Counselor's Research to Help Military Families

Photo by University Relations

Erin Kern

Erin Kern, new assistant professor of counselor education at the University of Arkansas, is preparing to begin research involving military families and treatment for those in need.

"I want to start research on veterans who have PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) or traumatic brain injuries," Kern said, "and different ways to work with them and different needs of military families."

Kern is also teaching clinical mental health classes on mental health counseling. She is transitioning into the position as a faculty adviser for the counseling honors society Chi Sigma Iota.

Kern said she is also hoping to begin research on developing professional identity in counselors.

"We're trying to collaborate with master's and doctoral students to do presentations at different conferences that are coming up," she said. "I'll be presenting some of my dissertation work at a national conference that is coming up in October."

Kern is a licensed professional counselor and has done private practice work, worked in community agencies and a residential treatment center for substance abuse. She has also taught at the master's level. This is experience that she is excited to bring to students and classes, she said.

Kern said that one of the overall goals is to better serve the military community. This includes training counselors and students, educating them in the needs of the population so they are able to work with these individuals effectively.

"I would really like to establish an office of military family wellness in the next few years," Kern said.

The office, as part of the College of Education and Health Professions, would be useful in reaching out to the community, along with training counselors and other interdisciplinary students, Kern said.

Kern received a Bachelor of Arts from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. She has a Master of Arts in professional counseling from Texas State University, and she earned a doctorate in counselor education and supervision from the University of Texas at San Antonio. She is a member of the American Counseling Association and the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision.