Dr. Katherine M. Atkins
Katherine (“Katie”) M. Atkins, PhD., is a clinical assistant professor and clinical training director at The Family Institute at Counseling@Northwestern. She holds a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision and a master’s degree in counseling both from Northern Illinois University as well as a BA in psychology from Roosevelt University. She is a licensed professional counselor, nationally certified counselor, an approved clinical supervisor, and holds a professional educator license in school counseling. Prior to coming to higher education, she worked as a school counselor, community mental health counselor, and home-based mental health clinician. She is also the co-founder/owner of Blooming Life Institute, LLC.
She has authored or co-authored 10 peer reviewed articles and eight book chapters in professional publications. She is an award-winning teacher, and has also delivered over 65 presentations at conferences, seminars, trainings, and workshops at the local, state, regional, national, and international levels. She was the recipient of the 2023 Teaching Excellence Award, a national award granted by the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision. She was also the recipient of the 2023 Excellence in Teaching Award at The Family Institute. Additionally, she received the 2016 School Counselor Educator of the Year Award from Illinois School Counseling Association and the 2015 Outstanding Woman Student Award from Northern Illinois University.
Her research interests have focused on developing the Transcending Model for Grief and Loss, military advocacy, counseling military service personnel, veterans, and military-connected children and families, cultural immersion, and study abroad opportunities, international counseling, social constructivist approaches to counseling, teaching, and supervision, and school counselors and supervision.
She is the co-author of the book, Reconceptualizing Grief: Developmental Considerations for Counseling Clients Experiencing Loss, due out in January 2024. She is also currently working on several manuscripts with the Griefly Speaking Research Lab at TFI at Northwestern University that shares ways to incorporate the TMGL with various non-death losses.
Katie is a member of the American Counseling Association (ACA), Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES), American School Counselor Association (ASCA), Illinois Counseling Association (ICA), Illinois Counselor Educators and Supervisors (ICES), Military and Government Counseling Association (MGCA), and the North Central Association for Counselor Education and Supervision.
