Monica Boyd-Layne, Ph.D., LCPC
Associate Professor and Core Faculty
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Chicago
“If we show up for our students with care, respect, and commitment, we can build a learning space that’s welcoming and still challenges everyone to grow.” – Bell Hooks
OVERVIEW
Dr. Boyd-Layne is an associate professor and core faculty member in the clinical mental health counseling (CMHC) program. Her emphasis in teaching, scholarship, and clinical work emphasizes identity development, the professional growth of counseling practitioners, and affirmative practice with members of marginalized communities. Her clinical background is working with individuals, couples, and families that have experienced trauma and addictions, having worked in both outpatient community mental health settings as well as intensive outpatient and inpatient treatment centers focusing on alcohol and drug addiction.
Dr. Boyd-Layne’s therapeutic approach is framed in person-centered therapy and grounded in Internal Family Systems (IFS), an evidence-informed model that honors and engages all parts of the self, including those that are often marginalized or pathologized, to facilitate meaningful and enduring change. She holds Level 2 training in both Gottman Method Couples Therapy and Internal Family Systems (IFS) and is currently a candidate for IFS certification.
In addition to teaching, she provides clinical supervision for licensure in Illinois, offers consultation to experienced clinicians, and develops and delivers workshops, trainings, and keynote presentations at the regional and national levels. Committed to advancing culturally responsive and accessible mental health care, Dr. Boyd-Layne created Therapy Thursday, a weekly social media series offering insights and education on a range of topics that influence mental well-being. Across academic, clinical, and public platforms, her work centers on dismantling mental health stigma and positioning psychotherapy as a liberatory practice, particularly for women and members of the global majority
MEMBERSHIPS + ASSOCIATIONS
- American Counseling Association (ACA).
- Association of Counseling Sexology and Sexual Wellness (ACSSW).
- Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES).
- North Central Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (NCACES).
- Illinois Counseling Association (ICA).
Publications + Presentations
Publications
Uncovering Racial Battle Fatigue.
Experiential Activities for Teaching Social Justice and Advocacy Competence in Counseling
Lessons for Liberation: Reflections on the Study of hooks and Freire by Women of Color.
Lessons for Liberation: Reflections on the Study of hooks and Freire by Women of Color.
Presentations
Parts Work Primer: An Intro to IFS for Clinicians Working with Trauma and Relationships.
Caring for Our Tender Parts: Finding Your Words that Heal.
in partnership with Equity Illinois.
Self Compassion in the academy.
Social Justice Leadership Certificate Program. Palatine, Il.
Women’s Day Presentation: Keynote Speaker.
Social Justice Leadership Certificate Program. Palatine, Il.
Social Justice Mixer: Radical decisions for effective inclusive relationships.
Using Supervision to Build Competence in the development of Black Counselors-in-training.
Supervisor.
This ain’t that: A Gender revolution (Revelation).
Social Justice: Beyond theory.
Social Justice Leadership Certificate Program. Palatine, Il.
Using Supervision to Build Resiliency in the development African American counselors-in-training
for Counseling Educators & Supervisors. Cancelled due to COVID.
By and by: Examining the impact of student evaluations on Black faculty.
Counseling Educators & Supervisors. Seattle, WA.
) Innovative Strategies to Address Racial Battle Fatigue: #BlackLivesMatter Education session
Educators & Supervisors. Bloomington, MN.
Supervision: Translation of the counseling relationship.
Psychology Conference. Ball State University, Muncie, IN.
Who is your superhero: Insights into the power of supervision.
Addiction Workshop series. Chicago, Il.
LEADERSHIP + ENGAGEMENT
- Professional Organization Involvement.
- ACSSW BIPOC committee co-chair (2023-2025).
- ACSSW BIPOC Task force Member (2022-2023).
- Leadership & Service Roles.
- Founder/Owner, Pierce Counseling & Consulting Services (2018-Present).
- Mentor, Mindful Life Counseling – Black Counselors Supervision Group (2021-2023).
- Creator and Host, Instagram and Instagram Live Series “Therapy Thursday.”