International Association for Resilience and Trauma Counseling:
IARTC
A Division of the American Counseling Association
Trauma Counseling and Resilience is the official journal of the International Association for Resilience and Trauma Counseling (IARTC), a division of the American Counseling Association. This journal advances knowledge about trauma counseling and resilience for counselors and mental health clinicians from diverse backgrounds around the globe. Its online platform rapidly disseminates what counselors need to know to foster trauma recovery and promote resilience in individuals and groups worldwide.
Trauma Counseling and Resilience launched its Call for Manuscripts for its debut issue in Spring 2023, and published Issue #1 in Spring 2024.
IARTC Mission
To enhance the quality of life for people and communities worldwide by promoting the development of professional counselors; by advancing the ideals of the American Counseling Association, the counseling profession, and the ethical practice of counseling through trauma-informed practices; and, by nurturing respect for human dignity, cultural inclusivity, and resilience.
2024 ARC Conference: Reach for Resilience
The Academic Resilience Consortium is excited to host the 2024 Conference in collaboration with Winston-Salem State University from April 3rd to 5th. Over 15 presentations will be offered, including a keynote presentation by Dr. Luana Marques titled Boldly Go: Transforming Anxiety into Academic Success.
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Lisa López Levers, PhD, LPCC-S, LPC, CRC, NCC
President
Dr. Levers is Professor Emeritus of Counselor Education and Human Development at Duquesne University in Pennsylvania. She was the Rev. Francis Philben, C. S. Sp. Endowed Chair in African Studies (2012-2017) and a Fulbright Scholar (University of Botswana, 2003-2004). She has 47 years of counseling treatment experience and 32 years as a Counselor Educator. She is editor of Trauma Counseling: Theories and Interventions, and has just completed its second edition. She has been involved in urban and rural outreach in Spain, Australia, Russia, and a number of countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Dr. Levers emphasizes trauma recovery, the effect of violence on child development, psychiatric rehabilitation, and substance abuse. She has developed numerous programs and systems-of-care for adults with severe psychiatric disabilities and for children with severe emotional disorders. She has chaired 48 dissertations, and has served as committee member on another 30 dissertations. She has 17 refereed articles, 8 books, and 48 book chapters, 50 national presentations, 81 international presentations.
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Matt Walsh, PhD, LPC, NCC
President-Elect
Matt Walsh obtained his PhD from Duquesne University in Counselor Education and Supervision. In addition, he has an M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, an M.A. in Pastoral Ministry, and a B.A. in Studio Art. He is a licensed Professional Counselor and National Certified Counselor. He has been a professional counselor for over 10 years and was in higher education for almost 20 years. He has worked in a variety of clinical settings including crisis intervention, addiction, and dual diagnosis. In addition, Dr. Walsh is a consultant, trauma-informed workshop facilitator, and adjunct faculty. Dr. Walsh’s community engaged research focuses on community trauma from a Bioecological perspective and transgenerational/historical trauma theory. His dissertation, Designing Accessible Mental Health Care in an Urban Community: Lived experiences of key stake holders planning emergent community-based services was developed into a dynamic collaborative model for community development and wellbeing called Trauma Informed Community Development (TICD) in collaboration with The Neighborhood Resilience Project based in Pittsburgh, PA. The objective of TICD is to help revitalize trauma-affected communities by establishing and promoting healthy, healing micro-communities. Cohorts from around the country have been trained in the TICD framework. Dr. Walsh is currently the Chief Clinical Officer for Oasis Mental Health Applications.ons.
