The Counseling Program at Barry University is celebrating a major achievement. Several of its faculty members have been featured in the Summer 2025 edition of the Florida Counseling Association (FCA) newsletter, a branch of the American Counseling Association (ACA).

Drs. Raul Machuca, Guillermo Cancio-Bello, Nicole Kratimenos, Jane Simmons, and Beda Bjorn contributed to the issue’s theme, “Digital Detox and Reconnecting IRL: Reclaiming Presence in a Hyperconnected World.” Their work offers fresh insights into how counselors, educators, and community members can cultivate authentic connection and presence in today’s technology-driven culture.

Here’s a closer look at their contributions:

• “Reclaiming Our Presence: Nature-Based Coping in a Hyperconnected World” by Raul Machuca, PhD, LMHC, FCA Past President (2024–2025)

• “Reconnecting in a Disconnected World: Finding Balance and Belonging” by Jane Simmons, PhD, LMHC

• “Critical Reflection: The Paradox of Connection in a Digitally Saturated World” by Beda Bjorn, PhD, LMHC, QS

• “Technology, Anxiety, and Responsibility” by Guillermo Cancio-Bello, PhD, FAMFC President

• “Unplugged & Present: Supporting Clients in Reclaiming Connection in a Digitally Distracted World” by Nicole Kratimenos, PhD, LMHC, CRC, NCC, QS, C-DBT, BC-TMH

This collective achievement showcases the depth of expertise and leadership as educators of Barry University’s Counseling Program. Their scholarship reflects a commitment to addressing some of the most pressing issues of our time, from digital wellness to mental health, and demonstrates how research can inspire real-world change in counseling practice.

To read their submissions in full, click here.