News

Richmont is pleased to announce a new partnership with Cumberland Counseling Centers, set to launch in January 2025. Cumberland will assume responsibility for the operations of the Hope Counseling Centers, originally founded by Richmont, ensuring the continuation of high-quality, accessible counseling services vital to our communities.

Cumberland Counseling Centers will collaborate with local churches to establish fully operational counseling centers within their facilities. This initiative will provide affordable services to parishioners and the broader community while ensuring fair compensation for counselors.

In addition, these centers will serve as pivotal sites for Richmont’s clinical mental health interns, providing them with critical hands-on experience and the opportunity to fulfill their required clinical hours. This partnership enriches the interns’ education and enhances the quality of care available to the community.

Together, Richmont and Cumberland Counseling Centers are dedicated to advancing God’s work of healing, restoration, and transformation in the lives of individuals, churches, and communities.

Executive Director of Cumberland Counseling Centers, Alexandra Thompson, LCSW comments, “Richmont’s mission is exactly aligned with ours: they don’t just want to educate excellent therapists; they want to create therapists to go and be the hands and feet of Jesus. We are committed to honoring the original vision of the Hope Centers while also bringing our unique approach to creating high-quality, accessible mental health services. This collaboration allows us toserve even more people in a financially accessible way while still pointing to the power of God’s healing.”

Richmont president Timothy Quinnan concurred, “Richmont couldn’t be more pleased to partner with Cumberland Counseling, given their shared commitment to extending superior, faith-based mental health counseling services to ever-wider circles in the community. Delivering these vital services through sites at the churches people attend shows the integrative approach both our organizations take to helping others reclaim their wholeness.”

Richmont professor Dr. Jennifer Tipton published a new article: “Using Vision Boards to Support the Development of Early Student Counselors” in the Journal of Creativity in Mental Health. In the article, Dr. Tipton proposes the use of vision boards as a supervision tool to creatively address developmental challenges that arise for masters-level student counselors.

Dr. Tipton has co-authored an additional article that is forthcoming in Teaching and Supervision in Counseling, the official journal of the Southern Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (SACES) titled, “Mental Health Professionals’ Non-Clinical Roles as Informed by Attachment: A Systemic Review of Research.”

“I see both creativity and positive attachments as mechanisms for deeper and more meaningful learning. As a counselor educator, my primary purpose is to inspire my students toward deep and meaningful growth throughout their training.” 

— Dr. Jennifer Tipton

Congratulations, Dr. Tipton!

In this episode, Transforming Trauma into a Life of Mission, Tahliah Peek joins us to share her inspiring journey from deep personal trauma to a life dedicated to Christian missions and mental health. Tahliah recounts how she found healing through faith and her work in counseling, enabling her to bring comfort and support to others facing their own struggles. Her story demonstrates resilience, redemption, and the power of presence in the midst of pain and offers a unique perspective on using one’s past to serve a greater purpose.

The Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB) provides leadership and counsel to Richmont’s Board of Trustees and executive leadership and equips them to navigate the changing education landscape. Being a member of AGB enhances Richmont’s ability to fulfill strategic initiatives, strengthens the governance of Richmont’s Board of Trustees, and enables university leadership to steward resources well so that students can thrive during their time at Richmont.

Learn more about the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges here.

Dr. Jerry Gladson joined the full-time faculty of the Psychological Studies Institute(now Richmont Graduate University) in 1987 and served as the Dean of Academic Affairs from 1987-1992. Dr. Gladson has served as a faculty member at Richmont for a total of 30 years. Richmont is grateful for his service and is excited to honor him as Professor Emeritus. Well done, Dr. Gladson!

“I have watched with great pride as Richmont has grown from a partner institution with Georgia State University to become its own accredited University and a member of the academic core of institutions devoted to the integration of psychology, counseling, and theology… I haven’t the words to say how much this honor means to me. I cherish my years at Richmont and even now miss the students and the classes. I will wear this title proudly.”

-Dr. Jerry Gladson, Professor Emeritus

When Resilience Comes to Church: Contagious Fortitude for Life & Leadership
September 14, 2024
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM EDT

Richmont Graduate University is partnering with Lilly Endowment, Inc. to host a conference at The Mission Chattanooga featuring keynote speakers Chuck DeGroat, PhD, Kelly Kapic, PhD, Anna Downer Youngs, MA, LPC-MHSP, and Preston McDaniel Hill, PhD. Registration is free, and lunch will be provided! To learn more about the speakers and secure your tickets, click here.