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Dr. Bethany R. Russell
Biographical sketch

Bethany R. Russell,
Ph.D., LMHC, RPT, NCC.

Licensed Mental Health Counselor · Registered Play Therapist · National Certified Counselor · Assistant Professor, Florida Gulf Coast University · Past President, Florida Association of Counselor Educators (2026).

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Personal statement

A career dedicated to children & families.

My career has been dedicated to advancing mental health services for children and families, with a specific focus on play therapy, integrated behavioral health, and the application of innovative technologies.

As a Florida Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Registered Play Therapist, and counselor educator, I have a strong foundation in both clinical practice and research methodologies.

My doctoral research involved the development and initial validation of a new instrument, the Highly Sensitive Child Scale for Preschool Age Children (HSCS-P), providing direct experience in psychometric development and pilot testing.

My research interests include Artificial Intelligence & Technology in Mental Health and Change Mechanisms in Play Therapy.

Education & training

Academic foundations.

University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Counselor Education & Supervision
University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL
Master of Arts (M.A.)
Clinical Mental Health Counseling; Play Therapy
University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
Master of Arts (M.A.)
Human Development & Family Studies, Child Life
University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
Human Development & Family Studies, Child Life; Spanish
Positions & scientific appointments

A record of practice & leadership.

2026—Present
CMS (Medicare & Medicaid) HealthTech Ecosystem Working Group on Conversational Patient-Facing AI
Washington, D.C.
2023—2026
Assistant Professor, Department of Counseling, Florida Gulf Coast University
Fort Myers, FL
2023—Present
Owner, Researcher & Mental Health Therapist, Bethany R. Russell, Ph.D. & Associates, P.A.
Babcock Ranch, FL
2022—2024
Therapist, Orlando Counseling Services
Orlando, FL
2021—2023
Visiting Professor, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Stetson University
DeLand, FL
2021—2022
Program Therapist, Halifax Health — Child & Adolescent Behavioral Services
Daytona, FL
2019—2021
Clinical Coordinator & Research Assistant, Community Research and Counseling Center
Orlando, FL
2018—2021
Assistant Director of Research, UCF Center for Play Therapy Research and Training
Orlando, FL
Contributions to science

Five strands of scholarship.

01
Development & validation of psychometric instruments
Doctoral dissertation: the Highly Sensitive Child Scale for Preschool Age Children (HSCS-P). Addresses the need for nuanced assessment tools for specific pediatric populations; provided training in instrument design, psychometric evaluation, and pilot testing.
02
Advancing evidence-based play therapy
Contributions to the understanding and evaluation of play therapy approaches, including evidence-based treatment criteria — International Journal of Play Therapy (2024, 2021).
03
Play therapy in diverse settings
Applied play therapy principles in pediatric hospitals and cross-cultural consultation contexts — Journal of Child and Adolescent Development (2019); Int’l Journal of Human Rights & Health (2015).
04
Therapeutic interventions for child-welfare families
Investigated the efficacy of Child Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT) within child-welfare involved families — The Family Journal (2024).
05
Technology & AI in mental health
Current focus, supported by Google Cloud and Perplexity.ai research awards. 2026 publication in Frontiers in Human Dynamics examining public sentiment toward traditional providers versus AI alternatives.
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A free 15-minute consultation.

To determine if we might be a good fit for your therapeutic needs. If you have questions or would like to schedule, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Fax 717-789-1914
Babcock Ranch, Florida 32988