Dr. Shelley Coleman

Biography

Dr. Shelley Coleman is a Licensed Professional Counselor in West Virginia and holds specialty certifications in Emotionally Focused Therapy and Somatic Experiencing. She is an assistant professor for the Townsend Institute at Concordia University in Irvine, California, and has been teaching at the Townsend Institute since 2017. Dr. Coleman has taught most of the courses in the program and is the subject-matter expert for Foundations in Marriage and Family Counseling and Human Growth and Development. She was introduced to Dr. Townsend’s model in 2011 during a yearlong training for counselors with Dr. Townsend in Indiana and continues to integrate the Townsend Model into her clinical work and classroom instruction.

As an Emotionally Focused Therapist and Supervisor, Dr. Coleman provides couples and family counseling using Dr. Sue Johnson’s model of EFT and EFFT, widely considered a gold standard for couples and families. As a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, she also uses the work of Dr. Peter Levine to support trauma healing through nervous-system focused interventions that help the body renegotiate trauma and foster long-lasting healing.

Dr. Coleman owns a private practice, Valley Counseling and Consulting, in Teays Valley, West Virginia, where she offers counseling and coaching with a variety of populations, both in person and via telehealth. Her specialties include couple and family counseling, trauma healing, and support for depression, anxiety, and intimate partner violence recovery. She also provides supervision in Emotionally Focused Therapy as a certified EFT Supervisor and offers consultation in Somatic Experiencing.

Degrees Earned

PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision, University of the Cumberlands, Williamsburg, KY

Master of Arts, Professional Counseling, Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA

Bachelor of Science, Counseling, Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA

Work Experience

Assistant Professor, Counselor Education and Supervision, Townsend Institute, Concordia University Irvine, January 2021 – Present

Adjunct Professor, Master of Counseling and Psychology, Yorkville University, New Brunswick, Canada, November 2021 – Present

Owner of Private Practice and Licensed Professional Counselor, Valley Counseling and Consulting, November 2021 – Present

Licensed Professional Counselor, KPCC Counseling, February 2021 – October 2021

Licensed Professional Counselor, Cabell Huntington Hospital Counseling Center, April 2013 – January 2021

Adjunct Professor, Counselor Education and Supervision, Townsend Institute, Concordia University Irvine, March 2017 – January 2021

Educator (Teaching English), Calvary Baptist Academy, Hurricane, WV, June 2010 – June 2011

Outpatient Mental Health Therapist, Prestera Center, Winfield, WV, July 2006 – June 2010

Courses Taught

COUN 600 Personal Development Skills Process Group/Townsend Institute Orientation

COUN 601 Human Growth and Development

COUN 604 Theory and Practice of Groups

COUN 605 Legal, Ethical and Professional Issues

COUN 606 Foundations and Contextual Dimensions of Mental Health Counseling

COUN 607 Social and Cultural Foundations

COUN 609 Theory and Practice of Assessment

COUN 610 Advanced Skills of Mental Health Counseling

COUN 611 Foundations of Crisis and Trauma Counseling

COUN 614 Methods and Practice of Research and Evaluation

COUN 623 Foundations of Marriage and Family Counseling

COUN 627 Human Sexuality

COUN 633 Counseling Skills and Techniques

COUN 640 Supervised Counseling Practicum

COUN 641 Supervised Counseling Internship I

COUN 642 Supervised Counseling Internship II

Additional Certifications

National Certified Counselor

Certified EFT Therapist and Supervisor

Somatic Experiencing Practitioner

Level I Narrative Focused Trauma Care

Gottman Levels I and II

Accelerated Resolution Therapy, Level I

Professional Memberships

ACA, AACC, ACES, ICEEFT, SETI, NCC, WVLPCA

Specialized Practice Areas

Trauma, Couples and Families

Presentations

“Trauma Informed Care”, Mission West Virginia Conference (Competitive Abstinence Education Grant), Teays Valley, WV, November 20, 2015.

