President

Deirdra Sanders-Burnett, Ph.D., LMHC


PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Strategic Focused, Forward-Thinking, Action-Oriented, and Result Driven

     I am Deirdra Sanders-Burnett, Ph.D., LMHC, and I am asking you to elect me as the American Mental Health Counselors Associations’ 2022-2023 President-Elect. As a result of my diverse professional experiences as a leader, Mental Health Counselor, and educator, I am prepared to work collaboratively with AMHCA’s leaders, members, and stakeholders to advance the vision and mission of AMHCA and continue to grow a strong and active organization. I am committed to helping individuals and organizations achieve their full potential.

     I have professional experience as a Clinical Mental Health Counselor, school counselor, teacher, and supervisor for mental health counselors, school counselors, and teachers. I have counseling experience working in various settings including private practice, public education, and alternative education settings. I am the owner of Faith Counseling LLC and a Qualified Clinical Supervisor for Registered Mental Health Counselor Interns in Florida. I am also an Adjunct Instructor and School Counseling Practicum Supervisor at the University of South Florida, Department of Leadership, Policy and Lifelong Learning in Tampa, Florida. I have worked as a Mental Health Counselor and an Administrator for Polk County Public Schools in Florida. As an educator I have worked in various positions as a Positive Behavior Interventions and Support Facilitator, Teacher Resource Specialist, Exceptional Student Education Teacher, and Staffing Specialist for students with exceptionalities for Polk County Public Schools. Additionally, I am a Florida Supreme Court Family Mediator.

     As a nominee for the position of AMHCA’s (AMHCA) next President-Elect I am strategically focused on advancing the mission and vision of the American Mental Health Counselors Association’s vision of “positioning clinical mental health counselors to meet the health care needs of those we serve while advancing the profession.” I will work collaboratively with AMHCA’s Board of Directors, President, Committee Chairs, Regional Directors, Task Force, and stakeholders to revitalize and transform AMHCA’s current Strategic Plan that will help AMHCA achieve its long-term vision for the future. I pose to develop a Strategic Plan with specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely goals that capture the present trends and the projected needs of the mental health profession, AMHCA’s members, and our constituencies. Also, I will work closely with the finance committee to present an explicit action plan with a balanced budget and identify resources that will support projected programs, events, and operations. Furthermore, I propose to capture the voice of AMHCA’s members and stakeholders by conducting a Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations, and Results (SOAR) analysis. Finally, I will conduct two progress reports and an end of the year report to monitor the progress towards meeting the goals and objectives outlined in the Strategic Plan and assist with identifying the most valuable and efficient use of resources. It would be my great honor to achieve these goals with you as AMHCA’s next President-Elect.

 

     I am an engaged leader and member of AMHCA at the national, state, and regional levels. I attended AMHCA’s Annual Conference and Leadership Academy. I also presented at AMHCA’s 2021 Virtual Leadership Academy. I have extensive leadership experience serving in various capacities in the following professional mental health counseling and service organizations:

2021-Present                American Mental Health Counselors Association                        Membership Chair

2021                             Florida Mental Health Counselors Association                President

2019                             Florida Mental Health Counselors Association                President-Elect

2015-2019                     Florida Mental Health Counselors Association                Education Committee

2018-2019                     Sun Coast Mental Health Counselors Association            President

2017-2018                     Sun Coast Mental Health Counselors Association            President-Elect

2015-2016                     Sun Coast Mental Health Counselors Association            Treasurer 

2016-Present                Florida Counseling Association                                         Membership Chair

2011-Present                Florida School Counselor Association                             Member

2015-Present                Kappa Delta PI International Honor Society                    Member

2015-Present                Delta Epsilon Iota Academic Honor Society                     Member

2010-2015                    Polk County Counselor Association, Florida                       Secretary 2013

2020-Present                Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. Gamma Phi Zeta Polk County Chapter

Finer Womanhood Chair

2018-Present                Polk County Chapter of the Charmettes Inc.                   Vice-President

 

HONORS and AWARDS

 

