Benton Johnson

Dr. Benton K. Johnson II, PhD, is a Core Faculty member in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at Walden University. He is an internationally and nationally recognized presenter who has delivered keynote addresses, workshops, and professional trainings on mental wellness and human development across the United States and in countries including Romania, Hungary, Switzerland, and Greece. His work reflects a deep commitment to advancing counseling practice through culturally responsive and globally informed perspectives.

Dr. Johnson has been providing clinical counseling services since 2003, working with children, couples, families, individuals, and groups across a range of settings. His clinical expertise is grounded in trauma-informed care, relational approaches, and a strong emphasis on developmental and systemic understanding. In addition to his clinical work, he has been engaged in higher education since 2006, teaching across multiple institutions and utilizing diverse technological modalities to support student learning in both traditional and online environments.

In the international counseling arena, Dr. Johnson has served as President and now serves as Past President of the European Branch of the American Counseling Association, where he has led global initiatives that promote connection, professional development, and cross-cultural engagement among counselors worldwide. His leadership has included oversight of international conferences, member engagement, and strategic collaboration across countries to advance the counseling profession on a global scale.

His leadership and service extend into both academic and community spheres. Dr. Johnson has served as Chair of the Board for Trinity College of Nursing & Health Sciences in Rock Island, Illinois, and as a board member of The 2nd Genesis Foundation in Chicago. He has also held academic leadership roles, including Vice President of the Adler University Chapter of the Association of American University Professors, and professional leadership as President of the Illinois Association for Assessment and Research in Counseling. These roles reflect his ongoing commitment to advocacy, governance, and the advancement of the counseling profession.

Dr. Johnson earned his PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision from Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia. He holds a Master of Science in Education in Community Counseling from Western Illinois University (Quad Cities Campus) and a Bachelor of Arts in Pre-Medicine from Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois. He is also a graduate of United Township High School in East Moline, Illinois, where he completed the World Studies Program for the Gifted.

Education

PhD, Regent University

MS Ed, Western Illinois University

BA, Augustana College

Public Service

Diversity in Leadership Task Force , Chair - Dekalb

Illinois Association for Assessment and Research in Counseling, Board Member - DeKalb

Trinity College of Nursing & Health Sciences, Board Member - Rock Island

Trinity College of Nursing & Health Sciences, Chair - Rock Island

Awards / Honors

2017 Illinois Counseling Association Social Justice Award , The Illinois Counseling Association, 2017

Adler University Star, Adler University, 2017

Publications

Henriksen, R. C. (2006). Parenting group for parents with children exposed to violence. VISTAS: Compelling Perspectives on Counseling. VISTAS: Compelling Perspectives on Counseling

Johnson, B. (2010). Spiritual Functioning, God Image, and Childhood Incest: An Exploratory Study.

Presentations

Johnson , B., Ungureanu, I. (2016). Growing up in poverty: The impact of poverty on families and early childhood development. International Family Therapy Association

Johnson, B. K. (2017). Implicit Bias: The thief of progress”.

Johnson, B. K. (2018). Spiritual & Religious Identities in Counseling: Speaking into the Unspoken. EB-ACA

Johnson, B. K. (2017). Stress is best done silly. Dealing with the mess of stress. Child & Family Connections #8 & #12

Johnson, B. K. (2018). Too Many Bridges – Not Enough Tunnels. STARNET

Johnson, B. (2018). Theraplay in Practice.

Johnson, B. K. (2016). The Modern Family. Early Intervention Training Program

Johnson, B. K. (2016). The Impact of Trauma on Young Children and Families. STARNET

Johnson, B. K. (2018). Autism. Quad City Autism Society

Johnson, B. (2016). Family Partnerships that Work! Engaging Families in Early Intervention. Early Intervention Training Program

Johnson, B. K. (2016). The Impact on Parental Mental Disorders on Children and Families. Early Intervention Training Program

Johnson, B. K. (2016). The Pressure of Poverty.

Johnson, B. K., Lebriech, M. (2020). Calming the Chaos of Covid.