Thank you for your interest in the Counselor Education program at Purdue University Fort Wayne!
Our graduate program prepares you to make an impact. Whether providing support and direction to K-12 students as a school counselor or helping individuals, couples, and families discover growth and healing as a clinical mental health counselor, we will train you to become a helping professional who makes a difference in the lives of others. Our graduates are employed in almost every school and mental health organization in the region, providing the highest-quality services to those in need.
Our goal is to prepare counselors for work in a diverse and rapidly changing world. As such, we welcome students with diverse personal identities including but not limited to gender, race, sexual orientation, age, class, and culture. We look for compassionate, open-minded, non-judgmental, hardworking, self-reflective people who are committed to inclusivity and social justice.
We provide a convenient course schedule, a cohort model that fosters a sense of community among students, and a full-year of clinical training experience in our Community Counseling Center under the live supervision of faculty and staff. Our students take their knowledge beyond the classroom, learning directly from established professionals about how to put their counseling skills into practice.
Welcome to the Purdue Fort Wayne Counselor Education program, where you can discover your own power to make a difference in the world.
The School of Education has earned national accreditation by demonstrating excellence in the areas of content and pedagogy, clinical experiences, selectivity, program impact, and capacity for continuous improvement.
What is Accreditation?
Why it Matters
This program is also nationally recognized as a high-quality program through the Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI).
Click here for Graduate Admissions Requirements
Dr. Brett Wilkinson
Assistant Professor / Program Director of Counselor Education
Student Testimonial
I chose the Purdue Fort Wayne Counseling Program because it offered me an on-campus learning experience at a nationally recognized program. The schedule allowed me to continue working while pursuing my graduate degree. The best part of my experience with the counseling program has been the support and encouragement I have received from each and every member of the faculty. Furthermore, program offers an amazing opportunity for completion of practicum in the PFW Community Mental Health Clinic under the close supervision of our own professors which results in a powerful learning experience where students can receive feedback that is tailored to their individual needs. I am looking forward to entering the counseling profession because I will be able to help individuals have more meaningful and enjoyable personal journeys by assisting them in healing from the pain caused by obstacles in their paths.
Zabrina Przybilla, Clinical Mental Health Counseling Graduate Student
Program Resources
General Information
Graduation Forms
Associations
Drug/Alcohol
Taskstream
Assessment is integral to having an effective education program at all levels, from preschool through higher education. In the School of Education, we use an outside vendor to help us with collecting data on our students (you) to make effective decisions about how to improve our teaching and programs. The data are also used in maintaining our accreditation.
You will be required to purchase a subscription to Taskstream for each semester you are in the Counselor Education, Educational Leadership, and Special Education programs. There are many options related to purchasing a subscription. You need to go to the Taskstream website and choose your options that are applicable to your program. (Averages are $69 for two years.)
Taskstream Subscription -Please note that you will need a Visa or MasterCard credit card to pay for your subscription. If you do not have a credit card, Visa gift cards are available at CVS/Walgreens, most major supermarkets, and gas stations for a minimal fee.
Your course instructors will talk about Taskstream and the assessments you will upload to this data collection system. We have included additional resources to help you with the technical aspect of using this system.
Taskstream How-To Guides
Student Instructions:
Video Compression Instructions:
Other Instructions:
Taskstream support can be contacted at any time by calling 1-800-311-5656 or by emailing [email protected].
Advisory Council Members
Clinical Mental Health Counseling Board
Tammie Stinson, MD
Matthew 25 Health and Care
Medical Director
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Tammie Stinson has been the medical director at Matthew 25 since September 22, 2020. Prior to this, she was on staff at Indiana Medical Associates for eight years, followed by ten years at Lutheran Health Network as an Internal Medicine physician. She received her Doctorate of Medicine from Virginia Commonwealth University, Medical College of Virginia in Richmond, Virginia and her Bachelor of Science from Norfolk States University in Norfolk, Virginia.
Raphael Bosley, M.Ed
Counselor/Coach, Adjunct Professor, and Minister
Greater Progressive Baptist Church
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Raphael Bosley earned his Bachelor of Arts in Human Service from Indiana University- Purdue University Fort Wayne, and a master's degree in Counselor Education from Indiana University- Fort Wayne with a concentration in Mental Health. Raphael has a passion for advocacy, serving, and empowering the underserved and underrepresented populations of his community. He has worked in various settings and agencies as a case manager instructor, college coordinator, and Liaison in various school settings, community-based wrap-around services, and independent living programs for youth, a homeless shelter, rehabilitation facility, alternative school-based therapeutic services, department of children services agency, and outpatient therapy settings. Raphael currently is a full-time mental health counselor/coach, adjunct professor, and minister at Greater Progressive Baptist Church (Fort Wayne). Raphael operates with an optimistic perspective. He believes- GOOD CAN BE found in any situation and used as a tool of motivation to rebuild, reorganize, and rebrand.
James A. Cates, Ph.D., ABPP
Diplomate in Clinical Psychology
Cates & Associates, Inc.
Fort Wayne, Indiana
I am currently incorporated in private practice since 2003, and have been established in my own private practice since 1995. I am licensed in the state of Indiana with a Health Service Provider in Psychology endorsement, and certified as a clinical psychologist by the American Board of Professional Psychology. Research repeatedly demonstrates that the degree is of minimal significance in counselor efficacy. The single most essential variable is years of experience in the field. Accordingly, I do not consider fellow counselors by obtained degree, but by what we can share with each other from our various areas of expertise. In this way I believe we enhance the services we are able to provide across a much broader cross-section of the community. I also believe we then serve as better mentors to students and those entering the field.
