Introducing The ASERVIC (2025) Spiritual and Religious Best Practices

Awa Jangha, PhD, LPC-S, ATR-BC earned her PhD from Loyola University Maryland in Counselor Education and Supervision. Her research focuses on the topics of antiracism, social justice, and spiritual integration in counseling within counselor education. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor and a Board-Certified Art Therapist. Awa also has written an e-book on Mental Health Basics for Spiritual and Religious Leaders. She infuses creativity into her teaching, presenting, and counseling practices and is passionate about the advocacy and promotion of social justice.

Craig S. Cashwell PhD is Professor in the Counselor Education program in the College of Education at Clemson. He is licensed in South Carolina as a Professional Counselor, in North Carolina as a Clinical Mental Health Counselor, and in Virginia as a Professional Counselor. In 2011, Craig received Fellow status with the American Counseling Association. He has directed over 40 dissertations to completion, five of which received national awards and two that were subsequently published in Counselor Education and Supervision and received the annual Outstanding Article in Counselor Education and Supervision award. In 2019, he was recognized as an inaugural inductee as an Inspirational Educator in the UNCG School of Education. Craig has over 140 publications, including three books and has received research awards from the American Counseling Association and the Mississippi Counseling Association. The primary focus of his research is on the competent and ethical integration of client spirituality and religion into the counseling process.

Christine D. Gonzales-Wong, PhD, LPC is an Associate Professor of Counseling at Texas A&M University-San Antonio. She received her Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Dr. Wong’s clinical experience is in substance use and she enjoys teaching experiential courses. Her interests include spirituality in counseling and she is passionate about advocating for underserved populations.

LeAnn N. Wills, PhD, LSC, NCC earned her PhD in Counselor Education from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville and is an Assistant professor and counseling lab coordinator at Austin Peay State University. She is a licensed school counselor in Tennessee and Indiana and a National Certified Counselor. LeAnn draws upon her experience working with youth and their families in various public, private, and faith-integrated PreK-12 schools across rural and urban settings. Her research passions include rural school counseling, evaluating evidence-based practices for use with various student populations, and supporting counselor training methods that enhance data usage in counseling practice.

Anita Neuer Colburn, PhD earned her CORE-accredited M.A. in Rehabilitation Counseling at the University of Alabama-Birmingham in 1998 and her CACREP-accredited PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision from Old Dominion University in 2011. Anita is licensed for independent counseling practice in Virginia and North Carolina, and her certifications include BC-TMH, ACS, NCC, and SIP (Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapist). Anita has provided counseling services either full or part time in private practice since 2001 and has provided clinical supervision for master’s students and licensure applicants since 2005. She serves as a CACREP Team Chair and Consultant and is the 2026-2027 President of ASERVIC. Anita’s research interests include spiritual integration, LGBTQ+ advocacy, and clinical supervision competence.