Cortny Stark (she/her/hers) PhD LPC LAC CRC is an assistant professor, and the Substance Use and Recovery Counseling program coordinator with the University of Colorado Colorado Springs Department of Counseling and Human Services. She is also a telehealth therapist with the Trauma Treatment Center and Research Facility, providing trauma reprocessing and integration, clinical services for substance use and process addictions, and supporting transgender and gender-expansive youth. In addition to her role as a clinician, Dr. Stark provides supervision for provisionally licensed counselors seeking their Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC) credential, is a Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) member, and facilitates nationwide trainings with the Motivational Interviewing Training Center out of Albuquerque, NM. Dr. Stark’s research utilizes qualitative and mixed methods, and focuses on LGBTQQIA+ issues in counseling, leader development, integrative approaches to trauma reprocessing and integration, trauma-informed care, and substance use and recovery.

• Trauma integration and reprocessing
• LGBTQIAA+ issues in professional counseling and counselor education
• Advocacy for transgender and gender-expansive children and youth
• Counselor professional identity
• Harm reduction and related substance use treatment modalities
• Use of Motivational Interviewing in diverse settings

• Ph.D., Counselor Education & Supervision, University of New Mexico
• M.A., Clinical Mental Health Counseling & Rehabilitation Counseling, New Mexico Highlands University
• B.A., Criminology, University of New Mexico

• Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) (CO)
• Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC) (CO)
• Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) (NM)
• Licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor (LADAC) (NM)
• Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC)
• EMDR Trained Clinician (EMDRIA Approved)
• Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) Member

Peer-Reviewed

• Stark, C., Scroggins, C., McCashland, A., & Wehrman, J. (2023). Clinically-informed Military Coaching: A Cross Case Analysis of Cadet/Coachee Experience. The Chronicle of Mentoring & Coaching.
• Stark, C., Floyd, A., & Palacios, A. (2023). Educational Intervention for Counselors-in-Training: Supporting Transgender and Gender-Expansive Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color via the Anti-Oppressive Case Conceptualization Framework. Association for Counselor Education and Supervision – Teaching Briefs.
• Brammer, K., Nori, T., Brown, E. & Stark, C. (2023). Child suicide: A call to action, Journal of Child & Adolescent Counseling.
• Stutey, D. M., Enkler, K., Solis, A., Stark, C. Severn, K., Cammel, M., Wehrman, J., & Rogalla, K. (2023). Photo-elicitation and at-promise youth: Utilizing photos to share perceptions of self and identity. Journal of Creativity in Mental Health.
• Stark, C., Estrada, S., Rockwell, E., Severn, K., Burr, B., McTernan, L., Stutey, D., & Cammell, M. (2022). Campus Connections Youth Mentoring Program: Lessons in Ethical Development. The Chronicle of Mentoring & Coaching, 6(15), 502-509.
• Stark, C., Tapia-Fuselier, J.L. Jr. & Bunch, K. (2022). The Trauma-informed Ethical Decision-making Model: An Integrative Framework. The Journal of Trauma Studies in Education.
• Stark, C., Stutey, D., & Rogalla, K. (2022). Cultivating Equitable Educational Environments for Transgender and Gender-Expansive Youth: A Multi-Case Cross-Case Analysis of Advocacy in the School Environment. Journal for LGBTQ Issues in Counseling.
• Stark, C. (2022 - delayed released due to COVID-19). Parent-Advocacy for Transgender and Gender-Expansive Youth: An Analytic Autoethnographic Exploration, Journal of Autoethnography.
• Stark, C., Severn, K., Stutey, D., Wehrman, J., Gwynn, S., Souligny, C., & Bear, A. (2021). Youth Mentor Programming: Cultivating Youth Resiliency and Digital Citizenship in a Virtual World, The Chronicle of Mentoring & Coaching.
• Palacios, A. & Stark, C. (2021). A Call to Serve Others: An Existential Illustration of Advocacy in Counseling, The Journal of Humanistic Counseling.
• Stark, C., Wehrman, J., Stutey, D., Solis, A., Severn, K., Cammell, M., Gloden, H., Enkler, K., Notestine, L., & Palacios, A. (2021). Therapeutic Mentoring for At-promise Youth: A Grounded Theory Study of Mentors’ Adaptation during the COVID-19 Crisis. Journal of Human Services: Special Interdisciplinary Issue.
• Stark, C., Wehrman, J., Severn, K., Cammell, M., & Solis, A. (2020). Campus Connections youth mentoring program: Cultivating connection during the COVID-19 crisis, The Chronicle of Mentoring & Coaching, 1(13), 84-89.
• Stark, C., Brammer, K., & Crofts, G. (2020). The Mind Body Transformation Model (MBTM): An Integrative Clinical Approach to Trauma Treatment with Children, Journal of Counselor Practice, 11(2), 66-92.
• Stark, C. & Crofts, G. (2020). Advocacy-in-Action: Case Portrait of a Helping Professional Pursuing Positive Social Change for Transgender and Gender-Expansive Youth, Journal for Social Action in Counseling and Psychology, 11(1), 16-33.
• Stark, C., Goodrich, K., Crofts, G. & Brammer, K. (2020). How Exposure Influences Clients’ Knowledge, Journal of Professional Counseling: Practice, Theory & Research. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/15566382.2020.1712929
• Stark, C. (2019). Ritual Abuse and Developmental Trauma: Application of the Triphasic Model of Trauma Treatment in the Case of “Sarah”, International Journal of Cultic Studies, 10, 41-52.