Peggy Mayfield, PhD, LCPC, NCC, CCMHC, CCTP, CFTP, DCMHS
Past-President
Dr. Mayfield is President and Co-Founder of the International Association for Resilience and Trauma Counseling. She served as IARTC's Founding President-Elect from October 2020 until June 30, 2022.She is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, Diplomate, and Clinical Mental Health Specialist in Child and Adolescent, Family, and Trauma Counseling. She has over 20 years of teaching experience. She serves on the United Nations NGO Committee on Mental Health. She was appointed to ACA’s International Committee and serves on the ACA Traumatology Interest Network Leadership Team. She is on the Board of Directors for Prevent Child Abuse Illinois where she serves as Board Development Chair. Her research interests include capacity building/resilience/grit; the epistemology of prevention (abuse, neglect, violence); epigenetics; the intersection of trauma and public health; and the integration of expressive arts, brain-based, and play modalities to address trauma sequelae. She has presented her research via national and international venues (Italy, Spain, Ireland, England, Nova Scotia, Montreal), has served as an invited speaker, keynote, and consultant for numerous organizations, is an NBCC Minority Fellow Mentor, and also serves as a mentor for the ACA Mentorship Program.
Jane M. Webber, Ph.D., LPC
Editor, Trauma Counseling & Resilience and IARTC Parliamentarian
Dr. Webber has been a member of ACA since 1970 and has served on virtually every committee and division represented in ACA, including the ACA Foundation. She was inducted as an ACA Fellow in 2018. She was an early member of the Traumatology Interest Network after September 11, 2001, and has been a trauma practitioner for over forty years. She is an Assistant Professor of Counseling at Kean University in New Jersey where she coordinates the country’s first trauma-focused Doctoral Program in Trauma Counseling. Her research interests include trauma counseling, disaster mental health, sand tray and filial play therapy, clinical supervision, and counseling in schools. She was the editor in 2017 of an eleven-article special section on Traumatology in the Journal of Counseling and Development. She is co-editor of the fourth edition of Disaster Mental Health Counseling: A Guide to Preparing and Responding, published by the ACA Foundation. She holds New Jersey Disaster Response Crisis Counselor Certification (the first state to provide such certification in the United States), and was instrumental in the addition of trauma as a cross-cutting theme in the 2009 CACREP accreditation standards. She presented nationally and internationally over 250 times.
Debra Ainbinder, PhD, LPC, BCPC, NCC, ACS
Treasurer--July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2025
Dr. Ainbinder is Professor of Counseling and Associate Dean at Lynn University in Florida with a specialization in Marriage and Family Counseling, using a scientist/practitioner model of professional development. She served as Co-Principle Investigator for two prevention-focused research studies. She has been active in the field of counseling since 1985, including private practice and agency settings. Her research interests include parent interventions to decrease alcohol use and related consequences, and community programs in narcotics overdose prevention. She is currently working on a Quality Enhacement Plan at Lynn University to integrate local and global research related to the functions of wellness, specifically resilience.
Dr. Joshua Kreimeyer
Founding Governing Council Representative--July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2025
Dr. Kreimeyer graduated from Mankato State University (the “big town” from the show Little House on the Prairie) with a BS in Recreation. From there he enlisted in the US Army as a Cryptologic Linguist. He and his family served in California, Texas, and Germany with side excursions for him to Kosovo (2000) and Iraq (2003). After the military, he transitioned into the field of Counseling (MAC, 2007). He also obtained a post-graduate certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy (Regis, 2011). He has worked in community-based outpatient clinics, private practice, a residential drug and alcohol program within the US Bureau of Prisons, as a Family Therapist within the VA, and several years as a Clinical Supervisor. Dr. Kreimeyer has taught for Regis University since 2012 and is Coordinator of the Counseling Military Families Certificate. He holds a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision through Regent University. Through his studies at Regent University, Dr. Kreimeyer has participated in groundbreaking efforts to bring the field of trauma-informed counseling to mental health providers in the war-torn country of Ukraine. His team helped to build the charter MA Counseling (IRCEP) program there, and they have recently been asked to help replicate this work in the region. He has also served recently as a contractor with the United Nations International Office for Migration to help train mental health workers there in trauma-informed care and also provide experiential retreats for Ukrainian military families.
