The coronavirus pandemic is a historical trauma that lives in the mind, body, and spirit of humankind and, as such, requires a reconceptualization of how to effectively counsel individuals, families, communities, and underserved populations now and in the years to come. This foundational book addresses the medical, physical, mental, behavioral, and psychosocial health needs of adults, adolescents, and children as they experience increases in anxiety, depression, stress, substance use disorders, and suicidality due to the pandemic. Dr. Mark Stebnicki's pandemic risk and resiliency continuum theoretical model introduces clinical practice guidelines for assessment, prevention, and treatment that increase opportunities for optimal health and wellness.
Mark A. Stebnicki, PhD, LCMHC, DCMHS, CRC, CMCC, is professor emeritus and former coordinator of the Military and Trauma Counseling (MTC) certificate program in the Department of Addictions and Rehabilitation Services at East Carolina University. He developed the MTC certificate in 2015 and the Clinical Military Counseling Certificate program offered through the Telehealth Certificate Institute in 2016. Professor Stebnicki is an active teacher, trainer, researcher, and practitioner with more than 30 years of experience working with the psychosocial rehabilitation and mental health needs of adolescents and adults with posttraumatic stress symptoms, chronic illness, and disability. His primary areas of interest relate to the medical, psychosocial, vocational, and mental health needs of persons with chronic illness, individuals with disability, military service members, veterans, and their families.
Professor Stebnicki has extensive experience in disaster mental health response. He is certified by the Washington, DC-based crisis response team the National Organization for Victim Assistance and North Carolina's American Red Cross Disaster Mental Health crisis response team. He served on the crisis response team for the Westside Middle School shootings in Jonesboro, Arkansas (March 24, 1998), and has done many stress debriefings with private companies, schools, and government employees after incidents of workplace violence, hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods. His youth violence program, the Identification, Early Intervention, Prevention, and Preparation Program, was recognized nationally by the American Counseling Association Foundation for its vision and excellence in the prevention of youth violence. Other honors include consulting with President Bill Clinton's staff on addressing the students at Columbine High School after their critical incident (April 20, 1999).
Professor Stebnicki has served in many statewide and national professional counseling associations and on several accreditation boards. He has written a total of 10 professional texts, most recently Clinical Military Counseling: Guidelines for Practice (2021, American Counseling Association), Disaster Mental Health Counseling: Responding to Trauma in a Multicultural Context (2017, Springer), The Psychological and Social Impact of Illness and Disability (7th ed.; edited with Irmo Marini; 2018, Springer), and The Professional Counselor's Desk Reference (2nd ed.; edited with Irmo Marini; 2016, Springer). He has written more than 40 journal articles and book chapters and has presented at more than 100 regional, state, and national conferences, seminars, and workshops on topics ranging from military mental health, traumatic stress, and empathy fatigue to the psychosocial aspects of chronic illness and disability.
