Addictions Counseling Faculty
As a practicing clinician, I love that I can
integrate real life experiences when advancing students’ knowledge and skills
within the field of addictions and counseling. I love the curiosity and
enthusiasm I’ve witnessed with students and that I can be a small part in
maintaining some of that.
The most rewarding aspect of
academic work is really three-fold. I love that I can work with a variety of
disciplines to advance the knowledge and skills of students. I love the
collaborative and conversational temperament of my colleagues. And I love the
opportunities that I find and can pass on to other colleagues and in some
cases, students. I love being able to share my knowledge with students, both
my successes and mistakes and observing how students make this information
their own. Okay, that’s four. What can I
say. I find academia to be rewarding!
As a licensed clinical professional counselor and certified
addictions counselor, I worked in the clinical field for more than 15 years. I’ve
worked primarily with the substance use disorders and personality disorders.
I’ve taught psychology, counseling and addiction courses. I’ve discovered while
at GSU, that I really enjoy teaching group therapy and stress management, as
taking care of oneself is a necessary task within the field of addictions. The
highlight here is when students discover how much they may like these areas and
want to learn more.
Community service is an integral part of paying it forward.
Within the parameters of the university, I serve on various committees to
develop a broader and richer understanding of the complexities that may exist
within academia and the opportunities to find solutions. I also mentor when
possible. Outside of the university, I mentor
newcomers in the field of addiction counseling. I am the Chair of the
Webinar Taskforce for the Illinois Counseling Association, and host a "talk radio" show that provides free information and resources relating to wellness.
I also serve as peer reviewer for several journals, and am the co-editor of the
book review department for Trauma Psychology News. These are all important
pieces of my service.
Finally, I do love writing (I have a blog) and want to
eventually write a fiction trilogy.