Melinda Paige, Ph.D., LPC, CPCS, NCC,
Secretary--July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2024
Dr. Paige is a Board Certified Licensed Professional Counselor with over twenty years of clinical experience serving survivors of trauma and providing trauma mental health training and consultancy. She is the Founder of the Institute for Trauma Competency. She is a Counselor Educator at Southern New Hampshire University and a subject matter expert for trauma impact and counseling curricula. She was the recipient of the Chi Sigma Iota International Outstanding Practitioner award in 2014, the American Counseling Association Professional Development Award in 2018, and the Chi Sigma Iota International Outstanding Faculty Award in 2018. Dr. Paige has published and presented nationally on trauma competency, and protective factors for vicarious trauma and self-injury.
Amanda Mohammed, BA
Master's Student Representative 2023 - 2024
Amanda Mohammed is a graduate student in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MS) at Lynn University and achieved undergraduate honors in Psychology (BS) from COSTAATT, Trinidad and Tobago. She is a counselor-trainee at The Bougainvilla House in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and employed as a crisis & intake specialist for an Employee Assistance Program, ComPsych. She enjoys working with a diverse population of ages across the lifespan from a systemic, trauma-informed lens by specializing in children, adolescents, adults, and their families/relational systems. She is collaborating with professors for research focused on Trauma, and Autism Spectrum Disorder. She is a founder of the Lynn Student Counseling Organization where she served as an alternative member and initiated workshop seminars for clinical training to student members. She is a strong advocate for increasing mental health awareness and reducing homelessness & hunger rates in local communities, and volunteering with local mental health associations. She is committed to serving as IARTC's Graduate Student Representative and holistically supporting counselor professional identity development by connecting with students across the globe. d families.
Melena Saddler, LMHC, LPC, NCC, BC-TMH
Doctoral Student Representative 2023 - 2024
Melena Saddler is a doctoral student in the Counselor Education and Supervision program at Capella University. Melena is a resident of New York City and holds her LMHC in New York and her LPC in Connecticut. She completed her master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in 2013 at SUNY Plattsburgh. Melena works primarily as a telehealth therapist through her private practice. Her population of choice is women of color in the inner cities with a history of sexual trauma. Melena has been working with this population for the last five years and has aspirations of one day starting a remote retreat for survivors. Melena has been committed to trauma initiatives since 2016, when she decided to involve herself in organizations focused on helping sexual assault survivors. Melena’s dissertation is currently focused on improving the qualifications surrounding trauma-informed supervision by exploring the experiences of clinical supervisors. As a future counselor educator, Melena would like to see a trauma course built into the graduate curriculum and increased initiatives in the CACREP standards. As a member and representative of the IARTC Melena is looking to expand her initiatives and fellowship with like-minded providers.
Janina Fisher, PhD, LCP
Founding Trustee--July 1, 2021 - June 30, 2023
Janina Fisher, PhD, is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Instructor at the Trauma Center, an outpatient clinic and research center founded by Bessel van der Kolk. Known for her expertise as both a therapist and consultant, she is also a Past President of the New England Society for the Treatment of Trauma and Dissociation, an EMDR International Association Credit Provider, a faculty member of the Sensorimotor Psychotherapy Institute, and a former Instructor at Harvard Medical School. The author three books and countless articles on traumatic stress, Dr. Fisher lectures and teaches nationally and internationally on topics related to the integration of research and treatment and how to introduce these newer trauma treatment paradigms in traditional therapeutic approaches.
Michael Dubi, EdD, LMHC, NCC
Founding Trustee--July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2024
Mike Dubi, EdD, LMHC, NCC Dr. Dubi is founder, President, and CEO of the International Association of Trauma Professionals, and editor of the TraumaPro Newsletter with a circulation of over 65,000. He is an Associate Professor of Counselor Education at Argosy University/Sarasota since 1997. He has over 50 years of clinical practice in Florida, and is a Qualified Supervisor. He is certified in Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Hypnosis, EMDR, and Brainspotting. He is also a Board-Certified Expert in Traumatic Stress, a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, a Certified Trauma Specialist, Certified in Acute Traumatic Stress Management, Certified in Compassion Fatigue, and Certified in Disaster Mental Health. He has published several book chapters and a variety of articles on trauma, power therapies, case conceptualization, and supervision.
