Dr. Jinnelle Veronique Powell, PhD, LPC-S, EMDR Trainer & Consultant

04/08/2026

What an incredible time in El Paso with the University of Texas at El Paso community!

I had the honor of presenting Connection Under Pressure with dedicated Texas Department of Family and Protective Services workers and foster parents who show up every day for children and families with such heart and commitment.

We explored trauma-informed strategies, the power of relational connection, and I was especially grateful to introduce my CHISME model as a relationally and culturally responsive approach rooted in Relational Cultural Theory, designed to transform disconnection into growth and healing.

A special moment of the day was having my co-presenter Jennifer Kremer Olivia share her adoption story providing real life examples of how trauma manifests and connection heals. Her willingness to show up with authenticity and courage created space for deeper understanding, reflection, and connection across the room.

I left feeling energized, grounded, and connected!

Thank you to everyone who showed up, leaned in, and continues to do this meaningful work in the El Paso community. 💛 till next time!!

03/29/2026

Still reflecting on the honor of delivering my keynote this Friday as I make my way back home.

I was honored to speak on Connection Is the Intervention: The Power of Relational Healing and Brain-Based Change, at the 44th Annual Woodall Conference for the Helping Professions hosted by Delta State University.

There is something deeply meaningful about gathering in community with counselors, educators, and students who are all committed to the work of healing. We explored how connection is not just a “nice” part of counseling, it is the intervention. When we understand the nervous system, co-regulation, and the science of relationships, we begin to see that healing happens in the space between us.

I am leaving this experience feeling grateful, grounded, and energized.

❤Grateful for the opportunity to share this message.
🙌Grounded in the reminder that our presence matters.
✨And energized by the collective commitment to showing up for others in ways that foster real, lasting change.

To everyone who attended, engaged, and leaned into the conversation, thank you. The work you are doing matters more than you know. Till next time, Mississippi, we've got more work to do! 💪

03/24/2026

I am excited to share that the Counseling Program at Texas A&M University–Kingsville is currently seeking multiple (5) tenure-track Assistant Professors in Counselor Education and/or Clinical Mental Health Counseling.

We are in a season of meaningful growth and are looking to welcome colleagues who are passionate about counselor development, committed to high-quality training, and eager to contribute to a collaborative and student-centered program. These positions offer an opportunity to join a CACREP-accredited Clinical Mental Health Counseling program within a Hispanic-serving institution that is deeply committed to access, community impact, and preparing the next generation of counselors.

Position Highlights:
Tenure-track Assistant Professor appointments
100% online teaching environment (synchronous and asynchronous)
Opportunities to mentor and advise a diverse graduate student body
Support for developing and sustaining an active research agenda
Collaborative faculty environment with strong program momentum

Minimum Qualifications:
Earned doctorate in Counselor Education from a CACREP-accredited program (ABD considered; must be completed by May 2026)
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) or license-eligible in Texas
Preferred Qualifications include experience with online teaching, clinical practice, supervision, CACREP standards, and an active or emerging scholarly agenda.

About the Program:
The Counseling Program at TAMUK offers both a CACREP-accredited Clinical Mental Health Counseling program and a Counseling and Guidance program. We serve a large and dynamic student body and are actively strengthening our program through strategic faculty hiring, continued alignment with accreditation standards, and a strong emphasis on student success and professional identity development.

Application Information:
Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until positions are filled.

To apply, please visit:
https://tamus.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/TAMUK_External/job/Assistant-Professor-of-Counselor-Education-and-or-Mental-Health-

Applicants should submit:

Cover letter
Curriculum vitae
Unofficial transcripts
Personal statement (teaching, research, service)
Three professional references

Please feel free to share widely.

03/19/2026

Research day energy ✨
Big ideas. Real impact. Incredible people.
Creating access. Building what matters 🤍

03/07/2026

Language around adoption can influence how adoptees think about themselves and their families. Dr. Sara Bailey explains how to communicate with adoptees and specific language to consider. https://nbcc.org/resources/nccs/newsletter/the-language-of-clients-who-are-adopted

03/05/2026

I have been thinking a lot about the central relational paradox lately.

The strategies people develop to protect themselves from disconnection can unintentionally create more of it.

When the nervous system senses a threat, it moves toward protection.
Sometimes that protection looks like distance.

Disconnection is not failure.
It is a neurobiological response to threat.

Connection and safety are what make repair possible.

Miller, J. B., & Stiver, I. P. (1997). The healing connection: How women form relationships in therapy and in life. Beacon Press.

