Since she began her career as a paraprofessional working with children living with autism, Loni Crumb, PhD, NCC, LCMHCS, has supported the mental health field for nearly 20 years. Currently, she is an Associate Professor of Counselor Education at East Carolina University and CEO of a private practice. Her life’s work has centered around advocating for underserved populations, particularly for people living in underserved, rural, high-poverty areas.  

Her decision to become a counselor was inspired by witnessing the need for mental health services as a child, she says. 

“I had close friends who experienced trauma and saw firsthand how they suffered in silence,” she recalls. “I noticed that their parents did not have access to adequate services or professionals to address adverse childhood experiences, and this fueled my passion to bring mental health resources to rural and remote areas around the world. 

“Mental health is a global health issue with many determinants to consider such as genetics, socioeconomic status, education, physical environment, and access to health services,” she continues. “Because of my personal and professional experiences, I feel that I am properly positioned to play a significant role in addressing this crisis not only at the individual level, but on global, societal, and systemic levels.” 

Her work as a counselor and educator continues to be fulfilling and uplifting, she says. 

“I love having the skills and abilities to listen and support others in their time of need or offer continued encouragement in their time of celebration. 

“I am most inspired when I hear people say that they have utilized counseling services for the first time,” she continues. “It’s pretty moving to hear how people have worked through stigmas or barriers to get the support they need to be healthy and function at their best capacity. Each time I hear of a first-time counseling experience, I feel it is a win for the person and for our profession.”  

This year, Dr. Crumb was awarded a Mandela Washington Fellowship, the flagship program of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), to support global mental health literacy. The fellowship’s Reciprocal Exchanges provide learning opportunities for professionals to share ideas and promote mental health collaboration between the United States and countries in sub-Saharan Africa. 

Dr. Crumb worked together with her colleagues Dr. Janee Avent Harris, Assistant Dean for Faculty and Staff Development, Wellness, and Engagement in the ECU College of Education, and Dorcas Barde, a fellowship alumna, to develop a project called International Collaborative Action for Rural Education, Mental Wellness and Safety (I-CARE) to help Nigerian citizens in remote, rural areas by increasing access to care through learning exchanges and shared educational resources from school and community collaborations. 

Dr. Crumb also shared the memorable experience of leading students on a study abroad program to Belize in 2019. 

“I enjoyed the opportunity I had to take 10 pre-service counselors on a study abroad experience. Most of these students had not traveled across the United States, nevertheless out of the country. Furthermore, they had such diverse backgrounds such as growing up in poverty, were moms, or were from single parent families, that limited their engagement in international education opportunities during their undergraduate studies. It was incredible to give them the chance to see counseling in a totally different context and gain increased understanding of the mental health concerns outside of the U.S.” 

She strives to ensure that counselors-in-training receive the comprehensive education and training necessary to become successful as professionals serving others. 

“There is so much to learn and so many approaches to helping that it feels like I can’t teach them enough in a 2-year program,” she says. “This is why I try to be creative and expose the pre-service counselors to as much as possible during our time together via guest lectures, co-presenting and networking at conferences, writing, and engaging them in service and educational opportunities such as school visits or studying abroad.”  

One of her professional goals is to work with the Fulbright Scholars Program, which partners with 140 countries to provide opportunities for students and young professionals to study, research, or teach English abroad. 

“I would love to continue to teach, conduct research, and carry out creative activities in other countries to champion mental health,” she says. “I love the connections made and new skills acquired from being in different contexts.”  

In conclusion, Dr. Crumb says she’s grateful to have been blessed with many great mentors throughout her career and offers some words of encouragement for her fellow counselors. 

“If I can group the best advice from my mentors, I would say it is to aim high, be confident, and never give up—basically, be your best self-advocate.”  

Loni Crumb, PhD, NCC, LCMHCS, is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and CEO of Carolina Cares Counseling & Consulting, PLLC. As an Associate Professor in the counselor education program at East Carolina University, Dr. Crumb regularly practices thought leadership and wellness advocacy. She has authored over 100 scholarly publications and professional presentations related to counseling and wellness, and personal and professional development. Dr. Crumb is internationally recognized for her work with rural and underserved communities, and her interests include behavioral and mental health, workforce development, P–16 rural education, and social justice and multicultural training. Through school–university–community partnerships, she has obtained over $2 million in grants, contracts, and gifts to address mental health and education for underserved populations.