Dr. Holt’s Profile Photo
Faculty
College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences
Associate Professor
Counselor Education & Family Therapy
Behavioral Health Faculty Director, Central Community Health Education Clinic
College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences
Member
Council on Alcohol & Other Drugs
Hearing Board Officer
Student Rights & Responsibilities
Department Liaison
AAUP
Member
Mediation Committee
Member
Termination Hearing Committee
Program & Clinical Coordinator
Counselor Education: Clinical Professional Counseling, MS
Program Coordinator
Professional Counseling, AOCP
Contact
(860) 832-2138
rwholt@ccsu.edu
Office
Henry Barnard Hall
22504
Or by appointment
Biography

Dr. Reginald W. Holt is a tenured Associate Professor, former Department Chair, and Coordinator of the CACREP-accredited Clinical Professional Counseling Program and Advanced Official Certificate Program in Professional Counseling within the Department of Counselor Education & Family Therapy at Central Connecticut State University (CCSU). He also serves as Behavioral Health Faculty Director of the Central Community Health Education Clinic in CCSU's College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences. Dr. Holt holds a Ph.D. in Counselor Education from the University of Missouri-St. Louis, an M.A. in Clinical Psychology from East Tennessee State University, and advanced post-graduate training in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy from the St. Louis Psychoanalytic Institute. He is licensed as a Professional Counselor in Connecticut, Illinois, and Missouri and holds the credentials of Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS), National Certified Counselor (NCC), Master Addictions Counselor (MAC), Advanced Alcohol & Drug Counselor (AADC), and Internationally Certified Advanced Alcohol & Drug Counselor (ICAADC). His professional experience spans higher education, behavioral healthcare, managed care, corrections, and private practice. A recognized leader in counselor education and addictions counseling, Dr. Holt has served as Secretary of the International Association of Addictions and Offender Counseling (IAAOC), President of the Connecticut Association of Counselor Education and Supervision (CACES) and has contributed to leadership initiatives within the American Counseling Association (ACA) and Connecticut Counseling Association (CCA). Dr. Holt oversees the CACREP-accredited M.S. in Counselor Education with a specialization in Clinical Professional Counseling and teaches graduate courses focused on mindfulness-based interventions, mental health, addictions counseling, and co-occurring disorders. Dr. Holt, along with Dr. Regina Moro, released a counselor education textbook through Springer Publishing, Counseling Individuals with Co-Occurring Addictive and Mental Disorders: A Comprehensive Approach (2024), a scholarly work nominated for the NBCC Research Innovations in Counseling Practice and Counselor Education Award and the ACA Thomas Hohenshil National Publication Award. He currently serves as a contributing author and editor for the second edition of The ACA Encyclopedia of Counseling (American Counseling Association Publishing, forthcoming 2027). A seven-time recipient of CCSU's Excellence in Teaching Honor Roll (including being a semi-finalist), Dr. Holt also received national recognition through nominations for the IAAOC Educator Excellence Award, reflecting his sustained contributions to counselor education, clinical training, and professional leadership.

Education
Counseling/Counselor Education (CACREP)
University of Missouri-St. Louis
Clinical Psychology
East Tennessee State University
Psychology
East Tennessee State University
Advanced Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
St. Louis Psychoanalytic Institute
Areas of Expertise

State Licensure:

  • Licensed Professional Counselor (#003021)
    • State of Connecticut
  • Licensed Professional Counselor (#2010033035)
    • State of Missouri
  • Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (#180-003839)
    • State of Illinois

NATIONAL CERTIFICATIONS:

  • Approved Clinical Supervisor (#ACS-5509)
    • National Board for Certified Counselors
  • Master Addictions Counselor (#272025)
    • National Board for Certified Counselors
  • National Certified Counselor (#272025)
    • National Board for Certified Counselors 

STATE CERTIFICATIONS:

  • Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (#AADC-6379)
    • Connecticut Certification Board, Inc.

