Featured CIRM Practitioner-Participant—John P. Duggan, Ed.D., LPC, LCPC, LSATP

From Practice to Pause: A Journey Through Stroke Rehabilitation and Renewed Purpose. The Significance of Mindfulness-based Activities.

Nature-based interventions

For nearly three decades, I’ve collaborated with hospitals, clinics, schools, mission-based communities, and professional organizations. My foundation as a clinician-practitioner and supervisor has enabled me to expand various clinical programs, including treatments for individuals experiencing homelessness, suicide prevention and intervention, crisis counseling, private practice, and substance use assessment and referral services.

Several years ago, mentors challenged and inspired my ongoing professional curiosity. They encouraged me to earn a Doctor of Education in Counselor Education and Supervision as I approached my fifth decade. Reluctantly, I transitioned from educational leadership and media production to a new an academic appointment.

Then, out of the blue on an idle autumn morning in 2022, life came crashing in— I awoke having experienced an acute cerebellar stroke. An active schedule of teaching, researching, consulting, and mentoring came to an abrupt halt.

My first day as university faculty wasn’t how my mentors and I had envisioned. I found myself an inpatient at an acute rehabilitation hospital, patiently (sic.) relearning to tie my shoes, hold utensils, communicate, and somehow befriend my body anew. The inpatient recovery plan was robust and I spotted some caution in eyes of my care team when I announced a personal goal: I was determined to give an abbreviated graduate lecture the following Thursday via Zoom. With patience and creative supports, I lectured from my hospital room and nobody was the wiser. Except, perhaps, me. Few navigate life altering changes without intense awareness, even if others don’t notice.

I see myself as a practitioner-participant, not a consumer. My rehabilitation journey incorporates formal support and wisdom from previous life experiences. Daily routines now include walking, mindfulness-based activities, rediscovering the joy of listening to jazz, learning to write again, and concurrently walking with deciphering Morse Code. Zoom conversations, well-planned movie and dining adventures with friends, and collaborative projects — along with balanced diet, leisure, and daily siestas — are ingredients for my evolving wellness plan.

My research and scholarship now focus on interdisciplinary care — for instance, helping healthcare practitioners apply clinical mental health counseling research to instill hope into their relationships with clients/patients. I also educate, train, and supervise trainees and practitioners on how to better support individuals and families facing complex medical issues from a clinical mental health perspective. I’m developing clinical support systems and seeking grants to provide free clinical mental health counseling services for individuals and caregivers navigating outpatient post-stroke and encephalopathy rehabilitation. Additionally, I volunteer as a Stroke Peer Visitor.

Currently, I work as an Associate Professor at Marymount University’s School of Counseling. I hold a Doctor of Education in Counselor Education and Supervision (CACREP). I’ve also earned a Master of Arts in Theology (Spirituality Cognate), a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology (CACREP), and a Bachelor of Science in Communication. My training experiences include a post-doctoral healthcare leadership certificate, as well as supervised Spiritual Direction, and supervised Clinical Pastoral Education credentials. I hold professional licenses from the boards of counseling in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia (inactive).

Over the years, I’ve practiced with, taught, and supervised clinical, pastoral, K–12 school, substance use, and peer counseling practitioners. The Association for Humanistic Counseling (AHC) honored me as their Supervisor of the Year (2022), and the Maryland Counseling Association (MCA) recently awarded MCA’s Lifetime Achievement Award (2023).

Life offers unique challenges and requires renewed creativity, tenacity and patience. With the support of my husband, family, our three felines, and friends … well, I’m slowly regaining confidence and know-how to embrace new opportunities.

I look forward to meeting and collaborating!