Theories and Models of Counseling: An Integrative Perspective

Robyn Trippany Simmons received her Ed.D. in Counselor Education from the University of Alabama in 2001 and has been a practicing counselor since 1996. She serves as Professor in the Department of Counseling at the University of the Cumberlands. Dr. Simmons has also served in programmatic administrative and leadership positions for much of her career. Dr. Simmons’s research and clinical interests include sexual trauma, vicarious trauma, play therapy, and professional identity issues. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor in Alabama and is a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor. Dr. Simmons publishes and presents locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally on play therapy, creative approaches to therapy and clinical supervision, counselor education, and trauma counseling.

Dr. Brandi Chamberlin is a professor of counseling at the University of the Cumberlands. Dr. Chamberlin received her PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision from Liberty University and is a licensed professional counselor in the state of Virginia. Dr. Chamberlin has worked in a variety of clinical settings since 2004 and has served in administrative and leadership positions within higher education for over 15 years. Her primary research interests are in online counselor education, integration of spirituality and counseling, and cultural orientation. She is an active member of the counseling community serving as the past- president of the Lynchburg Area Counselor’s Association, and the past-president for the Virginia Association of Counselor Education and Supervision. Dr. Chamberlin has published and presented on counselor education, multicultural competency, spirituality and counseling, and wellness locally, regionally, and nationally. She has expertise in CACREP accreditation processes and programmatic assessment. Clinically, Dr. Chamberlin works primarily with couples from an attachment perspective with specialized training in Emotion Focused Therapy.