Profiles

E. Spencer Powers, LPC, LSATP, ATR-BC

E. Spencer Powers, LPC, LSATP, ATR-BC is an Assistant Professor in the Counseling & Art Therapy program at Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences, EVMS School of Health Professions at Old Dominion University, formerly Eastern Virginia Medical School (July 1, 2024). Mr. Powers began his service to EVMS in 2004 as a Community Faculty Member, and was appointed Assistant Professor in 2014. He became a full-time faculty member in May 2024. He was chosen as an EVMS Student Government Association Outstanding Faculty Honoree in 2011.

Mr. Powers is a graduate of Eastern Virginia Medical School, with a Master of Science degree in Art Therapy in 1999, and of The College of William and Mary, with a double major in psychology and art in 1997. He has taught Introduction to the History and Theory of Art Therapy, provided individual supervision of clinical internships, and served as Thesis/Capstone Chair for students. He was the first faculty to teach on-line course offerings via Blackboard when he began teaching Addictions in 2006, followed by Career Counseling a year later. He now also teaches courses in Assessment and Medical Art Therapy and provides group supervision for students completing practicum and internships with children.

As a counselor, Mr. Powers provided counseling and art therapy services at John Randolph Medical Center (JRMC) in Hopewell, Virginia, working with adults in psychiatric inpatient, medical, partial hospitalization, and intensive outpatient programs. He has coordinated temporary detention order hearings and frequently testified in his role at JRMC. In 2004, Mr. Powers accepted a full-time position at Hanover County Community Services Board as the Lead Counselor for the Hanover County Juvenile Recovery Court, providing individual, group, and family psychotherapy and art therapy to adolescents struggling with co-occurring disorders. Over the course of his career, Mr. Powers has established expertise in addictions and in increasing motivation for change within mandated populations. He has served as a Crisis Intervention Trainer (CIT), preparing new sheriff’s deputies and other first responders to interact with children and adolescents in ways that minimize trauma and de-escalate intense interactions. Mr. Powers was a trainer for new CSB employees in the assessment and clinical management of suicidality and has served as an overnight on-call crisis clinician. Mr. Powers is a member of the American Counseling Association and a past Vice President of the Virginia Art Therapy Association.

He was a trainer for new CSB employees in the assessment and clinical management of suicidality and has served as an overnight on-call crisis clinician..