Dr. Varunee Faii Sangganjanavanich

Title: Professor and Director
Program: Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Dept/Program: Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Office: Chima 113
Phone: 330-972-6851
Email: vfs@uakron.edu

Biography

Varunee Faii Sangganjanavanich is a Professor and Director of the School of Counseling at The University of Akron, where she also serves as Chief Executive Officer of the Clinic for Individual and Family Counseling in the College of Health and Human Sciences. Her work sits at the intersection of research, clinical practice, and community engagement, with a strong commitment to advancing trauma-informed care across systems.

Dr. Sangganjanavanich is a licensed professional clinical counselor with supervisor endorsement in Ohio, a registered play therapist supervisor, an EMDR Certified Therapist and Approved Consultant, and a certified Mental Health First Aid instructor. She brings these credentials into both her teaching and clinical leadership, with a focus on translating research into accessible, effective practice.

As a scholar, Dr. Sangganjanavanich has authored and coauthored numerous peer-reviewed articles, books, book chapters, and encyclopedia entries in the areas of counseling, trauma, and clinical supervision. She serves as Executive Editor of the Journal of Counselor Practice, the official journal of the Ohio Counseling Association, where she supports scholarship that is rigorous, relevant, and grounded in real-world counseling practice.

Clinically, Dr. Sangganjanavanich is guided by trauma-informed care principles and has extensive experience working with children, adolescents, and adults impacted by both single-incident and complex trauma. She specializes in complex trauma among populations that are often underserved or uniquely affected, including children with attachment-related concerns, gender-diverse individuals seeking or in transition, and first responders experiencing trauma and co-occurring conditions.

Beyond the university, Dr. Sangganjanavanich is deeply engaged in community-based research and service. She and her colleagues were recently awarded a grant from the Alcohol, Drug Addiction, and Mental Health Services Board to evaluate trauma-informed care practices across Summit County. She also serves as Clinical Advisor to the Akron Fire Department and Akron Police Department peer support programs, supporting the mental health and resilience of public safety professionals through consultation, training, and systems-level collaboration.

Education

Ph.D., University of Northern Colorado, Counselor Education and Supervision, 2008

M.S., Chulalongkorn University, Human Sexuality, 2004

B.S.W., Thammasat University, Social Work, 2002

Certification/Licensure

Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor with Supervisor Designation, Ohio

Licensed Professional Counselor, Colorado

Registered Play Therapist Supervisor, Association for Play Therapy

EMDR Certified Therapist, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing International Association