INTERNATIONAL CERTIFICATIONS:

  • Internationally Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (#ICAADC-6379)
    • International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium

LEADERSHIP TRAININGS:

  • The Chronicle’s Strategic-Leadership Program for Department Chairs: Big Picture Thinking with Practical Applications (June 2024). The Chronicle of Higher Education in Partnership with Dever Justice, LLC and Ithaka-SR.
    • A series of seminars and interactive workshops over a 2-week period focusing on helping academic department chairs develop new skills and formulate a strategic vision for both personal growth as chair and departmental growth. Topics include:
      • National Trends in Higher Education
      • Understanding the Higher Ed Business Model
      • Managing Conflict
      • Creating a Culture of Belonging in Your Department
Publications, Research & Presentations

Textbooks In Process:

  • Aishwarya, J., Fickling, M., Hammer, T. R., Holt, R. W., Morgen, K., Roundtree, S., & Runyan, H. (Eds.). (2027 expected publication date). The ACA Encyclopedia of Counseling (2nd ed.). American Counseling Association Publishing.
  • Clarke, P., Dewhirst, L., Gutierrez, D., Holman, L., Holt, R. W., & Smith, M. (book proposal in review by American Counseling Association Publishing). Growth & recovery for the whole person (GROW): Guidelines for living well through mental health challenges and addictive behaviors.

Counselor Education Published Textbooks:

Peer-Reviewed Counselor Education Published Textbook Chapters:

  • Holt, R. W. (2024). Considerations for treating co-occurring mental and substance use disorders. In R. Holt & R. Moro (Eds.)., Counseling individuals with co-occurring addictive and mental disorders: A comprehensive approach (pp. 3-41). Springer Publishing.
  • Holt, R. W. & Paulson, J. (2024). Integrating mindfulness-based practices into the treatment of co-occurring disorders. In R. Holt & R. Moro (Eds.)., Counseling individuals with co-occurring addictive and mental disorders: A comprehensive approach (pp. 183-206). Springer Publishing.
  • Moro, R., & Holt, R. W. (2024). Treatment engagement, therapeutic strategies, and recovery models for co-occurring disorders. In R. Holt & R. Moro (Eds.)., Counseling individuals with co-occurring addictive and mental disorders: A comprehensive approach (pp. 141-158). Springer Publishing.
  • Holt, R. W. (2024). Reginald - A licensed clinical professional counselor’s experience working in a managed behavioral healthcare organization. In E. Neukrug (Ed.)., Foundations of clinical mental health. Cognella Academic Publishing.
  • Holt, R. W. (2023). You can have too much sex? The line between sexual expression and addiction. In A. Schubert & M. Pope (Eds.), Handbook for human sexuality counseling: A sex positive approach (pp. 357-376). American Counseling Association.
  • Holt, R. W. (2021). Mindfulness: A vehicle to pass through substance use craving and navigate the addiction recovery course. In R. Miller & E. Beeson (Eds.), Neuroeducation: Practical translations of neuroscience in counseling and psychotherapy (pp. 125-131). Cognella.
  • Holt, R. W. (2019). Connecting with others: Countering social bias with a compassion-based practice. In M. Pope, M. Gonzalez, E. Cameron, & J. S. Pengelinan (Eds.), Social justice and advocacy in counseling: Experiential activities for teaching (pp. 342-346). Routledge/Taylor & Francis.
  • Holt, R. W. (2018). Mindfulness-informed personal abstinence challenge and group processing. In J. Jordan, B. Perkins, & R. Lee (Eds.), Handbook of experiential teaching in counselor education: A resource guide for counselor educators (pp. 231-235). CreateSpace Independent Publishing.

Peer-Reviewed Academic Journal Publications:

  • Holt, R. W., & Pope, M. (2022). Experiences of male offenders in mindfulness-based program: A qualitative study. Journal of Human Services, 41(1), 53-66.
  • Holt, R. W. (2020). Gone but not forgotten: Remembering those lost to addiction. CSI Exemplar, 35(2), 12-13.
  • Morgan, M., & Holt, R. W. (2019). Augmenting trauma-informed counseling with mindfulness-based practices: Offering hope and building resilience. The Graduate Gazette: A Peer-Reviewed Publication of the North Atlantic Region Association for Counselor Education and Supervision, 3, 27-33.
  • Holt, R. W., & Cottone, R. (2014). Mindfulness: An overview for human service professionals. Journal of Human Services, 34, 52-69.

PROFESSIONAL CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS & PROPOSALS:

  • See CV for national, regional, state, and local listings.