“Trauma Informed Care”, Mission West Virginia Conference (Teen Pregnancy Prevention Grant), Teays Valley, WV, March 3, 2016.

“Trauma Informed Care”, Breaking the Cycle of Teen Pregnancy State Conference, Charleston, WV, April 12, 2016.

“Introduction to Emotionally Focused Therapy: It’s All About Attachment”, West Virginia Counseling Association Fall Conference, November 10–11, 2016.

“Working with Primary Others: It’s All About Attachment” (Co-Presenter), Prestera Counselor Training, Part One: November 9, 2016; Part Two: November 17, 2016.

“Introduction to Emotionally Focused Therapy: It’s All About Attachment” (Co-Presenter), West Virginia Counseling Association Spring Conference, April 28–29, 2016.

“Somatic Experiencing: A Body-Centered Approach to Healing Veterans and Other Trauma Survivors” (Co-Presenter), West Virginia CE Alliance, September 12, 2019.

“Working with Grief: A Body Focused Approach”, West Virginia CE Alliance, October 8, 2020.

“Understanding the Lived Somatic Experience of a Person Experiencing Domestic Abuse”, Acres of Diamonds Online Training, June 15, 2022.

“Intimate Partner Violence and Coercive Control: Assessment and Treatment Using an Embodied Approach” (Co-Presenter), American Association of Christian Counselors, accepted for September 2023.

“Intimate Partner Violence and Coercive Control: Assessment and Treatment Using an Embodied Approach” (Co-Presenter), Association of Counselor Education and Supervision, accepted for October 2023.

“Intimate Partner Violence and Coercive Control: Assessment and Treatment Using an Embodied Approach”, West Virginia Counseling Association, November 3, 2023.

“Somatic Experiencing: The Embodied Story”, Concordia University Irvine Mental Health Committee, March 13, 2024.

“Intimate Partner Violence and Coercive Control: Assessment and Treatment Using an Embodied Approach”, WVLPCA Conference, April 18, 2024.

“The Neuroscience of Self-Care”, Concordia University Irvine Student Residency, May 7, 2024.

“Somatic Experiencing: The Embodied Story”, Concordia University Irvine Wellness Center, May 9, 2024.

“Understanding the Embodied Experience and Recovery Strategies for Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence” (Co-Presenter), NBCC Minority Fellowship Program (Online), July 17, 2024.

“The Neuroscience of Self-Care”, Concordia University Irvine Faculty Retreat (RAD), August 6, 2024.

“Addressing Intimate Partner Violence in University Settings”, Concordia University Irvine Faculty Retreat (RAD), August 6, 2024.

Trainings Received

“Going Into the Fire: Working with Highly Escalated Couples”, George Faller, MA, ICEEFT Trainer, Huntington, WV, June 2–3, 2023 (12 CEU).

“Gottman Level I”, Chris Cambus, LMFT, online (Lutz, FL), March 11–12, 2023 (12 CEU).

Emotionally Focused Therapy

Externship in Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy, Gail Palmer, MSW, RSW; Kenny Sanderfer, LMFT, Trevecca Nazarene University, Nashville, TN, December 11–14, 2013 (28 CEU).

Core Skills Advanced Training (Modules 1–4), Kenny Sanderfer, LMFT, Trevecca Nazarene University, Nashville, TN: March 21–22, 2014; May 23–24, 2014; August 15–16, 2014; October 24–25, 2014 (12 CEU each).

Introduction to Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy, Kenny Sanderfer, LMFT, Cabell Huntington Hospital, Huntington, WV, October 29–30, 2015 (12 CEU).

Emotionally Focused Therapy: Blamer Softening, Christie Eastman, MA, LPC, Huntington, WV, October 27–28, 2016 (12 CEU).

“Couple Therapy in the 21st Century: On target, effective and revolutionary”, Sue Johnson, EdD, Trevecca Nazarene University, Nashville, TN, October 14, 2016 (6 CEU).

