Positions

Associate Professor, Addictions and Rehabilitation Studies, College of Allied Health Sciences

Contact Info

athertonw@ecu.edu

252-744-6290

Publications in VIVO

Co-author Network

Co-investigator Network

Leigh Atherton

member of

NAADAC - The Association for Addiction Professionals 2021
International Society for Anthrozoology 2017
Pet Partners 2017
National Alliance on Mental Illness 2015 - 2016
American Rehabilitation Counseling Association 2013 - 2016
International Association of Addictions and Offender Counselors 2013 - 2016
American Counseling Association 2013
American Mental Health Counselors Association 2013
Association for Counselor Education and Supervision 2013
Professional Association of Rehabilitation Counselors 2013
Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers 2008

selected publications

article
- Time period predicts severity of depression and anxiety symptoms among individuals exposed to COVID-19: Findings from a southeastern university. The Professional Counselor. 13:238-253. 2023
- Addressing the psychosocial needs of individuals with communication disorders: The integration of animal assisted therapy within counseling. Seminars in Speech and Language. 43:24-34. 2022
- Innovative Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy Intervention for Adolescent Addictions Treatment: A Pilot Study. International Journal of High Risk Behaviors and Addiction. 2020
- The Effects of an Equine Assisted Learning Supervision Intervention on Counselors'-in-training Performance Anxiety and Counseling Self Efficacy. Journal of Creativity in Mental Health. 2020
- The Integration of Choice Theory and Equine-Assisted Therapy within Adolescent Addiction Treatment. Journal of Addiction and Addictive Disorders. 7:1-5. 2020
- Mental health professionals' attitudes towards clients with antisocial personality disorder: An exploratory study. The Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision. 12. 2019
- Psychedelic Therapy as a Complementary Treatment Approach for Alcohol Use Disorders. Journal of Psychedelic Studies. 2:36-44. 2018
- Animal Assisted Therapy as a Complementary Intervention for Mindfulness-Based Therapies. Vistas. 2016
- The mediating influence of treatment participation rate on post-treatment employment. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin. 1-10. 2016
- Implementation of a learner-driven curriculum: A SBIRT interdisciplinary primary care model. Substance Abuse. 2012
- A vocational counseling based substance abuse intensive outpatient program: Preliminary results of Project Working Recovery. Journal of Rehabilitation Administration. 2011
- Motivational Interviewing by rehabilitation professionals: Enhancing contemporary attitudes towards consumers with substance abuse issues. Vocational Evaluation and Work Adjustment Journal. 2010
- The influence of post-acute withdrawal syndrome on instruments used in vocational evaluation. Vocational Evaluation and Work Adjustment Journal. 2010
- Use of the Addiction Severity Index in vocational evaluation for persons with substance use disorders. Vocational Evaluation and Work Adjustment Journal. 2010
chapter
- Psychedelic Therapy as a Complementary Treatment Approach for Alcohol Use Disorders. ABC-CLIO. 2019
- "My arms are tired": The effects of substance abuse on family systems. Haworth Press. 2018
- My family support group 2018
- Re-conceptualizing the treatment of substance use disorders: The impact of employment. Aspen Professional Services. 2012

presentations

presentation

principal investigator on

Engage Eastern North Carolina: Capacity Expansion (Engage ENC: CE) awarded by DHHS - Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) 2025 - 2026
Engage ENC Minority AIDS Initiative (MAI) awarded by DHHS - Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) 2022 - 2026
Engage Eastern NC Opioid Recovery Support Initiative awarded by Pitt County NC Government 2025 - 2026
Screening, Brief Intervention, Referral to Treatment for Early Recovery Opioid Use awarded by University of North Carolina Chapel Hill (UNCCH) 2023 - 2025
Suicide Education and Awareness at East Carolina University awarded by DHHS - Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) 2019 - 2021
Pitt County Reentry Program - Strive project awarded by LIFE of NC, Inc. 2016 - 2017

co-principal investigator on

Operation Re-Entry North Carolina awarded by Department of Defense 2011 - 2015

investigator on

professional service activities

Horses and HEALTH, Inc. Member of the board of directors for the non-profit organization. 2019 - 2024
2024 NC Opioid Research Convening Task Force member of NC Opioid Research Convening - NCIOM 2023
Grant Reviewer Reviewer for the 2024 UNC Collaboratory Opioid Abatement RFP. 2023
Pitt County Opioid Settlement Fund Committee Member, Access to Care subcommittee. 2021 - 2023
Journal of Research and Innovation in Health Editorial Advisory Board member 2023
NC Eastern Area Health Education Center SUD Conference Planning Member, conference planning committee 2022
Recovery Alliance Initiative Task Force Member of RAI Eastern NC Task Force on Substance Use and Recovery. 2022
Tipping the Pain Scale - Panelist Panelist for 'Tipping the Pain Scale' documentary as addictions expert. 2021
NC Clinical Supervision Task Force 2017 - 2019
National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC) Minority Fellowship Program Mentor Provide mentorship, including 3 mentorship meetings and summary reports, for receipients of the NAADAC Minority Fellowship program. ; 2017 - 2018
Professional Association of Rehabilitation Counselors - Past President 2017
Reviewer-Journal of College Counseling Journal of College Counseling reviewer. 2017
NC Institute of Medicine Task Force on Substance Abuse Services Member of NCInstitute of Medicine's Task Force on Mental Health &Substance Abuse Services - Cross Cutting committee. Charged with examining current issues NC residents face with mental health and substance use issues and providing recommendations to appropriate stakeholders to institute change. 2016
Faculty advisor-Chi Sigma Iota Rho Omega Chapter Students from the Department of Addictions & Rehabilitation Studies' Clinical Counseling, Rehabilitation Counseling, and the College of Education's Counselor Education program are eligible for membership. 2014

education and training

Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Counseling & Administration, East Carolina University

credentials

awards and honors

, conferred by East Carolina University, 2024
Order of the Anchor, conferred by East Carolina University, 2024
Trend Setter Award, conferred by East Carolina University, 2022
Phi Kappa Phi, conferred by The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, 2022
Outstanding Faculty, conferred by East Carolina University, 2020
40 Under Forty Leadership Award, conferred by East Carolina University, 2019
Servire Society at East Carolina University, conferred by East Carolina University, 2018
Engagement and Outreach Scholars Academy, conferred by East Carolina University Office of Community Engagement and Research, 2017

located in facility