Layla Bonner

Biography

Layla J. Bonner, PhD, LMFT, NCC, is a tenured Associate Professor in the School of Mental Health Counseling. She earned her doctorate in Clinical Counseling, Teaching, and Supervision from Trevecca Nazarene University in 2018. Dr. Bonner is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Tennessee and a Nationally Certified Counselor. In her private practice, she works primarily with individuals and couples, integrating evidence-based approaches to support relational and emotional well-being. She is also a Clinical Fellow and Approved Supervisor with the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.

Dr. Bonner has demonstrated a strong commitment to leadership and advocacy within the counseling profession, previously serving as Human Rights Chairperson for the Tennessee Counseling Association. She has presented at numerous professional conferences, including those hosted by the Southern Association for Counselor Educators and Supervisors, the International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors, and the Black Mental Health Symposium. She is also Co-founder and President of the Black Mental Health Counselor Reparations Foundation.

Her scholarly work spans journal publications, textbook chapters, and a teaching and learning blog. Dr. Bonner’s research focuses on group work with African American students, career counseling with ethnically diverse populations, racial trauma and grief, systemic and institutional racism, and the lived experiences of Black women. She also explores strategies to support faculty of color teaching at predominantly White institutions. She hopes to begin exploring themes of rest and wellness in future scholarly pursuits.

In addition to her academic and clinical work, Dr. Bonner is an engaged public scholar who has participated in public speaking engagements, live media interviews, and panel discussions on race-based trauma, African American mental health, and microaggressions.