Kayla Newkirk, MS.Ed, MHC-LP

# Counselor Educator
& Clinical Practitioner

I believe that the heart of our work as counselors lies in the relationships we build, the spaces we create, the communities we nurture, and the courage we have to walk alongside one another through both struggle and growth.

Welcome CV Resume Profile

About

## My Story

I am a limited permit mental health counselor (MHC-LP) and a PhD candidate in Counselor Education and Supervision at Waynesburg University. The five pillars of our field define my professional identity—counseling, supervision, teaching, research, and leadership and advocacy—each one shaping how I show up in every space I occupy.

As a clinician, I practice from an Adlerian foundation integrated with evidence-based strategies (CBT, ACT, motivational interviewing), creating affirming therapeutic alliances rooted in cultural humility and ethical care. My clinical journey spans crisis counseling at Contact Community Services, addiction treatment at the University of Arkansas, community mental health at Branches of Growth, and private practice at True Talk Mental Health Counseling. Each setting deepened my belief that the most meaningful work happens when we meet people where they are, with genuine presence and humility.

As a supervisor, I use the Discrimination Model through a developmental lens, flexing among the roles of teacher, counselor, and consultant to scaffold supervisee growth. I have supervised master’s-level practicum and internship students at the University of Arkansas and Waynesburg University, emphasizing strong supervisory alliances, cultural responsiveness, and ethical grounding.

As a teacher, I design relationship-centered, equity-minded learning experiences grounded in constructivist and adult-learning principles. I co-taught The Helping Relationship at the University of Arkansas and served as a guest lecturer on REBT for doctoral students, creating classrooms where psychological safety, cultural humility, and professional identity development take center stage.

As a researcher, I am committed to scholarship that amplifies marginalized voices and advances inclusive excellence. I have contributed to qualitative research on gaming addiction, collaborated on a dissertation examining trans experiences within the U.S. prison system, and co-authored a publication comparing asynchronous and synchronous learning in the Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision—which was honored with the JCPS Outstanding Journal Article Award in 2025.

And as a leader and advocate, my professional mission is grounded in disability justice, universal design, and evolving the way we support counselors and students. I serve as Co-Chair of the IAWC Doctoral Student Committee, Resource Page Coordinator, and New York (Upstate) Ambassador for the International Association of Women in Counseling, sit on the ACES Continuing Education Committee and Presidential Task Force, and serve with NARACES and ACAC. I have also held roles ranging from process group facilitator to academic coach. These commitments reflect my belief that advancing our profession and supporting the next generation of counselors is not optional; it is essential.

Outside of my professional roles, I am someone who finds meaning in quiet moments of reflection, in the honesty of a good conversation, and in the small, steady work of showing up. I believe that good counseling and good teaching are not so different—they both ask us to listen carefully, respond thoughtfully, and trust the process.

Education & Background

## My Path

### Ph.D., Counselor Education and Supervision

Waynesburg University — 2025 to Present

Doctoral training in counselor supervision, teaching pedagogy, research methodology, and advanced clinical practice. My doctoral work centers on trauma-informed approaches to supervision and preparing future counselors to work with complex, marginalized populations.

### Ph.D., Counselor Education and Supervision (First Year Completed)

University of Arkansas — 2023 to 2024

Completed the first year of doctoral studies, including an advanced supervision practicum, a teaching assistantship in an undergraduate helping relationships course, and collaborative research on gaming addiction and qualitative methodologies.

### MS.Ed., Clinical Mental Health Counseling, magna cum laude

Saint Bonaventure University — 2023

A CACREP-accredited program that shaped my clinical foundation through internships in addiction counseling, community mental health, and university-based clinic settings. Here I learned that the most meaningful clinical work happens when we meet clients where they are, with humility and genuine presence.

### B.A., Psychology — Minor in Human Development

SUNY Geneseo — 2019

My undergraduate years introduced me to the power of research and the complexity of human development. I worked as a research assistant studying language dynamics between children and their siblings and friends, and had the opportunity to present our findings at a national psychology conference.

