About the Authors

Cailyn F. Green is a Certified Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor- Masters Level (CASAC-M) through New York State. She is the Addiction Studies Professor at the State University of New York: Empire State University. She earned her BA from Western New England University in Springfield, MA and her MS in Forensic Mental Health from Sage Graduate School in Albany, NY. Her Ph.D is in Criminal Justice, specializing in Substance Use from Walden University in Minneapolis, MN. Dr. Green has over 10 years of experience teaching both in online and in-person college-level settings in substance use, human service, criminal justice and clinical counseling topics. She won the Scholars Across the University award in 2024 for her research in substance use topics and this social justice-focused textbook. She has 9 journal article publications to date and her other published textbooks include Evidence-Based Substance Use Treatment and the Group Counseling Workbook.

Bernadet (Bernie) DeJonge, PhD, CRC, LMHC, has her BA in psychology (1999) and MA in Rehabilitation Counseling (2007) from Western Washington University.  Her PhD is from Oregon State University in Counseling (2022). She is currently an Assistant Professor in the School of Human Services at Empire State University. Bernie’s areas of interest include DEIB, the integration of counseling into medical services, online pedagogy, and disability.

Dr. Nikki Golden, LMFT, SUDP, MAC, CMHS is currently an assistant professor at Seattle University in the Counseling Program. She is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), a Substance Use Disorder Professional (SUDP), a Masters of Addiction Counselor (MAC), and a Child Mental Health Specialist (CMHC). Dr. Golden has extensive clinical experience in both the mental health and substance use disorder fields. Dr. Golden’s areas of clinical expertise include addictions, clinical supervision, co-occurring disorders, relationships, sexuality, trauma and working with the LGBTGEQIAP+ population. Dr. Golden’s research interests include sociocultural identities and relationships, burnout as a systemic issue, sexuality, and trauma.

Dr. Brayton received a joint law and clinical psychology doctorate in California at Palo Alto University and Golden Gate School of Law. She is a professor at Russell Sage College where she heads the program working with students in forensic mental health. Additionally, she has a private practice where she specializes in treating adult survivors of trauma and forensic assessment. In her spare time she enjoys golf, reading and the various exotic locations she bikes through on her stationary bike.

Carrie Steinman, Ph.D., LMSW, MS, has been a faculty member in the School of Human Services at SUNY Empire State University since 2016. She holds a Ph.D. in Social Welfare from Stony Brook University, an LMSW from Hunter College School of Social Work, and a Master of Science in Counseling and Development from Long Island University. With a Ph.D. in Social Welfare and as a New York State Licensed Social Worker (LMSW), Dr. Steinman brings extensive practical experience to her academic role. She has worked with a range of vulnerable populations, with expertise in child welfare, including foster care, juvenile offenders, and homeless and at-risk youth. Her professional background includes work as both a clinician and an administrator across various agency settings. At SUNY Empire, Dr. Steinman has contributed to curriculum development and revision as a member of the School of Human Services Curriculum Committee. She currently serves as co-chair of the school’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice (DEISJ) Committee, which she joined at its inception in 2020. In this role, she has helped integrate anti-racist practices and DEISJ principles into the curriculum.

Shannon Raybold is a Program Administrator for Multnomah Early Childhood Program, which provides special education services to over 3,000 children ages birth-5 years old in the Portland, OR metro area.  She has a BA in Special and Elementary Education from Western Washington University, a master’s degree from the University of Washington specializing in Autism and low incidence disabilities, and is currently completing her EdD from Portland State University in Special Education Leadership.  Shannon has been a practitioner in the field of special education for over 20 years, working with children from birth through adulthood. She has supported children in public and private schools around the world, in addition to founding a private educational consulting practice. Shannon has provided professional development for teachers and administrators at local, national, and international conferences on a wide variety of topics related to supporting students with special learning needs. In addition, she has written courses for SENIA Academy and MiniPD to build the capacity of educators and administrators globally.  She also serves as an Associate Director for SENIA International and is a tireless advocate for children who experience the world in diverse ways.