About
Dr. Monica L. Cummings has dedicated her life to being of service to others.
Drawing on her experience as a college basketball player, Army Officer, Peace Corps Volunteer, parish and community minister, university faculty member, yoga and meditation instructor, and substance abuse counselor, Dr. Cummings supports clients with an inclusive, non-judgmental, compassionate and relational approach to counseling.
As the former Director for Diversity Training and Educational Programs and Faculty member at regional universities, Dr. Cummings has extensive experience as a speaker on topics such as; The Influence of Culture and Spiritual/Religious Beliefs on Treatment Outcomes, The Influence of Culture on Identity Formation, LGBT in Religious Communities, Gender Identity and Expression, Sexual Orientation, Addiction Education, Bereavement and End-of-Life Care.
Dr. Cummings is trained in trauma sensitive yoga and meditation which influences her practice and identity as a substance abuse counselor and yoga and meditation instructor. She believes that for some people talk therapy alone is not enough to heal from trauma and that basic yoga poses and meditation can help support people in reconnecting with themselves mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually in the healing process. As a trained pastoral counselor, Dr. Cummings is willing and able to work with clients who want to engage in conversations about the role or relationship their (religious, spiritual, agnostic, atheist) beliefs have on their life and treatment.
Dr. Cummings received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Rutgers University-Camden, N.J., her Master of Divinity from Claremont School of Theology and her Doctor of Ministry in Pastoral Care and Counseling from Claremont School of Theology.
Dr. Cummings’ Podium Presentations include
- Co-Presentation “Meeting People Where They Are: Creatively Designing Diversity and Inclusion Programs that Eliminate Barriers for People with Marginalized Identities,” Washington DC., 2018.
- Invited Keynote Speaker at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Veterans Day Ceremony, North Chicago IL. November 2017.
- Presented at conferences in Chicago IL., include, “The Influence of Culture on Identity Formation” and “The Influence of Culture and Spiritual/Religious Beliefs on Treatment Outcomes” 2017.
Dr. Cummings’ published work includes:
- Facing and Embracing Fear, in Synapses: A Creative Journal of Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science.
- Bless a Stranger with a Smile” and Let It Be Done, in An Anthology of Meditations: Voices from the Margins, Skinner House Books.
- Making the List, in Restored to Sanity: Essays on the Twelve Steps by Unitarian Universalists, Skinner House Books.
Dr. Cummings is a member of, Yoga Alliance, iRest Teachers Community Network, and a former Director-At-Large for the American Association of Pastoral Counselors, served on the Board of Directors, American Red Cross Bucks County Pennsylvania Chapter, and spent 26 months as an education and community development Peace Corps Volunteer in South Africa.
Dr. Cummings was an adjunct faculty member at Meadville Lombard Theological School, a Lecturer at Chicago Medical School, is a Substance Abuse Counselor, Certified Yoga Instructor (RYT® 200), Warriors at Ease Level 1 Teacher, iRest Yoga Nidra Level 1 teacher and Black Yoga Teachers Alliance.
Dr. Cummings is available for keynotes, consulting, training, moderator, podcast, T.V., radio appearances and personalized yoga and meditation programs for individuals and groups.
Cummings Counseling and Consulting LLC 