Dr. LaVerne Berkel is a graduate of Oakwood College (now Oakwood University), New York University, and The Pennsylvania State University. A Brooklyn native, she has been a member of the faculty at the University of Missouri – Kansas City for over 20 years. During this time, she has taught several courses, including counseling theories and methods, introduction to counseling, career development, consultation, practicum, internship, and group counseling. Her research has examined various aspects of health from an integrated lens. Along with nursing colleagues, her recent scholarship examined the deployment and reintegration experiences of women in the National Guard, with an emphasis on emotional (e.g., depression, PTSD), family (e.g., parenting), and spiritual health. Her interests also include the role of counseling psychologists in integrated healthcare; the effect of the built environment on health outcomes; and diversity issues in general, with a particular interest in religion and spirituality, counseling and health.
In addition to her faculty responsibilities, she has served in different administrative positions during her time at UMKC, including associate dean in the School of Education, and provost’s fellow for faculty affairs.
She is a licensed psychologist in Missouri and Kansas and maintains a small private practice. Her community involvement includes serving as a member of the health ministries team at her local church
Ph.D., Counseling Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University
Recent Publications
Berkel, L.A., Nilsson, J.E., Joiner, A.V., Stratman, S., Caldwell, K., & Chong, W. (2019). Experiences of counseling psychologists working in integrated health care. The Counseling Psychologist, 47, 1037-1060. doi:10.1177/0011000019895495
Nilsson, J.E., Berkel, L.A., & Chong, W. (2019). Integrated health care and of counseling psychology: An introduction to the major contribution. The Counseling Psychologist, 47, 99-1011. doi:10.1177/0011000019896795
Berkel, L.A., Nilsson, J.E., & Kelly, P.J., Anderson, W.M., Joiner, A.J., Davids, C., & Serpe, C. (2019). Faith of our sister soldiers: National Guard women share stories of their faith during and after deployment. Journal of Religion and Health, 58, 1753-1769. doi:10.1007/s10943-019-00839-1
Maung, J., Nilsson, J.E., Berkel, L.A., & Kelly, P.J. (2017). Women in the National Guard: Coping and barriers to care. Journal of Counseling and Development, 95(1),67-76 . doi:10.1002/jcad.12118
Heinrich, K.M., Haddock, C.K., Jitnarin, N., Hughey, J., Berkel, L.A., & Poston, W.S.C. (2017). Perceptions of important characteristics of physical activity facilities: Implications for engagement in walking, moderate and vigorous physical activity. Frontiers in Public Health, 5, pp. 1-8. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2017.00319
Kelly, P.J., Cheng, A., Berkel, LA., & Nilsson, J.E. (2016). Perceptions of individual and family functioning among deployed female National Guard members. Journal of Family Nursing 22(3), 419-434. doi:10.1177/1074840716642791
Jitnarin, N, Heinrich, K.M., Haddock, C.K, Hughey, J., Berkel, L., & Poston, W.S.C. (2015). Neighborhood environment perceptions and the likelihood of smoking and alcohol use. International Journal of Environmental Research and Pulbic Health, 12(1), 784-799, doi:10.3390/ijerph120100784
Kelly, P.J., Berkel, L.A., & Nilsson, J.E. (2014). Postdeployment reintegration experiences of female soldiers from national guard and reserve units in the United States. Nursing Research, 65(3), 346-356. doi:10.1097/NNR.0000000000000051
Nilsson, J. E. Berkel, L.A., Kelly, P.J., Trummer, M., Maung, J., & Sukumaran, N. (2014): Women in the National Guard: Experiences with children during deployment. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 28, 113-131. doi:10.1080/09515070.2014.970127
Kelly, P., Nilsson, J., & Berkel, L.A. (2014). A gendered perspective on military deployment. Women and Health, 54(1), 61-76. doi:10.1080/03630242.2013.862897
Recent Presentations
Berkel, L.A. & Langrehr, K.J. (2019, August). Developing faith partners: Insider/Outsider perspectives. In N.L. Murdock (Chair), Out of the office and into the streets: Interventions for diverse clients and settings. Symposium presented at the 2019 annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, Chicago, IL.
Berkel, L.A., Caldwell, K, Joiner, A.V., Stratman, S., Chong, W., & Nilsson, J.E. (2019, August). Experiences of counseling psychologists working in integrated health care. Poster accepted for presentation at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, Chicago, IL.
Berkel, L.A., Joiner, A., Nilsson, J., Kelly, P., & Maung, J. (2018, August). An internet-based psychoeducational support group for reintegrating National Guard Women. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, San Francisco, CA.
Anderson, W.M., Berkel, L.A., & Conforti, D. (2018, August). American Messianic Jewish identity development: A grounded theory study. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, San Francisco, CA.
Berkel, L.A., & Nilsson, J.E. (2016, August). Integrated training program in behavioral health care for underserved urban and military communities. In J.E. Nilsson & L.A. Berkel (Chairs), Integrated primary care psychology training in counseling psychology doctoral programs. Symposium presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, Denver, CO.
Maung, J., Gowen, M., Khan, M., Nilsson, J. E., Berkel, L.A., & Kelly, P. (2016, August). Women of the National Guard: Perspectives on the quality and effectiveness of reintegration resources. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, Denver, CO.
