Who We Are

As part of my faculty appointment, I am Director of the Behavioral Health Support Specialist (BHSS) Workforce Development Project.  My responsibilities include oversight of curriculum development, practicum guidelines, development of community partnerships, and advocacy for employment integration.

Behavioral Health Support Specialist (BHSS) Workforce Development Project

A BHSS is a state certified bachelor-level mental and behavioral health provider working under the supervision of a person licensed to assess, diagnose, and treat mental and behavioral health conditions. As part of task sharing, the BHSS delivers brief, culturally responsive, evidence-based interventions for common mental and behavioral health conditions in a team-based setting. Crisis services, integrated care and specialty behavioral healthcare are examples of work environments that may benefit from BHSS services. A project goal is to support higher educational programs across the state implement the BHSS clinical training program, including practicum. To date, five higher education institutions in Washington state have been approved by the Department of Health to offer BHSS clinical training, while five more have applied for approval. By continuing to develop innovative models of education, training, and supervision, this project strives to improve access to care through bachelor-level workforce expansion.

Scholarship

My current scholarship focuses on behavioral health workforce development and best practices in teaching and training bachelor level intervention specialists for behavioral health settings. Past experience includes principal investigator for a philanthropic gift from Robert Craves to expand access to school counseling services at Bailey Gatzert Elementary School in the Yesler Terrace neighborhood of Seattle. I also engaged in community-based research with Village Spirit Center for Community Change and Healing located in the Central District to produce a mental health needs assessment for residents who had experienced homelessness prior to obtaining secure housing. Previous peer reviewed publications focused on counselor preparation for employment in behavioral health agencies, best practices in counselor preparation and ethical dilemmas in counselor practice.

Certification and Licensure

I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in the State of Washington and a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Colorado.  Additionally, I am a National Certified Counselor (NCC), and an Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS) through the National Board of Certified Counselors and the Center for Credentialing and Education.

Career Roles

• Associate Professor (WOT), Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington (2022-Present)
• Regional Director of Behavioral Health and Primary Care Behavioral Health Consultant for One Medical Seniors, Washington and Colorado Markets (2018-2021)
• Founding Chair, Department of Leadership and Professional Studies, Seattle University, Seattle, Washington (2014-2017)
• Associate Professor with Tenure of Clinical Mental Health and School Counseling,  Seattle University, Seattle, Washington (2010-2019)
• Associate Professor with Tenure of Clinical Mental Health and School Counseling at Xavier University in Ohio (2006-2010)
• Assistant Professor, Clinical Mental Health and School Counseling, Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio (2001-2006)
• Past President of the Ohio Counseling Association (2006-2009)
• Continuous Adjunct Instructor, Community and School Counseling at Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio (1994-2001)
• Founding Assistant Clinical Director for Talbert House Inc. (1998-2001)
• *Private Practice Therapist and Consultant, Cincinnati, Ohio (1997-2010)
• Adjunct Instructor, University of Cincinnati College of Evening and Continuing Education (1997-2000)
• Adult Therapist, Clermont Counseling Center in Milford, Ohio (1994-1997)
• Crisis Intervention Specialist for Talbert House Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio (1990-1993)
• Adult Therapist, Care Unit Chemical Dependency Hospital, Cincinnati, Ohio (1988-1990)
• Clinical Pastoral Education Intern, Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio (1988)

*I owned a private practice in the Greater Cincinnati Area for twelve years providing behavioral medicine consultation in an integrated pain management practice, clinical consultation to behavioral health organizations, and training and education on ethical and professional issues for mental health providers.  Additionally, I provided individual, couple and family counseling in a group psychology practice with a special focus on serving the LGBTQI+ community and persons with trauma history.

Education

Primary Care Behavioral Health Certificate, UMASS Chan Medical School, 2019
Doctor of Education in Counselor Education and Supervision, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, 2002
Master of Arts in Counseling, Athenaeum of Ohio, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1991
Bachelor of Arts, University of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio, 1986

Department Affiliations