Well Counselor

Hi, I’m Olivia. Dr. Bentley or Dr. B to my counseling students; Olivia to my clients; and called countless nicknames by my friends and family. 

I’m a licensed professional counselor, adjunct professor, and mental health researcher. I have been in the mental health field for a little over 14 years, having worked in a variety of clinical, educational, and research settings. My professional and personal identities are very much influenced by my general curiosity and habit of always looking up the answers to questions (the advent of the internet made this much easier!). 

I have worked at a couple of national training and research centers over the last 7 years, supporting counselors and other helping professionals as they learn how to better serve their clients, and helping to create change at the systemic level. I’ve also taught a lot of counseling students over the last 4 years as a counselor educator. I have a good sense for the gaps in training that exist and I want to help. There is only so much you can learn in a graduate program, so we must continue to learn long after graduation. I know how difficult it can be to prioritize continued professional growth, with all of the responsibilities we juggle. I also know that spending time reviewing research articles is not always what we want to do after seeing clients all day. 

This is where Well Counselor can help.

So, what can you expect?

Well Counselor is an affordable and collaborative virtual learning environment for counseling professionals. Consider it your ‘classroom outside of the classroom.’ Many of the blogs and resources will be aimed at new counselors (students and the recently graduated). I want to share what was helpful for me as I started out, as well as things I wish I would have known. Other resources will be for counselor educators and more experienced counselors. Regardless of your experience level, Well Counselor will provide the resources you need to efficiently pursue your professional learning and wellness goals.

Wondering where to start?

1. Read a Blog. Blogs will be posted regularly on a range of topics of relevance to counselors of all experience levels. 
2. Ask a Question. This is the feature of the site that I am the most excited about. I want you to submit all your questions or topics of interest so that I can do some research to find you the answer. Call me a total nerd, but I love a good research project, and you all will provide me with some consistent inspiration. My hope is that my research efforts save you some time.
3. Download a Resource. I will regularly add to the resources available to you. I plan on keeping them free or very affordable so that all will be able to access. 
4. Subscribe to Newsletter. I will be putting out a regular newsletter with a curated collection of resources exclusive to subscribers. I hope it is the little boost of energy and encouragement that you need to keep you going during your week. 

I’m excited to see how this site evolves over time. Consider yourselves influential in this ongoing evolution. As you submit questions and suggest topics or resources, Well Counselor will adjust to meet those needs. I look forward to working with you! 

Take care of yourself, 

Olivia