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Shelby Clark, LCSW

Scholar | Educator | Practitioner

I am a clinical social work scholar, educator and practitioner who is passionate about using information to inspire more fulfilled living for people, communities, and society at large. Presently, I am a doctoral candidate at The University of Kansas School of Social Welfare where I work under the direction of Dr. Becci Akin on a federally funded research collaborative aimed at improving child welfare practice and policy. Broadly, my research interests focus on the use of contemplative practices (i.e. mindfulness, meditation, yoga, compassion and self-compassion, etc.). as interventions to address traumatic stress. I am currently working on my dissertation entitled, “Exploring the Implementation of a Randomized Control Trial Testing a Loving-Kindness Meditation Intervention to Treat Secondary Traumatic Stress among Child Welfare Professionals.”

Download Full CV 

Education

Ph.D., Social Welfare, anticipated graduation December 2022

  • University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 

    • Dissertation: Exploring the Implementation of a Randomized Control Trial Testing a Loving Kindness Meditation Intervention to Treat Secondary Traumatic Stress among Child Welfare  Professionals 

      • Committee Members: Becci A. Akin (chair); Michael Riquino (methodologist); Kaela  Byers, Ward Lyles, Nancy Kepple  

Professional Licenses & Certifications

  • Kansas Licensed Specialized Clinical Social Worker (4635),

    • 2017-present

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  • Missouri Licensed Clinical Social Worker (2017002035),

    • 2017-present 

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  • Registered Yoga Teacher-200 Hour (215151),

    • 2017-present 

​Yoga Teacher Training, 2016 

  • Dharma House School of Yoga, Atchison, Kansas  

 

Master of Social Work, 2014 

  • University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri 

 

Bachelor of Social Work, 2012 

  • Brigham Young University-Idaho, Rexburg, Idaho  

Professional

Memberships

  • Society for Social Work Research 

    • January 2020-present 

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  • Council for Social Work Education

    • October 2020-present 

 

  • Global Implementation Society

    • January 2021-present  

Areas of Interest

 

Research and Scholorship​

  • Trauma-Informed Care

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  • Compassion & Mindfulness Interventions

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  • Mental Health & Clinical Practice

  • Contemplative Science

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  • Child Welfare​

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  • Social Work Administration & Workforce

Teaching

  • Clinical Practice​

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  • Treatment of Crisis & Trauma​

  • Interventions

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  • Stress Management & Well-Being

Employment History

Academic Experience

Consulting Experience

University of Kansas

  • Graduate Research Assistant​

    • 2018-Present​

Shelby Clark Consulting, LLC

  • Owner

    • 2018-Present

Clinical Practice Experience

Renew Counseling, Olathe, Kanas

  • Clinician

    • 2018-Present​

Cornerstones of Care, Kansas City, Missouri

  • Training Specialist

    • 2016-2018

  • Therapist, Full-Time​

    • 2014-2018​

KVC, Kansas City, Kansas

  • Case Manager

    • 2012-2014​

Honors and Awards

University of Kansas University Graduate Fellowship, $18,000 fellowship for doctoral research demonstrating innovation and leadership, 2018-2019.  

Life Paths Research Promising Scholar Award, conference attendance and registration fees,  2021. 

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