Remembering Counselor Contributor David J. Powell, PhD

We regret to inform our readers that long-time Counselor magazine columnist and contributor, David J. Powell, PhD, died on November 1, 2013. He is survived by his wife Barbara and their daughters Heather and Kirstin. 

Dr. Powell was an Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry within the Department of Psychiatry at the Yale University School of Medicine, as well as President of the International Center for Health Concerns, Inc. In this capacity, he trained on a variety of topics in fifty states and eighty-seven countries worldwide. 

He was the founder and Chief Executive Officer of ETP, Inc. from 1974-1999, providing employee assistance program services to companies such as IBM, US Tobacco, Berlin Steel, Trump, Aetna Insurance Company, Travelers Insurance Companies, Rolls Royce, James River, among two hundred corporations. ETP also established and managed the Clinical Preceptorship Program, a comprehensive clinical supervision system for the US Navy and Marine Corps, at one hundred military bases worldwide, from 1976-1999. 

Dr. Powell also served on the editorial boards of four professional journals, including The Clinical Supervisor. He was the author of ten professional books, including Clinical Supervision in Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counseling, which is the major text on the subject for the substance abuse field. He was chair of Treatment Improvement Protocol #52, published in 2009 by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA). He served on advisory boards at Harvard Medical School and Johns Hopkins University. In addition, he assisted in establishing clinical supervision systems for most of the major substance abuse treatment centers in the US including the Betty Ford Center, Caron Foundation, Sierra Tucson, Hanley Center, Hazelden, Gateway Rehabilitation, and Phoenix House, among others.

In addition to his many achievements and positions, Dr. Powell was a valued contributor and regular columnist for Counselor magazine since 2005. His “Clinical Supervision” column provided relevant and up-to-date information on issues facing clinical supervisors and the substance abuse and addiction field. 

Dr. Powell’s memorial service will be held at 1:00 on Saturday, November 23 at South Congregational Church in Granby, CT. His wife Barbara writes, “David and I had discussed writing a memoir for our family this winter. We welcome your memories, remembrances, stories, and pictures that will help us remember his legacy and how he has touched your life and the lives of so many others. Please feel free to bring your stories, as many as you would like, to the service or send and/or e-mail them to us if you are unable to attend. We will be sending information about donations at a later date.”

Health Communications, Inc., U.S. Journal Training, Inc., and Counselor magazine offer our condolences to Dr. Powell’s family and friends.