Core MFT Faculty
Kristen Benson, LMFT, AAMFT Approved Supervisor
Program Director
Dr. Kristen Benson is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Human Development and Psychological Counseling and core faculty in the Marriage and Family Therapy Program. She holds an LMFT in North Carolina. She is a Clinical Fellow and Approved Supervisor in the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, and a member of the National Council on Family Relations where she chairs the Social Justice Network Focus Group. Dr. Benson's professional interests include social justice-informed training and practice, with focus on LGBTQ inclusive and anti-racist work.
Degrees
B.S., Family and Child Sciences, Florida State University
M.A., Marriage and Family Therapy, Appalachian State University
Ph.D., Human Development, emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy, Virginia Tech
Research Interests
Marginalization and inclusion in families
Transgender and gender expansive identity inclusion in family therapy
Social justice frameworks for family therapy research, teaching, learning, and practice
Contact Information
Email: bensonke@appstate.edu
Office Phone: 828-262-8884
314D College of Education
Boone, North Carolina 28608-2037
Laura Gambrel, LMFT, AAMFT Approved Supervisor
Internship Coordinator
"Infusing relationships with awareness and acceptance - towards self and other - leads to transformation."
Laura Gambrel is an Assistant Professor in the Marriage and Family Therapy program. She is a licensed marriage and family therapist in Pennsylvania, and licensed professional counselor in Colorado. She holds certification as a registered play therapist. She is also a Clinical Fellow and Approved Supervisor in the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. Laura spent her pre-doctoral internship with the Human Development and Psychological Counseling Department.
Degrees
PhD, Marriage and Family Therapy, Virginia Tech
MA, Contemplative Psychotherapy, Naropa University
Bachelor of Arts, Psychology and Philosophy. Goucher College
Research Interests
Clinical applications of mindfulness for couples and families
Interventions to enhance the couple relationship for new parents
Contact Information
Email: gambrell@appstate.edu
Office Phone: 828-262-2231
336C College of Education
Boone, North Carolina 28608-2037
N. Jordan, LMFT, AAMFT Approved Supervisor
"Training the next generation of marriage and family therapists to take up the mantle of Social Justice is the most important work I do."
Dr. Nickolas A. Jordan is an Associate Professor of Marriage and Family Therapy within the Department of Human Development and Psychological Counseling at Appalachian State University. He is a licensed marriage and family therapist, Clinical Member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy and an AAMFT Approved Supervisor. Dr. Jordan specializes in work with low socio-economic status individuals, couples and families of color. His professional interests include Inclusion, Social Justice and relationships created, maintained and terminated through online video games and other Social Media.
Degrees
PhD, Marriage and Family Therapy, Syracuse University
MA, Marriage and Family Therapy, Syracuse University
BS, Psychology, Virginia Tech
BA, Interdisciplinary Studies, Virginia Tech
Research Interests
Inclusion
Social Justice
Relationships created, maintained and terminated through online video games and other Social Media
Contact Information
Email: jordanna@appstate.edu
Office Phone: 828-262-6049
405J College of Education
Boone, North Carolina 28608-2037
Jon Winek, LMFT, AAMFT Approved Supervisor
"Nothing is the only thing you always get when you ask for it."
Jon Winek is a Professor in the Department of Human Development and Psychological Counseling at Appalachian State University. Dr. Winek received his PhD from the University of Southern California in Sociology. He is a licensed as both a marriage and family therapist and professional counselor in North Carolina. He is a Clinical Fellow and Approved Supervisor in the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.
Degrees
PhD, Sociology, University of Southern California
MA, Sociology, University of Southern California
Master of Marital and Family Therapy. University of Southern California
Bachelor of General Studies. University of Michigan
Research Interests
Theory and practice of family therapy
Philosophy of science and the development of research methodology
Contact Information
Email: winekjl@appstate.edu
Office Phone: 828-262-4890
334D College of Education
Boone, North Carolina 28608-2037
Affiliate Clinical Faculty
Lynn Coward, LMFT, AAMFT Approved Supervisor
"It's not truly postmodern if it does not transcend AND include."
Lynn Coward is an Assistant Adjunct Professor in the Department of Human Development and Psychological Counseling at Appalachian State University and licensed marriage and family therapist in North Carolina. Dr. Coward is the director of the Marriage and Family Therapy Center in Boone, N.C. where he maintains a full-time private practice.
Degrees
PhD, Marriage and Family Therapy, Virginia Tech
MA, Community Counseling; concentration in Marriage and Family Therapy, Appalachian State University
BS, Park Administration, North Carolina State University
Clinical Interests
Therapist development
Self of the therapist
Dissertation: Significant Events and Themes of Marriage and Family Therapist: A Qualitative Study
Contact Information
Email: cowardrl@appstate.edu
Office Phone: 828-262-2055
304 College of Education
Boone, North Carolina 28608-2037
Clinical Supervisors
Melissa Parlier, LMFT, AAMFT Approved Supervisor
Melissa R. Parlier has a Bachelor of Science in Sociology and a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy, both from Appalachian State University. She is a LMFT in NC with 15+ years of experience working with individuals, families, and couples and has been an AAMFT Approved Supervisor since 2013. She is a senior member of the Clinical Services team at The Crossnore School and has a part-time private practice in Boone, NC. She is rostered by the NC Child Treatment Program as a TF-CBT provider and is EAGALA certified. Areas of interest include trauma-informed care and families involved in the foster care system.
Joan Zimmerman, LMFT, AAMFT Approved Supervisor
Joan Zimmerman, MA, LMFT, LCAS has been practicing therapy since 2003. Working for 9 years in community health, she helped design and supervised the Family Solutions substance abuse treatment program. Currently, she is in private practice, and supervises students in the Human and Psychological Counseling Department at Appalachian State University. She is co-author of 'Group Activities for Families in Recovery,' published by Sage Publishing. She is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, a licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist, and an approved Marriage and Family Therapy supervisor.
David Kadans, LMFT, AAMFT Approved Supervisor Candidate
David Kadans has his Masters of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy and is also a Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist still under supervision and a MFT Approved Supervisor in training. David has been working in the field of mental health since 1997. David's many years of training and experience have resulted in a high level of competence treating challenges such as marriages in distress and on the verge of separation or divorce, post-traumatic stress disorder, self-harm, eating disorders, depression, low self-esteem, oppositional defiance, troubled teens, divorce and separation (reducing negative impact on families), blended families, domestic violence, compulsive behavior, over-sexualized behavior, cycle of addiction, and employment and educational challenges. He is highly skilled in helping children and adults using play and expressive arts therapy, accessing community resources, assisting disabled children and their parents, reducing effects of reactive attachment disorder on parents and coaching parents through the therapeutic process, managing challenging children, working with the foster care system, school system, and working with legal and DSS systems with children and adults.
Amy Mann Coone, LMFT, AAMFT Approved Supervisor Candidate
Amy Mann Coone is a practicing therapist with Family NET of Catawba County in Hickory, North Carolina, and in private practice at the Marriage and Family Therapy Services in Hickory. She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Clinical Member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, and an AAMFT Approved Supervisor Candidate under Dr. Jon Winek. She specializes in cognitive behavioral therapy, working with at-risk youth and adolescents in the school system, couples and families, defiant teens, and has over 15 years of practice in agency/government settings. Her professional interests include holistic wellness, resiliency through success coaching, and integrated care.