Martin Jencius, PhD
Founding Trustee--July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2026
Dr. Jencius is Associate Professor of Counseling at Kent State University in Ohio, with over 23 years of experience as a Counselor Educator. He has 16 years’ experience as a Professional Counselor, and is founder and manager of CESNET-L, a professional listserv for counselor educators. He is the co-founding editor of the Journal of Technology in Counseling, and founder/editor of CounselorAudioSource.net, a podcast series for counselors. He serves on the editorial boards of The International Journal for the Advancement of Counseling, and Counselor Education and Supervision Journal. He is co-editor of Elements of Supervision: Teaching, Reflections & Resources. He is the section editor of the Couples Enrichment and Education Section of The Family Journal, and writes a monthly column, The Digital Psyway, in Counseling Today, the monthly publication of the American Counseling Association with over 50,000 members. He has presented nationally and internationally on counselor education, technology in counseling, and counselor supervision. He is Past President of the Association of Counselor Educators and Supervisors (ACES), and is serving his second three-year term as ACA Governing Council Representative for ACES.
Dr. Daya Singh Sandhu, Founding Trustee--July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2026
Founding Chair, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice Committee
Dr. Daya Singh Sandhu, Ed.D., NCC, NCCC, NCSC, LPCC has been serving as the Director of Research and Professor in the doctoral program of Counselor Education and Supervision at the Lindsey Wilson College, Columbia, Kentucky since August 2014. He was formerly a distinguished professor of research and chairman of the Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology at the University of Louisville. Dr. Sandhu holds six graduate degrees including a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor of Teaching (B.T.), and an M.A. (English) from the Punjab University, Chandigarh, India. In addition, he earned M.Ed., Specialist in English, and Doctor's Degree in Counselor Education and Supervision from the United States.
Dr. Sandhu has served the profession of counselor education and supervision and counseling psychology with distinction for more than 25 years. In addition to more than 50 refereed journal articles and 70 book chapters, Dr. Sandhu has authored or edited thirteen textbooks. Some of Dr. Sandhu's notable textbooks which significantly impacted and contributed to the field of professional counseling and psychotherapy literature include:
Numerical problems in physics (Published in India by Royal Publishers, Punjab)
Satranghi Pingh, a collection of Punjabi poems. Punjabi Book Publishers, Jalandhar
Counseling for prejudice prevention and reduction
Empowering women for equity: A counseling approach
Multicultural competencies: A guidebook of practices
Counseling employees: A multifaceted approach
Faces of violence: Psychological correlates, concepts, and intervention strategies
Elementary school counseling in the new millennium
Asian and Pacific Islander Americans: Issues and concerns for counseling and psychotherapy
A practical guide to classroom observations: A multidimensional approach
Violence in American schools: A practical guide for counselors
Multicultural counseling: Context, theory and practice and competence
Appalachian Americans: Issues and Concerns for Counseling and Psychotherapy (2020)
Sat Guru Nanak Pargatya: The Divine Light of Universal Truth and Love (2020)
Throughout his professional career, Dr. Sandhu has received several highly prestigious and distinguished awards including: Fulbright Senior Research Scholar Award (2002); Fulbright Senior Research Award (2010); and Fulbright Senior Research Scholar Award (2017); AMCD Research Awards (twice); Multicultural Teaching Award; Chi Sigma Iota Research Award, President's Distinguished Faculty Award for Outstanding Scholarship, Research and Creativity; Mississippi State University Alumnus of the Year Award, and the Kentucky Counselor Educator of the Year Award twice (2001 & 2012). In 2001 Sage published Dr. Sandhu's autobiographical account of 15 pages in the Handbook of Multiculural Counseling (2001) to recognize him as one of the pioneers of multicultural counseling and development.
