Denver Seminary

Faculty/Staff Directory

Elizabeth (Liz) Norris, PhD

Assistant Professor of Counseling

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Dr. Elizabeth (Liz) Norris is Assistant Professor of Counseling and holds a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision from Mercer University (May 2021). She holds an MA in professional counseling and a trauma specialization from Richmont Graduate University and a BA in speech communications from Valdosta State University.  

Her research agenda covers trauma and counselor development. Dr. Norris has particular expertise in counselor burnout, organizational culture, and the impact of trauma on individuals and the workplace.

Dr. Norris is trained by the Green Cross Academy of Traumatology as a Compassion Fatigue Therapist and has traveled domestically and internationally providing trauma trainings, debriefings, and program evaluation.As a trauma counselor, She has worked in a wide range of clinical settings including a homeless shelter and rehabilitation program, psychiatric hospital, missions agency, and private practice.

Dr. Norris is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Colorado and Georgia, a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC), and a Board Certified TeleMental Health Provider (BC-TMH).

Areas of Research Specialization

Trauma and Counselor Development including counselor burnout, organizational culture, the impact of trauma on individuals/workplace, and counselor development.

Publications

  • Norris, E. K., Elder, C. E. & Morgan, L. M. (2022, April). Counselor burnout during the pandemic… not so fast! Accepted presentation at the American Counseling Association (ACA) Conference, Atlanta, GA.
  • Elder, C. L., Dunkley, D. I., McDonald, P., & Norris, E. K. (2022, April). Counseling counselors: Taking care of our own. Accepted presentation at the American Counseling Association (ACA) Conference, Atlanta, GA
  • Elder, C. L., Norris, E. K., Morgan, L. M. (In Press). Counselor burnout during COVID-19 in Counseling Today, 64(9), 42-45, 2022.
  • Beasley, J. J., & Norris, E. K. (2021). An investigation of factors contributing to secondary traumatic stress in school counselors: A pilot study for Journal of School Counseling, 19(49). http:/www.jsc.montana.edu/articles/v19n49.pdf
  • Zeligman, M., Norris, E. K., Coleman, J., & Wood, A. W. (2021). Virtues as correlates and predictors of posttraumatic stress and growth. Journal of Counseling & Values, 66(2), 199-217.
  • Myers, K. & Norris, E. K. (2021). Sitting in the trenches. Supervising the trauma counselor. SACES Newsletter,16(2), 22-24.
  • Norris, E. K. (2021). Predicting secondary traumatic stress and burnout: Workplace,  individual, and client factors (28322173.) [Doctoral dissertation, Mercer University]. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing.
  • Elder, C., Norris, E. K., Morgan, L. M. (2020). Cultivating leadership and connection through relational mentorship. SACES Newsletter, 16(1), 6-7.
  • Myers, K. & Norris, E. (2020). The counselor’s call to wellness: The domains of wellness, Part II. Counseling Today, 62(10), 10-11.
  • Myers, K. & Norris, E. (2020). The counselor’s call to wellness: The domains of wellness, Part I. Counseling Today, 62(7), 16-17.

Editorial Experience

  • August 2020 – Present, Editorial Board Member, Journal of Employment Counseling.

International Refereed Conferences 

  • Morgan, L. M., Norris, E. K., Elder, C. L. (2021, June). Using Mentorship to Mitigate Professional Isolation in a Time of Uncertainty. Presented at the National Career Development Association (NCDA) Global Conference, virtual conference.
  • Morgan, L., & Norris, E. (2020, July). The Hypocrisy of the Sisterhood: The Quest for Female Mentorship at Work. Presented at the National Career Development Association (NCDA) Global Conference, Minneapolis, MN.
  • Myers, K., Slater, L., & Norris, E. (2020, March). Counselor Identity: A Return to the Foundation. Presented at the Christian Association of Psychological Studies (CAPS) Conference, Atlanta, GA.
  • Norris, E., Hicks, A., & Fernandes, C. (2019, October). A New Narrative Treatment for the Comorbidity of Trauma and Addiction. Presented a poster session in absentia at the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC) World Conference, Nashville, TN.
  • Norris, E. & Lane, W. D. (2019, September). Trauma Narrative Treatment: A Transcultural Group Trauma Intervention. Presented at the Mediterranean Region Counselors Association (MR-CA) Conference, Naples, Italy.

