Helena Stevens highlights trauma-informed counselor training

Helena Stevens, PhD, LPC, is an associate professor at Bethany Lutheran College and a counselor educator focused on trauma-informed care, advocacy, and training future mental health professionals. Her work spans teaching, clinical counseling, psychometric testing, and leadership in the counseling field.

Why it matters: - Helena Stevens’ work sits at the intersection of counselor education, clinical care, and mental health advocacy. - Her training of future counselors can shape how trauma-informed care and equity show up in schools, clinics, and higher education. - Her focus on underserved populations reflects broader pressure on mental health systems to become more accessible and effective.

What happened: - Influential Women featured Helena Stevens, PhD, LPC, LSC, PPS, NCC, in a profile published July 22, 2026. - Stevens is an associate professor in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at Bethany Lutheran College. - She is based in the Greater Minneapolis–St. Paul area. - Her profile highlights work across counseling, education, research, assessment, and professional leadership.

The details: - Stevens teaches foundational counseling courses, oversees residency components, and provides academic advising. - She also contributes to program accreditation and assessment development at Bethany Lutheran College. - Stevens provides virtual outpatient mental health counseling with a focus on trauma-informed care. - She facilitates group counseling for people receiving drug and alcohol inpatient treatment. - Her clinical training includes dialectical behavior therapy, mindfulness, and experiential learning methods. - Stevens is a Nationally Certified Counselor. - Her career has included roles as a school counselor from kindergarten through postsecondary education, a practicing therapist, and a counselor educator. - She also serves as a senior test developer for a calibration engineering education company, supporting psychometric testing and accreditation initiatives. - Stevens is authoring her first textbook on university-level supervision in counseling programs. - Her research interests include mindfulness, wellness, social justice advocacy, school counseling, assessment development, program evaluation, and experiential interventions. - A profile link is available here: Dr. Helena Stevens' Influential Women profile.

Between the lines: - Stevens ties her advocacy to childhood experiences in a trauma-affected household with parents facing addiction. - That background appears to have shaped her focus on overlooked and underserved communities. - Her emphasis on integrity, resilience, mindfulness, and self-care suggests a leadership style rooted in sustainability, not just performance. - She also points to systemic and institutional barriers in higher education as a persistent challenge, especially for women of color. - Her comments suggest the field needs more evidence-based interventions, stronger training, and better links between research and practice.

What's next: - Stevens is continuing work on her textbook, which could influence supervision training in counseling programs. - Her research and leadership work appear aimed at improving counselor preparation and access to quality mental health care. - She encourages emerging professionals to seek mentorship, build networks, and stay authentic while advancing in the field.

The bottom line: - Stevens is using classroom teaching, clinical practice, and professional leadership to push counselor education toward more compassionate and equitable care.