivors navigate their path to healing.
My work is driven by a profound belief in the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of targeted therapeutic interventions. In every interaction and through each session, I strive to provide a supportive, empathetic environment where individuals feel seen, understood, and empowered to reclaim their lives from the shadows of their experiences.
Beyond my professional life, my roots in Las Vegas and time spent in Philadelphia have instilled in me an appreciation for the mosaic of human experiences and the importance of community in fostering recovery and growth. As I continue my PhD journey, I remain dedicated to advancing my knowledge and skills to better serve those who have been impacted by trauma, ensuring that each step I take is a step toward healing and hope for the individuals I have the privilege of working with.
Graduating with a Master's degree in 2019, I have since been deeply committed to furthering my expertise and am currently pursuing my Ph.D. at the University of the Cumberlands. My academic and professional endeavors are centered around a passion for EMDR, a field in which I specialize with a focus on helping trauma survivors navigate their path to healing.
My work is driven by a profound belief in the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of targeted therapeutic interventions. In every interaction and through each session, I strive to provide a supportive, empathetic environment where individuals feel seen, understood, and empowered to reclaim their lives from the shadows of their experiences.
Beyond my professional life, my roots in Las Vegas and time spent in Philadelphia have instilled in me an appreciation for the mosaic of human experiences and the importance of community in fostering recovery and growth. As I continue my PhD journey, I remain dedicated to advancing my knowledge and skills to better serve those who have been impacted by trauma, ensuring that each step I take is a step toward healing and hope for the individuals I have the privilege of working with.
Session
Danielle Render Turmaud, PhD, NCC
Assistant Professor of Counseling
Danielle Render Turmaud, PhD, NCC has served as an Director of a Master of Arts in Counseling Program, Assistant Professor of Counseling, and currently teaches master's level counseling courses at a few institutions as an instructor. Although she has taught both in-person and online courses, Danielle is passionate about online education due to the way that it breaks down barriers for diverse populations, and has specialized training and experience in online pedagogy and teaching methods. In addition to her work in academia, the presenter is a Counseling Professional who specializes in working with survivors of trauma/complex trauma (e.g., sexual trauma, childhood trauma, and intimate partner violence) and those experiencing PTSD. The presenter has several published book chapters, research articles, and other publications as a part of her advocacy work in the field of counseling and counselor education. Additionally, Danielle is active in professional service with experience in serving as the IRB Chair for Multnomah University, offering ongoing presentations and trainings in the counseling/counselor education field, serving as a CACREP Initial Reader Consultant, participating as a guest on podcasts, and more.
Session
Sage W. Rian, Ph.D., LPC, NCC
Dr. Sage Rian is core faculty at Saybrook University in the Counseling Department, and the owner of a psychotherapy practice focused serving queer and neurodivergent clients. Their specialty areas are ecotherapy, gender & sexuality, adult autism, and spirituality & religion in counseling. Dr. Rian is a certified Ecotherapist, and their research has focused on the impact of the natural environment on mental health, student wellness, learning, and the therapeutic relationship. Dr. Rian is also a founding board member of the Nevada Gender Clinic and the Foundation for Sexual & Gender Affirmation and Research, in addition to facilitating a local consultation group for healthcare providers working with gender, sexual, and romantic expansive clients, for which they are developing a formal training and clinician certification program.
Sessions
Edward Ewe, Ph.D., LPC, LMHC, ACS, NCC
Clinical Associate Professor
Dr. Edward Ewe is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Oregon, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Washington, a National Certified Counselor, an Approved Clinical Supervisor, and an Approved State Clinical Supervisor in both Oregon and Washington. His practice is situated in Bend, Oregon, where he offers counseling and therapy services to clients throughout Oregon and Washington.
With experience spanning private and non-profit sectors, Dr. Ewe has provided counseling to individuals, couples, and families, and has served as a Site Director for a community mental health clinic. As a trained EFT therapist, his clinical focus lies in supporting individuals dealing with grief and loss, offering relationship and couples counseling, and conducting individual therapy. Additionally, he provides supervision to recently graduated and associate counselors.
Beyond his private practice, Dr. Ewe serves as an Associate Clinical Counseling Professor at OSU-Cascades Masters of Counseling program, where he is dedicated to fostering students' learning and encouraging a lifelong commitment to growth.
During his doctoral studies at Oregon State University, his research centered on professional identity development among counseling students. His interests extend to gatekeeping, grief and loss, and clinical supervision, topics on which he has presented at national and regional conferences for organizations such as the American Counseling Association (ACA) and the Association for Counselor Educators and Supervisors (ACES). In recognition of his contributions, Dr. Ewe was honored with the WACES Outstanding Mentor Award in 2021.
With experience spanning private and non-profit sectors, Dr. Ewe has provided counseling to individuals, couples, and families, and has served as a Site Director for a community mental health clinic. As a trained EFT therapist, his clinical focus lies in supporting individuals dealing with grief and loss, offering relationship and couples counseling, and conducting individual therapy. Additionally, he provides supervision to recently graduated and associate counselors.
Beyond his private practice, Dr. Ewe serves as an Associate Clinical Counseling Professor at OSU-Cascades Masters of Counseling program, where he is dedicated to fostering students' learning and encouraging a lifelong commitment to growth.
During his doctoral studies at Oregon State University, his research centered on professional identity development among counseling students. His interests extend to gatekeeping, grief and loss, and clinical supervision, topics on which he has presented at national and regional conferences for organizations such as the American Counseling Association (ACA) and the Association for Counselor Educators and Supervisors (ACES). In recognition of his contributions, Dr. Ewe was honored with the WACES Outstanding Mentor Award in 2021.