Dr. Susan Purnell

Biography

Dr. Susan Purnell is the inaugural Master of Mental Health Counseling Program Chair. She is thrilled to be a new member of the Herzing family and the Behavioral Health department. Dr. Purnell previously held the positions of Program Director of Addictions Counseling and Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Beal University, Department Head of Human Services at Lindenwood University, and Visiting Assistant Professor of Counseling at Webster University.

Dr. Purnell received her Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from Walden University, and her M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Webster University. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the State of Missouri, a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in the State of Maine, and a National Certified Counselor (NCC) through the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC). She is a member of the American Counseling Association (ACA), the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES), the American Psychological Association (APA), the International Association for Resilience and Trauma Counseling, the Missouri Mental Health Counselors Association, the Maine Mental Health Counselors Association, and the Chi Sigma Iota Counseling Academic and Professional Honor Society International.

Dr. Purnell previously served as a pro bono counselor and clinical supervisor at a St. Louis area non-profit, counseling survivors of intimate partner violence. She currently maintains a small caseload in her private practice seeing individuals and couples. Her research interests are posttraumatic growth, vicarious trauma, resiliency, intimate partner violence, transgenerational themes and expressions of violence, and PTSD as a result of IPV, war, and familial trauma. She is mom to two amazing daughters, two cats and a dog, and is a proud Navy Veteran. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family, taking walks with her dog, and reading.