National Refereed Conferences 

  • Temple, M. L. & Norris, E. K. (2022, April). Developing ethical practice and cultural competence through humility and reflection. Accepted by the Association of Multicultural Counseling and Development (AMCD) for the American Counseling Association (ACA) Conference, Atlanta, GA.
  • Norris, E. K. & Morgan, L. M. (2022, April). Counselor burnout during the pandemic… not so fast! Accepted presentation at the American Counseling Association (ACA) Conference, Atlanta, GA.
  • Elder, C. L., Dunkley, D. I., McDonald, P., & Norris, E. K. (2022, April). Counseling counselors: Taking care of our own. Accepted presentation at the American Counseling Association (ACA) Conference, Atlanta, GA.
  • Norris, E. K., Temple, M. L. (2021, November). Using humility and reflection to advance cultural competency and ethical practice. Presentation at the NBCC and Mental Health Academy’s Bridging the Gap Summit, Virtual.
  • Zeligman, M., Norris, E. K., & Coleman, J. (2021, October). Posttraumatic growth and spirituality: Rethinking how we prepare counselors-in-training to work with trauma survivor. Presentation at the Association of Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES) Conference, Atlanta, GA.
  • Elder, C. L., Norris, E. K., & Morgan, L. M. (2021, October). Counselor burnout during COVID-19: Implications for Using a Wellness-Based Model of Supervision. Poster presentation at the Association of Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES) Conference, Atlanta, GA.
  • Norris, E. K., Elder, C. L., & Dunkley, D. (2021, June). Embracing the Shadow: Working Towards an Integrated Self. Presentation at the Association of Humanistic Counseling (AHC) Conference, Virtual.
  • Myers, K. J., Slater, L. B., & Norris, E. (2020, April). Counselor Identity: A Call to the Personal and the Professional. Accepted presentation for the American Counseling Association (ACA) Conference, San Diego, CA. (Conference cancelled due to COVID-19).
  • Norris, E., Lane, W.D., & Lane, D. (2020, April). Trauma Narrative Treatment: A Brief Group Alternative for Trauma Counseling. Accepted poster presentation for the American Counseling Association (ACA) Conference, San Diego, CA. (Conference cancelled due to COVID-19).
  • Elder, C. L., & Norris, E. (2020, February). Riding the Line: Applying Ethical Decision-Making Models in Counseling Skill Development. Presented a poster session at the Law and Ethics in Counseling Conference, New Orleans, LA.
  • Lane, W. D. & Norris, E. (2019, November). Group Intervention for the Treatment of Trauma Related Experiences. Presented in absentia at the Mental Health and Missions (MHM) Conference, Angola, IN.
  • Castleberry, J. J., Norris, E., & Coleman, J. (2019, October). Person of the Therapist: A Purposeful Framework for Infusing Spirituality in Supervision. Presented at the Association of Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES) Conference, Seattle, WA.
  • Norris, E., Castleberry, J. J., & Coleman, J. (2019, July). Integrating Spirituality into Supervision Through the Lens of Person-of-the-Therapist. Presented a poster session at the Association for Spiritual, Ethical, Religious Values in Counseling (ASERVIC) Conference, Colorado Springs, CO.

State/Local Refereed Conferences

  • Elder, C. L., Norris, E., Dunkley, D., & McDonald, P. (2020, May). Counselors’ Experience in the Client Role in Counseling. Accepted presentation at the Licensed Professional Counseling Association of Georgia (LPCA-GA) Conference, Atlanta, GA. (Conference cancelled due to COVID-19)
  • Norris, E. (2020, March). Quantifying Organizational Trauma: Is it Possible? Accepted presentation at the Atlanta Research Conference, Atlanta, GA. (Conference cancelled due to COVID-19).
  • Fernandes, C., Hicks, A., & Norris, E. (2019, August). Addressing Grief and Trauma in Substance Abuse Group Therapy: A Narrative Treatment Intervention. Presented at the Georgia Society of Adlerian Psychology (GSAP) Conference, Pine Mountain, GA.
  • Hicks, A., Norris, E., Fernandes, C. (2019, April). Efficacy of Trauma Narrative Treatment for Clients with Comorbid Trauma and Addiction. Presented a poster session at Atlanta Research Conference, Mercer University, Atlanta, GA.
  • Norris, E. & Dunkley, D., (2018, November). Boundaries in Leadership. Presented at University of North Georgia Student Leadership Conference, Gainesville, GA.

Invited Presentations

  • Norris, E. K. (2021, October). The Compelling and Credible Gospel: The Church and Human Sexuality. Invited panelist with the Gospel Initiative at Denver Seminary, Littleton, CO.
  • Riechel, M. E. K., Beasley, J. J., Norris, E. K., Elder, C. L. (2020, October) Mindfulness in the Workplace. Invited presenter at Atlanta Business Chronicle Women in Leadership Conference, Atlanta, GA.
  • Norris, E. (2020, July). Secondary Impacts from Working as a Helper: Risks and Protective Factors. Invited presenter at Adventures in Missions, Gainesville, GA.
  • Norris, E. (2019, March). Safety and stabilization: Where to begin when working through trauma. Invited presenter at Life Empowerment Services, LLC, Atlanta, GA.
  • Norris, E. (2018, June). Invited speaker on mental and emotional health for college camp counselors. Multiple mini sessions and group discussions were held. Kanakuk Kamps, Lampe, MO.
  • Norris, E. (2016 – 2019). Invited speaker 3 times annually on emotional health, listening skills, conflict management, boundaries, and mental health as a part of leadership curriculum for Center for Global Action, Adventures in Missions, Gainesville, GA.
  • Norris, E. (2015-2017). Missionary Re-entry. Invited presenter four times annually for two years. Adventures in Missions, Gainesville, GA.
  • Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Colorado and Georgia
  • National Board-Certified Counselor
  • Board Certified Tele-Mental Health Provider (BC-TMH), NBCC, National Board for Certified Counselors


Current Research Projects

  • Hicks, A. S., Norris, E., Fernandes, C., Lane, W. D. (Under Revision). Narrative treatment of comorbid substance use disorder and trauma: A pilot study.
  • Fall 2019 – Present, Leader of qualitative research team on “Supervisors’ experience integrating spirituality into clinical supervision: A consensual qualitative research study”.
  • Fall 2019 – Present, Member of doctoral student research team at Mercer University on “A qualitative analysis: Counselors’ experiences in the client role in counseling”.
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