Counselor Education Research
Where Research Meets Practice
At Stetson University’s Department of Counselor Education, research is more than publication counts and presentations. Our faculty and students engage in scholarship that strengthens clinical practice, advances wellness, expands access to care, and deepens our understanding of the human experience.
Through collaborative inquiry, community partnerships, and applied clinical research, we strive to bridge scholarship and service in ways that meaningfully impact individuals, couples, families, and communities.
Featured Projects
Relationships, Attachment & Connection
Stetson researchers are exploring how emotionally focused couple therapy (EFCT) helps couples build emotional connection, navigate relational distress, and experience healing across diverse cultural and relational contexts.
PROJECT INFORMATION
Wellness, Spirituality & Human Flourishing
Through the Center for Optimal Health Across the Lifespan (COHL), faculty and students explore wellness, loneliness, spirituality, resilience, and the community factors that support connection and human flourishing.
VISIT COHLStudents as Scholars
Scholarship at Stetson is collaborative, relational, and experiential. Students regularly partner with faculty on research projects, peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, and community initiatives.
Opportunities for Students
Students are invited to engage in scholarship through meaningful collaboration, faculty mentorship, and professional learning experiences.
- Faculty-led research collaborations
- Presenting at state and national conferences with faculty support
- Community-engaged scholarship
- Scholarship awards through the Department of
- Counselor Education
- Research assistantships through COHL
Recent Student Highlights
Stetson counseling students regularly engage in scholarship that extends learning beyond the classroom.
Regional Mental Health Symposium
Adjunct faculty member and alumna Nicole King presented on caregiver stress and grief while students connected with regional mental health leaders and professionals.
Student Scholarship at FMHCA
Counseling students advanced faculty-supported scholarship through professional presentations at the Florida Mental Health Counselors Association conference.
Research Beyond the Classroom
Our department values scholarship that connects directly to communities, clinical practice, and well-being. Faculty and students regularly collaborate with:
- Community mental health agencies
- Integrated behavioral health settings
- Schools and universities
- Wellness and aging initiatives
- Faith-based and nonprofit organizations
- These partnerships create opportunities for applied learning, advocacy, and meaningful community impact.
RESEARCH & SCHOLARSHIP NEWS
Explore recent stories featuring faculty scholarship, student research, community-engaged projects, and professional presentations. Faculty, students, and alumni regularly contribute to professional conversations in counseling, wellness, supervision, relationships, and integrated behavioral healthcare.
DEPARTMENT NEWSFACULTY PUBLICATIONS
Faculty scholarship spans attachment science, spirituality and mental health, body image and eating behaviors, integrated behavioral healthcare and culturally responsive clinical practice.
FACULTY PROFILESGET INVOLVED
Students interested in research opportunities are encouraged to connect with faculty mentors and explore current initiatives throughout the department.
CONTACT USSupport Counselor education
Scholarship and community-engaged research are central to the mission of Stetson University’s Department of Counselor Education. Gifts to the department help expand student research, conference presentations, professional development, and collaborative scholarship that advances counseling practice and mental healthcare.
The George W. and Mary T. Hood Endowed Fund supports the Stetson Counselor Education Research and Scholarly Activity Awards, helping students pursue meaningful scholarly engagement while developing as future counseling leaders and practitioner-scholars.
By supporting Counselor Education scholarship initiatives, donors directly invest in learning, innovation, and community impact that extend the reach of counseling into agencies, healthcare systems, and communities.
On the “I want to support” dropdown, select “Graduate Program in Counselor Education.”
Partner With Us
Interested in research collaboration, community partnerships, or supporting future counseling professionals? We welcome opportunities to connect. Individuals and organizations interested in supporting faculty research and student scholarships, forming community research partnerships, or exploring other strategic opportunities within the Department of Counselor Education are encouraged to contact the Department Chair, Dr. Bradley McKibben, to explore ways to make a lasting impact.
Reach Out