Carin Burr advances trauma-informed behavioral health education

Carin Burr’s career at Clark State College and in Ohio’s behavioral health field highlights the growing need for trauma-informed training, co-occurring disorder expertise and workforce preparation. Her work has also helped shape Ohio’s first bachelor’s degree focused on co-occurring disorders.

Why it matters: - Carin Burr’s career reflects the growing demand for behavioral health professionals trained in both mental health and addiction treatment. - Her work in higher education has helped expand workforce preparation for complex clinical needs. - Ohio’s first bachelor’s degree focused on co-occurring disorders gives students a specialized path into advanced clinical training.

What happened: - Carin Burr built a career in behavioral health, clinical practice and higher education in Beavercreek, Ohio. - Burr has been dually licensed in mental health and addiction studies since 1995. - Burr worked as a therapist and treatment provider before founding Connections Counseling Services. - Burr provided direct care through private practice from 2001 to 2008 while building her academic career. - Burr joined Clark State College as a part-time instructor in 2001. - Burr became full-time faculty in Clark State College’s social work and addictions studies department in 2005. - Burr recently retired from full-time teaching and continues as an adjunct instructor and consultant. - Burr’s profile is being highlighted by Influential Women. - More information is available through Carin Burr’s Influential Women profile.

The details: - Burr developed expertise in co-occurring disorders, trauma-informed care and integrated mental health and addiction treatment. - Burr helped develop and launch Ohio’s first bachelor’s degree program focused on co-occurring disorders. - The program was approved in 2022. - The program has already supported numerous students pursuing advanced clinical training. - Burr says empathy, genuineness and positive regard shape her work with students. - Burr credits her father with teaching her family to help others and serve people in need. - Burr encourages professionals to love their work and stay committed to meaningful service. - Burr stresses self-care for behavioral health workers because of the emotional toll of secondary trauma. - Burr advises regular breaks and says recovery must come first for people in recovery. - Burr has been active in the Ohio Counseling Association, the Bio Forensic Counselors Association and the National Consortium of Reciprocity. - Burr has also participated in Families of Addicts, COPE and the City Lookout Trauma Recovery Center.

Between the lines: - Burr’s comments point to a broader strain in behavioral health: training more workers is only part of the problem if funding and access keep tightening. - Burr also points to the tension between collaboration with medicine and preserving the identity of behavioral health programs. - Burr’s emphasis on authenticity and service fits a field where burnout and secondary trauma are constant risks.

What's next: - Burr expects budget cuts, funding issues and possible Medicaid reductions to affect access to behavioral health services. - Burr will continue contributing as an adjunct instructor and consultant. - Burr will remain involved in trauma recovery advocacy and professional service work.

The bottom line: - Burr’s career shows how trauma-informed teaching, clinical practice and service can strengthen the behavioral health pipeline when trained professionals are in short supply.