On March 21, 2012, Dr. Sandhu was honored as a Fellow of the American Counseling Association at ACA Convention in San Francisco. He was also honored as the Diplomate, by the American Mental Health Counselors Association on July 20, 2012, in Orlando, Florida. Dr. Sandhu also received one of the most coveted awards, the Arthur A. Hitchcock Distinguished Professional Service Award from the American Counseling Association on March 23 in Cincinnati. He was the sole recipient of this award from more than 58,000 professional members. He also received the Samuel H. Johnson Professional Service Award from the Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development on March 23 at the ACA annual convention in Cincinnati. On April 22, 2013, Dr. Sandhu was also honored with Kentucky Counseling Ambassador Award by the Kentucky Mental Health Counseling Association.
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The university-wide selection committee at the University of Louisville selected Dr. Daya Singh Sandhu to receive the 2013 President's Distinguished Career Achievement Faculty Award in Service. The Distinguished Faculty Service Awards are given annually to faculty who have made exceptional service contributions to the University of Louisville, their profession, the community or region, national or international service, and career of service. Dr. Sandhu received this prestigious, Lifetime Career Achievement Award on September 9, 2013, at the Celebration of Faculty Excellence. On August 23, 2013, the Council for International Exchange of Scholars (CIES) has awarded Dr. Sandhu, Fulbright Senior Specialist Award. Most recently, Dr. Daya Singh Sandhu received Senior Fulbright-Nehru Research Award for India on August 8, 2017. This Fulbright Research Award is called the core or classic award and is considered the most prestigious award.
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Dr. Sandhu was honored as the Outstanding Counselor Educator from all the nationwide tenured counselor educators at the annual convention of the Association for Counselor Educators and Supervision held from October 16-20, 2013 in Denver, Colorado. On October 25, 2013, Kentucky Counseling Association honored Dr. Sandhu with its most prestigious, Kearny Campbell Memorial Award.
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Dr. Daya Sandhu received one of India's highly prestigious Hind Rattan Award on January 25, 2014, in New Delhi. The Hind Rattan (Hindi phrase translated to English as "Jewel of India") is one of the highest Indian diasporic awards granted annually to non-resident Indian citizens (NRIs) by the NRI Welfare Society of India, an organization under the umbrella of the Government of India. The award ceremony is attended by senior members of the Government of India and of the Supreme Court of India.
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American Counseling Association honored Dr. Daya Singh Sandhu with the most prestigious, 2014 ACA Presidential Award, at the Annual Convention of ACA held in Honolulu, Hawaii from March 27-30, 2014. Dr. Sandhu's outstanding counseling career as a scholar, educator, and mentor was highlighted with much praise and adoration. The Kentucky Counseling Association initiated a new, “Dr. Daya Singh Sandhu Research and Creative Innovations in Counseling Award” on June 22, 2015, in recognition of Dr. Sandhu’s national and international contributions to the profession of counseling. Briefly, this award is designed to recognize and honor counselors within Kentucky Counseling Association who have conducted high-quality research or developed innovative programs. The results of these elite professionals’ work are of significance and interest to counselors as well as contribute to the expansion of the counseling profession and/or lead to new methods or services for clients.
Dr. Sandhu was honored as the Outstanding Counselor Educator from all the nationwide tenured counselor educators at the annual convention of the Association for Counselor Educators and Supervision held from October 16-20, 2013 in Denver, Colorado. On October 25, 2013, Kentucky Counseling Association honored Dr. Sandhu with its most prestigious, Kearny Campbell Memorial Award. American Counseling Association honored Dr. Daya Singh Sandhu with the most prestigious, 2014 ACA Presidential Award, at the Annual Convention of ACA held in Honolulu, Hawaii from March 27-30, 2014. Dr. Sandhu's outstanding career as a scholar, educator, and mentor was highlighted with much praise and adoration.
