Joel Givens, Ph.D., LPC
Joel Givens, Ph.D., LPC
Dr. Givens (he/him) completed his Doctorate in Counselor Education and Supervision at the University of Northern Colorado with an emphasis on gerontology. He teaches courses in counseling ethics, addictions, crisis/trauma counseling, counseling theories, career counseling, practicum, and internship at Purdue University Fort Wayne. Dr. Givens' research focuses on the integration of philosophy with counseling, reflective learning, the critical analysis of power, and innovative counseling interventions. He has published on emotions, anxiety, working with transgender and gender expansive (TGGE) clients, existential-humanistic counseling, presence, values in counseling, deconstruction, phenomenology, and desire. Dr. Givens has been a licensed professional counselor in Colorado for twenty years and has worked in crisis mental health, clinical supervision, private practice, and residential treatment. He was a first responder in the Emergency Department during the Aurora movie theater shooting in 2012, and he has given several presentations about his experiences as a first responder. As an instructor, he is passionate about mentoring students with professional conference presentations. He is the President of the board for Mental Health America of Northeast Indiana.
- EDU 50200 – Professional Orientation and Ethics
- EDU 52400 – Counseling Practicum
- EDU 52501 – Advanced Counseling Practicum
- EDU 53200 – Introduction to Group Counseling
- EDU 55000 – Internship in Counseling
- EDU 55200 – Career Counseling
- EDU 58100 – Crisis, Disaster, and Trauma Counseling
- EDU 58200 – Addictions Counseling
- Hanna, F. J., & Givens, J. (2026). The existential–phenomenological self: Perspectives and
- insights. In APA handbook of humanistic and existential psychology: History, research, philosophy, and theory, Vol. 1 (pp. 283-302). American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/0000431-012
- Givens, J. (2025). Much ado about nothing: Applying Lacan's philosophy in work with anxious
- clients. The Journal of Humanistic Counseling, 64(1), 2-15. https://doi.org/10.1002/johc.12221
- Givens, J. & Kimble, A. (2023). Self as process: A philosophical approach for work with
- transgender and gender expansive (TGGE) clients. Journal of LGBTQ Issues in Counseling, 17(1), 77-92. https://doi.org/10.1080/26924951.2022.2111391
- Givens, J. & Waalkes, P.L., & Smith, P. H. (2023). Existential-humanistic approaches. In
- S.V. Flynn & J. Castleberry (Eds.), Counseling Theories and Case Conceptualizations: A Practice-Based Approach. Springer.
- Givens, J. & Wilkinson, B. D. (2022). More than a feeling: Constructing emotion in theory and
- practice. Journal of Counseling and Development, 100(4), 433-441.
- https://doi.org/10.1002/jcad.12437Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- Givens, J. & Black, L.B. (2020). Counselor educator and supervisor experiences of teaching counselor presence: A philosophical and phenomenological exploration. Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1080/15401383.2020.1828215
- Stutey, D. M., Givens, J., Cureton, J. L., & Henderson, A. J. (2020). The practice of bridling:
- Maintaining openness in phenomenological research. The Journal of Humanistic Counseling, 59(2), 144-156. https://doi.org/10.1002/johc.12135
- DeCino, D. A., Waalkes, P. L., & Givens, J. (2020). Reflective practice: Counseling students’
- letters to their younger selves in practicum. Teaching and Supervision in Counseling. 2(1), 24-34. https://doi.org/10.7290/tsc020103
- Givens, J. (2024). Walking on eggshells: Self-editing diversity conversations in the classroom and the clinic. North Central Association for Counselor Education and Supervision. Rosemont, IL.
- Givens, J. (2024). Power, cultural capital, and the practice of counselor education. North Central Association for Counselor Education and Supervision. Rosemont, IL.
- Givens, J., Brown, A., Taylor-Smith, T., Trout, T., & Bosk, J. (2024). How does that make you feel? Media images of counseling as a barrier to access. Roundtable presented at the Association for Humanistic Counseling National Conference. Virtual Conference
- Givens, J., Bosk, A., Bosk, J., Demars, H. (2024). Walking on eggshells: Self-editing diversity conversations as a barrier to access. Education Session presented at the Association for Humanistic Counseling National Conference. Virtual Conference
- Givens, J., & Hanson, J. (2023). What do you want from me? Breaking the stigma of anxiety. Education Session presented at the Association for Humanistic Counseling National Conference. Denver, CO.
- Johnson, L., Sunderland, W., Yoder, A.J., Ganshorn, L., & Givens, J. (2023). Reducing stigma and shame: Reimagining vulnerability. Roundtable presented at the Association for Humanistic Counseling National Conference. Denver, CO.
- Givens, J., & Laurenzi, J. (2022). Inclusive humanism: Promoting BIPOC equity in the division, clinic, and the classroom. Roundtable presented at the Association for Humanistic Counseling National Conference. Nashville, TN.
- Barger, E., Bosk, A., Givens, J., & Hanson, J. (2022). Deconstructing masculinity: A discussion on men, gender norms, and the rediscovery of meaning. Roundtable presented at the Association for Humanistic Counseling National Conference. Nashville, TN.
- Coordinator, Mental Health Emphasis, Department of Counselor Education, Purdue Fort Wayne, 2019-present
- President, Mental Health America of Northeast Indiana, 2025-Present
- Member, Educational Policy Senate Subcommittee, 2025 – Present
- Chair, Student Affairs and Academic Affairs Committee, Department of Counseling and Graduate Education, 2023-Present
- President, Association for Humanistic Counseling, 2019- 2020