### A.A., Liberal Arts, cum laude

Cayuga Community College — 2016

Honors

## Awards & Recognition

- JCPS Outstanding Journal Article Award — Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision, 2025
- Chi Sigma Iota Honor Society — Rho Alpha Beta Chapter, 2024
- Chi Sigma Iota Honor Society — Phi Rho Chapter, 2022–2023
- Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society — 2015

Clinical Work

## Clinical Experience

Private Practice

### Limited Permit Mental Health Counselor

True Talk Mental Health Counseling, Manhasset, NY — 2024 to Present

I provide individual counseling to adults navigating anxiety, depression, life transitions, and trauma. My approach is grounded in person-centered and cognitive-behavioral frameworks, and I am intentional about creating a space where clients feel safe enough to explore the parts of their lives that feel the most tender. Each session is an opportunity to witness someone's resilience, and I carry that responsibility with care.

Crisis & Community

### Shift Lead / Crisis Line Counselor / Community Resource Specialist

Contact Community Services, Syracuse, NY — 2021 to 2023

On the other end of a crisis line, every call is different. Some callers need immediate safety intervention; others need someone to listen without judgment at 2 AM. I managed calls across eleven hotlines including the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, supervised shift operations, coordinated with emergency services for life-saving interventions, and deployed Mobile Crisis Teams for on-site support. I also served as a Community Resource Specialist, navigating the 211 system across 17 New York counties to connect callers with housing, food security, and mental health services. This work taught me more about presence, patience, and the weight of silence than any textbook could.

Case Management

### Case Manager / Transition Facilitator

Coordinated Care Services, Inc. (CCSI), Syracuse, NY — Mar 2020 to Feb 2021

I managed a caseload of 20 youth ages 16–21, supporting them in building goals, forging community connections, and developing the skills for independent living. I acted as a primary liaison between clinical providers, social service agencies, educational institutions, and legal systems to provide holistic, cross-system care coordination. This boots-on-the-ground casework deepened my understanding of systemic barriers and the kind of persistent advocacy that effective support requires.

Addiction

### Substance Education, Assessment & Recovery (SEAR) Intern

University of Arkansas Online Clinic — 2023

Working with clients navigating substance use disorders, I learned how deeply shame and stigma can wound. My role involved conducting comprehensive intake evaluations and assessments, developing individualized treatment plans, and offering individual counseling with evidence-based approaches. I also facilitated Narcan training sessions and community education initiatives to enhance local crisis response and promote harm reduction. I carried forward a lasting belief that recovery is not a straight line, and our job as counselors is to walk alongside, not ahead.

Community Mental Health

### Master’s Level Intern — Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Branches of Growth Mental Health Counseling, PLLC, Cicero, NY & University of Arkansas — 2022 to 2023

Across two internship placements, I provided both in-person and remote counseling to clients facing a range of concerns from academic stress to deep personal challenges. I conducted comprehensive intake assessments, built treatment plans collaboratively, and learned to adapt my approach to each client’s unique context and culture.

Teaching

## Teaching & Facilitation

Co-Instructor

### The Helping Relationship — CNED 3053

University of Arkansas, Undergraduate — Fall 2023

I co-taught this undergraduate elective for students exploring helping professions like counseling, teaching, and coaching. We focused on foundational skills that are deceptively simple and profoundly hard: listening without fixing, sitting with discomfort, offering empathy genuinely. Students practiced through mock interviews, reflective writing, and group presentations that pushed them to engage not just with the material, but with themselves.

Guest Lecturer

### Advanced Counseling Theory & Methods — CNED 6013

University of Arkansas, Doctoral-Level — Spring 2024

I was invited to deliver a lecture on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) to a CACREP-accredited doctoral class. I created research-based materials connecting REBT's historical foundations to its contemporary clinical applications, and facilitated a peer-level discussion on how theory shows up in practice. Teaching doctoral students reminded me that learning is never finished, and the best teachers remain students at heart.

