Dr. Bernard Showers, DSW, LCSW

Dr. Bernard Showers, DSW, LCSW, earned his MSW at Shippensburg University in 2010. He is currently employed as an Adjunct Professor with several universities, including the University of Kentucky, the University of Maryland, and Simmons University. Bernard has over ten years of experience as a licensed social worker. He provides therapy for various ages and presenting problems; however, he specializes in treating substance use disorders, co-occurring disorders, anxiety, and depression. He employs an eclectic approach to therapy by utilizing various evidence-based practices, including Motivational Interviewing, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.  

He is currently one of approximately 1,500 Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) members worldwide. Mr. Showers has trained aspiring and active independent practitioners at many colleges, universities, governmental agencies, and companies around the United States. In addition to Motivational Interviewing, Mr. Showers has developed, presented, and published several continuing education workshops on family involvement in substance use treatment, ASAM criteria, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and group therapy. The Beck Institute has also trained Mr. Showers in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.  

Bernard is a graduate of the inaugural class of The University of Kentucky's Doctorate of Social Work (DSW) Program. In July 2021, Bernard Showers was the lead author on the manuscript “Medication for Opioid Use Disorder in Rural America: A Review of the Literature,” published in the APA's Journal of Rural Mental Health. He is passionate about bringing awareness and solutions to enhance social work students' preparedness in meeting the nation's micro-, mezzo-, and macro-level substance use needs, as examined in his doctoral capstone project,  Substance use education in social work programs: Time for a mandate?