Dr. Sonya Heckler Cheyne holds a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision from Regent University and has been practicing clinical counseling since 2001 as a Licensed Professional Counselor and Supervisor in Texas. She is also a National Certified Counselor. After completing her undergraduate degree at Texas Tech University, she was introduced to Viktor Frankl’s logotherapy at age 19 by Dr. Robert Barnes while earning her master’s degree at Hardin-Simmons University. She has continued to advance her expertise through the Viktor Frankl Institute of Logotherapy, earning the Diplomate Clinician credential. Dr. Heckler Cheyne serves on the Institute’s Board of Directors and Faculty, and is a Lifetime Member.

She is a Professor in the CACREP-accredited Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at Liberty University, an international presenter, and a published author on logotherapy in peer-reviewed journals. She has presented at Viktor Frankl Institute of Logotherapy congresses biannually since the 18th World Congress, as well as at the 2nd Future of Logotherapy Conference hosted by the Viktor Frankl Institute in Vienna.

Research and Publications
Her research and publications focus on meaning-centered therapy, crisis and trauma response, neurobiological aspects of mental health and addiction, rural mental health, and aging and elder care. She is an active member of professional counseling organizations.

Mentorship and Teaching
Deeply committed to mentoring graduate students, Dr. Heckler Cheyne teaches through both her university professorship and her faculty service at the Viktor Frankl Institute of Logotherapy. She works with students from clinical and non-clinical backgrounds, guiding the next generation of counselors and logo-practitioners in integrating meaning-centered approaches into research and practice.