The Kentucky Counseling Association initiated a new, “Dr. Daya Singh Sandhu Research and Creative Innovations in Counseling Award” on June 22, 2015, in recognition of Dr. Sandhu’s national and international contributions to the profession of counseling. Briefly, this award is designed to recognize and honor counselors within Kentucky’s organizations that have conducted high-quality research or developed innovative programs.
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On May 13, 2015, Dr. Daya Singh Sandhu was honored with a medal and Pravasi Rattan Award by the NRI Welfare Society of India at the Global Achievers Conclave held at Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. It was truly a great occasion to be honored with other distinguished NRI’s from all around the world who made significant and lasting contributions in numerous fields such as academia, medicine, business, law, and politics. Dr. Sandhu was one of the twenty global achievers honored by 23 million persons of Indian origin living abroad. This award is bestowed upon a very few selected professionals for their efforts to build closer links among nations; promote social and humanitarian causes; devote their time and energies to initiatives meant for the welfare of the local communities and for their eminent or outstanding work in their chosen profession.
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Dr. Daya Singh Sandhu, Professor and Director of Research, at the Lindsey Wilson College received the Global Achievers Award on October 25, 2018, at the Annual Conclave of Global Achievers held at the House of Commons, British Parliament, London, England. The NRI Welfare Society of India conferred this award on Dr. Sandhu for his eminence and outstanding work in his professional field; philanthropic and charitable work in Punjab, India, and the welfare of the Sikh community in the United States. Dr. Sandhu was one of the 30 recipients selected from 31.5 million Non-Resident Indians living all around the world. Dr. Sandhu also addressed the participants at the House of Commons, the British Parliament, London on the significance and challenges of globalization.
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During his lengthy professional career of 35 years, Dr. Daya Singh Sandhu has made more than 250 professional presentations at the local, state, regional, national, and international levels. International presentations have taken Dr. Sandhu to almost 27 countries including, Canada, China, India, France, Greece, Jamaica, Philippines, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, to name a few.
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Dr. Sandhu has served on several editorial boards including the Journal of Counseling & Development (the flagship Journal of the American Counseling Association), the Journal of Counseling and Values, Journal of Counselor Education and Supervision, Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, Professional School Counseling, International Journal of the Accelerating Learning and Teaching, Journal of Counseling Research and Practice, Psychological Reports, School Counselor, Journal of Adult Development and Aging, etc. He also edited special issues of various national and international journals. Some of these special issues included, School Violence for the Professional School Counseling; Asian and Pacific Islander Americans for the Journal of the Multicultural Counseling and Development; Suggestopedia and Neurolinguistic Programming and Learning Styles and Suggestopedia, these both special issues were published in the Journal for Accelerative Learning and Teaching
Since January 1986, when Dr. Sandhu joined the American Counseling Association (ACA), he has actively participated in the professional and leadership activities of this world renowned association of more than 58,000 professional members. He has served on ACA's Ethics Committee, Human Rights Committee, Research and Knowledge Committee, and International Committee several times. He also chaired ACA's Research and Knowledge Committee and International Committee twice.
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It is worth noting that Dr. Sandhu served on CACREP Executive Board of Directors for five years (1996-2001). While on this board, he also participated actively in developing and revising standards for CACREP accreditation in general and Social and Cultural Diversity in particular. Presently, he is serving on CACREP's visitation team to evaluate interested universities' programs for much desired national recognition through CACREP accreditation.
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Dr. Daya Singh Sandhu served as the national president of the Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development (2009-2010), a national division of ACA, and started Association of Mental Health Counselors in India, AMHC (India). Since May 4, 2010, Dr. Daya Singh Sandhu has been serving Founding Executive Director of AMHC.
