Dr. Cathy Lounsbury Cathy serves as professor and dean of the counseling division at Antioch University, which is comprised of low residency and campus-based MA programs, as well as a national PhD program in counselor education and supervision. Cathy has been at Antioch University since 2012, serving in various faculty and academic leadership positions, including Clinical Director, Program Director, and Chair. Cathy is a founding member of Antioch’s Institute on Wellness, providing consultation and training nationally on the mitigation of secondary traumatic stress and support of wellness to counselors and organizations nationwide. She has also developed training opportunities for students in trauma-informed, strength-based approaches, including an international clinical training opportunity working with children and teens in Peru. Additionally, Cathy has provided expertise in psychological trauma and resiliency to multi-disciplinary teams exploring the effect of climate impacts on youth and families and supporting mental health in Haiti following the earthquake.
Dr. Lounsbury has a 30+ year career as a counselor, educator, and leader in the study and practice of trauma, wellness, and resilience. Cathy has been a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in Maine since 1992, working with both children and adults, specializing in those who have experienced trauma. As the former Clinical Director of the Maine Psychological Trauma Institute, she has provided consultation, training, and supervision to schools and communities throughout New England on Post-traumatic Stress Management, Fostering Resiliency in Children, Mitigating the Effects of Secondary Traumatic Stress, and Promoting Positive Youth Development.
Cathy believes strongly in building natural resiliency support for those who have experienced traumatic events. To this end, she has served on both local and national community trauma response teams following national disasters, terrorism, and other traumatic events and was the founder and director of the IMPACT Team, a youth-focused community trauma team, consulting on 200+ incidents. Cathy has also advocated for policy and environmental changes to support youth and has led several federal initiatives, including Safe Schools Healthy Students and Grants to Reduce Alcohol Abuse, to create better systems to support youth and families, securing over $7 million in grant funding to support the youth of Maine.
Cathy’s research interests align with her work in trauma, secondary traumatic stress, and social justice advocacy. Her most recent studies include: “Exploring the Impact of Self-Care and Career Sustaining Behaviors on Perceived Stress, Secondary Traumatic Stress, Burnout, and Compassion Satisfaction in Counseling Interns.” “Perceived Stress and Self-Care in Graduate Students Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic,” and “Developmental Perspectives on Multiculturalism and Social Justice Advocacy Competence in Counselor Education.”
Cathy is a passionate advocate for integrating liberatory practices into counseling, believing that these principles are fundamental to the role of a counselor. She emphasizes the importance of embracing and supporting social justice both in pedagogical approaches and systemic frameworks. Her professional work has focused on advancing the rights of LGBTGEQIAP+ individuals, aligning closely with the core values of the counseling profession. Cathy’s advocacy is multifaceted, encompassing clinical, community, and legislative advocacy. Overall, Cathy’s work aims to weave social justice into the fabric of counseling practice, education, and advocacy, ensuring that these principles are not just theoretical but actively applied and championed.