“Bond Science and Christian Faith: Perfect Partners in the Shaping of Secure Lasting Connection”, Sue Johnson, EdD; Kenneth Sanderfer, LMFT, Louisville, KY, October 15, 2016 (3 CEU).

Emotionally Focused Therapy Webinar with Sue Johnson, Huntington, WV, August 30, 2016 (1.5 CEU).

Advanced Externship in Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy, Christie Eastman, MA, LPC, Huntington, WV, June 30–July 1, 2016 (12 CEU).

Emotionally Focused Therapy Workshop, Christie Eastman, MA, LPC, Huntington, WV, February 11–12, 2016 (12 CEU).

Advanced Externship in Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy, Kathryn Rheem, EdD, ICEEFT Trainer, Huntington, WV, 2017 (12 CEU).

Emotionally Focused Family Therapy, Gail Palmer, MSW, RSW; George Faller, MA, Huntington, WV, January 31–February 2, 2019 (24 CEU).

Employee Assistance Program

“Understanding EAP Services”, Danny Hodges, MA, LPC, Cabell Huntington Hospital, Huntington, WV, August 17, 2016 (7 CEU).

Ethics

“Ethics: A Practical Approach”, Andrew Burck, PhD, LPC, West Virginia Counseling Association, Charleston, WV, April 7, 2015 (3 CEU).

Gottman Method

Gottman Level I, March 11–12, 2023 (12 CEU); Gottman Level II, Michael Brown, LMFT, Raleigh, NC, May 19–21, 2023 (20.25 CEU).

Somatic Experiencing Trauma Institute

Beginning Year Modules 1–3, Linda Stelte, MED, CCC, SEP, Yellow Springs, OH: June 29–July 2, 2018; September 14–17, 2018; November 29–December 2, 2018 (24 CEU each).

Intermediate Year Modules 1–3, Linda Stelte, MED, CCC, SEP, Yellow Springs, OH: March 1–4, 2019; January 24–27, 2020; July 25–29, 2020 (24 CEU each).

Advanced Year Modules: Durham, NC (February 10–15, 2020, 24 CEU); Online (North Carolina, February 6–9, 2021, 24 CEU); Two-Day In-Person, Raja Selvam, PhD, SEP, Evanston, IL, April 23–24, 2022.

Stepfamily Therapy

“Smart Stepfamily Therapy”, Ron Deal, MA, LMFT, LPC, online, May 11–12, 2023 (12 CEU).

Townsend Counselor Training Program

Townsend Counselor Training Program sessions with John Townsend, PhD (Indianapolis, IN): March 21, 2012; April 12, 2012; June 1, 2012; July 19, 2012; August 23, 2012; September 27, 2012; October 18, 2012; November 29, 2012; December 20, 2012; January 24, 2013; February 7, 2013; March 14, 2013 (topics included healing and clinical foundations, personality disorders, affect regulation, trauma, addiction, and termination skills).

Trauma

“Trauma-Informed Care”, Sarah Jordan MA, LPC; Anthony Arthur (Grad Student), West Virginia Counseling Association, Charleston, WV, April 7, 2015 (3 CEU).

“Creating Safety for Connectivity: Using EFT to Work Interpersonally in the Healing of Trauma”, Kathryn Rheem, EdD, ICEEFT Trainer, Falls Church, VA, October 16–17, 2015 (12 CEU).

“EFT with Trauma Survivors”, Gail Palmer, MSW, RSW, Couples Care Center, Louisville, KY, April 22, 2016 (7 CEU).

“2-Day Trauma & Memory Workshop: Clinical Strategies to Resolve Traumatic Memories and Help Clients Reclaim Their Lives”, Peter Levine, PhD, PESI, October 28–29, 2019 (11 CEU).

Community Involvement

Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Putnam County, WV, April 2007 – May 2009

Celebrate Recovery, River Ridge Church, Hurricane, WV, Ministry Leader