The member spotlight highlights individual achievements, contributions, and unique qualities within the group work community and as members of ASGW, fostering recognition, connection, and inspiration. It acknowledges members' efforts, motivates others through their successes, and builds camaraderie by sharing personal stories. Additionally, spotlights promote diversity, inclusion, and knowledge-sharing while reinforcing ASGW’s core values. This practice strengthens community bonds and aligns group members with shared goals through platforms like newsletters, social media, and events.
Dr. Claire Martin
Claire Martin, Ph.D., LPC, NCC, ACS, BC-TMH, is an Assistant Professor in the Counseling Department at Webster University. She holds a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from the University of Missouri-St. Louis, an M.Ed. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Missouri-St. Louis, and an M.A. in Psychology from the City University of New York-Hunter College. Dr. Martin is committed to developing counselors’ competencies in multiculturalism and trauma-informed practices. Her scholarly activities focus on the intersectionality between oppression, discriminatory policies and practices, and the development of psychological trauma in marginalized populations.
Dr. Martin currently serves as the 2024–2025 Co-Chair of the Association for Specialists in Group Work (ASGW) Special Initiatives Committee, where she leads efforts to advance innovative, equity-centered initiatives within the field of group work. She is committed to fostering inclusive practices and promoting the development of socially responsible group workers who can effectively respond to the needs of diverse communities.
Dr. Martin has been instrumental in facilitating therapeutic groups specifically designed for Black communities. For several years, she has co-facilitated SisterScholars, a culturally relevant support group aimed at empowering Black college women at the University of Missouri–St. Louis. She has also led career intervention groups targeting Black women in the St. Louis area, including those affiliated with Community Women Against Hardship. Most recently, in her role as an Assistant Professor at Webster University, she has co-facilitated support groups for Black college students in the aftermath of the 2024 election. Additionally, in her role as co-Chair of the ASGW Special Initiatives Committee, she helped create a virtual support group for Black counselors-in-training, aimed at addressing the unique challenges faced by Black students in counseling programs.
In 2019, she received the Counseling Fellowship in Social Justice Award, and in 2020, the E. Desmond Lee Urban Education Scholarship from the University of Missouri-St. Louis; both are awarded based on scholarly interests and advocacy that reflect a commitment to social justice in counseling and urban education. Dr. Martin has presented nationally and internationally on Black women’s experiences. She is a research associate member for the Center for Communally Bonded Research (CCBR) and serves as the Midwestern Region Representative for the Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development (AMCD).
Additionally, Dr. Martin is a nationally board-certified and licensed professional counselor (LPC) in Missouri with extensive clinical experience with complex trauma. She is certified in eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) and trauma-focused cognitive behavior therapy (TF-CBT) and uses these modalities in her practice to help individuals heal from trauma. She also provides culturally competent and trauma-informed clinical supervision to counselors-in-training seeking state licensure. Prior to her clinical and teaching career, Dr. Martin worked as a Program Evaluator for Children’s Services in New York City, evaluating nonprofit agencies servicing immigrant and refugee families in the NYC area.
Dr. Martin, thank you for your contributions to the field of group work!!
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