/ Counseling, Therapy, and School Psychology/ Cort M. Dorn-Medeiros

Cort M. Dorn-Medeiros

Associate Professor, Counseling, Therapy, and School Psychology Department Chair

Rogers Hall 313, MSC: 86

Cort M. Dorn-Medeiros, PhD, LPC, CADC III, is an Associate Professor and Chair in the Counseling, Therapy, and School Psychology department at Lewis & Clark College.

I teach future counselors how to integrate evidence-based practice, cultural humility, and real-world clinical experience, so they are prepared for the complex, technology-shaped realities of modern mental health care.

His work focuses on addiction, behavioral health, and emerging issues such as excessive gaming, social media use, and technology-related concerns, with a strong emphasis on social justice, ethical practice, and clinical readiness.

Faculty Profile

Dr. Dorn-Medeiros is an Associate Professor in the Professional Mental Health Counseling—Specialization in Addictions (PMHCA) program and teaches across both the PMHCA and Professional Mental Health Counseling (PMHC) programs. His teaching emphasizes the thoughtful integration of theory, research, and practice, helping graduate students develop strong clinical skills, professional identity, and confidence as emerging counselors.

He teaches courses including Introduction to Professional Mental Health and Addiction Counseling, Diversity & Social Justice, Career Development, Motivational Interviewing, and practicum and internship group supervision. In addition to teaching, Dr. Dorn-Medeiros serves as Chair of the Counseling, Therapy, and School Psychology department, where he supports faculty collaboration, program development, and student success.

Clinical Background and Practice

Dr. Dorn-Medeiros is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor III (CADC III) in the state of Oregon. Prior to joining Lewis & Clark College, he worked in a variety of community-based clinical settings, including Multnomah County Drug Court, a post-prison community reentry program through Volunteers of America, and integrated care at the Multnomah County Rockwood Health Center.

These experiences strongly inform his approach to teaching and supervision. His work emphasizes ethical decision-making, relational practice, and preparing students to work effectively with diverse, underserved, and often legally mandated populations.

Teaching and Scholarly Interests

Dr. Dorn-Medeiros’s scholarship and teaching focus on addiction, behavioral health, and contemporary issues affecting both clients and clinicians. He has a sustained interest in substance use and process disorders, excessive screen use, social media use, and technology-related behaviors, and in helping counselors develop effective, nuanced approaches to assessment and intervention in these areas.

He has been interviewed by regional and national media outlets, including The Oregonian and National Public Radio, regarding the prevalence, assessment, and treatment of gaming disorder and related concerns.

In addition to his academic work, Dr. Dorn-Medeiros engages in public scholarship and professional dialogue around counseling practice, technology use, and mental health education. His writing appears on Medium and Substack, where he explores emerging issues in accessible, practice-informed ways. Information about professional background, collaborations, and ongoing work is also available on LinkedIn.

Why Study Here?

Students who work with Dr. Dorn-Medeiros can expect a learning environment that is rigorous, supportive, and grounded in real-world practice.

His teaching prioritizes:

Practical clinical skills alongside strong theoretical foundations
Cultural humility and ethical responsiveness
Preparation for the realities of modern counseling practice, including technology-related concerns and evolving client needs

Students are encouraged to think critically, reflect on their developing professional identities, and engage thoughtfully with the complex systems in which counseling takes place. The goal is not only to prepare competent clinicians, but also reflective practitioners who are ready to adapt, lead, and advocate in diverse settings.

Areas of Expertise

Counselor education and supervision
Clinical mental health counseling
Substance use disorders and process addictions
Addiction within LGBTQIAA+ populations
Excessive screens, video gaming and technology use
Counseling with legally mandated and post-prison clients
Integrated and community-based care

Current Research

Research in Progress

Queer Gaming: Identity, Community, & the Lived Experiences of Queer Gamers
Sexual orientation, gender identity, and problem gambling

Selected Funding

Tuition assistance stipends for graduate-level behavioral health students. Oregon Health Authority. ($1,890,000)
Scholars for a Healthy Oregon Initiative-Like (SHOI-Like) Fund. Oregon Health Authority. ($500,000)
Problem gambling among sexual and gender minorities. Oregon Council on Problem Gambling. ($20,000)

Selected Publications

(Thorough list of publications available on Google Scholar.)

Dorn-Medeiros, C. M., Burgamy, S. E., & Campbell, L.F. (in press). Addressing legal and ethical issues in mental health care for trans and nonbinary clients. In A. A. Singh & J. R. McCullough (Eds.), Affirmative counseling and psychological practice with transgender and gender nonconforming clients. American Psychological Association.

Vogelsang, A. M., Dorn-Medeiros, C. M., McGill, C., Caraway, J., & Vizant, R. C. (in press). “Coming out as Fred is literally what I needed to do”: A narrative case study of one. Journal of LGBTQ Issues in Counseling. Anticipated publication in spring 2026.

Dorn-Medeiros, C. M. (2025). SUD+ trends in transgender, non-binary, and gender expansive communities. In M. Chaney & M. Brubaker (Eds.), LGBTQ+ affirmative addictions counseling: In their own words. Cognella, Inc.

Vogelsang, A. M., McGill, C., Vizant, R., Dorn-Medeiros, C. M., & Caraway, J. (2024). Navigating identity and resilience: A lesbian’s journey through family substance use and residential treatment. The Family Journal. https://doi.org/10.1177/10664807241283040

Vogelsang, A. M., McGill, C. M., Caraway, S. J., Dorn-Medeiros, C. M., & Vizant, R. C. (2024). Narrative inquiry describing young adult perspectives about leaving residential treatment as a child. Residential Treatment for Children & Youth. https://doi.org/10.1080/0886571X.2024.2315993

Muzacz, A. K., McCleskey, K., & Dorn-Medeiros, C. M. (2023). Queer, kinky social justice counseling and advocacy. Journal of LGBTQ Issues in Counseling, 17(2), 146-163. https://doi.org/10.1080/26924951.2023.2155751

Kerl-McClain, S. B., Dorn-Medeiros, C. M., & McMurray, K. (2022). Addressing anti-fat bias: A crash course for counselors and counselors-in-training. Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision, 15(4). https://digitalcommons.sacredheart.edu/jcps/vol15/iss4/3/

Dorn-Medeiros, C. M. (2021). iCitizen: Promoting technology safety and digital citizenship in school counseling. In M. A. Rausch & L. L. Gallo (Eds.), Strengthening school counselor advocacy and practice for important populations and difficult topics. IGI Global. https://doi.org/ 10.4018/978-1-7998-7319-8.ch013

Dorn-Medeiros, C. M., Christensen, J. K., Lertora, I. M., & Croffie, A. L. (2020). Relational strategies for teaching multicultural courses in counselor education. Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, 48(3), 149-160. doi:10.1002/jmcd.12174

Lertora, I. M., Croffie, A. L., Dorn-Medeiros, C. M., & Christensen, J. K. (2020). Using relational cultural theory as a pedagogical approach for counselor education. Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, 15(2), 265-276. doi: 10.1080/15401383.2019.1687059

Dorn-Medeiros, C. M., & Christensen, J. K. (2019). Developing a rubric for supervision of students counseling LGBTQ clients. Journal of LGBTQ Issues in Counseling, 13(1), 28- 44. doi:10.1080/15538605.2019.1565798

Dorn-Medeiros, C. M. & Doyle, C. (2019). Alcohol as coping: Internalized homophobia and heterosexism’s role in alcohol use among lesbians. Journal of LGBTQ Issues in Counseling, 12(3), 142-157. doi: 10.1080/15538605.2018.1488230

Christensen, J. K., Dickerman, C. A., & Dorn-Medeiros, C. M. (2018). Building a consensus of the professional dispositions of counseling students. The Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision, 11(1). https://repository.wcsu.edu/jcps/vol11/iss1/2

Recent Presentations

McCullough, J. R., & Dorn-Medeiros, C. M. (2025). Clinical supervision of mental health providers working with transgender & nonbinary clients. Deschutes County Behavioral Health. Bend, OR.

