David Cecil, PhD, LICSW, has served as a professor in Samford University's Master of Social Work program since 2016. Before joining Samford, he taught at East Tennessee State University (2004–2009) and Asbury University (2009–2016), where he also served as program director (2008–2009) and department chair (2013–2016). At Samford, he held the role of interim chair in 2017–18 and again in 2023. From 2013 to 2022, Cecil was a visiting professor of abnormal psychology at LCC International University in Klaipėda, Lithuania.

Since 2016, Cecil’s research has focused on the global refugee crisis and international therapeutic interventions for trauma-based disorders. He has collected data and presented findings in Germany, Lebanon, Lithuania, Russia, Greece and England. In 2024, he and colleagues from Samford and Haigazian University in Beirut, Lebanon, secured a U.S. Embassy Public Diplomacy grant to develop training modules for social workers supporting refugees. He is also conducting research in Lithuania on trauma-informed mental health interventions.

Drawing on his background in mental health and psychotherapy, Cecil’s interests include neurobiologically informed therapy for trauma, psychoanalytic therapy, attachment theory, motivational interviewing and program evaluation. His clinical experience began in the 1990s with community mental health services for adults with chronic mental illness. Today, through his private practice, he specializes in treating anxiety, trauma, stressor-related disorders and relationship issues. Cecil utilizes motivational interviewing, attachment theory and emotionally focused therapy and is internationally certified by the EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) International Association for the treatment of trauma and stress-related conditions.

Degrees and Certifications

• PhD, social work, University of South Carolina
• MSW, University of Kentucky
• BA, psychology, University of Kentucky

Expertise

Global refugee crisis, international mental health, trauma and stressor related disorder treatment, program evaluation, international education and research 

Recent Publications

• Cecil, D. & Hagues, R. (2024). International best practices for responding to the refugee crisis: lessons from front-line social workers. Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration: Humanitarian Pathways Conference 2024. Möckern- Friedensau, Germany.
• Cecil, D. P., & Žiaučyna, K. (2023). A theoretical, historical, and socio-economic case for  saving lives through strategic improvement of mental health systems around the  world. Mental Health: Global Challenges, DOI:   A Theoretical, Historical, and Socio-Economic Case for Saving Lives through Strategic Improvement of Mental Health Systems around the World
• Cecil, D., Hagues, R., Mansour, R., Ghanem, A. & Robbins, D.E. (2021). The lived  experiences of social workers working with refugees in Lebanon. Journal of Social  Work, 0(0), 1-21. 
• Hagues, R., Cecil, D., Ghanem, A., Mansour, R., & Robbins, D. (2020). Refugee social work in Lebanon: Does faith provide support? Submitted to Journal of Religion & Spirituality, Sept 2020
• Cecil, D. & Hagues, R. (2020). An ecological conceptual framework for preparing social work students for refugee practice. Accepted for publication with Journal of Social Work Education, June 2020
• Hagues, R., Cecil, D., & Stoltzfus, K. (2019). The experiences of German social workers working with refugees. Journal of Social Work, 0(0) 1-23. Cecil, D., & Hagues, R. (2019). “Helping the people that are in front of me”: an analysis of the lived experiences of German social workers responding to the refugee crisis. In FHWS Edited Book- International Social Work Practice with Refugees (University of Applied Sciences- Wurzburg/Schweinfurt), Copyright agreement signed, February 2019.
• Cecil, D., Stoltzfus, K., & Hagues, R. (2018). The role of faith and faith based organizations in the German response to the refugee crisis. Social Work & Christianity, 45 (3), 93-

Recent Presentations

• Cecil, D. & Hagues, R. (2024). International best practices for responding to the refugee crisis: lessons from front-line social workers. Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration: Humanitarian Pathways Conference 2024. Möckern- Friedensau, Germany.
• Cecil, D. (2024). Counseling aspects: practical advice for healthcare workers responding to families and victims of gun violence. Healthcare Ethics and Law Conference, Samford University, College of Health Sciences.
  Cecil, D. (2024). Addictions treatment- psychotherapeutic interventions for substance use disorders. Substance Use/Misuse Certification Training: Samford University McWhorter School of Pharmacy.
• Cecil, D. & Žiaučyna, K. (2023). International comparisons of mental health systems. Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors: 40th Annual Conference. March 29-April 2, 2023.
• Cecil, D. (2019). DSM 5: Updates and Implications for Clinical Social Work. Alabama Society for Clinical Social Work Fall Conference. All day CEU.
• Cecil, D. & Hagues, R. (2018). An ecological conceptual framework for preparing social work students for refugee practice. Council on Social Work Education 64^th Annual Program >Meeting, November 8-11, 2018.
• Copeland, R. & Cecil, D. (2018). Attachment theory and CBT for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorders. Society for the Exploration of Psychotherapy Integration (SEPI) 34^th Annual Meeting, New York, NY, May 31-June 2.
• Cecil, D. (2018). Intersecting Horney’s Psychoanalytic and Faith Integration Psychotherapy. 67th Conference of the North American Association of Christians in Social Work. Called to Serve Faithfully in a Rapidly Changing World, October 25-28, 2018.
• Hagues, R. & Cecil, D. (2017). Helping the people in front of me: an analysis of the lived experiences of German social workers responding to the refugee crisis. University of Applied Sciences- Wurzburg, Germany International Social Work Week, November 13-17, 2017.
• Cecil, D. & Hagues, R. (2017). Evidence based faith integrated teaching. University of Applied Sciences- Wurzburg, Germany International Social Work Week, November 13-17, 2017,
• Hagues, R. & Cecil, D. (2017). Evidence of faith in the German social work approach to refugees. 67th Conference of the North American Association of Christians in Social Work. Advocating for Peace, Justice, & Reconciliation in Communities.
• Cecil, D. (2017). Multi-national perspectives on mental health treatment: examining the disconnect between treatment best practices and human flourishing. 6th Annual Academic Conference of LCC International University. Health and Human Flourishing: Multidisciplinary Perspectives. Klaipeda, Lithuania.

Research Areas

Refugee practice, clinical mental health practice, international social and health care policy

Involvement

• Alabama Society for Clinical Social Work
• Alabama Interfaith Refugee Partnership
• Kentucky Society for Clinical Social Work, president, 2014-2016
• North American Association of Christians in Social Work, president, 2009-2011