معرفی
Dr. Megan Speciale is an Associate Professor and Chair of Counseling Admissions Programs in the Counseling Department at Palo Alto University. She specializes in sexuality counseling, LGBTQIA+ issues, and social justice-oriented counseling practices. Her work bridges clinical practice, education, and research in the field of mental health counseling.
Dr. Speciale received her PhD in Counselor Education (CACREP) from the University of New Mexico, where she served as Clinical Coordinator at the UNM Manzanita Counseling and Training Center and co-founded the LGBTQ Counseling Center at the UNM LGBTQ Resource Center.
Dr. Speciale's research focuses on the intersection of sexual, mental, and relational health, with particular emphasis on kink/BDSM communities, sexual shame, sexual and gender identity development, sex education, and sex work. She approaches her work through social justice and equity-centered frameworks, advocating for sex-positive counseling practices that honor diverse identities and experiences. Her scholarship examines how power, privilege, and oppression impact sexual health and mental wellbeing across diverse populations.
Analysis of Dr. Speciale's recent publications reveals a strong commitment to advancing understanding of marginalized sexualities and identities within counseling practice. Her work spans topics from LGBTQ parenting during the pandemic to kink-affirmative counseling approaches, demonstrating both breadth and depth in sexuality-focused mental health research. She frequently collaborates with colleagues like Stacey Diane Arañez Litam, with whom she has co-authored multiple studies on sexual attitudes and practices.
Dr. Speciale serves as Editor-in-Chief for The Thoughtful Counselor Podcast and has contributed significantly to counselor education through her teaching of courses such as Sexuality in Counseling, Group Counseling, and Multicultural Counseling. Her approach to supervision and training emphasizes intersectional competence and sex-positive frameworks.
