Also Serving As

• Assistant Clinical Director, Clinical Mental Health Counseling 

Background

Professor Ellmer is part of the faculty team for the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. She is a licensed mental health counselor and an approved supervisor in the state of Washington. Currently, she is pursuing a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision at Regent University. 

Professor Ellmer specializes in the treatment of trauma and has worked in diverse clinical settings, including residential and outpatient retreatment, private practice, and employee assistance programs with a focus on workplace well-being. She has served as a clinical supervisor and clinical manager across various organizations. Her professional and research interests include complex trauma, trauma treatment, interpersonal violence recovery, and clinical supervision. 

Professor Ellmer enjoys traveling, hiking, reading, and drinking quality espresso in her free time.

Professional Associations 

• Washington Mental Health Counselor Association
• American Counseling Association
• The Association for Counselor Education and Supervision 
• The Western Association for Counselor Education and Supervision 
• Chi Sigma Iota Counseling Academic & Professional Honor Society International

Current Projects

Ellmer, B., Flores, N., Chang, J., Bixler, H. (In Progress). Applying EMDR to complex trauma: A grounded theory of therapeutic adaptation in counseling practice [Qualitative Research Project, Regent University].

Academic Presentations

Ellmer, B., Flores, N., & Smith, S. (2024, October). From Surviving to Thriving: Navigating Documentation Hurdles and Avoiding Burnout in an Evolving Industry [Conference Presentation]. American Counseling Association: Emerging Professionals Conference. 

Ellmer, B., & Chang, J. (2024, December 17). The Art of Trauma Treatment: Using Evidenced Based Practices Creatively [Workshop]. International Institute of Postgraduate Education (IIPE) and the Association for Psychological Counseling and Trauma Therapy – Ukraine (APCT-UKR). 

Smith, S., Ellmer, B., & Flores, N. (2025, February 4). Understanding Stockholm Syndrome: Trauma Response and Treatment Recommendations [Workshop]. International Institute of Postgraduate Education (IIPE) and the Association for Psychological Counseling and Trauma Therapy – Ukraine (APCT-UKR). 

Ellmer, B., Flores, N., & Smith, S. (2025, March 8). Thriving in Documentation: Supervisory Strategies for Supporting Supervisees [Conference Presentation]. West Virginia Counseling Association. 

Davis, S., Ra, L., Ellmer, B., & Patterson, T. (2025, March 22). Safeguarding in Faith: Clinicians’ Role in Advocating for Abuse Prevention and Trauma-Informed Practices in the Church. [Conference Presentation]. Christian Association for Psychological Studies, Denver, CO. 

Ellmer, B., & Flores, F. (2025, September). A Pathway for Charting: Using the Integrative Developmental Model in Supervision & Documentation [Conference Presentation]. American Counseling Association: Supervision in Counseling Virtual Summit.