African Americans and Mental Health (PDF)

Mary Olufunmilayo Adekson, PhD has authored two books and one book chapter. She has edited The Handbook of Counseling and Counselor Education and Beginning your Counseling Career: Graduate Preparation and Beyond, and also has edited the current volume, African Americans and Mental Health: Practical and Strategic Solutions to Barriers, Needs, and Challenges. Mary also has published numerous articles related to traditional healing and counseling to date. Mary obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree from Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts, where she was also a visiting undergraduate student at Harvard University. She got her Master of Education degree from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) in Ile-Ife, Nigeria, and obtained her doctoral degree in Counselor Education from Ohio University in Athens. She was the program director of the Counselor Education Department at St. Bonaventure University in Allegany, New York, during the 2011 to 2012 academic year. Mary retired from St. Bonaventure University as a tenured faculty member in June 2014. She occasionally writes commentaries and articles on related aspects of indigenous healing and counseling in different journals. Mary also writes Christian books to inspire, teach, and encourage young, old and newly converted believers in Christ. She currently is the Chief Executive Officer of Faith Diversity Consulting.