Faculty Profiles

Regent University
Ph.D. Counselor Education and Supervision

Wheaton College
M.A. Clinical Psychology

Southwest Baptist University
B.S. Elementary Education

Licensure / Designation
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (Illinois) – #180.010151
National Certified Counselor - #334609
Board Certified Telemental Health Provider - #2855
Registered Play Therapist - #T6178

Dr. Baraka earned her Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from Regent University. Her research interests include multicultural issues in counseling and supervision, transnational supervision, creative counseling practices, and pedagogical practices that promote social justice and advocacy.

Prior to being in the counseling profession, she lived and worked for nearly a decade in South and Southeast Asia as an education consultant providing service and support for international families. Dr. Baraka enjoys working with families and found that this is where her interest in counseling began. She engages in clinical work with children, adolescents, emerging adults, and families and finds this greatly informs her teaching. She continues to provide supervision and consultation internationally and actively supports the Human Needs and Global Resources (HNGR) Program.

When not at work, Dr. Baraka enjoys tossing a frisbee, drinking coffee, doing something that resembles running, making music, and reading (but not all at the same time). However, yard work is probably her most rewarding current hobby (flowers, vegetables, and landscaping).

• Transnational supervision
• Third-Culture Kids and Member Care
• Experiential learning and creative counseling approaches
• Faith integration in counseling and supervision

Dr. Baraka’s research interests include transnational supervision and supervisor/supervisee experiences in the relationship, faith integration in mental health and supervision, multiculturalism in mental health, creative counseling and supervision approaches, and pedagogical practices to promote social justice and advocacy.

Brown, E., & Baraka, M.K. (In press). Teaching career counseling as a pathway for justice and advocacy. Counselor Education and Supervision.

Davis, P., & Baraka, M.K., (In press) What mental health professionals can learn from missionary member care models. Invited manuscript for publication in Journal of Psychology and Christianity special edition.

Kellums Baraka, M., Zaporozhets, O., Sells, J., & Goodyear, R. (2021). Cross-cultural counselling supervision in Ukraine. International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling, 1-20.

Schultz, T., Yoo, H., Baraka, M.K., & Watson, T. (2020). Does this apply here? Ethical considerations in transnational supervision settings. Ethics & Behavior. 

Kellums Baraka, M., Meitzner Yoder, L. S., Jones. A. H., & Huff, J. G. (2019). Cultivating life-long commitments to cultural humility in an undergraduate study-abroad program. Reflections: Narratives of Professional Helping, 25(1), 1-7.

Schultz, T., Baraka, M.K., Watson, T., & Yoo, H. (2019). How do ethics translate? Identifying ethical challenges in transnational supervision settings.  International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling. 

Kellums, M., & Zaporozhets, O. (2016, May). Safe spaces: Using art in counseling with survivors of sexual abuse. Вісник Київського інституту бізнесу та технологій [Journal of Kyiv Institute of Business and Technologies], 3(31).

Schultz, T., Davis, P., & Kellums, M. (2016, August). Considerations for counselor educators: Lessons learned on our CACREP accreditation trek. Hoosier Counselor eNewsletter. Indiana Counseling Association.

Hall, S. E., Watson, T. S., Kellums, M., & Kimmel, J. (2016). Mental health needs and resources in Nepal. International Journal of Culture and Mental Health, 9(3), 1-11. 

Peer-Reviewed Presentations

Kellums Baraka, M., & Watson, T. (2021, March). Creative strategies for fostering cognitive complexity development in supervision. Presentation at the Christian Association for Psychological Studies International Conference.

Baraka, M.K., Schultz, T., & Yoo, H. (2020, March). That does not apply here! Ethical considerations in transnational supervision. Poster presentation at the Christian Association for Psychological Studies International Conference, Atlanta, Georgia.

Baraka, M.K., Fang, T., & Brown, E. (2020, March). But I just need to trust God: Spiritual bypass in the counseling room. Poster presentation at the Christian Association for Psychological Studies International Conference, Atlanta, Georgia.

Wiggins, V. & Kellums Baraka, M. (2019). Dealing with confidential loss: The private grief of counselors. Presentation at the annual conference of the Illinois Counseling Association. Skokie, IL. November 2019.

Brown, E., & Kellums Baraka, M. (2019). More relevant than you think: Teaching career counseling as a pathway to justice and advocacy work. Presentation at the Association of Counselor Education and Supervision Conference, Seattle, Washington, October 2019

Kellums Baraka, M. (2019). Researching the research course? Creative strategies and techniques for cultivating student interest and engagement in research and program evaluation. Presentation at the Association of Counselor Education and Supervision Conference, Seattle, Washington, October 2019

Kellums Baraka, M. & Davis, Pamela S. (2019). More than child’s pose: Integrating yoga into clinical practice with children. Presentation at the national conference for the American Counseling Association, New Orleans, LA, March 2019.

Ritchie, M. A, Robinson, G., Kellums Baraka, M., & Pimpaeng, A. (2019). Challenges and lessons learned in integrating on and off-campus mental health support for students studying abroad. Presentation at The Forum on Education Abroad 15th Annual Conference, Denver, CO, March 2019.

Kellums Baraka, M. & Wiggins, V. (2019). Unpacking dreams and reality: Creative group approaches for students upon re-entry to campus after study abroad. Presentation at the American College Counseling Association’s conference, San Diego, CA, February 2019.

Kellums Baraka, M. (2018, May). Snapshots around the world: Lessons on social justice and advocacy in mental health. Presentation at the annual conference of the Illinois Association for Multicultural Counseling.

Kellums Baraka, M, Watson, T., & Schultz, T. (2017, October). How do ethics translate? Exploring international ethics in counseling supervision. Presentation at the Association of Counselor Education and Supervision Conference, Chicago, Illinois.

Recent Invited Presentations

Baraka, M.K. (2021). Keynote for “Erase the Stigma: Equipping the Church on Mental Health Issues” Idea to Action Symposium, Huntington, IN.

Baraka, M.K. (2020). Working through grief and loss during a global pandemic. Webinar for the Forester Series, Huntington University.

Baraka, M.K. (2020). How to grieve when you don’t have time: Learning from culture shock. Invited contributions for the American Organization for Nursing Leadership. COVID-19 Coping Modules.

Kellums Baraka, M., & Henisz, M. (2019, December). Preparing faculty and staff to support mental health issues. Presentation at OSAC Academia Working Group Session, Hosted by Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois.

• Assessment in Counseling
• Counseling Skills
• Human Growth and Development
• Multicultural Issues and Social Advocacy in Counseling
• Lifestyle and Career Development
• Research
• Foundations of Integration
• Psychopathology
• Practicum and Internship

• American Counseling Association
• Association of Counselor Educators and Supervisors
• Chi Sigma Iota (Counseling/Counselor Educator Honor Society)
• Christian Association for Psychological Studies
• Illinois Counseling Association
  • Conference Planning Committee Chair 2021-2022
  • Professional Development Committee Chair 2021-2022
• Illinois Mental Health Counseling Association