Bio

Bethdogs3-15 (2) (2)Elizabeth Powell is a psychologist who was born in the little college town of Berea, Kentucky. In summer she spent time with her grandparents up in the mountains, where she learned to speak dialect and discovered the fascination of words. Her most vivid childhood memory is of listening to Henrietta Child, the daughter of Harvard’s renowned ballad collector, telling stories to the mountain children.

Powell earned an M.S. in Clinical Psychology and an M.A. in Family Therapy. Her experience ranges from working with the most serious mental illness at a state hospital, to doing family systems therapy, and teaching coping skills to college students. She is a great supporter of mental health education at every age. She was licensed to practice by her state, and trained in Ericksonian Hypnosis. Serving as Professor of Psychology at St. Louis Community College for many years, she taught Child Development, Human Sexuality, and the Psychology of Coping Strategies–a course she designed. She was twice given the Master Teacher award by the National Institute of Staff and Organizational Development.

A lifetime folk singer, today Powell finds composing country songs more fun than using her classical training. She also writes every day, and supports newspapers, where her letters are often published. She loves all dogs and is tempted to believe they have a soul.