Mita Johnson

Dr. Mita M Johnson has a BA in biology, a MA in clinical counseling, and a Ed.D in counselor education and supervision. Over her 33 years of practice, Dr. Johnson earned numerous licenses and certifications including Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Addiction Counselor, Master Addiction Counselor, Substance Abuse Professional, Board Certified Telehealth Provider Level II, EMDR-trained, and two supervisory credentials (ACS, LMFT-S). Dr. Johnson is a Core Faculty member of Walden University’s School of Counseling M.S. in Counseling program, and teaches, trains and speaks on the pharmacology of drugs of addiction and treatment of addictions all over the United States. She became interested in addictions when she realized that most of her clients were dealing directly or indirectly with co-occurring mental health and substance misuse or other behavioral addiction disorders. Dr. Johnson strives to offer information to clinicians and clients that is relevant, timely, and understandable. She is the immediate Past-President of the National Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC), serving on the Ethics Committee, Older Adults Committee, Personnel Committee, and Executive Committee - and serves on NAADAC's state affiliate board (CAAP: Colorado Association of Addiction Professionals). She is the Chair of the Marriage and Family Licensing and Regulatory Board in Colorado. She is a consultant regarding certification and licensure; she consults regularly on ethical issues, board development, workforce initiatives, retention concerns, and the business of practice. She sits on the Curriculum and Trainer Review Committee for the Behavioral Health Administration and has been involved in rule changes and educational requirements related to addiction certification and licensure. Dr. Johnson has been

Courses Taught

COUN 6743 - Psychopharmacology

COUN 6250 - Group Process and Dynamics

COUN` 6101 - Foundations in Counseling

Education

BA, University of Colorado

MA, Denver Seminary

Post-master's Certificate, Colorado School for Family Therapy

EdD, Argosy University Denver

Post-master's Certificate, Colorado School for Family Therapy

Public Service

Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) Marriage and Family Board, Other - Denver

Certified Addiction Counselors Curriculum & Trainer Committee, Committee Member - Denver

CAAP Workforce Development Subcommittee, Chair - Denver

18th Judicial District, Juvenile Diversion, Other - Littleton

Jefferson County Joint Advisory Committee for DANSR and FIT Court, Committee Member - Golden

Medicaid Coding Committee, Committee Member - Denver

State of Colorado, Office of the Attorney General, Other - Denver

Colorado Department of Human Services, Office of Behavioral Health, Other - Denver

Awards / Honors

Dr. James R. Beck Counseling Excellence Award, Denver Seminary, 2004

Excellence-in-Leadership Award, Colorado Association of Addiction Professionals, 2013

Exemplary Educator Recognition Award, International Winter Symposium 2018, 2018

Outstanding Doctoral Student Award, Argosy University Denver, 2014

Therapist of the Year, Colorado Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, 2005

Volunteer Leadership Award & Partner-of-the-Year, Colorado HOSA (Health Occupations Students Association), 2018

Publications

Johnson, M. (2017). Addiction Professionals With and Without Lived Experiences: Common Ethical Questions. Advances in Addiction & Recovery

Johnson, M. (2017). Baseball: Covering all bases in case conceptualization..

Johnson, M. (2015). Contemplating Boundary Crossings: The Need for Ethical Maturity. Advances in Addiction & Recovery

Johnson, M. (2016). Cultural Humility and Sensitivity. Advances in Addiction & Recovery

Johnson, M. (2017). Enforcing the NAADAC/NCC AP Code of Ethics. Advances in Addiction & Recovery

Johnson, M. (2019). Maintenance and relapse prevention..

Johnson, M. (2016). NAADAC Code of Ethics.

Johnson, M. (2018). NAADAC Reference Guides Module 1: Pharmacology of Drugs of Addiction.

Johnson, M. (2018). NAADAC Reference Guides Module 3: Ethical and Professional Issues.

Johnson, M. (2016). Newly Revised NAADAC Code of Ethics Released. Advances in Addiction & Recovery

Johnson, M. (2016). Standards of Practice. Advances in Addiction & Recovery

Johnson, M. (2018). Support along the journey: Groups focused on addiction and recovery. .

Johnson, M. (2015). The Ethics Committee: What is It's Role?. Advances in Addiction & Recovery

Johnson, M. (2017). Virtue Ethics & Personal Relationships. Advances in Addiction & Recovery

Johnson, M. (2016). You Can Do What??? That's Not in Your Scope of Practice. Advances in Addiction & Recovery

Presentations

Johnson, M. (2023). Cannabis Plenary Discussion.

Johnson, M. (2023). Cultural Responsivity at the Intersection of Substance Use and Mental Health Disorders. University of Southern Indiana

Johnson, M. (2023). The Power of Language in Therapy. Human Services Network of Colorado

Johnson, M. (2023). Professional Wounded Healer: The Ethical Need to Promote Psychological Wellness within Oneself. State of Nevada Association for Addiction Professionals

Johnson, M. (2023). Advanced Ethical Practices 2023. Vermont Addiction Professionals Association

Johnson, M. (2023). DOT Substance Abuse Professional Qualification Training. NAADAC

Johnson, M. (2023). Understanding the Nuances and Distinctions of Complex Trauma.

Bailey, C. L., Johnson, M. (2022). Exploring Moral Injury Through an Ethical, Legal and Multicultural Lens. University of Holy Cross

Suarez, E. C., Johnson, M. M., Vereen, L. G., Sutherland, S. A. (2022). Becoming a Multicultural Counseling Leader: Effective Strategies, Professional Identity, and Leadership Style. Chi Sigma Iota

Levingston, K. B., Johnson, M. (2022). Ethical Considerations of Courageous Conversations. University of Holy Cross

Levingston, K. B., Bradley, N. L., Johnson, M. M. (2021). A relational cultural approach to promoting women in academic leadership roles. Center for Social Change, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, and the Office of Academic Affairs

Johnson, M. M. (2020). Addiction Profession: National Update. Texas Association for Addiction Professionals

Johnson, M. M. (2020). Clinical Supervision Update 2020. Texas Association for Addiction Professionals

Johnson, M. M. (2020). Diagnosing Bipolar Disorders. Human Services Network of Colorado

Johnson, M. M. (2020). Effective Use of Motivational Interviewing. University of Denver

Levingston, K. B., Johnson, M. M. (2020). Exploring the Expanding Influence of Neuroethics on Mental Health & Addictions Counseling.

Bailey, C. L., Johnson, M. M. (2020). Integrating Relational-Cultural Pedagogy into Online Counselor Education Programs.

Johnson, M. M. (2020). The Ethics of Telehealth & Clinical Supervision. University of Colorado, Colorado Springs