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Student Handbook

The Graduate Student Handbook provides the policies and procedures for the Psy.D. Program in Counseling Psychology.

Student Handbook


Faculty and Students

Dr. Alyssa Clements-HickmanDr. Alyssa Clements-Hickman
Assistant Professor

clementsa@apsu.edu
931-221-7235

Alyssa Clements-Hickman, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Counseling Psychology Psy.D. Program at Austin Peay State University. She completed her master’s in clinical psychology from Augusta University and her doctorate in counseling psychology from the University of Kentucky. She completed her pre-doctoral internship at Auburn University’s Student Counseling & Psychological Services. She then spent a year as a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychological Sciences at Auburn University, where she taught several graduate and undergraduate courses (e.g., Introduction to Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, and a graduate-level colloquium course on empirically supported treatments). Dr. Clements-Hickman currently teaches practicum and supervision of counseling. Dr. Clements-Hickman’s research interests include psychotherapy process and outcome, training and supervision, and telehealth. She has authored and co-authored articles and book chapters on topics such as client-rated outcome measures, therapist effects, deliberate practice for psychotherapy, and telehealth services. Dr. Clements-Hickman is a licensed psychologist in the state of Alabama. She has worked in various clinical settings, including college counseling centers, the Lexington VA Medical Center, Eastern State Hospital, and a private practice specializing in LGBTQIA concerns. She primarily uses an interpersonal process approach with clients, but readily pulls from other theoretical orientations to meet clients needs.

Dr. Valerie LeakeDr. Valerie Leake
Professor and Director of Training

leakev@apsu.edu
931-221-6275

Dr. Leake earned her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Kentucky in 2006. She completed her internship at the Cincinnati Veterans Affairs Medical Center and joined the faculty at Radford University in Virginia in 2007 after spending a year as a Visiting Assistant Professor in the University of Kentucky’s Counseling Psychology program. In 2014, she left Radford to work at the Lexington Veterans Affairs Medical Center with the Posttraumatic Stress Disorders Clinical Team and as Evidence-Based Psychotherapies Coordinator. She returned to Radford University as Director of the Psy.D. program from 2016-2021. She joined the Psy D in Counseling Psychology program faculty at Austin Peay State University as Director in 2021. Her research interests include military veteran reintegration, particularly for rural veterans, posttraumatic stress disorder, evidence-based treatments, integrated care, and adolescent belonging. Dr. Leake is a member of the American Psychological Association (APA), the Council of Counseling Psychology Training Programs (CCPTP) where she served as Secretary, and a commissioner on APA's Commission on Accreditation (CoA).She is licensed as a clinical psychologist in Virginia with pending licensure in Tennessee and enjoys working with veterans, couples, and families.

Dr. Daniel McKelveyDr. Daniel McKelvey
Assistant Professor

mckelveyd@apsu.edu
931-221-1247

Dr. Daniel McKelvey earned his Ph.D. in Clinical and Counseling Psychology from the University of South Alabama in 2019. He completed his internship at The Ohio State University’s Counseling and Consultation Service and completed a year-long postdoctoral residency in multicultural counseling at San Jose State University’s Counseling and Psychological Services. In 2020, he was hired as a core faculty member of Austin Peay State University’s newly launched Counseling Psychology PsyD program. His research interests include masculinities, gender role strain, intimate partner violence, sexual assault prevention, multicultural counseling competency, structural equation modeling, and item response theory.

Dr. Erynne ShattoDr. Erynne Shatto
Assistant Professor

shattoe@apsu.edu
931-221-6178

Dr. Erynne Shatto earned her Ph.D. in Clinical/Counseling Combined-Integrated Psychology from the University of South Alabama in 2016. She completed a child focused internship at The University of Arkansas Medical School’s Psychiatric Research Institute and completed a postdoctoral residency concurrent with her role as Assistant Professor at Regent University’s doctoral program in clinical psychology. She has worked as the chief clinical research psychologist at the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth as an assistant investigator and research team member on grant funded projects (e.g., suicide, PTSD, clinical training) as part of the Clinical Investigations Department of the biomedical research team. During her time at NMCP she also held a faculty appointment where she engaged in training of psychology practicum students, interns, and postdoctoral fellows, as well as training psychiatry residents. She has also served as a director of clinical training at a community training clinic. In 2021, Dr. Shatto was hired as a core faculty member of APSU’s PsyD in Counseling Psychology program and serves as the program’s training clinic director. Her clinical interests include trauma, infant and early childhood mental health, PCIT, DBT, autism affirming care, evidence-based child and adolescent treatment, neurodevelopmental assessment, and military psychology. Her research interests include trauma across the lifespan, infant mental health, neurodiversity affirming work with autistic people, and translational research involving child/adolescent mental health care.  

