About

Dr. Briana Gaines is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Florida. Dr. Gaines currently holds a Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC) credential. With a specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy, she has practiced as an outpatient therapist and clinical case manager at a non-profit organization where she worked with underserved and underrepresented populations. Her current research focuses on Black motherhood and the intergenerational lessons that are passed from mother to daughter. Other research interests include trauma, particularly Race-Based Trauma and historical trauma, as well as Black women in Counselor Education. As a researcher, Dr. Gaines holds a position that is both constructivist and advocacy-participatory, and as a Black woman, she advocates for culturally relevant and equitable mental health interventions and treatment. 

Education

• Ph. D. in Counselor Education & Supervision, 2022, James Madison University
• M.A. in Counselor Education, 2018, The College of New Jersey
• B.A. in Psychology, 2013, Rutgers University

Professional Appointments

• Virginia Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development, October 2020 - June 2021
• The President’s Task Force on Racial Equity (Working Group Co-Chair), August 2020 -May 2021 - James Madison University
• Provost's Diversity Council, August 2020 - April 2021 - James Madison University
• Southern Association for Counselor Education and Supervision Grant Reviewer, August 2020

Activities and Honors

• Future Leaders Society, Association of American Colleges & Universities - December 2021 - Present
• Preparing Future Faculty, James Madison University - August 2020 - May 2021
• Doctoral Scholar, Southern Region Education Board - Fall 2019 - May 2022

Selected Publications

Presentations

• Ford, D.J., Williams, B.A., Gaines, B.G., Taragano, S. (2021, February) Allyship Versus Accompliceship: Our Ethical Duty as Counselors, New Jersey Counseling Association Webinar Series, Virtual
• Ford, D.J., Williams, B.A., Gaines, B.G., Taragano, S. (2021, February) Allyship Versus Accompliceship: Our Ethical Duty as Counselors, Winter Roundtable, Virtual
• Montoya, F.A., Gaines, B.G., Sulik, S., Dix, B., (2021, February) Bodies, History, Community, and Trauma, African, African American, and Diaspora Studies (AAAD) Interdisciplinary Conference, Harrisonburg, VA
• Thomas, C., Ballou-Broadnax, T., Gaines, B.G., Lee-Nelson, Z., (2021, February) Movement in Blackness: Black Women’s Mental Wellness in the Academy, African, African American, and Diaspora Studies (AAAD) Interdisciplinary Conference, Harrisonburg, VA
• Ford, D.J., Williams, B.A., Gaines, B.G., Taragano, S. (2021, February) Allyship Versus Accompliceship: Our Ethical Duty as Counselors, National Cross-Cultural Counseling and Education Conference, Virtual
• Gaines, B.G., Lee, A. (2020, November) Exploring the Impact of Intergenerational Trauma on Black Family Functioning, Virginia Counselors Association Convention, Harrisonburg, VA
• Gaines, B.G., Lee, A., Williams, B.A. (2020, September) The Intergenerational Effects of Race Based Trauma, The Black Mental Health Symposium Virtual Conference, Harrisonburg, VA
• Evans, A.M., Sturm, D., Staton, R. & Gaines, B.G. (2020, April) Countering Systemic and Institutional Discrimination: An Analysis of Allyship. American Counseling Association, San Diego, CA
• Evans, A.M., Gaines, B.G., White, D., Green, D., Williams, B.A., & Brown, A. (2020, February) Humanistic Approaches to Addressing Race Based Trauma and Ally Development, Association for Humanistic Counseling Webinar, Harrisonburg, VA
• Mastrangelo, J., Gaines, B.G. (2020, February) From Pre-Natal to Cradle: Caring for the Couple Relationship in the Transition to Parenthood, Virginia Association for Counselor Education and Supervision Graduate Student Conference, Norfolk, VA
• Williams, B.A., Gaines, B.G. (2020, February) Exploring Ethical Concerns for Students of Color in Counselor Education Classrooms at Predominantly White Institutions, Law and Ethics in Counseling Conference, New Orleans, LA

Other Publications

• Gaines, B.G. (2020). The Historical Trauma of Slavery. Counselors for Social Justice Newsletter, October, pp.5