Indiana Counseling Association recognizes IU Columbus professor and students for advancing mental health counseling

Debolina Ghosh, Ph.D., Clinical Assistant Professor at IU Columbus, received the Distinguished Counselor Educator Award. This award recognizes a counselor educator who has evidenced contributions to the growth of the profession, of innovative/creative practice in counselor education, involvement with student development and growth, scholarly activity, and national recognition.

Ghosh has diverse teaching experience in countries including India, China, South America, and the U.S. She uses several creative interventions in teaching, like role play and creative arts, and mentors research projects for her graduate students—including those who presented at the ICA conference.

Debolina Ghosh received the Distinguished Counselor Educator Award.Second-year MHC students Shyamala Raghunathan and Deborah Roach presented their research, “Improving Counseling Outcomes for Diabetics by Understanding the Impact of Diabetic Shame and Distress.” This project also won an Office of Student Research grant and will be presented at the IU Columbus OSR exhibition this spring.

August MHC graduate Rachael Myers presented her research, “Understanding Psychological Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Respiratory Therapy Profession.” Myers also shared her presentation with the Indiana Society for Respiratory Care in October.

MHC students Shyamala Raghunathan and Deborah Roach presented their research at the ICA conference.Ghosh noted that both research projects addressed unique, relevant and timely topics in mental health counseling and were selected by ICA after an application process. Mental health professionals from across the state were supportive and encouraging of the students’ work.

“In addition to sharing their research with a wider audience, this conference allowed our students to network with other clinicians in the area, people in leadership positions statewide, as well as other university professors and researchers,” Ghosh said. “It was a very exciting opportunity.” MHC graduate Rachael Myers presents at the ICA conference.

The 2024 ICA Conference was held Oct. 18 and 19 in Indianapolis.

As a branch of the American Counseling Association, ICA is committed to enhancing the counseling profession and the professional counselors who serve others. According to its website, ICA strives to “enhance the quality of life in our state by promoting the development of professional counselors, advancing the counseling profession, and using the profession and practice of counseling to promote respect for human dignity and diversity.”