About Me
Justin Coffey is a graduate student and graduate assistant in clinical mental health counseling at St. Bonaventure University. He primarily works with teen, and adults. His methods are integrative, individualized, and rooted in Existentialism, which in part addresses each client’s potential to find greater peace and meaning in life, congruent to their own values.
He has many years’ experience as an opera and musical theater performer as well as an educator at the high school and college levels. He holds degrees from Louisiana State University and the University of Houston. He will graduate from the three-year Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at St. Bonaventure University in spring of 2024, by which time he will be a board-certified counselor. He values the opportunity to develop strong and safe therapeutic relationships with clients and walk alongside them on their mental health journeys.
In addition to common mental health concerns and conditions such as stress, relationship difficulties, anxiety, depression, bipolar, and so forth, Justin plans to specialize in complex trauma, such as religious and family of origin traumas, as well as LGBTQIA+ issues. He seeks to address the underlying causes of psychological distress, pulling from a variety of therapeutic models, including cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, mindfulness, and internal family systems. He is fascinated by the neuroscience of mental health and will soon complete training to practice LENS neurofeedback; EMDR and the neuroaffective relational model are also of current interest. His plans are to pursue a variety of clinical certifications during his internship at Julia’s Counseling.
Justin’s favorite activities are camping, hiking, and off-roading in the Mountain West. He also loves music, landscape photography, travel, singing, documentaries, art, and sitcom reruns, to name a few.
Education
Louisiana State University – BM, 2003
University of Houston – MM, 2006
St. Bonaventure University – MS, CMHC (anticipated May 2024)
Additional Training and Certifications:
Crisis Intervention Counseling
Transcending Trauma: Treating Complex PTSD with Internal Family Systems
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy Intensive
Complex Trauma Certification Training – Levels I and II (in progress)
Professional Activities and Memberships:
Chi Sigma Iota (CSI) – Counseling Academic and Professional Honor Society International
American Counseling Association (ACA)
Society for Sexual, Affectional, Intersex, and Gender Expansive Identities (SAIGE; a division of the ACA)
American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA)