Brenda Keck

Biography

Brenda Keck, Ph.D., LMFT has been practicing as a therapist since 2008 and teaching since 2014. She grew up overseas (East Africa) and much of her work has been in the missionary community in the U.S., Asia, Africa and Europe. She is passionate about promoting resilience, health and healing in the emotional and spiritual lives of ministry leaders. Her specializations include issues of cross-cultural living, Third Culture Kids, trauma recovery, compassion fatigue/secondary traumatic stress, resilience and wellness. She also finds great joy in mentoring and teaching a new generation of counselors!

Brenda has been married to her husband (a pastor) since 1981 and enjoys time with her grown twin daughters, a son-in-law, and one crazy dog. She lives in the Pacific NW and spends part of the summers in Alaska with her husband where he runs a fishing lodge. Some things she enjoys outside of work include horseback riding, hiking, hot yoga, salmon fishing with her husband, and sharing a pot of English tea with good conversation.

Degrees Earned

• PhD Counselor Education and Supervision, Regent University
• MA Marriage and Family Therapy, Richmont Graduate University
• Bachelor’s in Education, Guidance & Counseling, University of North Texas

Work Experience

Teaching

• 2019 – Present — The Townsend Institute, Concordia University Irvine, Irvine, CA (online program)
• 2018 – 2019 — Adjunct Instructor, Regent University, Virginia Beach, VA
• 2017 – 2018 — Faculty Adjunct, Ukraine Project of Regent University, Kiev, Ukraine and Virtual classroom
• 2015 – 2018 — Teaching Assistant (Dr. Daniel Holland and Dr. Lisa Compton), Regent University, Virginia Beach, VA (Master’s and Doctoral level classes)
• 2014 – 2016 — Global Adjunct Faculty, LeTourneau University, Longview, TX

Counseling and Supervision

Supervision

• Sept – Dec 2017 — Supervisor, Ukraine Project of Regent University, Kiev, Ukraine and Virtual classroom
• Jan-May 2016 — Counseling Intern Supervisor, Regent University, Virginia Beach, VA

Counseling

• 2020 – present — Consultant and Service Provider
• 2008 – present — Consultant and Therapist
• 2012 – 2013 — Marriage Workshop Facilitator, Joe Beam Research (Marriage Helper 911)

Leadership & Advocacy

• 2020 – present — Began leading small group learning communities through a 13-week skills course authored titled: An Intentional Life: Pathways to Resilience & Wellness for non-profit personnel at high risk for burnout.
• 2012- present — Consultation, Advocacy & Speaking

Courses Taught

• COUN 601 Human Growth and Development
• COUN 602 Theories of Counseling
• COUN 604 Theory and Practice of Groups
• COUN 606 Foundations and Contextual Dimensions of Mental Health Counseling
• COUN 610 Townsend Model Theory and Practice
• COUN 614 Methods and Practice of Research and Evaluation
• COUN 622 Christian Spirituality and Theology in Counseling
• COUN 633 Counseling Skills and Techniques
• COUN 640 Supervised Practicum
• COUN 641 Supervised Internship I
• CES 703 Advanced Counseling and Career Theories

Additional Certifications

• Telemental Health Counselor and Supervisor
• EMDR, Level I and II
• Green Cross (GC) Compassion Fatigue Ed and Therapist
• GC Disaster, Stress and Field Traumatology
• GC Treating Traumatized Families

Professional Memberships

• ACES
• AACC

Publications

• Keck, B. & Cagwin, J. (2023). Career Counseling Third Culture Kids. In C. Williams (Ed.), Career, lifestyle and spiritual development: work, purpose, calling and God, 2nd Edition (pp. 357-386). San Diego, CA: Cognella Academic Publishing.
• Ward, L. & Keck, B. (2021). Tarmac: A 10-week guide to making sense of your multicultural story. (Leader’s guide and participant guide) (self-published, available on Amazon)
• Keck, B. & Regent University School of Psychology and Counseling (2018). Attachment, social services and disenfranchised grief among adult third culture kids. (Doctoral Dissertation, Regent University, 2018). ProQuest Dissertations & Theses.
• Keck, B., & Zaporozhets, O. (2018). Supervision overview: Wellness integration in the supervision process. Вісник Київського інституту бізнесу та технологій [Journal of Kyiv Institute of Business and Technologies], 3(37).
• Keck, B., Compton, L., Schoeneberg, C., Compton, T. (2017). Trauma recovery: A heroic journey. Heroism Science, 2(1), 1-17.
• Keck, B. & Cagwin, J. (2017). Career Counseling Third Culture Kids. In C. Williams (Ed.), Career, lifestyle and spiritual development: work, purpose, calling and God (pp. 357-386). San Diego, CA: Cognella Academic Publishing.

