• Home  /  Faculty  /  Profiles  /  Heather Trepal, Ph.D.

Heather Trepal, Ph.D.

Associate Dean for Academic Programs and Student Success, Professor, Counseling

Heather Trepal, Ph.D.

Contact

Bio

Dr. Heather Trepal is the Associate Dean for Academic Programs and Student Success in the College of Education and Human Development and a Professor in the Department of Counseling. She is a licensed professional counselor and board-approved supervisor in the state of Texas. Her research focuses on behavioral health workforce training, supervision, and development, culturally responsive counseling, professional advocacy, and trauma. She currently serves as the PI for the Program for the Integrated Training of Counselors in Behavioral Healthcare - Expanded Providers Project (PEP). The grant is designed to address health disparities by enhancing the delivery of culturally responsive mental health services to medically underserved communities uniting trainees from 4 behavioral health disciplines for specialized training and stipend support to work in integrated primary care, school, and community settings. She is a Fellow and Past President of the American Counseling Association (ACA). She also served as the President of the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES) and the Association for Creativity in Counseling (ACC). Dr. Trepal is the recipient of numerous awards including the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision Professional Leadership Award, The Texas Association for Counselor Education and Supervision Advocacy Award, the American Counseling Association Presidential Award, and the Dwight D. Arnold Outstanding Alumnus Award from Kent State University's Department of Counseling and Human Development Service Program.

 

Teaching

  • Supervision
  • Introduction to Clinical Mental Health Counseling
  • Seminar in Professional Development

 

Research Interests

  • Behavioral Health Workforce Training
  • Supervision, and Development
  • Culturally Responsive Counseling
  • Professional Advocacy
  • Trauma

Degrees

  • Ph.D. Counseling and Human Development Services, Kent State University, 2003
  • M.Ed. Community Counseling, Cleveland State University, 1998
  • B.A. English, The Ohio State University, 1994

 

Honors and Awards

  • Outstanding Graduate Advisor of Record
    • Year Awarded: 2022
    • Governing Organization: College of Education and Human Development, UTSA Graduate School Excellence Awards
  • University of Texas at San Antonio President’s Outstanding Achievement Award for Innovation and Impact
    • Year Awarded: 2019
    • Governing Organization: Program for the Integrated Training of Counselors in Behavioral Healthcare (PITCH)
  • Association for Assessment and Research in Counseling/CORE Outstanding Outcome Research Award
    • Year Awarded: 2016
    • Governing Organization: CORE
  • American Counseling Association (ACA) Presidential Award
    • Year Awarded: 2016
    • Governing Organization: American Counseling Association
  • Association for Creativity in Counseling (ACC) Thelma Duffey Vision and Innovation Award
    • Year Awarded: 2015
    • Governing Organization: Association for Creativity in Couseling (ACC)
  • Texas Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (TACES) Advocacy Award
    • Year Awarded: 2015
    • Governing Organization: Texas Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (TACES)
  • Dr. Dwight D. Arnold Outstanding Alumnus Award
    • Year Awarded: 2014
    • Governing Organization: Kent State University, Department of Counseling and Human Development Service Program
  • Texas Counseling Association (TCA) Distinguished Service Award
    • Year Awarded: 2011
    • Governing Organization: Texas Counseling Association (TCA)
  • Texas Counseling Association (TCA) Research Award
    • Year Awarded: 2010
    • Governing Organization: Texas Counseling Association (TCA)
  • Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES) Professional Leadership Award
    • Year Awarded: 2009
    • Governing Organization: Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES)

Presentations

  • Trepal, H., Weaver, S., Ingram, M., & Lloyd-Hazlett, J. Counselor training in integrated primary care settings: Evidence-based practice for supervision and clinical site development.
    • Venue:  Texas Association for Counselor Education and Supervision Midwinter Conference, Georgetown, Texas
    • Presentation Date: 2024
  • Trepal, H., & Lloyd-Hazlett, J. Training counselors in integrated care. 
    • Venue: American Counseling Association Conference, Toronto, Canada
    • Presentation Date: 2023
  • Lloyd-Hazlett, J., & Trepal, H. Preparing student counselors for work in integrated healthcare: A research review.
    • Venue: Southern Association for Counselor Education and Supervision, Baltimore, Maryland
    • Presentation Date: 2022
  • Weaver, S., Ingram, M., & Trepal, H. The use of interprofessional education (IPE) to promote team-based care.
    • Venue: Southern Association for Counselor Education and Supervision, Dallas, Texas.
    • Presentation Date: 2024 (accepted)

Grants, Patents and Clinical Trials

  • PITCH: Program for the Integrated Training of Counselors in Behavioral Healthcare (PI). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – HRSA/BHWET
    • Duration: 2017-2021
    • Total Dollars: $804,748
  • PEP: PITCH Expanded Providers Project (PI). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – HRSA/BHWET
    • Duration: 2021-2025
    • Total Dollars: $1,659,088

Publications

Selected Publications
  • Ogbeide, S., Trepal, H., Lloyd-Hazlett, J., & Ingram. M. (2022). Assessing counseling student self-reported competencies in primary care behavioral health. Families, Systems, & Health, 40(4), 508-512. https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2Ffsh0000744
  • Trepal, H., Castellon, N., Kurz, I., Morgan, A., & Contreras, J. (2022). Mi identidad and my privilege: The experiences of females of Mexican descent studying abroad in Mexico. Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, 50, 172-182. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jmcd.12265
  • Lloyd-Hazlett, J., Knight, C., Ogbeide, S., Trepal, H., & Blessing, N. (2020). Strengthening the behavioral health workforce: Spotlight on PITCH. The Professional Counselor, 10 (3), 306-317. doi:10.15241/jlh.10.3.306
  • Preston, J., Trepal, H., Morgan, A., Jaques, J., Smith, J., & Field, T. (2020). Elements of a high-quality doctoral program in counselor education and supervision. The Professional Counselor, 10 (4), 453-471.doi:10.15241/jp.10.4.453
  • Trepal, H., Tello, A., Haiyasoso, M., Castellon, N., Garcia, J., & Martinez-Smith, C. (2019). Supervision strategies used to support Spanish-speaking bilingual counselors. Teaching and Supervision in Counseling, 1(1), Article 3. Available at: https://trace.tennessee.edu/tsc/vol1/iss1/3
  • Lawson, G., Trepal, H., Lee, R., & Kress, V. (2017). The evolution of a profession: Advocating for the infusion of increased educational standards into counselor licensure laws. Counselor Education and Supervision, 56, 162-176.
  • Wester, K., & Trepal, H. (2017). Non-suicidal self-injury: Wellness perspectives on behaviors, symptoms, and diagnosis. Taylor & Francis Press.