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As the Chair of the International Committee of ACA, he has started ACA International Counseling Interest Network which is poised to become the newest and the 21st division of ACA. Currently, there are members of 487 ICIN and 1221 ICIN members are on Facebook. The International Counseling Interest Network (ICIN), proposed and launched by Dr. Daya Singh Sandhu is one of his major lifetime professional accomplishments to validate counseling as a major profession to address mental health challenges worldwide.
The internationalization of professional counseling is truly Dr. Sandhu's signature contribution to ameliorate psychological afflictions of humans throughout the world. Through his publications and cutting-edge research, Dr. Sandhu has become the cynosure of his colleagues and students. The sharp focus of Sandhu's research on the most current issues of social justice, human rights, diversity, equity, and empowerment of marginalized populations have made Dr. Sandhu a popular researcher and scholar. Dr. Sandhu's selection as a Fulbright Senior Research Scholar in 2002, second time again as a Fulbright-Nehru Senior Research Scholar in 2010, and Senior Fulbright-Nehru Research Scholarship Award third time is a clear testimony of Dr. Sandhu's brilliant and illustrious career. While receiving Senior Fulbright Research Scholarship Award even once is considered a matter of great pride, receiving it three times is amazing and rare among the scholars. It is like winning the Triple Crown Trophy in Research and Scholarship.
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Dr. Sandhu's contributions to the field of counseling are solid and substantial. Not only in the United States but throughout the world, Dr. Daya Singh Sandhu has established himself as a leader, educator, researcher, and a scholar of a very high caliber. As evidenced through numerous awards, honors, prizes, and accolades, Dr. Sandhu's professional contributions are at par excellence.
Here are some observations made by eminent scholars from the fields of professional counseling and counseling psychology about Dr. Daya Singh Sandhu as a person and as a scholar. Dr. Charles Ridley, Dean for Research and the University Graduate School, Indiana University wrote about Dr. Sandhu: "Reading Dr. Sandhu's autobiographical account, "An eco-cultural analysis of agonies and ecstasies of my life in the Handbook of Multicultural Counseling brings to mind the words of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., "Never judge a man by the heights he has ascended, but by the depths from which he has come from."
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Dr. Joseph G. Ponterotto, a worldwide leading authority in the area of multiculturalism and the senior editor of the Handbook of Multicultural Counseling (2001): "Impressively, despite challenges and traumas experienced throughout his life, we note in Dr. Sandhu's story a deep sustaining spiritual connection that has assisted him in maintaining a love of life and work. He appears to have found deep meaning in his life experiences that inform and guide his ground-breaking professional work, which includes classic books and journal articles on fighting racial prejudice, gender inequity, and youth violence. He is clearly a renaissance person, a multicultural person (p. 157).
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Ponterotto, J.G., Casas, J.M., Suzuki, L.A., & Alexander, C.M. (2001). Handbook of Multicultural Counseling (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
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On May 11, 2019, Dr. Daya Singh Sandhu was appointed as the Senior Editor of an international journal called, Journal of the Underrepresented & Minority Progress (JUMP). The Society of Transnational Academic Research Scholars also honored Daya Singh Sandhu as the Fellow of the STAR Scholars Network
In addition to his scholarly activities as a Professor in the field of Counselor Education and Supervision, Dr. Daya Singh Sandhu has played a leading role in his community both in the United States and India. For instance, he is the Founding President of the Sikh Society of Kentucky since 2011. With help from the Sikh community, he established the Sikh Gurudwara (Temple) in Louisville which opened its door on April 14, 2012, for religious services. It was the very first Gurdwara ever opened in the State of Kentucky.
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At his native village Gandhran, Punjab, India, Dr. Daya Singh Sandhu and his wife, Usha Sandhu were invited on March 17, 2018 as Chief Guests to perform the opening ceremony of a village library and a small hospital called, Guru Nanak Dev Hospital for the free medical help for the people of their village. All the people of the village enjoyed the refreshments on this occasion as they honored Dr. Sandhu with a memento calling him the most respected son of the village. The whole village and its panchayat, a governing body, thanked Dr. Daya Sandhu and his wife Usha Sandhu for their generosity and congratulated them for the completion of a much- needed library and the hospital.