Workshops & Community

### Wellness, Study Skills & Community Presentations

University of Arkansas & Onondaga County Library — 2022 to 2024

I have led workshops on mindfulness, stress management, and academic success strategies in settings ranging from university classrooms to public libraries. Whether teaching a group of engineering students how to prepare for finals or offering a guided imagery exercise to colleagues, I aim to make wellness practices accessible, practical, and grounded in evidence.

Media & Community

### Grad Speech & Psychoeducation Videos

Selected Presentations — 2023 to 2024

I was honored to deliver the student speech at St. Bonaventure University’s graduate commencement ceremony, reflecting on the journey through graduate study and the calling that brings us to this work.

I have also created psychoeducation content shared publicly: Mindfulness 101: Stress to Rest and Stress Management Strategies.

Supervision

## Supervision Experience

Doctoral Supervisor

### Internship Supervision

Waynesburg University — Fall 2025 to Present

I currently supervise two master's-level internship students, supporting them as they transition toward independent practice. Our work together focuses on professional identity development, advanced intervention strategies, and navigating the complexity that comes with longer-term client relationships. I evaluate their growth through direct observation, case presentations, and thoughtful documentation, always with an eye toward what they need most at this stage of their development.

Doctoral Supervisor

### Practicum Supervision

Waynesburg University — Summer 2025

I supervised two master's-level practicum students as they took their first steps into clinical work. These early sessions are formative, and I worked to create a supervision environment where students felt safe enough to be uncertain, honest enough to ask hard questions, and supported enough to take risks with their clients.

Doctoral Supervisor

### Practicum & Internship Supervision

University of Arkansas — Spring 2024

I provided clinical supervision to four master's-level students across practicum and internship placements. Each week we met to review case conceptualizations, explore ethical dilemmas, and build documentation skills. I learned that supervision is not about having all the answers, but about asking the questions that help supervisees find their own.

Research & Scholarship

## Research & Publications

### Publication

- Henry, H., Newkirk, K., & Guggenberger, L. "The Power of Choice: Comparing Asynchronous and Synchronous Learning." Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision, 2025.

### Research Experience

Qualitative Research

### Prone to Prejudice: Trans Experiences and Structural Harm in the U.S. Prison System

Dissertation Research Collaboration, University of Arkansas — 2025

I collaborated on qualitative data analysis for a dissertation examining the experiences of transgender individuals within the U.S. prison system. I applied thematic coding techniques to over 60 post-incarceration statements, identifying emergent themes and patterns that illuminated the structural harm these individuals endure. This work reinforced my commitment to research that amplifies marginalized voices and presses toward justice.

Addiction Research

### Gaming Addiction Study

Research Assistant, University of Arkansas — 2023

I was part of a research team investigating gaming addiction, where I coded over 250 individual gaming posts for qualitative patterns and contributed to team coding of over 500 posts. This experience taught me the discipline of rigorous qualitative analysis and the importance of collaborative, consensus-driven research processes.

Developmental Psychology

### Language Dynamics in Children's Relationships

Research Assistant, SUNY Geneseo — 2017 to 2019

I studied how seven-year-old children use assertive and affiliative language differently depending on whether they are interacting with siblings or friends. I analyzed video recordings, calculated language patterns, and collaborated with the research team to present our findings at the Association for Psychological Science 31st Annual Convention in Washington, D.C. and at SUNY Geneseo's GREAT Day.

### Selected Presentations

- "Virtual Vitality: Bridging the CSI Counselor Wellness Competencies and the CHANGES Model for Accessible Telehealth Supervision" — IAWC 2026 World Conference, Dallas, TX. May 2026. 30-minute in-person slide presentation examining supervision practices tailored to clinicians and supervisees with invisible disabilities, advancing inclusive and universally designed approaches to telehealth supervision.
- "Evaluation in Counseling Supervision: Enhancing Practice through Feedback" — Virtual continuing education presentation with Jennifer Morris, LPC. Spring 2024. 20+ local practitioners attended.
- "We Care on the Go" — Guided imagery and psychoeducation session. University of Arkansas, GRAD 340. April 2024.
- Narcan Training — Substance Education, Assessment, and Recovery (SEAR) Ambassadors. Alpha Chi Omega Sorority House, Fayetteville, AR. 2023.
- "Implementing Evidence-Based Wellness Practices for Counselors to Mitigate Long-Term Professional Burnout" — CSI Days Virtual Poster Session. 2022–2023.
- "Mindfulness 101: Stress to Rest" — Virtual presentation and Onondaga County Library. July 2023.
- "Stress Management" — Virtual presentation and Onondaga County Library. July 2023.
- "Gender and Task in 7-Year Old's Assertive and Afflictive Language with Siblings and Friend" — APS 31st Annual Convention, Washington D.C., 2019 and SUNY Geneseo GREAT Day, 2019.

