Deena Shelton, Ph.D.

Deena Shelton grew up in northeastern Mississippi and moved to East Texas to attend LeTourneau University as an undergraduate student. She loves living in East Texas and seeks ways to serve her community through organizational partnerships and her church. She specializes in couples and family counseling, adoption and foster care, lifespan development and family/community system influence on trauma treatment, technology use in counseling and higher education, program, and program development. Her background work includes higher education administration, counseling in private practice and university settings, career counseling, nonprofit management, community service agencies, including foster care/adoption, grant writing and management, state and federal funded programs, and community-based crime prevention.

Her hobbies include traveling, baking, hanging out with her teen kids, reading, learning new things, hearing people talk about their passions, and having fun through creativity.

Education

Ph.D., Counselor Education and Supervision, Walden University, 2018
M.A., Community Counseling, Stephen F. Austin State University, 2009
B.S., Psychology, LeTourneau University, 2006

Licenses and Certifications

Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor (LPC-S)
Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS)
Telemental Health Counseling and Supervision Certification

Publications

Ddungu, G., & Shelton, D. (in press). Socioecological interventions for addressing mental health in Uganda. In The Anthropocene: Politik-Economics-Society-Science. Springer International Publishing
Shelton, D., & Zazzarino, A. (in press). Depressive and bipolar disorders. In V. Kress & M. J. Paylo, & N. Stargell (Eds.) Counseling children and adolescents (2nd ed.). Pearson.
Shelton, D., & Zazzarino, A. (2025). Depressive, bipolar, and related disorders. In V. E. Kress & M. J. Paylo (Eds.) Treating those with mental disorders: A comprehensive approach to case conceptualization and treatment planning (3rd ed.). Pearson.
Zazzarino, A., & Shelton, D. (2025). Substance use and addiction. In D. Capuzzi & M. D. Stauffer (Eds.) Youth at risk: Insights and approaches for professional helpers, teachers, and parents (8th ed.). Cognella.
Haley, M., Shelton, D., & Togbi-Wonyo, E. (2024). Important professional issues in addictions counseling. In D. Capuzzi & M. D. Stauffer (Eds.) Foundations of addictions counseling (5th ed.). Pearson.
Zazzarino, A., Shelton, D., & Johnson, A. L. (2022). Gender, social justice, and multicultural issues in career counseling. In D. Capuzzi & M. D. Stauffer (Eds.) Career counseling: Foundations, perspectives, and applications (4th ed.). Cognella.
Shelton, D., & Bridges, C. W. (2021). A phenomenological exploration of adoptive parent experiences of support during the adoption process. Adoption Quarterly, 25(3), 212-243. https://doi.org/10.1080/10926755.2021.1976336
Zazzarino, A., Shelton, D., & Haley, M. (2021). Legal, ethical, and professional issues. In D. Capuzzi & M. D. Stauffer (Eds.) Foundations of couples, marriage, and family counseling (2nd ed.). Wiley & Sons.
Shelton, D., & Zazzarino, A. (2020). Infusing counseling theories with the Integrated Developmental Model: Strengthening supervision practices. Journal of Human Services: Training, Research, and Practice, 6(1), 1-26. https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/jhstrp/vol6/iss1/4
Peoples, K., Zazzarino, A., Thompson, J., Riley, P., Shelton, D., Fisher, R., Kirkland, V., & Richardson-Oneil, B. (2019). The unfaithful male in monogamous and non-monogamous marriage: A phenomenological case study. Sexual Addiction and Compulsivity. https://doi.org/10/1080/10720162.2019.1608880
Haley, M., & Shelton, D. (2019). Important professional issues in addictions counseling. In D. Capuzzi & M. D. Stauffer (Eds.) Foundations of addictions counseling (4th ed.). Pearson.
Shelton, D., & Bridges, C. W. (2019). Analyzing adoptive parent interviews using the descriptive phenomenological psychological method. SAGE Research Methods Datasets. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781526488992
Peoples, K., Shelton, D., Zazzarino, A., Riley, P., Fisher, R., Thompson, J., & Kirkland, V. (2019). Analyzing case studies on male infidelity using interpretive phenomenological analysis: A collaborative group approach. SAGE Research Methods Datasets. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781526486752

