Gardner-Webb’s Searight PACE Approved by National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)

Mental Health Counseling Program Offers Courses in Clinical Supervision, Play Therapy, Integrating Spirituality and Other Pertinent Issues

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.—Gardner-Webb University’s Searight Professional and Continuing Education (PACE) program has been accepted by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) as an Approved Continuing Education Provider. Dr. Lorell Gordon, assistant professor for Clinical Mental Health Counseling, led the effort to obtain approval and also coordinated topics and instructors for the Mental Health Counseling courses offered through PACE.   

The NBCC approval allows counselors from any state to earn their Continuing Education hours at Gardner-Webb. In North Carolina, licensed mental health counselors are required to complete 40 hours every two years. The number of required hours varies by state.

The courses offered are based on interests and the instructors’ areas of expertise. “We chose topics that we thought would be helpful,” Gordon noted. “The Clinical Mental Health faculty can provide Continuing Education hours because we are all practitioners, we’re all supervisors, and we all have our specialty areas. We’ve also had some in the mental health community to come and present.”

Gordon’s research interest is Military Cultural Competence. A licensed professional counselor and supervisor, she served eight years in the Naval Reserves and worked on military bases from 2010-2013 as a Military Family Life Consultant. She maintains her own consulting and counseling practice.

Dr. Sharon Webb, who is professor and program coordinator for GWU Clinical Mental Health Counseling Programs in the Department of Counselor Education, is an expert in trauma and crisis. She has volunteered with the American Red Cross for over 25 years, to include serving as a National Disaster Mental Health Manager, Disaster Mental Health Trainer, and Service to the Armed Forces Resiliency Lead and facilitator for North Carolina and four counties in South Carolina.

Dr. Simone McIntyre, an assistant professor in the GWU School of Psychological Science and Counselor Education, is a dually licensed mental health and addictions therapist in North and South Carolina. She earned her PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision where her dissertation focused on the collaboration experiences between professional counselors and African American pastors.

All three presenters from Gardner-Webb have taught in the Searight PACE program before. Their classes were well-attended and received enthusiastic evaluations. Similarly, the instructors from the community are highly sought after clinicians with years of experience.

Courses Offered Through December

Classes meet through Zoom or at the Charlotte Campus Center, 8030 Arrowridge Blvd., Charlotte, N.C. For more information about the program, email [email protected].

Nuts and Bolts of Clinical Supervision (Pace 206)

Friday, June 21, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (5 CE hours) Location: Zoom

This session will focus on essential topics in clinical supervision for new and practicing supervisors in an overview format to enhance their effectiveness as a clinical supervisor. Emphasis will be placed on the role of the relationship in supervision and the role of multicultural issues in supervision.

Instructor: Dr. Lorell Gordon

Cost: $99

Jesus + Therapy = Healing: Learning How to Integrate Spirituality Into Mental Health (Pace 201)

Friday, July 12, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (5 CE hours), registration at 8:30 a.m. Lunch on your own. Location: Charlotte Center

This presentation will explore the experiences of licensed professional counselors (LPCs) who receive mental health referrals from African American pastors. Personal experiences, scholarly literature regarding past disagreements of theology and psychology, and the barriers African Americans face seeking mental health treatment will inform this presentation.

Instructor: Dr. Simone McIntyre

Cost: $99

Introduction to Play Therapy (PACE 209)

Friday, August 23, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (5 CE hours) Location: Zoom

This course will increase understanding of different play theories and play therapy approaches.

Instructor: Dr. Cathy Sparks, the director of the Master of Arts in Christian Counseling at Erskine College.  She is a Licensed Professional Counselor, a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Supervisor, and a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor.

Cost: $99

Launching a Private Practice and Becoming a Training Institute (PACE 208)

Friday, Sept. 13, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (5 CE hours) Location: Zoom

In this two-part PACE class event, the morning will be devoted to providing valuable information on how to start your own private counseling practice. In the afternoon the focus shifts to creating a training institute.

Instructor: Susan Tankersley is supervisor and executive director of the non-profit teaching clinic, Heritage Institute. Currently, with the private practice, Susan Tankersley Family Therapy, she works with high conflict couples and high conflict families involved with the family court system.

Cost: $99

Intergenerational Trauma: The Burdens We Are Not Meant to Carry (PACE 207)

Friday, Oct. 4, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., registration at 8:30. Lunch on your own. Location: Charlotte Center

By the end of this presentation, attendees will be equipped with a comprehensive understanding of Intergenerational Trauma, the factors influencing its perpetuation, and the strategies to break free from its impact, fostering a more empathetic and informed approach to addressing this critical issue.

Instructor: Terrance Dawkins is a Licensed Independent Social Worker-Clinical Practice (LISW-CP) from Spartanburg, S.C. He holds dual licenses as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in South Carolina and North Carolina and operates his own private practice, Missing Pieces Counseling Services.

Cost: $99

Mind, Body, Spirit: Navigating DSM, Therapeutic Trends, and Biblical Perspectives (PACE 210)

Friday, Dec. 13, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (5 CE hours) Location: Zoom

This presentation explores the multifaceted landscape of mental health, blending clinical mental health counseling, treatment modalities, and spiritual perspectives. It begins by delving into the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), the cornerstone reference for diagnosing mental health conditions. By synthesizing DSM diagnoses, treatment strategies, and biblical wisdom, it aims to foster a deeper understanding of mental well-being and provide attendees with practical insights for navigating the complexities of the human psyche.

Instructor: Dr. Simone McIntyre

Cost: $99

Gardner-Webb University is North Carolina’s recognized leader in private, Christian higher education. A Carnegie-Classified Doctoral/Professional University, GWU is home to nine colleges and schools, more than 80 undergraduate and graduate majors, and a world-class faculty. Located on a beautiful 225-acre campus in Boiling Springs, N.C., Gardner-Webb prepares graduates to impact their chosen professions, equips them with the skills to advance the frontiers of knowledge, and inspires them to make a positive and lasting difference in the lives of others. Ignite your future at Gardner-Webb.edu.