A clinician and social justice advocate Sierah Campbell recently received the prestigious National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) Minority Fellowship. An Adams State University School of Counselor Education second-year doctoral student, Campbell is currently a private practice owner/clinician for Perry Behavioral Wellness, LLC, in Clarksville, Tenn.
Campbell said the Minority Fellowship Program (MFP) will aid in her dedication to research, advocacy, counseling, and educational advancement to address gaps in treatment for underserved populations, which aligns with the MFP goal to reduce health disparities and enhance the well-being of the community.
The MFP mission is to change the face of counseling; including counseling in underserved areas, educate and lecture on topics of interest, and research and develop exciting new counseling initiatives.
“My goal is to aid in the reduction of health disparities by addressing barriers to equitable treatment among marginalized groups,” Campbell said. Alongside colleagues, she is currently conducting research on the training and experience of licensed mental health providers working with people of color navigating an eating disorder(s). The results of this study could better inform education and better equip field-based licensed mental health providers to render culturally responsive treatment.
Additional research interest was fueled by Campbell’s childbirth experience during the fall 2023 semester. “Due to my challenging pregnancy and birth experience while navigating doctoral coursework, internship, and clinical duties as a counselor, I am interested in researching the experience of women of color navigating pregnancy and motherhood while pursuing a Ph.D. in counselor education.”
Campbell intends to sustain her commitment as a counselor. “As the daughter of a veteran, I am dedicated to continued counseling and advocacy to serve veterans, active-duty military, and their families.” The NBCC minority fellowship will support her professional growth to collaborate with other mental health professionals dedicated to being change agents addressing barriers to culturally competent counseling and strengthening contributions to research, education, and advocacy.
After completing her doctoral degree in counselor education and supervision, Campbell plans to continue her dedication as a clinician, educator, researcher, and advocate. “I intend to further develop culturally responsive and trauma-informed curriculum for counselors-in-training and continuing education for licensed mental health providers.”
As a published co-author on multicultural counseling practices, Campbell will continue to contribute to the counseling profession to address gaps in counseling literature. “Through culturally informed research, I also intend to advance evidence-based practices among marginalized populations.”
Campbell received her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science from Lipscomb University.