Presentations

• Refereed
• Keck, B., McCormick, R. (2024). Why Does Counseling Work? New Student Residency, The Townsend Institute, Irvine, CA.
• Keck, B., Stafford, K., & McCormick, R. (to be presented 2023, October). How to Develop an Effective Gatekeeping Process in an Online Counseling Program. ACES 2023 Conference, Denver, CO.
• Shelton, D., Washburn, D. & Keck, B. (2021, October). Professional development plans in online counselor education: Roadmaps for growth. ACES 2021 Conference. Atlanta, GA.
• Keck, B. & Little, Y. (2016, 2017, & 2018). Essential preparation and pathways for getting involved in mental health and missions. Mental Health and Missions annual conference. Angola, IN
• White, J & Keck, B. (2013, April). Care and counsel for missionaries, their families, and other cross-cultural workers. Christian Association for Psychological Studies Annual National Conference. Portland, OR.
• By Invitation
• Keck, B. (2021, November). Building organizational resilience & health. Keynote speaker for Blankenship CPA’s 5th Annual Nonprofit Boot Camp: Full Circle Engagement. Nashville, TN.
• Keck, B. (2019, June). Thriving in ministry through a practice of soul care. Full day retreat for Mission Increase Nashville chapter of nonprofit leaders. Nashville, TN.
• Crawford, N. & Keck, B. (2015, September 23). Third culture kids: Introduction for therapists at a university counseling center. Presentation to predoctoral interns at Biola University Counseling Center, La Mirada, CA.
• Crawford, N., Keck, B, & Cook, T. (2014, August 18). Third culture kids: Introduction for therapists at a university counseling center. Presentation to predoctoral interns at Biola University Counseling Center, La Mirada, CA.
• Keck, B. (2014, April). TCKs: Thriving through high school and beyond. Annual gathering of International workers. Eretria, Greece.
• Keck, B. (2014, April). TCKs: Thriving through childhood. Annual gathering of International workers. Eretria, Greece.
• Keck, B. (2012, January). TCKs: Thriving through childhood. Annual gathering of International workers. Beatenberg, Switzerland.
• Keck B. (2012, January). TCKs: Thriving through adolescence and beyond Annual gathering of International workers. Beatenberg, Switzerland.
• Keck B. (2012, March). The impact of cross-cultural living on families. Presentation to counseling students at Wheaton College. Wheaton, IL.
• Keck, B. (2011, August). Introduction to member care. Presentation to staff of Agape Counseling Services. Nashville, TN
• Keck, B. (2011, July). Counseling missionary families: Uncovering the hidden cultural gap. Presentation to Nashville Area Association of Christian Counselors. Nashville, TN.
• Keck, B., Ward, L. (2009, 2010, & 2011). Counseling third culture kids. Guest lecturer in Richmont Graduate University Social and Cultural Issues class. Chattanooga, TN.

Research

• Keck, B. & Stringer, T. (2020). Qualitative program evaluation of New Hope: Multiplying healing to wounded hearts. (A Bible-story based trauma healing group for oral cultures) Ethiopia. (unpublished)
• Keck, B. & Regent University School of Psychology and Counseling (2018). Attachment, social services and disenfranchised grief among adult third culture kids. (Doctoral Dissertation, Regent University, 2018). ProQuest Dissertations & Theses.

Trainings Received

• 2021 Significant Learning by Design (Parts I & 2), Intentional College Teaching
• 2020 Telemental Health Counselor and Supervisor
• 2015 Regent University Center for Trauma Studies Certifications: Compassion Fatigue Educator and Therapist; Disaster, Stress, and Field Traumatology; Assessment of PTSD; Treating Traumatized Families
• 2010 EMDR Training, Level I & II

Community Involvement

• 2016 – 2019 Program Coordinator, Mental Health and Missions annual conference, Angola, IN.
• October 2015 Representative of Saddleback Church Orphan Care Initiative, Building Resilient Communities Through Trauma-Informed Congregations, 2nd Annual Meeting, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC.