Rebecca Cowan
Dr. Cowan is a counselor educator with formal training in clinical mental health counseling and forensic psychology/terrorism. She has worked in the mental health field since 2004 and is a Licensed Professional Counselor, National Certified Counselor, Board Certified Telemental Health provider, Certified Mental Health Integrative Medicine Provider, Certified Forensic Behavioral Analyst, and Certified Forensic Mental Health Evaluator. She is the owner of Anchor Counseling and Wellness, LLC, in Virginia Beach, VA. Clinically, Dr. Cowan has experience working in inpatient psychiatric, private practice, residential treatment, integrated care (family medicine), forensic, and foster care/child protective services settings. She has numerous professional publications and has made several national and regional presentations. Additionally, she serves as a peer reviewer for several professional journals and as an associate editor for Trauma Counseling and Resilience journal. Dr. Cowan volunteers as a Disaster Mental Health (DMH) supervisor with the American Red Cross and regularly deploys to national disaster response operations. When in steady-state, Dr. Cowan provides DMH coverage across Virginia, where she works with individuals who have been displaced from their homes due to fires or other disasters. At Walden, Dr. Cowan teaches in the School of Counseling and Human Services. She has served on 40 doctoral student dissertation committees across several universities.
Courses Taught
COUN 6336 - Crisis, Trauma, and Response
COUN 6720 - Diagnosis and Assessment
RSCH 8310-S - Qualitative Reasoning and Analysis
COUN 6626 - Research Methodology and Program Evaluation
Education
PhD, Old Dominion University
MA, Regent University
Public Service
The American Red Cross, Volunteer -
The Independent State Commission to Investigate the May 31, 2019, Virginia Beach Mass Shooting, Committee Member -
Awards / Honors
Gilbert and Kathleen Wrenn Award for a Humanitarian and Caring Person, American Counseling Association, 2020
Top Forty Under 40, Inside Business, 2019
Diplomate and Clinical Mental Health Specialist, American Mental Health Counseling Association (AMHCA), 2019
Association for Adult Development and Aging-Outstanding Journal Award, AADA, 2013
National Organization of Human Services President’s Award, National Organization of Human Services, 2010
Top 40 Under 40, Old Dominion University Alumni Association, 2021
Women in Business Award, Inside Business, 2021
Publications
Cowan, R. G. (2022). The Parkland mass shooting and the path to intended violence: A case study of missed opportunities for future prevention. Homicide Studies
Cowan, R. G., Cole, R., Tedeschi, P., Corbin, M. (2022). A mixed-methods analysis of averted mass violence in schools: Implications for professional school counselors.
Cole, R. F., Cowan, R. G. (2021). A Strengths-Based Approach for School Counselors Working with Military Children. Journal of Military and Government Counseling
Cowan, R. G., Cole, R. (2021). The pathway to violence and public mass shooters who have received mental health treatment prior to attacks. Safer Communities
Cowan, R. G., Cole, R., Gilette, C. (2021). Trends in ethical violations and resulting disciplinary Actions by the Virginia Board of Counseling, 1999-2019. Virginia Counselors Journal
Cowan, R. G., Alston, L., Neal, C., Mahon, M. (2021). The experiences of licensed clinicians counseling Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer survivors of intimate partner violence. Journal of LGBT Issues in Counseling
Cole, R. F., Cowan, R. G., Dunn, H., Lincoln, T. (2021). Military spouses' perceptions of suicide in the military spouse community. The Professional Counselor
Lankford, A., Cowan, R. G. (2021). Has the Role of Mental Health Problems in Mass Shootings Been Significantly Underestimated? . Journal of Threat Assessment and Management
Cowan, R. G., Blum, C. R., Szirony, G. M., Cicchetti, R. J. (2020). Supporting Survivors of Public Mass Shootings. Journal of Social, Behavioral, & Health Sciences
Cowan, R. G., Cole, R. (2020). Understudied and underfunded: mass shooting research and implications for the field. Journal of Social Change
Frazier, D., Cowan, R. (2020). The correlation between attachment style, self-esteem, and psychological well-being of fatherless women ages 25-55. . Adultspan Journal
Cole, R., Cowan, R. (2019). Military reintegration: The professional school counselor’s role in helping military families successfully reunite after deployment. The Journal of Military and Government Counseling
Cowan, R., Cole, R., Craigen, L. (2019). School based sexual abuse prevention: Implications for professional school counselors. The Professional Counselor
Margolies, S. O., Cowan, R., Rehfuss, M. C., Britton, B. (2018). The Patient Centered Medical Home and medical school education: An innovative interprofessional education model. Journal of Interprofessional Education & Practice
Cole, R., Cowan, R., Craigen, L. (2015). Building partnerships with low-income families of students with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Implications for professional school counselors. Journal of Children and Poverty
Cowan, R., Cole , R. (2014). Awareness, recognition, and action: Meeting the needs of geriatric clients. The Journal of Human Services
Cole , R., Craigen , L., Cowan, R. (2014). Compassion fatigue in human service practitioners. The Journal of Human Services
Craigen , L., Cole , R., McBride-Cowan , R. (2013). The college counseling experiences of young women who self-injure: A qualitative study. Human Services Today
Craigen , L., Cole , R., Cowan, R. (2013). Online relationships and the role of the human service practitioner. Journal of Human Services
McBride, R., Hays, D. G. (2012). Counselor demographics, ageism attitudes, and multicultural counseling competence among counselors and counselor trainees. ADULTSPAN Journal
McBride, R. (2012). Survival on the streets: Experiences of the homeless population and constructive suggestions to assist this population. Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development
Hays , D., McBride , R., Cole , R., Emelianchik , K., Forman , J., Lorelle , S., Sikes , A. (2011). A phenomenological investigation of adolescent dating relationships and dating violence counseling interventions. The Professional Counselor Journal
Sikes , A., Walley , C., McBride, R., Fusco , A., Fariss, R., Lauka, J. (2011). Inhalant and prescription medication abuse among adolescents: An inexpensive, accessible, and misperceived trend. Journal of Child and Adolescent Substance Abuse
Forman, J., McBride , R. (2010). Counselors’ role in preventing abuse of older adults: Clinical, ethical, and legal considerations. ADULTSPAN Journal
Sikes , A., Cole , R., McBride , R., Fusco , A., Lauka, J. (2009). Addressing the needs of substance abusing adolescents: A guide for professional school counselors. Journal of School Counseling
Presentations
Cowan, R., Tedeschi, P. (2021). Lessons from Las Vegas and Parkland: The Experiences of Two Responders.
Cowan, R., Baumgarten, M. (2014). Working Together as Interdisciplinary Leaders: MD and Phd Program Directors In a Family Medicine Residency.
Britton , B., O'Keefe , A., Cowan, R., Das, P. (2013). Enhancing Patient Communication: Structuring Simulated Patient Feedback and Evaluation of Family Medicine Clerkship Students .
Early , M., Cowan, R. (2013). Senior Care Clinic: A Success Story for Integrated Care.
Cowan, R., Bluestein , D. (2013). Teamwork in Geriatrics: Making it Happen in the Real World.
McBride, R., Neuer , A. (2010). Resilience and Community Needs of the Homeless Population.
Neukrug , E., McBride, R., Neuer, A. (2010). Perceptions by ACA Members of Ethically Correct Behaviors.
McBride, R., Lauka, J. (2009). Positive and Negative Aspects of Doctoral Students Supervising master’s Students in Counselor Education and Supervision Programs.
Remley , T., McBride, R., Knight , J., Neuer , A., Richeson, B. (2009). Are Counselor Educators Over-Zealous in their Role as Gatekeepers for the Counseling Profession? .
McBride, R., Forman, J. (2009). Survival on the Streets: Experiences of the Homeless Population and Constructive Suggestion for Assistance.
Neukrug , E., Wisinger, S., McBride, R., Forman, J. (2009). A Content Analysis of CESNET-L.
McBride, R., Forman, J. (2009). Perceptions of Ethical Behaviors of Counselors.