Disaster Mental Health Counseling

Mark A. Stebnicki, PhD, LPC, DCMHS, CRC, CCM, is Professor and Coordinator of the Military and Trauma Counseling Certificate Program he developed in the Department of Addictions and Rehabilitation Services at East Carolina University. Dr. Stebnicki is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in North Carolina and holds three national certifications. He is also certified by the Washington, DC-based crisis response team, National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA) and North Carolina’s American Red Cross Disaster Mental Health crisis team. He developed one of the nation’s first state credential, the Certified Clinical Military Counselor (CCMC) offered and administered through the Licensed Professional Counseling Association of North Carolina (LPCANC). Dr . Stebnicki is an active teacher, researcher, and practitioner with over 30 years’ experience working with the mental health and psychosocial rehabilitation needs of persons that have traumatic stress, chronic illnesses and disabilities. He has written and edited The Psychological and Social Impact of Illness and Disability 6th Ed. (2012, Springer Publishing), The Professional Counselors’ Desk Reference, 2nd Ed (2016, Springer Publishing), Empathy Fatigue: Healing the Mind, Body, and Spirit of Professional Counselors (2008, Springer Publishing), What is Adolescent Mental Health?: Helping Disconnected and at-Risk Youth to Become Whole (2007 ), and Youth at-Risk (2001) workbook and DVD. He has presented at over 95 regional, state, and national conferences, seminars, and workshops, on topics ranging from youth violence, traumatic stress, empathy fatigue, and the psychosocial aspects of adults with chronic illnesses and disabilities. He served on the crisis response team for the Westside Middle School shootings in Jonesboro, AR and has done many stress debriefings with private companies, schools, and government employees after incidents of workplace violence, hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods. Other accomplishments include consulting with former President Bill Clinton’s staff on addressing the students of Columbine High School after their critical shooting incident.