Toni Harman, M.Ed, LMFT, RPT-S
Therapeutic Counselor
Fort Wayne Community Schools
Toni Harmon is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and a Registered Play Therapist- Supervisor (RPT-S). Toni worked in community mental health for seven years before transitioning to the school setting. Currently working with Fort Wayne Community Schools as a therapeutic counselor, she specializes in play therapy to assist children, especially those with trauma experiences.
John Newbauer, Ed.D., HSPP
Psychologist
Family Counseling Center
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Dr. Newbauer is currently a semi-retired psychologist in Fort Wayne, Indiana with the Family Counseling Center (formerly in Auburn) who provides consultation/supervision to mental health professionals and other psychologists. He was the Executive Director of the North American Society of Adlerian Psychology (NASAP) from 2011 to 2017 and the Administrator of the International Committee on Adlerian Summer Schools and Institutes (ICASSI) from 2008-2015. Prior to 2011 when he assumed responsibilities with NASAP, he was the Director of Treatment and Diagnostic Services for the Allen County Juvenile Center. Dr. Newbauer co-founded with Bill Blanks, ACSW, Phoenix Associates, Inc. in Fort Wayne where he practiced psychology for 23 years. He currently provides consultation to several private practitioners in the Fort Wayne area. For serval years, he provided testing supervision to doctoral interns at Park Center, a community mental health center.
School Counseling Board
Kristin Bowland, M.Ed
School Counselor, Snider High School
Fort Wayne Community Schools
Prior to working at Snider, I was a middle school teacher at Bethlehem Lutheran School. I graduated from IPFW with my masters in school counseling in 2011 and received my undergraduate degree from Concordia University Chicago. I believe that counseling is important because we advocate and ensure students are optimally prepared for the highest levels of learning in the classroom. Our jobs are to listen, problem solve, and empower students so they can be productive academically and socially, today and in the future. Our jobs are extremely important and I hope that we, as counselors, can make a difference in the lives of the students in our schools. I am a part of the Advisory Council because it is important for the educators at all levels and the community to come together to help support our profession. Education is an important job and I am willing to try and do my part to help students be successful.
Layla Dean, M.Ed.
School Counselor, Homestead High School
Southwest Allen County Schools
Bio coming soon!
Shannon foster, M.Ed.
School Counselor, Blackhawk Middle School
Fort Wayne Community Schools
Bio coming soon!
Joshua Heller, M.Ed
School Counselor, South Side High School
Fort Wayne Community Schools
I am a professional school guidance counselor at South Side High School. Previous to this post, I taught for many years at the elementary and middle school level. I believe school counselors are in a unique position to empower students in ways that can impact the rest of their lives. I know that my life has also been impacted by them. I have enjoyed working on the Advisory Council because such a collaboration will enhance the academic experience and professional preparedness of students. When I am not at South Side I enjoy being outdoors, watching movies, and teaming up with my wife to raise our children.
Kyle Patterson, M.Ed.
School Counselor, New Haven High School
East Allen County Schools
Bio coming soon!
Kelly Wolfe-Stiltner, M.Ed.
School Counselor, Haverhill Elementary School
Southwest Allen County Schools
Bio coming soon!
CACREP Vital Statistics Survey:
2020-21 Academic Year
This summary is based upon CACREP standards and a data-driven program evaluation system.
CLINICAL MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING
- Number of semester hours: 60
- Number of current students: 44
- Number of graduates in past year: 11
- Completion rate: 85%
- Licensure or Certification Pass Rate: Data restricted by state; alumni self-report: 100%
- Job Placement Rate of Graduates: 100%
SCHOOL COUNSELING
- Number of semester hours: 60
- Number of current students: 37
- Number of graduates in past year: 10
- Completion rate: 83%
- Licensure or Certification Pass Rate: 100%
- Job Placement Rate of Graduates: 100%
COMPLETER FEEDBACK: 2021 First Destination Survey
Agreed or Strongly Agreed (N=9)
- I am satisfied with my time at Purdue University Fort Wayne: 100%
- I would choose Purdue University Fort Wayne again: 100%
GENERAL INFO
- Total Students in 2020/2021: 81
- Total Applications in 2020/2021: 50
- Total Courses Led by Core Faculty: 94%
PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS
- 100% of 3rd year CMHC and SC students successfully completed internship experiences, meeting expectations for clinical proficiencies measured by site/university supervisors.
- 90% of 2nd year CMHC and SC students successfully completed practicum experiences, meeting expectations for clinical proficiencies measured by practicum supervisors.
- 100% of 2nd year CMHC and SC students successfully completed a program-developed six-hour suicide assessment and intervention training.
COMMUNITY COUNSELING CENTER
The Community Counseling Center provided over 2000 hours of free mental health counseling services to over 100 clients from underserved populations in NE Indiana between August 2020 and August 2021.
PROGRAM CHANGES
- Faculty established the Institute for Counseling Research (ICR) within the School of Education, which is dedicated to advancing evidence-based knowledge of community counseling practice, clinical supervision, and counselor training.
- Faculty developed an official dual-track option for CMHC and SC students.
- Both student and program evaluation are now conducted using our program-developed Broad Areas of Counseling Practice (BACP) framework. For more information, please review our Evaluation of Program Objectives and Student Learning
FUTURE ACTIONS
- The counselor education faculty is seeking internal and external grant funds for the ICR, to support community-based research efforts in the Fort Wayne area.
- Faculty is exploring opportunities to expand cohort size and track options.
For further information or questions, please contact Dr. Brett Wilkinson @ [email protected].