 

Brian PetersBrian P. I am a current student and member of the inaugural cohort in the Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) in Counseling Psychology program. I also earned my Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees at Austin Peay State University. My research and clinical interests include working with children and families, neurodiversity, autism, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). I have had practica experiences in our training clinic and private practice. I am also the student coordinator of the Supervision, Training Research, Evaluation, and Treatment for Children (STRETCH) lab. Through the lab, we have been able to provide a variety of services and support to a number of community partners. I appreciate the small cohort sizes and close collaboration with faculty in our program. I value the friendships and working relationships I have been able to cultivate in the program.

Tyler T.Tyler T.

I am a member of the inaugural cohort for the PsyD program. I am an Army veteran and a first-generation non-traditional student. My research interests include religious trauma, existential therapy, and specific concerns afflicting current and former military members. My training experiences include working with the Military Student Center, Student Counseling Services, and the PsyD programs training clinic. I have also taught several courses in the Masters and undergraduate programs. These experiences have greatly informed my career goals and I am currently leaning towards working in a college counseling clinic following graduation with the opportunity to also be an adjunct professor. I am strongly invested in program cohesion and comradery so I strive to help foster an inclusive and warm environment for all students and this is a shared mindset with the program faculty.

 

Kari B.Kari B.

A member of the third PsyD cohort. My interests include military psychology, sport and performance psychology, children and families, neurodiversity, and supervision. Training experiences have included co-leading groups, working with clients, presenting at a conference and training in specific, evidence-based treatments as well as teaching within the psychology department and supervising master's student mentees. 
Leah W.Leah W. Austin Peay is a very familiar place for me!  I graduated with my Master’s degree from APSU in 2014, was offered a position as an adjunct instructor in 2017, and decided to pursue my doctoral degree with APSU in 2021.  I have experience working with various populations, including inpatient, incarcerated individuals, children and families involved in the juvenile justice system, military, and their families, private practice, and outpatient.  I am an Army veteran spouse with significant research interest in the military population.  My long-term goal is to work with the Veteran’s Administration.  Personal and professional experience has led my interest in working with military mental health care.
Abraham A.

I have traveled and lived in many countries worldwide and communicated with people of different ethnic backgrounds, which has motivated me in psychology, especially in clinical and counseling psychology. Meeting people from different races and backgrounds has added substantially to my understanding of people's identities, personalities, and what types of psychological problems they could face. I believe that each human being has a unique personality and entering the field of counseling psychology could help me understand people's personalities even more. As my intellectual interests have matured and focused, and after researching various options, I have decided to pursue the PsyD degree at Austin Peay State University. Advancing my clinical skills in working with adolescents and multicultural clients were some of the main goals that encouraged me to apply for Austin Peay State University Counseling Psychology (PsyD) program. The staff, the environment, and the quality of education I am receiving at APSU is helping me grow and develop my skills academically, professionally, and even personally every day. I honestly feel I was so lucky to get the opportunity to attend this program, and I already feel that I have developed many of my clinical skills. Each of the staff members or students I worked with at APSU, are so impassioned about their practice which motivated me more to focus on my clinical practice.

Jordana MclaughlinJordana M.

Jordana McLaughlin is a second year in the doctoral program. Jordana earned her master’s of science degree in Rehabilitation Counseling at West Virginia University and her bachelor’s of science in Psychology at The University of Pittsburgh. Jordana has her License in Professional Counseling in Pennsylvania and has had her own private practice, worked in private insurance, and worked at the Department of Veteran Affairs Veteran Benefits Administration. Her clinical and research interests include assessment, chronic pain and disability, infertility, integrated behavioral health, mindfulness-based interventions, neuropsychology, positive psychology, trauma, and women’s issues. Jordana would like to continue working with veteran populations or within an integrated behavioral healthcare setting. In her spare time, Jordana enjoys baking, cooking, hiking, running, and spending time with her husband and children.


Austin Peay State University SACS Accreditation

Please see here for accreditation status and information for the university: Accreditation (apsu.edu)

American Psychological Association Accreditation Status 

The Psy.D. in Counseling Psychology Program at Austin Peay State University is applying for accreditation from the American Psychological Association and has been approved for a site visit in Spring 2024. If you have questions about the accreditation process for doctoral programs in psychology, you can contact the APA via the following means:

American Psychological Association
Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation / Commission on Accreditation
750 First Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002-4242
Phone: 202-336-5979
TDD/TTY: 202-336-6123
Fax: 202-336-5978
E-mail: apaaccred@apa.org
Internet Webpage: APA Accreditation
APA Accreditation Status: Programs Applying for Initial APA Accreditation