Gina Staves

Gina Staves is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Avila University.  She is active in the community as an advocate to prevent child abuse and neglect and promote restorative justice.  She previously served on, and chaired, the Missouri Children’s Trust Fund board and Committee for Professional Counselors board and participates in several community groups focusing on child abuse prevention and healthy child development.  Dr. Staves is also a licensed professional counselor specializing in attachment, psychological trauma, children’s emotion and brain development, and social issues impacting children and families.  Dr. Staves is active in educating about the positive individual and societal effects of restorative justice, abuse prevention and equine assisted psychotherapy.    

“It is exciting to help contribute to our knowledge base, bridging practice and science, as well as increasing awareness of the profound impact horses and humans can have on each other’s overall well-being.”