Alison Mitchell
Professor Mitchell moved to New Hampshire from central Maine, where she worked as an independently-licensed clinical social work mental health practitioner in private practice and in agency settings. She has worked with all ages, from preschool-aged children to older adults, specializing in adult women who have experienced interpersonal trauma(s), often in combination with substance use disorder, especially those recovering from opioid use disorder.
Dr. Mitchell’s research focuses on factors supporting or impeding treatment and recovery in the intersecting areas of mental health, opioid use disorder, trauma, and rurality. She combines practical experience with research expertise, measuring the impact of service provision for clients and staff alike, using findings to guide future programming or undertakings for agencies and research partners. She has served as a Court Appointed Special Advocates for children (CASA) volunteer guardian ad litem for children in protection cases in Maine, and was formerly a K-12 educator, administrator, and elected school board member.
In addition to her practice and research, Professor Mitchell has been an adjunct instructor for Schools of Social Work at the University of Maine, Smith College, and the University of Connecticut, teaching a variety of undergraduate and graduate research methods, introduction to social welfare policy, and policy advocacy courses.
Dr. Mitchell serves as a reviewer for peer journals and is a board member for the New Hampshire chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW-NH Chapter), serving on its Clinical Committee.
Courses Taught
- SW 3610 Theory and Practice of Social Work Intervention I
- SW 3520 Theory and Practice of Social Work Intervention II
- SW 3530 Theory and Practice of Social Work Intervention III
- SW 3660 Human Behavior in the Social Environment
- SW 4020 Social Work Research Methods
- SW 4550 Social Work Integrative Seminar
- Field liaison
Certifications
- Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW), NH
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), ME
Professional Association Membership and Service Participation
- National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
- NASW – NH Chapter Board Member
- NASW – NH Clinical Committee member
- Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR)
- Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
Research Interests
- Opioid use disorder
- Trauma
- Rurality
- Mental health
- Psychodynamic perspectives
Selected Publications & Presentations
Mitchell, A. (2021, Oct. 14). Connecting the dots: Working with rural opioid-affected families. 2021 Annual Perinatal Virtual Conference. Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center and University of Maine School of Nursing.
Mitchell, A. (2021). Object relations psychodynamics: The case of Elyse. In M. Evans & R. Peterson Dealey (Eds.), Discovering Theory in Clinical Practice: A Casebook for Clinical Counseling and Social Work Practice. Springer Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-57310-2
Mitchell, A. (2021, Jan. 21). Connecting the dots: Biopsychosocial predictors of adult OUD treatment outcomes in a rural state. 25th Annual Conference of the Society for Social Work Research (SSWR).
Mitchell, A. (2020). The problem and the solution: The potency of relationships in addressing rural opioid use (Order No. 28254805). Available from ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. (2458039252).
Mitchell, A. & Rodis, L. (2020). Rural intersections, social challenges, and innovation: The Collaborative Home Alternative Medication Program (CHAMP). Smith College Studies in Social Work, 90(1-2), 25-40. https://doi.org/10.1080/00377317.2020.1706337
Mitchell, A. (2019). Attached, addicted, & adrift: Understanding the rural opioid crisis. Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Social Services,100(1), 80-92. DOI: 10.1177/1044389418812417