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On September 1, 2021, Dr. Sandhu is appointed to serve on the Binational Board for Fulbright Award to review and recommend applicants for the Senior Fulbright Research Award. Dr. Sandhu has been a Senior Fulbright Research Scholar three times (2002, 2010, 2018) to visit India and Nepal to complete his research projects.
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Most recently, the Association of Counselor Education and Supervision has selected Dr. Daya Singh Sandhu as the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award for his solid and substantial contributions to the field of professional counseling. Dr. Sandhu will be honored on October 9, 2021, in Atlanta at the annual convention of the Association of Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES).
Lisa Vinson, MA, LCPC, CADC, NCC, CCMHC, CCDP, CCTP II, ACS
Founding IARTC Trustee--July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2025
Lisa Vinson is a Counselor Educator, Clinical Counselor, consultant, professor, and trainer devoted to providing direct service to individuals experiencing PTSD, and alcohol and substance use issues across the lifespan. Lisa’s work experience has targeted ineffective behaviors, habits, and beliefs around education and mental health in African American communities. She served Chicago’s Southside and far Southside suburban areas for over 20 years with those who have been through severe life stressors. Lisa continues leading multidisciplinary care teams to assist individuals seeking healthy solutions for strengthening interpersonal relationships.
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In August 2020, Lisa accepted the position of Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator for the Alcohol and Substance Abuse concentration at the University of Illinois - Springfield. Lisa’s education has advanced her teaching, research, leadership, and advocacy competencies. She prepares counselors-in-training who want to become university professors, clinical supervisors, or industry leaders. Lisa continues to find purpose and fulfillment in private practice with Great Lakes Psychology Group as a clinical counselor. Working with clients keeps her current on new evidence-based therapies and symptomology. She provides counseling with adults suffering from abuse, neglect, trauma, and behavioral difficulties while offering a path forward.
Lisa proudly serves her community. She was recently elected as Trustee for the International Association for Resilience and Trauma Counseling (IARTC), a proposed division of the American Counseling Association, beginning July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2025. In October 2021, she became an advisory board member for the Statewide Citizen’s Committee on Abuse and Neglect – SCCAN (325 ILCS 5/11.7) with a 3-year appointment ending June 30, 2025.
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She is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, a Certified Alcohol and Other Drug Counselor, a Co-Occurring Substance Use and Mental Health Disorder Professional-Level I, a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional-Level II, a Certified Complex Trauma Professional-Level I, and an Approved Clinical Supervisor. Lisa also conducts seminars and workshops on various research topics on racial/ethnic identity and trauma-informed care. Lisa has begun to foster new professional collaborations in Springfield, Illinois to support under-served populations.
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Lisa Vinson holds a Master of Arts degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Chicago State University. Ms. Vinson will complete her Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from Northern Illinois University with a defense date of April 2022.
Misty Hatch, MA, LMHC-A (IL, IN), NCC
Founding IARTC Trustee--July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2025
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Misty Hatch is a graduate of Valparaiso University where she received her Masters of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She is a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC) and is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor Associate (LMHC-A) in Indiana and Illinois. Misty is currently a doctoral student at the University of Holy Cross and will be undergoing EMDR training in March. She is also a certified yoga instructor (RYT-200) through Yoga Alliance and has taught vinyasa and trauma-informed yoga for the last 6 years.
Misty has clinical experience in various settings and populations, including, incarcerated adults, crisis intervention, structured outpatient substance use programs, and nonprofits. In her practice, Misty uses a diverse approach when working with her clients, often pulling from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focused Therapy, Mindfulness, and trauma-informed modalities.
Misty’s clinical interests/focus areas include adults with substance use disorder, suicidal ideation, anxiety, trauma, and grief.