Research Interests

• Applying cybernetics and social constructionism to social systems transformation
• Theoretical and qualitative research
• Systemic and social justice practices in mental health training and advocacy
• Intersectionality and cultural contextual factors within social system structures 

Biography

Dr. Bethany Simmons is Adjunct Faculty at CIIS in the Transformative Studies Ph.D. program and an Associate Professor and Program Director at California Lutheran University Counseling Psychology-MFT Program. She is a Louisiana Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Board Approved Supervisor, Licensed Professional Counselor, and an AAMFT Approved Supervisor and Mentor.  She has created and developed doctoral courses in the Transformative Studies Ph.D. program at CIIS including Theoretical Dissertation Research and Foundations in Systemic Thinking and Practice and has served as a chair and committee member for numerous doctoral dissertations for various universities. Dr. Simmons has been teaching and supervising master’s and doctoral MFT students since 2006. She has clinical experience in adult and juvenile psychiatric hospitals, intensive outpatient programs, suicide prevention programs, juvenile drug court and private practice settings. She is the founder of The Big Systems Collective (BSC), a diverse group of therapists and educators from across the United States committed to creating social justice systemic change through cybernetic action. Her teaching, supervision and scholarship applies cybernetic and social constructionist theories to address oppression, social responsibility, power, privilege and social control within mental health practices and societal systems to create 2nd order change.  

Education

B.A. Psychology, Minor in Human Development and Family Studies, Penn State University

M.A. & Ph.D. Marriage and Family Therapy, University of Louisiana at Monroe 

Awards & Distinctions

• Invited keynote speaker for American Society of Cybernetics, national and international conferences and academic institutions
• Invited reviewer for peer-reviewed journals and book publishers
• AAMFT Approved Supervisor and Clinical Fellow 

Publications 

Simmons, B., & Banker, J. (2020). Culturally contextual family therapy with involuntary clients. In B. Canfield (Ed.)., Intercultural Perspectives on Family Counseling (1st ed.). Routledge Press.  

Jardine, R. & Simmons, B. (2020). Not/my president: Presidential race in Southern Black and White American families. In Davis, C. & Crane, J. (Eds.)., The Personal is Political: Body politics in a Trump world. Brill Publishing. (Authors share equal contribution)  

Sutton, J., Simmons, B., Hammiel, N.M., & Ray, W.A. (2019). Training therapists in system logic and practice. Journal of Systemic Therapies, 38(1), 44-60. New York: Guilford. (Authors share equal contribution)  

Simmons, B. & Janowski, J. (2019). Conducting therapy in the community based organization. In Loewy, O., Manton, C., Avineri, M., Davis, S., Read, M., & Bhullar, J. (Eds.), Working in the California Community Behavioral Health System: A Navigational Tool (pp. 83-91). Santa Barbara, CA: Olivia Loewy & Associates.  

Shannon, S., Sutton, J., Simmons, B. & Holowacz, E. (2019). Family rules. In J. Lebow, D.C. Breunlin & Chambers, A. (Eds.)., Encyclopedia of Couple and Family Therapy. Switzerland: Springer Publishing. 

Simmons, B. & Sutton, J. (2018). Epistemology in family therapy. In J. Lebow, D.C. Breunlin & Chambers, A. (Eds.)., Encyclopedia of Couple and Family Therapy. Switzerland: Springer Publishing.