Book Chapters

• Stark, C. & Scroggins, C. (2023). Artificial Intelligence (AI)-Assisted Coding: Grounded Theory Analysis of Leader Development at the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA). SAGE Research Methods Cases.
• Stark, C. & Tapia-Fuselier, J. (2022). University-based Therapeutic Youth Mentorship Program Quantitative Digital Citizenship Study: Adapting to the Online Environment. In SAGE Research Methods: Doing Research Online.
• Keim, J., Stark, C., & Eckhardt, A. (2019 Occupational Stress Inventory – Revised). A Comprehensive Guide to Career Assessment.
• Stark, C., Goodrich, K. & Sands, H. (2016). Addiction counseling. In Barrio Minto, C., Gibson, D., & Wachter Morris, C. (Eds.) Evaluating Student Learning Outcomes in Counselor Education: Workbook and Applications.  American Counseling Association.
• Stark, C. (2016). Trauma informed group supervision: The compartmentalization of trauma-memory and the narrative cure. In Luke, M. & Goodrich, K. Group Work Experts Share Their Favorite Supervision Activities.

Creative Works

• Smith, A. (Producer). (2020, October 4). EP190: Gender-Expansive Youth – Trauma-Informed Care with Trans and Gender-Expansive Youth with Dr. Cortny Stark. [Audio Podcast]. The Theory of Change Podcast. Retrieved fromhttps://www.scribd.com/podcast/492926422/EP190-Gender-Expansive-Youth-Trauma-Informed-Care-with-Trans-and-Gender-Expansive-Youth-with-Dr-Cortny-Stark-Aaron-speaks-with-Dr-Cortny-Stark-o
• Palacios, A. (Producer). (2019, June 16). Meet Me Where I Am: Harm Reduction & Recovery with Dr. Cortny Stark. [Audio Podcast]. The Theory of Change Podcast. Retrieved from http://theoryofchange.libsyn.com/meet-me-where-i-am-harm-reduction-in-recovery?utm_source=listennotes.com&utm_campaign=Listen+Notes&utm_medium=website
• Stark, C. (2018). Zelda, In Poth, M. (Ed.), Project Contrast: Series 3 (pp. 111-113)

Invited Presentations & Trainings

• Stark, C. (2021, May 14). Counseling Members of the Transgender and Gender-Expansive Community: Providing Culturally Proficient Care. Motivational Interviewing Training Center (MITC) (1 day training session), Albuquerque, NM.
• Stark, C. (2020, October 1). Trauma-informed ethical decision-making. Criminal Justice Engagement Event (guest lecture), University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, CO.
• Stark, C. (2020, September 24). Trauma-informed ethical decision-making (guest lecture), CJ 4121 Ethics in Criminal Justice, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, CO.
• Stark, C. (2020, September 18). Counseling Members of the Transgender and Gender-Expansive Community: Providing Culturally Proficient Care. Motivational Interviewing Training Center (MITC) (1 day training session), Albuquerque, NM.
• Dodson, A., Stevens, S., & Stark, C. (2020, September 17). Cultivate a Learning Environment for Inclusive Teaching (guest presenter). GIFTS Exchange, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, CO.
• Stark, C. (2020, June 2). Counseling Members of the Transgender and Gender-Expansive Community: Providing Culturally Proficient Care. Motivational Interviewing Training Center (MITC) (1 day training session), Albuquerque, NM.
• Stark, C. (2020, May 28). Healing in Relationship: Preventing Tobacco and Nicotine Use through Youth and Family Empowerment. NMACTion UNITED: Invigorating partnerships to prevent commercial tobacco use for a healthier New Mexico Conference. Virtual Conference, Albuquerque, NM.
• Severn, K., Stark, C., Thelen, M., Jenkins, D., Owen, P., Sanchez, J. & Diamond, A. (2020, May 8). Career panel. Introduction to Human Services panel discussion, Colorado Springs, CO.