03/05/2026

Feeling deeply grateful today after presenting with the wonderful Gloria Ramirez at the 2026 Texas Association for Counselor Educators & Supervisors Mid-Winter Conference in Georgetown, Texas.

Our presentation, Igniting Advocacy in Counselor Education: Preparing Counselors in Training for Service in Rural Latinx Communities, centered on something close to my heart: preparing the next generation of counselors to show up with cultural humility, advocacy skills, and a commitment to communities that are too often overlooked.

Rural Latinx communities hold tremendous strength, wisdom, and resilience. Counselor education has an important role in equipping counselors in training to partner with these communities, advocate for access, and build relationships that truly foster connection and growth.

I am so thankful to share this space with Gloria Ramirez and with colleagues through Texas Association for Counselor Educators & Supervisors who are committed to advancing counselor education, supervision, and advocacy across Texas.

Moments like this remind me how powerful it is when counselor educators come together to imagine what is possible for our students, our profession, and the communities we serve. ✨

02/27/2026

✨ BIG NEWS for 2026 at Distinctive Learning!✨

🎉 **All Distinctive Learning events are ACEP approved through NBCC!**
🎉 **Our Play Therapy trainings are approved by BOTH NBCC (ACEP) and the Association for Play Therapy (APT)!**
🎉 **Our Sandtray offerings are now approved through BOTH NBCC (ACEP) and the World Association for Sand Therapy!**

These recognitions reflect our ongoing commitment to providing high-quality, experiential, and clinically relevant training experiences that truly support professional growth.

Whether you are:
🌱 Deepening your play therapy or sandtray skills
🧠 Expanding trauma-informed and brain-based clinical practice
🤝 Building connection with other passionate clinicians
✨ Investing in meaningful continuing education

Our 2026 lineup was intentionally created to support clinicians who want learning experiences that translate directly into their work with clients.

At Distinctive Learning, continuing education is about more than CE hours. It is about community, confidence, creativity, and clinical excellence.

📣 **The full 2026 training calendar is coming soon.**

👀You are going to want these dates on your calendar.

Let’s grow and learn together in 2026. 💫

02/27/2026

♥️🙌🏼

02/27/2026

♥️♥️♥️♥️

📣 Get Ready for the 44th Annual F.E. Woodall Conference!

Join us Friday, March 27, 2026, in Cleveland, Mississippi for a day of growth, connection, and learning at the F.E. Woodall Spring Conference for the Helping Professions hosted by the Delta State University Division of Counselor Education.

🌟 Keynote Speaker: Dr. Jinnelle V. Powell, PhD, LPC-S, EMDR Trainer & Consultant
We’re honored to welcome Dr. Jinnelle V. Powell, a widely respected counselor educator and trauma expert, as our keynote speaker. With nearly two decades of experience in trauma-informed practice and a passion for relational healing grounded in neuroscience and cultural responsiveness, Dr. Powell brings powerful insights you won’t want to miss.

👥 What to Expect:
• Engaging keynote address
• Wide variety of dynamic breakout sessions
• Continuing education opportunities
• Networking with professionals across the helping fields
• Student presentations & leadership experiences

📍 Stay Updated & Register: Visit 👉 deltastate.edu/woodall for full details on sessions, CEU credits, and registration.

02/27/2026

Some professional moments feel bigger than an announcement. This is one of them.

I am deeply honored to serve as the keynote speaker for the 44th Annual F.E. Woodall Spring Conference for the Helping Professions at Delta State University this March.

This invitation represents a meaningful full-circle moment in my journey as a counselor educator, clinician, supervisor, and founder. The opportunity to stand alongside helping professionals who are committed to healing, advocacy, and community impact is something I do not take lightly.

My keynote, Connection Is the Intervention: The Power of Relational Healing and Brain-Based Change, centers on a belief that continues to guide my work. Lasting change happens through relationships. When we understand the science of connection and intentionally show up in relational ways, we create conditions where real healing becomes possible.

I am looking forward to learning, connecting, and sharing space with colleagues who continue to move our profession forward every day.

If you will be in Cleveland, Mississippi on March 27, I would love to see you there.

📍 Cleveland, MS
🗓 March 27, 2026
Registration: www.deltastate.edu/woodall

Grateful for every mentor, student, colleague, and community that has been part of the path that led here.

11/10/2025

Don’t miss out on this upcoming opportunity to deepen your work with clients who have experienced trauma!

3-weekend online EMDR training open to all U.S. and Canada mental health professionals. CE credits included.