Brean'a Parker

Bio

Brean’a Parker is an assistant professor in the Department of Educational Leadership, Policy and Human Development’s Counselor Education Program at NC State University. Her research interest focus on stories and experiences of violence and trauma within Black communities especially for community members occupying multiply marginalized positions; healing and pleasure praxis for survivors and victims of interpersonal violence; and cultivating a social justice based counseling training curriculum that embodies the lived realities, strengths and power within communities historically disenfranchised and oppressed. Additionally, Dr. Parker focuses on how mediums such as storytelling can inform counseling interventions, education, training and future research within different communities historically overlooked by academia.

Research Description

My research primarily centers on Black womxn and other members of the Black community at the margins of the Black communities. This can include younger or older members, folks whom are queer, Trans, or non-binary, people who live in poverty, and folks living with disabilities. Utilizing storytelling and other creative mediums to examine the mental health consequences of having to navigate systemic oppression, state and federal sanctioned violence and interpersonal trauma, helps us think fully and thoughtfully to possible prevention and intervention praxis for Black survivors and victims. I am currently working on projects related to the following topics

• Utilizing Black womxn historical narratives of violence and trauma to inform counseling practitioners approach to working with survivors in mental health settings.
• Exploring the role of cultural and sexual scripts within Black womxn narratives that inform their understanding of victimization and trauma.
• Exploring how Black womxn experience pleasure and healing after experience of physical, sexual and emotional abuse.

Additional research interest include:

• Developing trans-affirming counseling education curriculum for masters counseling students.
• Culturally affirming counseling praxis for working with clients with historical trauma.
• Community-based trauma centers and their role in supporting the wellness within underserved communities.

Courses Taught

• ECD 536 Introduction to Clinical Mental Health Counseling
• ECD 542 Research in Counseling
• ECD 545 Counseling Couples and Family