Counseling Research and Practice with Nonreligious Clients

In this episode, The Thoughtful Counselor welcomes Dr. Dena Abbott to discuss their newest edited work,Culturally Responsive Mental Health Practice with Nonreligious Clients. Dr. Abbott and contributing host Dr. Theo Burnes discuss the unique barriers for non religious clients. Topics addressed include tips and strategies for counselors working with non religious clients. Drs. Abbott and Burnes also speak about the writing and publication process for authors interested in mental health topics.

Dena M. Abbott, Ph.D. (she/her) is an Associate Professor at University of Nebraska where she trains graduate students in Counseling Psychology. She is a Licensed Psychologist, an AASECT-Certified Sexuality Educator, and owns and operates an independent practice, Dr. Dena Abbott Psychological Services and Sexuality Education (www.drdenaabbott.com). She earned her degree from the APA-Accredited doctoral program in Counseling Psychology at Texas Woman’s University in 2017. Her research focuses on how belief systems impact health and well-being. In particular, she studies the psychological health of nonbelievers in the United States and in the context of systems of power like Christian Nationalism. As cultural religiousness has a powerful influence on sex education, she is also dedicated to promoting adult sexuality education, including for mental health professionals, and advancing sexual liberation for all. She talks about her research on TikTok and Instagram (@drdenaabbott)

Nonreligion and Secularity Research Network: https://thensrn.org/

Secularism and Nonreligion Journal: https://secularismandnonreligion.org/

Freedom From Religion Foundation: https://ffrf.org/

American Humanist Association: https://americanhumanist.org/

American Atheists: https://www.atheists.org/

For nonbelievers looking for community:

Sunday Assembly (https://www.sundayassembly.org/)

Black Nonbelievers: https://blacknonbelievers.org/

Ex-Muslims of North America: https://exmuslims.org/

Unitarian Universalist Congregations: https://www.uua.org/

https://otter.ai/u/yRqSoqo-tZMpUZSmeN0peynTL3Y?utm_source=copy_url

Burnes, T. (Producer). (2026, June 8). Counseling Research and Practice with Nonreligious Clients (No.315) [Audio Podcast]. https://paloaltou.edu/resources/the-thoughtful-counselor-podcast/counseling-research-and-practice-with-nonreligious-clients