Service

## Academic Service & Leadership

Doctoral Student Committee Co-Chair

### IAWC Doctoral Student Committee

International Association of Women in Counseling — 2026 to Present

As co-chair of the IAWC Doctoral Student Committee, I help shape the doctoral student experience by planning committee meetings, clarifying purpose and goals, and setting member expectations. I am developing a DOC-to-Master's mentorship program, recruiting guest speakers who can offer continuing education, and creating spaces where emerging counselors and educators can find connection, mentorship, and community.

Resource Page Coordinator

### IAWC Resource Page

International Association of Women in Counseling — 2026 to Present

I coordinate Resource Managers across wellness sections, review submissions against a standardized rubric and template, and ensure that content aligns with the IAWC mission and vision before it moves to the website. This role bridges content contributors and association leadership to keep the resource page accurate, useful, and representative of our community.

New York (Upstate) Ambassador

### IAWC Ambassador Program

International Association of Women in Counseling — 2026 to Present

As the IAWC ambassador for upstate New York, I serve as a local point of contact for members and prospective members, share association updates, certifications, and initiatives, and help build regional visibility for IAWC's mission of wellness-centered counseling.

Committee Member

### ACES Continuing Education Committee

Association for Counselor Education and Supervision — 2025 to 2026

As a member of the ACES Continuing Education Committee, I contribute to shaping professional development opportunities for counselor educators and supervisors nationwide, helping ensure that continuing education offerings remain relevant, rigorous, and responsive to the field’s evolving needs.

Committee Member

### ACES Presidential Task Force

Association for Counselor Education and Supervision — 2025 to 2026

Serving on the ACES Presidential Task Force, I contribute to national initiatives shaping the future of counselor education, alongside leaders in the field.

Reviewer & Member

### NARACES & ACAC Service

Northeastern Association for Counselor Education and Supervision — 2025 to Present

I actively serve on national and international committees for NARACES and the Association of Child and Adolescent Counseling (ACAC), peer-reviewing national proposals and managing competitive review pipelines.

Graduate Assistantship

### Calculus Academic Coach

University of Arkansas — 2023 to 2024

As a graduate assistant for the College of Engineering, I worked one-on-one with 10 to 15 students each semester to help them build academic skills, study strategies, and confidence. I also collaborated with faculty to develop course content and department-wide academic support initiatives. This role taught me that teaching is not just about content, it is about helping someone discover that they are capable of more than they believe.

Group Facilitation

### CMHC Program Process Group Facilitator

University of Arkansas — 2023

I designed and facilitated a weekly process group for master's students in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. The group was a space for students to reflect on their growth, offer honest feedback to one another, and practice the interpersonal skills that are at the core of our work as counselors.

Graduate Assistantship

### Research and Departmental Support

St. Bonaventure University — 2021 to 2023

I supported faculty research by locating and reviewing literature, writing literature reviews, and co-authoring a journal article. Over 300 hours of collaborative work across multiple departmental projects deepened my appreciation for the scholarship that informs our clinical and teaching practices.

Connect

## Let's Connect

Whether you are a prospective student exploring the field, a fellow educator interested in collaboration, a member of the community looking to connect, or someone who simply wants to reach out, I would love to hear from you. The best conversations are the ones where we show up as we are and discover what we can build together.

kayla.newkirk@student.waynesburg.edu Connect on LinkedIn
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