2022                             Past President Award, Florida Mental Health Counselor Association

2018                             Trail blazer Award from the Polk County Chapter of the Charmettes, Inc.

2015-2018                    Kappa Delta PI International Honor Society in Education

2015-2018                    Delta Epsilon Iota Academic Honor Society

2014                             Florida Education Fund McKnight Affiliate Program

2007                             Listed among Cambridge Who’s Who among Executive Professional Women

2005                             Momentum Award

National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Polk County Chapter, Incorporated.                                                                                                             

1991-1992                    Teacher of the Year of Lake Alfred Elementary School

                                    Polk County Schools, Florida                                                        

 

 

Professional Presentations

Sanders-Burnett, D. E. (2022, June) Strategically Focused Leaders During Unprecedented Times. American Mental Health Counselors Association Virtual Conference.

Sanders-Burnett, D. E. (2021) Tier I School Wide Positive Behavior Intervention Supports Foundation 10 critical Elements. Polk County Public Schools; Polk County, Florida.

Sanders-Burnett, D. E. (2021) Effective Discipline: Learn how to utilize current discipline procedures to develop a more effective system. Polk County Public Schools; Polk County, Florida.

Sanders-Burnett, D. E. (2021) Verbal De-escalation. Polk County Public Schools; Polk County, Florida.

Sanders-Burnett, D. E. (2021) Response to Intervention for Behavior (RtI:B). Polk County Public Schools; Polk County, Florida.

Sanders-Burnett, D. E. (2021) Tier I School Wide Positive Behavior Intervention Supports Foundation 10 critical Elements. Polk County Public Schools; Polk County, Florida.

Sanders-Burnett, D. E. (2021) CHAMPS Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports. Polk County Public Schools; Polk County, Florida.

Sanders-Burnett, D. E. (2021, October) Mental Health Matters. Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated Gamma Phi Zeta Polk County Chapter; Polk County, Florida.

Sanders-Burnett, D. E. (2017, March) Total Fitness; Healthy Mind, Healthy Body, Healthy Souls. Hilltop Church of Christ; Winter Haven, Florida.

Sanders-Burnett, D. E. (2017, March) Cognitive Therapy. Hillsborough County School Counselor Association; Tampa, Florida.

Sanders-Burnett, D. E. (2016/2017) Non-Violent Crises Intervention. Polk County Schools. Winter Haven, Florida.

Sanders-Burnett, D. E. (2016/2017) Youth Mental Health First Aid. Polk County Schools. Winter Haven, Florida

Sanders-Burnett, D. E. (2016, September) There is More to Me Than You Can See: Understanding Children’s Aggression. Brevard Public Schools Professional Development Day, Brandon, Florida.

Sanders-Burnett, D. E. (2015, December) Multicultural Counseling, Social Justice, Advocacy, and Self Harm. Counseling in the 21st Century Counselor Education and Supervision Conference, University of South Florida Tampa, Florida.

 

Guest Presentations

Sanders-Burnett, D.E. (2016, June) Individual and Group Counseling. School Counselor Accountability & Curriculum. Guest Lecturer University of South Florida Tampa, Florida.

Sanders-Burnett, D.E. (2016, July) The Professional School Counselor and Students with Disabilities. School Counselor Accountability & Curriculum. Guest Lecturer University of South Florida Tampa, Florida.

 

 

PUBLICATIONS

Sanders-Burnett, D. E. 2018. School Counselors’ Role in Reducing Aggression in Children in Alternative Schools. University of South Florida, Pro Quest: Dissertation Publishing, 10785681. 

Sanders-Burnett, D. E. 2022. Reflect, Relax, Reset. InSession Magazine: The Magazine Dedicated to Mental Health Providers, 28-29.

Sanders-Burnett, D. E. 2022. The Final Quarter. InSession Magazine: The Magazine Dedicated to Mental Health Providers, 3. 

Sanders-Burnett, D. E. 2022. From Internship to Leadership. InSession Magazine: The Magazine Dedicated to Mental Health Providers, 28-31.