Abigail Van Patten-Freeman
Assistant Professor of Counseling
Biography
Abigail Van Patten-Freeman, M.A., LMHC (IA), CCMHC, NCC, is an assistant professor of counseling and human resource development at South Dakota State University. Van Patten-Freeman and her husband, Garrett, live in Brookings with their daughter, Esper. Van Patten-Freeman is currently finishing up her doctorate in counselor education and supervision at University of Iowa with an expected graduation date of December 2025. Prior to coming to SDSU, Van Patten-Freeman was a licensed mental health counselor in Iowa at an outpatient group practice for over four years.
Van Patten-Freeman publishes and presents on the following topics: counselor self-care, clinical supervision, relational cultural theory in supervision, counselor burnout and wellness as a systemic issue, workplace support for counselor wellness, and the impacts of executive function, emotional regulation and organizational support on the wellness of counselors with ADHD.
Van Patten-Freeman publishes and presents on the following topics: counselor self-care, clinical supervision, relational cultural theory in supervision, counselor burnout and wellness as a systemic issue, workplace support for counselor wellness, and the impacts of executive function, emotional regulation and organizational support on the wellness of counselors with ADHD.
Education
- M.A. in clinical mental health counseling | University of Northern Iowa | 2021
- B.A. in psychology | University of Northern Iowa | 2018
- B.A. in study of religion | University of Northern Iowa | 2018
Academic and Professional Experience
Academic Interests
- Diagnosis and treatment planning
- Clinical mental health counseling
- Group counseling
- Applied microcounseling
- Prepracticum and case management
- Medical and psychopathological aspects of chronic illness and disability
- Research and program evaluation
- Counselor education and supervision
Academic Responsibilities
- Teaching in the counseling and human resource development program
Committees and Professional Memberships
- American Counseling Association, February 2022-present
- American Mental Health Counselors Association, December 2023-present
- Iowa Mental Health Counselors Association, spring 2020-present
- South Dakota Counselors Association, August 2025-present
- Association for Counselor Education and Supervision, February 2022-present
- North Central Association for Counselor Education and Supervision, February 2022-present
- Chi Sigma Iota – Upsilon Nu Iota Chapter, University of Northern Iowa, Honor Society, inducted spring 2019
- Member of Rho Upsilon Chapter at University of Iowa, 2021-2025
- Wellness Chair, 2023-2024
- Member of Rho Upsilon Chapter at University of Iowa, 2021-2025
Work Experience
Van Patten-Freeman has had clinical experience as a mental health counselor in an outpatient group practice setting, as a school-based mental health counselor and as a behavioral health services provider.
As a mental health counselor, she treated populations aged 4 and older who have ADHD, anxiety, adjustment disorder, depression, borderline personality disorder, burnout, career issues, trauma, relational concerns, life transitions and difficult family dynamics.
Licenses and Certifications:
- Licensed mental health counselor, State of Iowa, April 23, 2024 – License No. 109469
- Certified clinical mental health counselor, National Board of Certified Counselors, June 2025 – Certification No. 1600126
- National certified counselor, National Board of Certified Counselors, June 2021 – Certification No. 1600126
- Question-Persuade-Refer training certification, September 2019
Research and Scholarly Work
Areas of Research
- Wellness support for counselors-in-training and professional counselors
- Organizational and workplace environment’s impact on counselor burnout and wellness
- Effects of executive function, perceived organizational support and counseling experience on the wellness of counselors with ADHD
- Workplace support for counselors with ADHD
Awards and Honors
- North Central Association for Counselor Education and Supervision Emerging Leader Award, 2023-2024
Publications
- Landon, T., Gerald, M., Baumunk, M., Chun, J., Khan, U. and Van Patten-Freeman, A. (2024). Chapter 10: The Process of Clinical Supervision. In Clinical Supervision: A Handbook for Counselors, chapter, Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company.
- Van Patten-Freeman, A. (2023). Section: Creating Balance Amid Chaos. In Counselor Self Care (Second, pp. 166–167), essay, American Counseling Association.
