(Recorded December 2023)

The discussion provided insights into the challenges counselors face, including the increased demand for mental health services and the swift rise of telehealth. The guests emphasized the importance of a holistic approach to trauma, addressing not only individual treatment but also systemic issues contributing to it. 

Listeners will gain an understanding of the need for mental health literacy and the role of counselors in fostering it. The conversation also touched upon the significance of professionalism in virtual counseling sessions, ensuring quality care irrespective of the medium. A key theme was the need for representation and advocacy in mental health within the Black community. 

This episode promises to offer valuable insights into the evolving landscape of the counseling profession and the holistic, systemic approach required to effectively address trauma and mental health needs in today's world.

RESOURCES:

• CTIPP’s Vision for a Trauma-Informed Society
• American Counseling Association

CTIPP HOSTS: 

• Whitney Marris, LCSW, Director of Practice & System Transformation
• Jesse Kohler, M.Ed., Executive Director

GUESTS:

• Shawn Boynes, FASAE, CAE, CEO of the American Counseling Association
  • Shawn E. Boynes, FASAE, CAE, has over 25 years of association management experience and serves as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at the American Counseling Association. He previously served as Executive Director at the American Association for Anatomy (AAA) in Rockville, MD for nine years where he successfully partnered with volunteer leadership to rebrand and transform the 135-year-old organization into a thriving society committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion as well as leading impactful change in the scientific community. Prior to joining AAA, he served as Senior Director of Education for the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC). During his career, he has worked for a broad variety of other associations including the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Minority Corporate Counsel Association, Greater Washington Society of Association Executives, American Trucking Associations and the Association of Corporate Counsel. In this time, he developed a true appreciation for continuous learning and the value that mission-drive associations bring to the world, which has undoubtedly shaped who he is today as a leader. Boynes is very active with the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) having served on its Board of Directors in 2014-2017, the Certified Association Executive (CAE) Commission, as well as a variety of other committees. Shawn was named an ASAE Fellow in 2017 and served as Chair of the ASAE Fellows program in 2022. He is also a Diversity Executive Leadership Program (DELP) Scholar. He earned his Certified Association Executive (CAE) credential in 2010. He has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a concentration in marketing from Howard University.
• Carla Adkinson-Johnson, PhD, LPC, professor in the Department of Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology at Western Michigan University (WMU)
  • Dr. Carla Adkison-Johnson is a professor in the department of Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology at Western Michigan University (WMU). She is the current editor-in-chief of the Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, the official journal of the Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development, a division of the American Counseling Association. Dr. Adkison-Johnson is nationally known for her research on culturally competent mental health counseling and African American child-rearing practices and family dynamics. She has served as a child discipline expert witness in civil and criminal courts. She is a project director and primary investigator on a $1.9 million grant funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration, which is focused on a culturally competent behavioral health workforce. Dr. Adkison-Johnson is a 2021 Mid-American Conference Academic Leadership Program Fellow. In 2017, she received the WMU College of Education and Human Development’s Distinguished Scholar Award. Dr. Adkison-Johnson is a past member of the board of directors for the Council for Counseling and Educational Related Programs (CACREP), the national and international accrediting body for the counseling profession. In this capacity, she served as chair of CACREP’s training committee.

#TransformTrauma is a Campaign for Trauma-Informed Policy and Practice (CTIPP) podcast. We’re building a national movement that integrates community-led, trauma-informed, resilience-focused, and healing-centered prevention and intervention across all sectors and generations through coalition-building, advocacy, and policymaking. Learn more at CTIPP.org.