 

Awards & Grants

Grants:

  • CCSU Faculty Development Grant, 2026 (funded)
  • CCSU Curriculum Development Grant, 2024 (funded)
  • CCSU Faculty Development Grant, 2019 (funded)
  • Chi Sigma Iota International Counseling Academic and Professional Honor Society Chapter Development Grant, 2018-2019 (funded)
  • CSU-AAUP Faculty Research Grant, 2018 (funded)
  • University of Missouri Dissertation Research Grant, 2013-2014 (funded)

Awards:

  • Recipient, IAAOC Leadership Recognition Award, International Association of Addictions & Offender Counselors—a division of the American Counseling Association, 2026
  • Nominee, Educator Excellence Award, International Association of Addictions & Offender Counselors—a division of the American Counseling Association, 2026
  • Recipient, Excellence in Teaching Award, Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, CT, 2025-2026
  • Nominee, Thomas Hohenshil National Publication Award, American Counseling Association, 2025
  • Nominee, Educator Excellence Award, International Association of Addictions & Offender Counselors—a division of the American Counseling Association, 2025
  • Recipient, Excellence in Teaching Honor Roll, Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, CT, 2024-2025
  • Nominee, National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) Research Innovations in Counseling Practice and Counselor Education Award, 2024
  • Nominee, Connecticut State Colleges and Universities Board of Regents Faculty Award for Scholarly Excellence, 2024
  • Semi-Finalist, Excellence in Teaching Award, Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, CT, 2023-2024
  • Recipient, Excellence in Teaching Honor Roll, Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, CT, 2022-2023
  • Nominee, Online Teaching Award, Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, CT, 2022
  • Recipient, Excellence in Teaching Honor Roll, Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, CT, 2018-2019
  • Recipient, Excellence in Teaching Honor Roll, Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, CT, 2017-2018
  • Recipient, Excellence in Teaching Honor Roll, Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, CT, 2016-2017
  • Co-recipient of the American Counseling Association Branch Award for Best Innovative Practice-North Atlantic Region, Connecticut Counseling Association Special Interest Group (SIG) for Addictions Counseling, American Counseling Association 2018 National Conference & Expo, Atlanta, GA, 2018
Memberships & Affiliations

Professional Organizations:

  • National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC)
  • American Counseling Association (ACA)
  • Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES)
  • North Atlantic Region Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (NARACES)
  • Connecticut Association for Counselor Education & Supervision (CACES) - Past President (2019-2020)
  • International Association of Addictions and Offender Counselors (IAAOC) - Executive Committee Member/Secretary (2023-2024 & 2025-2026)
  • Chi Sigma Iota, the International Counseling Academic & Professional Honor Society - Chi Alpha Mu Chapter Faculty Advisor (2018-2023)
  • Advanced Behavioral Health, Inc. Board of Director Member (2021-Present)

Central Committees:

  • Presidential Advisory Council on Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs
  • Hearing Board Officer, Office of Student Rights & Responsibilities 
  • Department Liaison, American Association of University Professors (AAUP)
  • Termination Hearing Committee
  • Mediation Committee (alternate member)
  • Grade Appeals Review Board (past member & Chair)
  • Faculty Senate Member (past alternate)
Courses Taught

Central Connecticut State University

Department of Counselor Education and Family Therapy, New Britain, CT (CACREP)

  • CNSL 501 Theories and Techniques of Counseling (6.0)
  • CNSL 503 Supervised Counseling Practicum (3.0)
  • CNSL 568 Foundations of Addictions Counseling (3.0)
  • CNSL 571 Mindfulness-Based Mental Health Counseling (3.0)
  • CNSL 575 Counseling Individuals with Co-Occurring Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders (3.0)
  • CNSL 594 Supervised Clinical Practice [Internship] (3.0)

Webster University

Department of Professional Counseling, St. Louis, MO (CACREP)

  • COUN 5050 Human Growth and Development (3.0):
  • COUN 5630 Techniques of Substance Abuse Counseling (3.0):

University of Missouri-St. Louis

Department of Educational Sciences & Professional Programs, St. Louis, MO (CACREP)

  • CNS ED 6040 Group Procedures in Counseling (TA), (3.0)
  • CNS ED 6370 Clinical Mental Health Counseling Practicum (3.0)
  • CNS ED 6380 Clinical Mental Health Counseling Field Experience (3.0)
  • CNS ED 6710 Advanced Strategies in Addictions Counseling (3.0)
  • CNS ED 6720 Counseling Clients with Co-Occurring Disorders (3.0)

East Tennessee State University

Department of Psychology, Johnson City, TN

  • PSYCH 5830 Individual Mental Testing