Presentations                

• Stark, C. (2021, October 10). Trauma-informed Ethical Decision-making: Employing the 9 Principles of Trauma-Informed Ethical Practice. Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES) 2021 Conference – A Chance for Advocacy. Atlanta, GA.
• Stark, C. (2021, September 24-26). Parent-Advocacy for Transgender and Gender-Expansive Youth: An Analytic Autoethnographic Exploration. International Association of Maternal Action and Scholarship.
• Stark, C., Palacios, A., Atencio, L. & Worthey, B. (2021, June 4). Harm Reduction: Returning to a Humanistic Paradigm. 2021 Association for Humanistic Counseling conference (Education session), Virtual – based out of Denver, CO.
• Stark, C. (2021, May 24-28). Advanced Treatment Models. Colorado Office of Behavioral Health Approved Workshop (honorarium provided). University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, CO.
• Stark, C. (2021, May 17-21). Treating Diverse Populations. Colorado Office of Behavioral Health Approved Workshop (honorarium provided). University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, CO.
• Stark, C. & Fox, E. (2021, April 5). Trauma-informed Ethical Decision-making in the Post COVID-19 World. Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative 2020-2021 Roundtable Series. University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, CO.
• Stark, C. & Tapia-Fuselier, J. (2021, March 5-7). Ethically Responsive treatment of Gender-diverse Clients with Disabilities. 6th Annual Law and Ethics in Counseling Virtual Conference, Virtual – based out of University of the Holy Cross, New Orleans, LA.
• Stark, C., Brammer, K., Alamillo, A. (2021, February 19). Bridging the Distance: Culturally Responsive Sandtray with Counselors-in-Training & Supervisees in the Virtual World. Palo Alto University: Counselor Education Distance Learning Conference (education session), Virtual – based out of Palo Alto, CA.
• Stark, C. (2021, February 2). Vicarious trauma and vicarious transformation. The Partnership Event: Mental Health and Wellness. University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, CO.
• Stark, C., Wehrman, J., Severn, K., Cammell, M., & Solis, A. (2020, October 20). Campus Connections Youth Mentoring Program: Cultivating Connection during the COVID-19 Crisis. University of New Mexico 13th Annual Mentoring Conference: High-Quality Connections: Developmental Networks – Science and Practice (panel discussion), Virtual – based out of Albuquerque, NM.
• Stark, C., Palacios, A., Atencio, L. & Worthey, B. (2020, May 29). Harm Reduction: Returning to a Humanistic Paradigm. 2020 Association for Humanistic Counseling conference (Education session), Denver, CO (conference cancelled).
• Stark, C. (2020, February 11). Ethical Practice through Advocacy: Pursuing Positive Social Change for the Gender-Expansive Community (Roundtable). 5th Annual Law and Ethics in Counseling Conference, New Orleans, LA.
• Stark, C. & Peterson, J. (2020, January 15). Advocacy in the Classroom: Attending to LGBTQQIA+ and Gender-Expansive Identities through Experiential Learning (Roundtable), 2nd Annual Mountain Lion Teaching and Learning Day, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, CO.
• Stark, C. (2020, January 8). The Ethics of Mental Health Treatment. Guest Lecture for CJ 4121 Ethics in Criminal Justice, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, CO.
• Stark, C. (2019, October 25). Medication-Assisted Treatment of Opiate Dependency. Guest Lecture for COUN 5510-Section 2 Principles of Addiction Treatment, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, CO.
• Stark, C. (2019, October 23). The Ethics of Mental Health Treatment. Guest Lecture for CJ 4121 Ethics in Criminal Justice, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, CO.
• Stark, C. (2019, October 21). Medication-Assisted Treatment of Opiate Dependency. Guest Lecture for COUN 5510-Section 1 Principles of Addiction Treatment, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, CO.
• Stark, C. (2019, October 12). Harm Reduction: Returning to a Humanistic Paradigm in the Treatment of Addictions. Rocky Mountain Humanistic Counseling and Psychological Association, Colorado Springs, CO.
• Stark, C. & Bunch, K. (2019, July 31). Enhancing Attunement, Attachment, and Co-Regulation: An Integrative Trauma Treatment Model for Children and Adolescents. Jefferson College of Health Professions Department of Counseling and Behavioral Health 3rd Annual Philadelphia Trauma Training Conference, Philadelphia, PA.
