Deanna Towns

Job Title

Core Faculty | Assistant Professor
Counseling (M.A.), Graduate School

Highlight

Clinical Supervision; Trauma and Abuse; Development of Counseling Internationally; Virtues in Learning Acquisition; Military Families Deanna Towns earned her bachelor's degree in social work from University of Georgia, her master's in marriage and family therapy from Liberty University in Virginia, and her doctorate in counselor education and supervision at Regent University in Virginia. Prior to joining the Bethel community, Deanna worked as an adjunct professor at Regent University and and as a clinical mental health counselor in private practice. She is involved in educating students and supervisors cross-culturally and establishing the profession of counseling in Eastern Europe.

Started at Bethel

2019

Education

University of Georgia - BSW, 1993
Liberty University - MA Marriage & Family Counseling, 2011
Regent University - PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision, 2021

Courses Taught

Theories and Techniques of Counseling; Clinical Assessment and Intervention; Theories and Techniques of Career Counseling; Child and Adolescent Counseling; Internship I and II; Individual and Family Assessment; Multicultural Counseling and Social Justice; Supervision and Consultation; Theories of Family Therapy; Advanced Skills and Practicum; Ethics, Professional Orientation, and Legal Issues; Advanced Skills and Practicum; Human Sexuality.

Awards

Outstanding Service to Chapter Award (Alpha Omega Lambda chapter of Chi Sigma Iota)

Presentations

Invited Presentations and Trainings

Evans, A., Nelson, J., & Towns, D. (2022, March). Self-care, compassion fatigue, and burnout: A clinician’s ethical responsibility [Seminar]. Nystrom and Associates, Ltd., Arden Hills, MN.

Zaporozhets, O., Kreimeyer, J., & Towns, D. (2017, October). Standardization of mental health services for military members and their families in Ukraine. Presented at the Seminar for Ukrainian Military Psychologists and Government Administrators in Mental Health and Psychological Support Services, facilitated by the Administration of the President of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine.

Zaporozhets, O., Stafford, K., & Towns, D. (2017, October). Suicide prevention among service members and implementation of master's and post-graduate programs for psychologists. Round table discussion facilitated by the National Guard of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine.

Towns, D. L. (2017, October 17). Resilience in Military Families. Round table: Resilience and stress resistance of contemporary Ukraine: Consequences of war and mental health, facilitated by Golda Meir Ukraine-Israeli Institute of Strategic Research, National Academy of Government under the President of Ukraine, and Ariel University (Israel). Presented and broadcasted on National News Agency of Ukraine (official Ukraine government channel), UKRINFORM, Kyiv, Ukraine.

National and International Conference Presentations

Towns, D. L., & Jones, A. (2021, September 5-11). Developing a culturally humble supervisor: Implications for personal development, the supervisory alliance, and client care. [Education]. Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES), Atlanta, GA, United States. http://aces2021.net/resources/Program.pdf

Towns, D. L., & Jones, A. (2021, March 26-27). Developing a culturally humble supervisor: Implications for personal development, the supervisory alliance, and client care. [Academic/Research]. Christian Association for Psychological Studies (CAPS), Virtual Conference. https://caps.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/caps-conference-agenda-2021.pdf

Runyan, H., & Towns, D. L. (2019, October 10-13). Improving persistence and accelerating dissertation completion rates through use of detailed timelines [Education session]. Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES), Seattle, WA, United States. http://aces2019.net/resources/ACES-2019-Conference-Program-FINAL-v2.pdf

Towns, D. L. (2018, May 27). Enhancing the family system as a resource for growth, resiliency, and recovery. Presented at the 5th International Scientific-Clinical Conference of Christian Psychologists, facilitated by Ukraine Catholic University, L'viv, Ukraine.

Palen, C., & Towns, D. (2018, May 27). Addressing secondary trauma in the family system. Workshop at the 5th International Scientific-Clinical Conference of Christian Psychologists, facilitated by Ukraine Catholic University, L'viv, Ukraine.

Kellums, M., Zaporozhets, O., & Towns, D. L. (2017, March). Cultural factors in effective supervision between Ukrainian supervisees and non-Ukrainian supervisors. Poster presented at the annual conference of Christian Association of Psychological Studies, Chicago, IL.

Certificates and Licenses

Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Supervisor (NC)

Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor / Supervisor (MN)

Nationally Certified Counselor

Professional Organizations, Committees, and Boards

American Counseling Association

Association for Counselor Education and Supervision

Christian Association for Psychological Studies, Community of Counselors and Counseling Educators committee member

Chi Sigma Iota

International Mental Health Consulting, Inc., Vice President