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Layla J. Bonner, PhD, LMFT, NCC, is an Assistant Professor in the Master of Arts degree program in Mental Health Counseling at Belmont University. She earned her doctorate in Clinical Counseling, Teaching & Supervision from Trevecca Nazarene University in 2018. She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Tennessee and a Nationally Certified Counselor. She is a Clinical Fellow and an Approved Supervisor with the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. In her private practice, Dr. Bonner works primarily with individuals and couples and supervises post-master’s counselors toward full licensure in the state of Tennessee. She also provides consultation to organizations that request assistance with topics such as race, culture, and mental health.

Dr. Bonner previously served as the Human Rights Chairperson with the Tennessee Counseling Association. She has presented at multiple conferences hosted by professional organizations such as the Southern Association for Counselor Educators and Supervisors through the American Counseling Association, The International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors, and the Black Mental Health Symposium. She has authored publications for journals, books, and a teaching and learning blog in the area of group work with African American students, career counseling with ethnically diverse groups, racial trauma and disenfranchised Grief, and strategies for faculty of color who teach at predominantly white institutions. Lastly, Dr. Bonner has engaged in public speaking, provided interviews, and served on various panels to discuss the topics of race-based trauma, African American mental health, and Microaggressions.