Professional Presentations

Shelton, D., & Zazzarino, A. (October 2025). Beyond client cases: Creative supervision strategies for professional identity development. Association for Counselor Education and Supervision Conference, Philadelphia, PA.
Ddungu, G., & Shelton, D. (July 2025). Socioecological interventions for addressing mental health in Uganda. Laudato Si’ Africa Conference, Bethany Land Institute, Uganda.
Shelton, D. (January 2025). APA style in counselor education: Securing “buy-in” for optimal counselor development. Hawaii International Conference on Education, Honolulu, HI.
Shelton, D., & Zazzarino, A. (October 2023). Putting the “S” back in CES: A conversation with seasoned supervisors (NARACES Panel). Association for Counselor Education and Supervision Conference, Denver, CO.
Shelton, D., & Zazzarino, A. (May 2023). Your success is not a fluke: Addressing imposter syndrome for professional growth. North Atlantic Region Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (NARACES), Webinar.
Shelton, D., & Zazzarino, A. (October 2021). You’re not a phony: Addressing imposter syndrome for effective growth in supervision. Association for Counselor Education and Supervision Conference, Atlanta, GA.
Shelton, D., Washburn, D., & Keck, B. (October 2021). Professional development plans in online counselor education: Roadmaps for growth. Association for Counselor Education and Supervision Conference, Atlanta, GA.
Shelton, D. (October 2021). Career advice and guidance for doctoral students and new graduates (NARACES Panel). Association for Counselor Education and Supervision Conference, Atlanta, GA.
Shelton, D., & Frazier, R. O. (September 2021). Ethics for Texas counselors: Practice expansion, marketing, and supervision (4-hour CEU course). Piney Woods Counseling Association, Fall Meeting, Longview, TX.
Shelton, D., Zazzarino, A., & Peoples, K. (June 2021). The unfaithful male in monogamous and non-monogamous marriage: A phenomenological case study. Ethnographic and Qualitative Research Conference, Virtual.
Shelton, D., & Frazier, R. O. (September 2020). ACA and Texas ethics: Back to the basics for current counseling issues (4-hour CEU course). Piney Woods Counseling Association, Fall Meeting, Longview, TX.
Shelton, D., Parker, S & Frater, R. (November 2019). Everything is bigger in Texas: Exploring Texas ethics beyond the ACA code. Texas Counseling Association Professional Growth Conference, Fort Worth, TX.
Shelton, D., & Zazzarino, A. (October 2019). You’re not the only one: Addressing perfectionism, mindset, and imposter syndrome to maximize the supervision experience. Association for Counselor Education and Supervision Conference, Seattle, WA.
Shelton, D., & Bridges, C. W. (March 2019). Adoptive parent support experiences: Implications for counseling families. American Counseling Association Conference, New Orleans, LA.
Shelton, D., & Frazier, R. O. (March 2018). Special topics for counseling at-risk children and adolescents (4-hour CEU course). Piney Woods Counseling Association, Winter Meeting, Longview, TX.
Zazzarino, A., & Shelton, D. (October 2017). Integrating counseling theories with supervision models to provide effective clinical supervision. Association for Counselor Education and Supervision Conference, Chicago, IL.
Shelton, D. (November 2014). Millennial culture: Counseling and the modern emerging adult (4-hour CEU course). Piney Woods Counseling Association, Winter Meeting, Marshall, TX.

Invited Presentations

Shelton, D. (booked October 2025). Time doesn’t heal all wounds: The impact of lifespan development on trauma treatment. Too Close to Home: Uniting Against Violence. Women’s Center of East Texas, Longview, TX.
Shelton, D. (booked October 2025). Complex Trauma: Causes, diagnostic implications, and domains of impact. Too Close to Home: Uniting Against Violence. Women’s Center of East Texas, Longview, TX.
Shelton, D. (October 2024). Parenting and adolescence. Harmony & Health Research Study. Department of Health Disparities Research – The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Presented in Longview, TX.
Shelton, D. (October 2024). Time doesn’t heal all wounds: The impact of lifespan development on trauma treatment. Too Close to Home: Uniting Against Violence. Women’s Center of East Texas, Longview, TX.
Shelton, D. (October 2023). Faculty at teaching institutions. Graduate Career Series Panel, Texas A&M University, Virtual.
Shelton, D. (March 2023). Beyond knowledge checks: Creating significant learning experiences for adults. East Texas Literacy Symposium, Longview, TX.
Shelton, D. (August 2022). Communication skills for leaders; Creating a thriving workplace. Staff Training, Women’s Center of East Texas, Longview, TX.
Shelton, D. (June 2022). Parenting kids in a virtual world. Keynote Address. West Virginia Adoptive & Kinship Parent Network – Caring for Kids in Care Conference.
Shelton, D. (June 2022). Communication skills for leaders; Creating a thriving workplace. Staff Training, Women’s Center of East Texas, Longview, TX.
Shelton, D. (April 2022). Communication skills for leaders; Creating a thriving workplace. Staff Training, Kilgore Eye Care Center, Kilgore, TX.
Shelton, D. (March 2022). Parenting kids in a virtual world. Lovejoy ISD PTO Training, Virtual.
Shelton, D. (August 2021). Enneagram for leaders and teams. Staff Training, Trinity School of Texas, Longview, TX.
Shelton, D. (July 2021). High-key pressed: Teaching and supervising Gen Z hits different – no cap. LeTourneau University School of Aviation and Aeronautical Science, Longview, TX.
Shelton, D. (June 2021). Basic communication for leaders and teams. Highridge Church – pastoral team and senior volunteers, Longview, TX.
Shelton, D. (March 2021). Special topics for adoptive parents. Centers for Children and Families, Post Adopt Services Training, Longview, TX.
Shelton, D. (January 2020). Navigating puberty: Prioritizing connection during adolescence. Rise Conference – Parent Track, LeTourneau University, Longview, TX.
Shelton, D. (October 2019). Development and trauma: Processing difficulty through the lifespan. Trust Based Relational Intervention Camp, Dr. Sarah Kranz, Longview, TX.
Shelton, D. (August 2019). Shifting the narrative: Reconsidering primary student needs related to metacognitive skills in educational settings. Spring Hill Primary School, Longview, TX.
Shelton, D. (August 2019). Myers Briggs Type Indicator: How types can inform primary teacher styles. Spring Hill Primary School, Longview, TX.
Shelton, D. (July 2018). Shifting worldviews: Rewriting the narrative for children from hard places. Centers for Children and Families, Post Adopt Services Training, Longview, TX.
Shelton, D. (February 2018). Development and trauma: Processing difficulty through the lifespan. Centers for Children and Families, Post Adopt Services Training, Longview, TX.
Shelton, D. (July 2017). Adoptive parenting: Modeling 10 truths for children with trauma history. Centers for Children and Families, Post Adopt Services Training, Longview, TX.
Shelton, D. (July 2017). Adoptive parenting: Changes in me for changes in you. Trust Based Relational Intervention Camp, Dr. Sarah Kranz, Longview, TX.