• Stark, C. (2018, October). Motivational Interviewing: Implementation as a Public Health Intervention. Guest Lecture for Health Education 451: Prevention Strategies in Community Health, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
• Lawyer, A., Stark, C., Lewis, J., Bridge, G., Withrow, A. & Lawrence-Metzler, L. (2018, March 16). Transgender 101. Panel discussion presented at the New Mexico Highlands University Social Work continuing education workshop.
• Stark, C. (2018, February). Motivational Interviewing: Implementation as a Public Health Intervention. Guest Lecture for Health Education 451/551: Prevention Strategies in Community Health, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
• Stark, C. & Brammer, K. (2017, July). First-line Advocacy: Affecting Positive Social Change for Transgender Youth through the Counseling Relationship. New Mexico Association for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Issues in Counseling Conference, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
• Stark, C. (2017, March). Motivational Interviewing: Implementation as a Public Health Intervention. Guest Lecture for Health Education 451/551: Prevention Strategies in Community Health, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
• Goodrich, K. & Stark, C. (2017, March). Supporting Transgender Youth in K-12 Education. Training for College and Career High School, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
• Stark, C. & Zurlo, D. (2016, November). Harm Reduction: A Humanistic Approach in Counseling. Guest Lecture for Counseling 515: Testing and Assessment in Counseling, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
• Stark, C. (2016, November). A Field in Transition: Supporting Transgender Youth in Counseling. Education session presented at the University of New Mexico – Chi Sigma Iota Counseling Conference, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
• Stark, C. (2016, October). Harm Reduction: Returning to a Humanistic Paradigm in Counseling. Education session presented at Rocky Mountain Association for Counselor Education and Supervision Conference, Steamboat Springs, Colorado.
• Stark, C. (2016, October). Harm Reduction Curriculum in Counselor Education: Exceeding CACREP 2016 Standards. Education session presented at Rocky Mountain Association for Counselor Education and Supervision Conference, Steamboat Springs, Colorado.
• Stark, C. (2016, February). Motivational Interviewing: Implementation as a Public Health Intervention. Guest Lecture for Health Education 451/551: Prevention Strategies in Community Health, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
• Stark, C. (2015, October). Harm Reduction Curriculum in Counselor Education: Exceeding CACREP 2016 Standards. Education session presented at Association for Counselor Education and Supervision National Conference, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
• Stark, C. (2015, September). Equine Assisted Recreational Therapy: Healing the Wounds of War. Education session presented at the University of New Mexico – Chi Sigma Iota Counseling Conference, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
• Stark, C. & Nevala, P. (2015, March). TBI and PTSD: Veterans Healing Through Equine Therapy. Education session presented at the New Mexico Counseling Association Conference, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
• Stark, C. (2015, February). Motivational Interviewing: Implementation as a Public Health Intervention. Guest Lecture for Health Education 451/551: Prevention Strategies in Community Health, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
• Stark, C. (2014, November). Clinical Application of Herman’s Tri-phasic Model with Family Caregivers of Veterans. Poster presented at University of New Mexico - Individual, Family, & Community Education Showcase, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
• Stark, C. & Anthony, K. (2014, November). Harm Reduction: Public Health Model of Addiction. Paper presented at University of New Mexico – Chi Sigma Iota Counseling Conference, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
• Stark, C. & Anthony, K. (2012, April). Spanning Horizons for Veterans, Partner/Spouses, and Families: Caregiver Omnibus Act of 2010. Poster presented at the National Council of Rehabilitation Educators, San Francisco, California.
• Stark, C. & Anthony, K. (2012, March). Power Dynamics: Partner/spouse caregivers of veterans with PTSD and the Caregiver Omnibus Act of 2010. Paper presented at the New Mexico Counseling Association, Albuquerque, New Mexico.

