Applying Laws and Ethical Standards in Rural Settings

Mary Steiner Iiames, PhD earned her doctorate in Counselor Education and Supervision from the University of Toledo in 2000. She was a public-school counselor in a rural setting in Lima, Ohio for over 30 years. She taught as an adjunct professor for approximately 9 years before accepting a full-time faculty position in the Master of Arts in Clinical Counseling program at Winebrenner Theological Seminary. For the past decade, Mary has taught Legal and Ethical Issues in Counseling to master's level students. She has presented ethics trainings for local agencies, Northwest Ohio Counseling Association, and the All-Ohio Counselors Conference. She serves as an ethics consultant for counselors in both private and community mental health settings. She collaborates with attorneys to understand and apply state laws to the work of professional counselors and address conflicts that laws sometimes create with ethical practices. Mary is also a Grief Recovery Specialist and facilitate grief groups in rural towns in her area. She is invited to speak about mental health topics at local meetings, conferences, and special events in Ohio and Pennsylvania. Additionally, she provides pro bono career guidance to area college-age individuals who seek clarity and direction for their life aspirations. Furthermore, Mary serves on two Big Brothers/Big Sisters Collaboration Boards in the rural areas in which she resides and has served on the Board of the Norwest Ohio Counseling Association for 10 years. She participates in the ACES Rural Interest Network which addresses the needs of counselors in rural settings and ways that counselor educators can prepare and support counselors and their rural communities. Lastly, Mary served as the Chief Academic Officers for one year at her institution and has served as the counselor education program director for the past two years. She plans to continue answering the call to serve her rural area, her institution, and the counseling profession.