Faculty & Staff Directory

Areas of Specialization

Systems, group dynamics, interpersonal process, homelessness and poverty-related research, deliberate practice supervision, and Solution-Focused Therapy

Education

Ph.D., Counseling and Counselor Education, Idaho State University
M.S., Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling, Stetson University
B.A., English, Bethune-Cookman University 

Professional Information

Dr. Gainer is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and Qualified Supervisor in the States of Idaho and Florida. Her professional counseling experiences include community agencies, behavioral hospital settings, and K-12 schools. Her research interests include homelessness and poverty, supervision, and intersectionality.

Dr. Gainer enjoys integrating her clinical experience in the classroom through active, experiential, and transformative learning. Her interest in a transformative learning approach is tied to the belief that exploration of meaning schemas coupled with the processes of unlearning and reflection are critical components of being an effective counselor. In addition, transformative and experiential learning fosters advocacy and agency relative to the counselor's role and the client's experience.