• Colorado Department of Higher Education Colorado Behavioral Health Incentive Grant – FUNDED (2023). Simmons, C., Stark, C., Wehrman, J., & Stutey, D. (Co-Investigator). Awardee: College of Education, Counseling and Human Services: Clinical Mental Health Counseling, & Certificate in Substance Use and Recovery Counseling, $95,778.11.
• University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) Faculty Research Travel Supplemental Support Program - FUNDED (2022). Stark, C. (Awardee). Funds for presenting Compulsive sexual and love behavior: Culturally-responsive treatment of sex addiction at the National Association for Addiction and Drug Abuse Counselors conference in Indianapolis, IN, $500.
• Proposal submitted to the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) Faculty Revitalization Fellowship Program - FUNDED (2022). Stark, C. (Principal Investigator). Faculty Revitalization Fellowship Program Proposal: The United States Air Force Academy Air Officer Commanding Qualitative Impact Study. $19,638
• University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative – Funded (2021-2022). Stark, C., Stutey, D., Wehrman, J., Severn, K., & Cammell, M. (Principal Investigators). Campus Connections Youth Mentoring Program: “Finding your ethical compass” Curriculum, $17,634.
• University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) Cybersecurity Seed Grant – FUNDED (2021). Stark, C., & Severn, K. (Principal Investigators). Funds for presenting Campus Connections: Cultivating Social and Emotional Wellness in At-Promise Youth through Digital Citizenship at the University of New Mexico Mentorship conference in Albuquerque, NM (virtual), $450.
• University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) Faculty Research Travel Supplemental Support Program – FUNDED (2021). Stark, C. (Awardee). Funds for presenting Trauma-informed Ethical Decision-making: Employing the 9 Principles of Trauma-Informed Ethical Practice at the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES) conference in Atlanta, GA, $500.
• University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) Cybersecurity Initiative Funding – FUNDED (2020-2021). Wehrman, J., Stark, C., & Stutey, D. (Principal Investigators). Campus Connections: Cultivating Social and Emotional Wellness in At-Promise Youth through Digital Citizenship – Expansion Project, $16,805.75.
• University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) Cybersecurity Seed Grant – FUNDED (2020). Stark, C., Stutey, D. & Wehrman, J. (Principal Investigators). Campus Connections: Cultivating Social and Emotional Wellness in At-Promise Youth through Digital Citizenship, $7,250.
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Expansion of Practitioner Education Grant – FUNDED  (2020). Stark, C. & Wehrman, J. (Principal Investigators). UCCS Department of Counseling and Human Services Practitioner Education Expansion Program, $197,830.
• University of Colorado Colorado Springs Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative, Funds for Faculty Professional Development – FUNDED (2020). Stark, C. 5th Annual Law and Ethics in Counseling Conference, New Orleans, LA, $1,200.
• Colorado Health Foundation – FUNDED (2020). Stutey, D., Wehrman, J., Stark, C., Severn, K., Notestine, L.,  Bakari, R., Cammell, M., Enkler, K., Solis, A. (Co-Investigators) UCCS Department of Counseling and Human Services Campus Connections Therapeutic Youth Mentoring Program, $77,610.
• University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative, Professional Development Funds - FUNDED (2020). Stark, C. Ethical Practice through Advocacy: Pursuing Positive Social Change for the Gender-Expansive Community, $1,500.
• University of Colorado Colorado Springs Diversity & Inclusive Excellence Grant - FUNDED (2019). Stark, C. & Stutey, D. (Principal Investigators), Wehrman, J., Notestine, L., Severn, K., Bakari, R., Cammell, M., Enkler, K., Solis, A. (Co-Investigators) $3,000.
• University of Colorado Colorado Springs Faculty Minority Affairs Committee (FMAC) Diversity Grant – FUNDED  (2019). Stark, C. (Principal Investigator) $300.
• University of New Mexico Overhead Funds Allocation Committee (OFAC) Award - FUNDED (2015). Goodrich, K. (Principal Investigator), Stark, C. & Crofts, G. $1,500.
• Chi Sigma Iota Excellence in Counseling Research Grant - FUNDED (2015). Goodrich, K. (Principal Investigator), Stark, C. & Crofts, G. $50-$250.