Dorn-Medeiros, C. M. (2025). Exploring the intersection of problem gambling and gaming: A clinical perspective. Volunteers of America Oregon, Al Forthan Scholarship Training Series. Portland, OR.

Christensen, J. K., Henderson, J., Dorn-Medeiros, C. M., & de Leon, A. (2024). Safeguarding against exploitative internship sites: Protecting counselors-in-training. Education session scheduled for the Western Association for Counselor Education and Supervision conference, Tucson, AZ.

Henderson, J., Christensen, J. K., Dorn-Medeiros, C. M., & de Leon, A. (2024).Tending to the fire: Training counselors on burnout from an ecological perspective. Education session scheduled for the Western Association for Counselor Education and Supervision conference in Tucson, AZ.

Dorn-Medeiros, C. M. (2024). Screens, teens, and tweens: A school counselor adventure. Masters in School Counseling program, ESCE 7832: Professional Issues in School Counseling. The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH. Virtual.

Dorn-Medeiros, C. M. (2023). Problem gambling among LGBTGEQIAP+ persons: An exploratory study. Oregon Problem Gambling Services Summit. Lincoln City, OR.

Dorn-Medeiros, C. M. (2023). Teens, screens, and social media: From #Gamergate to Andrew Tate. Masters in School Counseling program, ESCE 7832: Professional Issues in School Counseling. The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH. Virtual.

Dorn-Medeiros, C. M. (2023). Compulsive screen use and gaming disorder. Masters in Counseling program, COUN 535: Addiction Theories, Prevention, and Treatment. Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR. Virtual.

Dorn-Medeiros, C. M., & Christensen, J. K. (2022). Clinical supervision of students counseling LGBTQ+ clients. Education session presented at the Western Association for Counselor Education and Supervision conference, Portland, OR.

Dorn-Medeiros, C. M. (2022). Screens, teens, and tweens. Multnomah County School-Based Mental Health Services. Portland, OR.

Dorn-Medeiros, C. M. (2022). Social media and mental health in school aged children and adolescents. Masters in School Counseling program, ESCE 7832: Professional Issues in School Counseling. The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH. Virtual.

Kerl-McClain, S. B., & Dorn-Medeiros, C. M. (2022). Body positivity, size diversity, HAES, and fat studies: Educating counselors to avoid harm. Education session presented at the American Counseling Association Virtual Conference.

Rees, A. M., & Dorn-Medeiros, C. M. (2019). Equity in gatekeeping: Supporting students in recovery with criminal background checks. Education session presented at the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision conference in Seattle, WA.

Dorn-Medeiros, C. M., & Deleon, A. (2018). Problem gambling & internet gaming disorder: Introducing process addiction in counselor education. Education session presented at the Western Association for Counselor Education and Supervision conference, Santa Rosa, CA.

Dorn-Medeiros, C. M., & Doyle, C. (2018). Alcohol as coping: Alcohol use among lesbians. Education session presented at the Association for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Issues in Counseling conference in Portland, OR.

Dorn-Medeiros, C. M., & Christensen, J. K. (2017). Relational pedagogy: Teaching multiculturalism, diversity, & social justice in counselor education. Education session presented at the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision Conference. Chicago, IL.

Dorn-Medeiros, C. M., Muzacz, A. & Horsey, K. (2017). Transgender and gender nonconformity 101: A crash course in affirmation. Education session presented at the American Counseling Association Conference, San Francisco, CA.

Academic Credentials

PhD, Counselor Education — Oregon State University
MS, Counseling Psychology: Addictions — Lewis & Clark College
BA, Sociology — Boston University