Courtney Bell

Experienced and compassionate Mental health clinician with a strong background in trauma-informed care, grief counseling, and culturally responsive therapy for individuals across the lifespan. Committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and client-centered therapeutic environment that fosters emotional resilience and psychological well-being.

Key Areas of Expertise:

• Trauma informed therapy: utilize evidence-based trauma interventions to support clients in processing and healing from complex trauma, PTSD, and adverse life experiences.
• Program Design and Development: Develop therapeutic programs for a variety of populations. Utilize alternative therapy methods including equine therapy, when relevant.
• Culturally Responsive and Inclusive Care: Integrate culturally informed therapeutic approaches, recognizing the influence of identity, systemic factors, and community perspectives on mental health. Tailored interventions to align with diverse backgrounds, values, and lived experiences.
• Therapeutic Modalities: Proficient in Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Somatic Therapy, Mindfulness-Based Interventions, Mindfulness-Based Interventions, Narrative Therapy, and Expressive Arts Therapy, ensuring an adaptive and holistic approach to emotional well-being.
• Supporting All Age Groups: Work with children, adolescents, adults, and seniors adapting interventions and treatment plans to meet developmental, emotional, and social needs.
• Holistic and Strength-Based Approach: Integrate mind-body awareness, resilience-building practices, and self-compassion to empower individuals in their healing journey.
• Collaborative Care: Partner with families, schools, and healthcare providers to deliver a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach to mental health support.
• Community Outreach and Education: Lead workshops, training, and support groups on trauma recovery, grief processing, and emotional wellness in diverse community settings.

As the Founder and Principal of an innovative K-6 elementary school integrating experiential learning, place-based education, and social-emotional development and wellness in a farm setting, I was responsible for the overall vision, leadership, and daily operations of the school. My key responsibilities included:

• Strategic Vision & Leadership: Designed and implemented a progressive educational model that combined hands-on, inquiry-based learning with nature immersion, farm-based experiences, and social-emotional development.
• Curriculum Development: Created a dynamic, interdisciplinary curriculum rooted in real-world learning, fostering critical thinking, creativity, and environmental stewardship among students.
• Education Leadership & Instruction: Provided instructional leadership, coached educators in experiential teaching methodologies, and ensured alignment with state academic standards while maintaining a student- centered approach.
• Faculty Hiring & Development: Recruited, trained, and mentored a team of passionate teachers, emphasizing professional growth and excellence in experiential education.
• Community Engagement & Partnerships: Built strong relationships with families, local organizations, and community leaders to enhance learning opportunities and integrate place-based experiences into the curriculum.
• Student Growth & Well-Being: Prioritized social-emotional learning by fostering a supportive school culture grounded in emotional intelligence, self- awareness, and collaborative problem-solving.
• Farm & Outdoor Education Integration: Designed learning experiences that utilized the farm as a living classroom, embedding sustainability, agriculture, and ecology into daily student learning.
• Operational and Financial Management: Oversaw budgeting, fundraising, and resource allocation to ensure financial sustainability and program effectiveness.
• Admissions & Outreach: Led enrollment efforts, developed marketing initiatives, and communicated the school’s mission to prospective families.

• Therapeutic Modalities: Proficient in Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Somatic Therapy, Mindfulness-Based Interventions, Mindfulness-Based Interventions, Narrative Therapy, and Expressive Arts Therapy, ensuring an adaptive and holistic approach to emotional well-being.
• Client Assessment and Intake - Completed client intakes and initial assessments.
• Diagnosis and Treatment Planning - created comprehensive client treatment plans.
• Supporting All Age Groups: Worked with children, adolescents, adults, and seniors adapting interventions to meet developmental, emotional, and social needs.
• Crisis Intervention and Emotional Regulation: Assisted clients in managing acute emotional distress, anxiety, and suicidal ideation using grounding techniques and evidence-based coping strategies.
• Holistic and Strength-Based Approach: Integrated mind-body awareness, resilience-building practices, and self-compassion to empower individuals in their healing journey.
• Collaborative Care: Partnered with families, schools, and healthcare providers to deliver a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach to mental health support.
• Community Outreach and Education: Led workshops, training, and support groups on trauma recovery, grief processing, and emotional wellness in diverse community settings.
• Trauma informed therapy: utilized evidence-based trauma interventions to support clients in processing and healing from complex trauma, PTSD, and adverse life experiences.
• Grief Counseling: Provided compassionate support for individuals navigating grief and loss, guiding them through healing while honoring their unique cultural and personal experiences.
• Culturally Responsive and Inclusive Care: Integrated culturally informed therapeutic approached, recognizing the influence of identity, systemic factors, and community perspectives on mental health. Tailored interventions to align with diverse backgrounds, values, and lived experiences.