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 College of Professional Studies has earned national accreditation by demonstrating excellence in the areas of content and pedagogy, clinical experiences, selectivity, program impact, and capacity for continuous improvement.
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. Kerrie Fineran
Associate 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 Professional Studies Department, 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 help@taskstream.com.
Professors Fineran and Nitza with counseling students.
Advisory Council Members
Kristin Bowland, M.Ed
School Counselor at 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.
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.
Kurt H. Gregory, M.S., L.M.F.T.
Therapist/Owner, Aboite Counseling and Therapy Group
President, Indiana Association for Marriage and Family Therapists
Bio Coming Soon!
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.
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.
Cheryl Hemsoth, LMHC
Clinician II, Parkview Behavioral Health (PBH),
Fort Wayne, Indiana
I have worked at PBH on the youth inpatient unit for approximately 15 years. When census is low in our youth services department, I help on the adult unit and geriatric unit. I facilitate group therapy and family therapy. I also supervise interns. I recently started doing some outpatient therapy at the Sante Group, Inc. I see all ages there. Counseling is important to me because I enjoy working with people. I also like to use my knowledge and skills to assist people in identifying their strengths to cope more effectively. I’m interested in serving on the board because PBH and the University have a good working relationship and we would like to continue to supervise Interns. I was born in Erie, Pennsylvania and raised in Fort Wayne, IN. I obtained my Bachelor’s Degree from Purdue and my Master’s degree from the IPFW Counseling Education Program, Marriage and Family Therapy track. I find my career very rewarding. The balance of my career and family life keeps me healthy.
Susan Miller, MS, LMFT
Bowen Center, Assistant Allen County Director,
Fort Wayne, Indiana
I am a graduate of the IPFW Counselor Education Program. I am both a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a Licensed Mental Health Counselor. I have worked for the past ten years at the Otis R. Bowen Center. I started as an intern and was hired in as an Outpatient Therapist. For the past four years, I have been the Assistant County Director, where I serve as the Clinical Director of Supervision and oversee all Master's level interns. I am very excited to have the opportunity to serve on the advisory board because I believe that my experience as both a student and a supervisor will aid in my ability to support the continued growth and development of the program.
Kelly Wolfe-Stiltner, M.Ed.
School Counselor at Haverhill Elementary School,
Southwest Allen County Schools
Bio coming soon!
ANNUAL REPORT/VITAL STATISTICS SURVEY
2019-2020 ACADEMIC YEAR
PURDUE UNIVERITY FORT WAYNE
COUNSELOR EDUCATION PROGRAM
This summary is based upon CACREP standards and a data-driven program evaluation system.
STUDENTS
- 73 total students in the program (43 CMHC students & 30 SC students)
- Enrollment remains stable
- Diversity percentages of the student population rose year-on-year
FACULTY
- Full-time faculty taught 94.12% of program courses.
- Faculty continued to maintain their professional identity and research agendas, actively disseminating research through conference presentations, publications, and grant work.
PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS
- 100% of 3rd year CMHC and SC students successfully completed internship experiences, meeting expectations for clinical proficiencies measured by site/university supervisors.
- 100% 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 2028 hours of free mental health counseling services to 96 clients from underserved populations in NE Indiana between August 2019 and August 2020.
PROGRAM CHANGES
- 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
- Program objectives have been updated to better align with the BACP framework
FUTURE ACTIONS
- The counselor education faculty has launched numerous IRB-approved clinical research efforts at the Community Counseling Center. Our intention is to expand upon this effort, including the potential future development of a grant-based clinical research institute.
- Development of an official dual track for CMHC and SC students.
For further information or questions, please contact Dr. Kerrie Fineran @ finerank@pfw.edu.
Counseling Programs / Student Outcomes
CACREP Vital Statistics Survey: 2019-20 Academic Year
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CLINICAL MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING
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Number of graduates in past year
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15
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Completion rate
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100%
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Licensure or Certification Pass Rate
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Data restricted by state; alumni self-report: 100%
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Job Placement Rate of Graduates
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100%
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SCHOOL COUNSELING
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|
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Number of graduates in past year
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9
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Completion rate
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90%
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Licensure or Certification Pass Rate
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100%
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Job Placement Rate of Graduates
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100%
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| Completer feedback: 2019 First Destination Survey
SCHOOL COUNSELING
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Agreed or Strongly Agreed (N=5)
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I am satisfied with my time at Purdue University Fort Wayne.
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100%
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I would choose Purdue University Fort Wayne again.
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100%
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I would recommend this program to others.
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80%
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Purdue University Fort Wayne prepared me to be a highly effective professional in my field.
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100%
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| Completer feedback: 2019 First Destination Survey
CLINICAL MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING
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Agreed or Strongly Agreed (N=6)
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I am satisfied with my time at Purdue University Fort Wayne.
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100%
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I would choose Purdue University Fort Wayne again.
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100%
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I would recommend this program to others.
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100%
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Purdue University Fort Wayne prepared me to be a highly effective professional in my field.
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100%
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| Employer feedback: December 2019
STUDENTS DEMONSTRATE:
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Agreed or Strongly Agreed
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- An understanding of, and effectiveness in, working with issues of diversity such as moral, social, cultural, racial, sexual, political, and economic issues.
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100%
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- Effective skills as a scholar-practitioner such as investigating, critiquing, evaluating, understanding the research base in their field, and the ability to assess their own work.
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100%
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- Effective implementation of licensing standards through field experiences in diverse settings in practicum and internship.
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100%
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- Professional identity of being highly competent counselors and therapists through an understanding of the foundations of the field, ethics, legal issues, and licensing standards.
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100%
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What employers are saying about our graduates:
- “Graduates are well prepared to be in a school setting.”
- “[Purdue Fort Wayne faculty] know what it takes to be great, and they challenge the students in the program.”
- “I believe that the field experience gave a lot of useful experience for the student and gave them exposure to different situations that they were capable of dealing with.”
- “We are very pleased with our hire from Purdue Fort Wayne. We will have another opening [soon] and would appreciate candidates from Purdue Fort Wayne applying.”
