Beth Thompson

Beth Thompson is advancing her career in substance abuse counseling through a master's program in social work with a focus on addiction counseling. She holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and human services and brings three years of direct counseling experience, including volunteer crisis counseling at a crisis pregnancy center around 2001. Previously, she worked for 14 years as an oral surgery assistant, during which she earned HIPAA and x-ray technician certifications. Thompson volunteers as a crisis counselor at the Hope Center in Knoxville, Tennessee, and participates in local mission outreach to the homeless and drug-addicted community. Her professional path is driven by a commitment to advocacy and systemic change, with plans to launch a nonprofit providing resources and support for homeless individuals struggling with substance addiction, especially pregnant women facing opioid challenges. She emphasizes the importance of lived experience in effective addiction counseling and advocates for treating addiction as a mental health issue rather than solely through the criminal justice system. Thompson is considering pursuing a PhD to incorporate teaching and psychoeducation into her work.