Helena Stevens is shaping counselor training at Bethany Lutheran College

Dr. Helena Stevens, PhD, LPC, is being featured by Influential Women for her work as an associate professor, mental health counselor and advocate in Mankato, Minnesota. Her career spans trauma-informed care, counselor education, assessment development and mentorship for future mental health professionals.

Why it matters: - Dr. Helena Stevens is helping train the next generation of mental health counselors while working clinically with people facing trauma, addiction and other challenges. - Her work connects higher education, counseling practice and assessment development, which affects both student preparation and access to care. - Her profile highlights persistent barriers in higher education, especially for women and women of color, and the need for stronger mentorship and more equitable opportunities.

What happened: - Influential Women featured Dr. Helena Stevens, PhD, LPC, LSC, PPS, NCC, in a profile published July 22, 2026. - Stevens is an associate professor in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, Minnesota. - Stevens is based in the Greater Minneapolis–St. Paul area. - The profile presents Stevens as a counselor educator, mental health counselor, school counselor and psychometrician.

The details: - Stevens teaches foundational counseling courses, oversees residency components and provides academic advising at Bethany Lutheran College. - Stevens also contributes to program accreditation efforts and assessment development. - Stevens provides virtual outpatient mental health counseling with a focus on trauma-informed care. - Stevens facilitates group counseling for individuals in drug and alcohol inpatient treatment. - Stevens has advanced training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy, mindfulness and experiential learning methodologies. - Stevens has worked as a school counselor across kindergarten through postsecondary education. - Stevens also practices as a therapist and serves as a senior test developer for a calibration engineering education company. - Stevens supports psychometric testing and accreditation initiatives in that role. - Stevens is authoring her first textbook on university-level supervision in counseling programs. - Stevens’ research interests include mindfulness, wellness, social justice advocacy, school counseling, assessment development, program evaluation and experiential interventions. - The profile says Stevens’ personal experience growing up in a trauma-affected household with parents facing addiction shaped her focus on advocacy. - Stevens says her success has been grounded in integrity, resilience, service, mindfulness and self-care. - The profile includes an invitation to learn more through her Influential Women profile: More information.

Between the lines: - Stevens’ career reflects a broader push in counselor education to combine evidence-based training with lived experience and community advocacy. - Her focus on trauma-informed care and underserved populations suggests an emphasis on making mental health support more accessible and more responsive. - Her comments on systemic and institutional barriers point to ongoing gaps in advancement and support within higher education. - The profile frames mentorship, authenticity and resilience as central strategies for women entering counseling and education.

What's next: - Stevens is continuing to teach, supervise, conduct research and mentor students at Bethany Lutheran College. - She is expected to keep advancing her textbook project and her work in counseling, assessment and professional development. - Her ongoing advocacy suggests continued attention to equitable training and better mental health outcomes in educational settings.

The bottom line: - Helena Stevens is using classroom teaching, clinical work and assessment expertise to strengthen counselor preparation and support more equitable mental health care.