Indiana University of Pennsylvania - Counseling Dept. Faculty

Introduction to Community Counseling (COUN 610)
Group Counseling (COUN 639)

Ethical & Legal Issues in Community Counseling (COUN 730)

Group Counseling Practicum (COUN 659)

Other Mental Health Links

Background and Experience

I am a Professor of Counseling and have been a member of the Department since 1986. I completed my doctoral degree at the University of Georgia in 1973. I am a Pa. licensed psychologist, a National Certified Counselor, and have practiced my version of gestalt therapy since 1971. I have had a variety of experiences working in inpatient and outpatient mental health settings, university counseling services, & have been in private practice since 1979. Click here to link to view private practice webpage. Contact with people (clients and professionals) in these settings resulted in my developing very strong beliefs about -

- the value of connecting with the person, their pain and joy (rather than only relating to diagnoses and symptoms),
- the value of sharing my own struggles and triumphs, and joining with the person in their life journey,

- how medication is often used as a quick fix, and diagnosis can easily result in creating distance between people,

- how too many mental health professionals are out-of-touch with their clients & not aware of their own stuff, either the importance of my own on-going personal growth.

I recall seeing the movie Patch Adams (starring Robin Williams) and I being moved to tears and laughter while watching Patch struggle to maintain his humanness during graduate school. After searching the web about Patch, I discovered a neat paper he wrote about the doctor-patient relationship. It's called FRIENDSHIP AS THERAPY. I invite you to click on the title to link to it.

I know something about ethical and legal issues in counseling, group therapy, marital and family counseling, and gestalt therapy, including dreamwork.

I have provided consultation to children and youth agencies, the courts and other educational and human services agencies. I have provided continuing education workshops to agency and school personnel. I have been teaching the following courses: Group Counseling; Ethical & Legal Issues in Community Counseling; Group Practicum; Supervised Practicum; and Field Experience.

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I am a member of the American Academy of Psychotherapists (AAP). AAP is a significant part of my professional and personal life. I recently wrote an article for VOICES (the Journal of the AAP) titled:Mentors, Music Teachers, and Psychotherapy (click on this to read article). The purpose of the Academy is -

To enhance the person of the psychotherapist.

To challenge the experienced practitioner to professional excellence.

To explore the relationship of person and process to psychotherapy.

I invite you to visit the Academy's website (especially since I maintain their site) and obtain membership information.

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Scholarly Activities

I edited a book entitled -- Dealing with Students from Dysfunctional Families (Jossey-Bass, Inc. Pubs., 1991). My current scholarly activities include:

Researching the sexuality, gender identity, and self-concept of people born with intersexuality (ambiguous external genitalia). A workshop has recently been accepted at ACA conference in 2002. (Collaborating with Dr. Guth on this research)
Exploring the value of adventure-based therapeutic modalities in foster- ing the personal and professional growth of counselors and counselors- in-training.

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Service

My department service includes coordination of the Monroeville Community Counseling program, editing the alumni newsletter that is published twice a year, and serving as the department web editor.
Other service activities include, serving as Web Editor for the American Academy of Psychotherapists (AAP), and serving as co-chair of the program committee for the 2002 AAP Institute and Conference to be held in Washington, D.C.

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Resources for Courses I Teach

Introduction to Community Counseling (COUN 610)

Student Website page

Professional Associations: (**indicates: I am a member)

American Counseling Association**
American Academy of Psychotherapists (AAP)**

National Board of Certified Counselors (I am Nationally Certified)

American Psychological Association**

National Association of Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC)

Association for Specialists in Group Work (ASGW)

Mental Health Information

APA's PsycPORT - gateway to quality psychological & mental health information, news & resources on the Web.
PsychCrawler - APA's unique, interactive search engine

APA's Journal Search APA's Book Search

Psychology Help Center - lots of resources about psychological health issues

Youth Anti-violence Guide

Ethical and Legal Issues