Building Professional Excellence

Atsuko Seto, Ph.D., NCC, ACS, LPC

Atsuko Seto is associate professor and chair of the Department of Counselor Education at The College of New Jersey, near Trenton. She holds a doctorate in counselor education from the University of Wyoming, in Laramie, and a master's degree in counseling from Chadron State College in Nebraska. Dr. Seto is a licensed professional counselor in New Jersey, a National Certified Counselor (NCC) and an Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS). She serves as a reviewer for the Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development. Dr. Seto’s strong interest in multiculturalism and diversity in counseling began with her experience studying English as a second language (ESL) in the United States as an international student. Gaining insights into the potential impact of acculturative stressors, language barriers and race relations has fostered both her personal and professional growth while strengthening her commitment to lifelong learning. Dr. Seto’s scholarly activities include publications and presentations in the areas of counseling Asians and Asian Americans, intercultural couples, experiential multicultural counseling activities, and faculty professional development.

Jennifer M. Cook, Ph.D., NCC, LPC

Jennifer M. Cook is assistant professor in the Department of Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology at Marquette University, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She is a passionate multicultural counselor, educator, supervisor and researcher who infuses advocacy throughout her work. Dr. Cook has served clients, particularly underserved populations, in private practice and clinical mental health settings, and supervised school and clinical mental health counselors-in-training. Her research interests focus on counselor multicultural development, with particular emphasis on issues related to social class and socioeconomic status. Dr. Cook earned her Ph.D. in counselor education from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and was proud to be selected for the 2013 NBCC Minority Fellowship Program.

Tiffany Hairston, M.A., NCC, PC, LICDC

Tiffany Hairston holds a Master of Arts in community counseling from the University of Toledo, where she is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in counselor education and supervision with a research focus on colorism and counseling. She currently works as a clinical coordinator at Unison Behavioral Group. Ms. Hairston is licensed in the state of Ohio as a professional counselor and as an independent chemical dependency counselor with a clinical supervision endorsement. She was selected for the 2013 National Board for Certified Counselors Minority Fellowship Program to increase access to effective, culturally competent counseling services for underserved minority populations. Ms. Hairston has over twelve years of experience in substance abuse counseling and two years in mental health counseling. She has taught courses on a number of substance abuse topics and has presented at the American Counseling Association national conference, Association for Counselor Education and Supervision national conference, Ohio Association for Counselor Education and Supervision conference, and All Ohio Counselors Conference. Her article “Offenders Who Are Mothers With and Without Experience in Prostitution: Differences in Historical Trauma, Current Stressors, and Physical and Mental Health Differences” appeared in Women’s Health Issues.

Robert A. Horne, Ph.D., NCC, LPC, LCAS, CSI

Robert A. Horne holds a Ph.D. in counseling and counselor education from North Carolina State University, a master’s degree in agency counseling from North Carolina Central University, and a Master of Divinity from Duke University’s Duke Divinity School. He is a National Certified Counselor (NCC) and holds licenses in North Carolina as a licensed professional counselor, licensed clinical addiction specialist and clinical supervisor intern. Dr. Horne is a 2013 NBCC Minority Fellowship Program (MFP) Fellow and currently serves as a therapist in private practice. His research focuses on substance use, identity and spirituality among males of African descent. Dr. Horne has experience working with diverse populations and provides mental health and substance use training in multiple countries, including South Africa, Guyana and Jamaica.

Michelle Gross, M.Ed., NCC, BCC, LPC

Michelle Gross is the certification services director for the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC). In this capacity, she coordinates all services for the National Certified Counselor (NCC), Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CCMHC), Master Addictions Counselor (MAC) and National Certified School Counselor (NCSC) certifications. In addition, she oversees services for current certificants, such as recertification and continuing education. Ms. Gross earned her master’s degree in counseling from Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Prior to joining NBCC, she worked as a school counselor in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County school district. She is a National Certified Counselor (NCC), a Board Certified Coach (BCC), and a licensed school counselor and licensed professional counselor (LPC) in North Carolina, and has practiced privately as a counselor with a focus on individuals with AD/HD and other education challenges.

Callie Gordon, M.S., Ed.S., NCC, LPCA

Callie Gordon received her B.A. in psychology and women’s studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her master’s and educational specialist degrees in couple and family counseling at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Ms. Gordon is the continuing education coordinator for NBCC, helping to review and approve continuing education providers across the country to ensure NBCC standards. She also sees clients in private practice, specializing in divorce and families in transition. Outside of counseling, Ms. Gordon enjoys spending time with her husband, son and two rambunctious dogs.

Nikki Yannone, M.S., Ed.S., NCC, LPCA

Nikki Yannone is the community management coordinator for NBCC. She received her B.A. in journalism and advertising from the University of Maine in Orono before moving to North Carolina, where she received her B.A. in psychology and M.S. and Ed.S. in couple and family counseling from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. In addition to working at NBCC, Ms. Yannone works in private practice, providing counseling to individuals and families. She has a strong interest in working with victims of traumatic experiences. In her spare time, Ms. Yannone enjoys arts and crafts; cooking (and eating) good food; and enjoying the outdoors with her husband, Curt, and their dog, Nelli.

Presented by: Bob Bertolino Ph.D, NCC, LPC

Bob Bertolino is associate professor of rehabilitation counseling at Maryville University, senior clinical advisor at Youth In Need, Inc. and senior associate for the International Center for Clinical Excellence. He has taught more than 400 workshops throughout the United States and 11 countries and authored or coauthored 14 books, including The Therapist’s Notebook on Positive Psychology: Activities, Exercises, and Handouts; Strengths-Based Engagement and Practice: Creating Effective Helping Relationships; and Thriving on the Front Lines: Strengths-Based Youth Care Work. Dr. Bertolino is licensed as a marital and family therapist and professional counselor in the state of Missouri and is a National Certified Counselor.

Presented by: Corinne Zupko Ed.S., NCC, BCC, LPC

Corinne Zupko is an adjunct professor of counselor education at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ), where she has developed and taught classes focusing on wellness and mindfulness at the graduate and undergraduate levels. She earned her B.A. in psychology from TCNJ, her M.A. in counseling from TCNJ, and her Ed.S. in counseling with a concentration in meditation from Rider University. Ms. Zupko is a licensed professional counselor in New Jersey, a National Certified Counselor and a Board Certified Coach.

Ms. Zupko has presented on mindfulness at many professional conferences including the American School Counselor Association and the New Jersey Counseling Association, and she was a recent keynote speaker at the New Jersey Association for Multicultural Counseling. Her interests include the topics of wellness, mindfulness, and spirituality in counseling. Ms. Zupko teaches mindfulness-based stress reduction classes in her community, and has produced a series of five-minute mindfulness meditation recordings for busy people.

Traci P. Collins M.S., NCC

Traci P. Collins is the managing editor of The Professional Counselor (TPC), the official journal of the National Board for Certified Counselors. She completed her master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and is currently a doctoral student at North Carolina State University. Ms. Collins is a licensed counselor in North Carolina and a National Certified Counselor (NCC).

J. Scott Hinkle Ph.D, NCC, CCMHC, ACS

J. Scott Hinkle is the director of professional development at NBCC. Dr. Hinkle has authored numerous articles on mental health as well as two books. Dr. Hinkle has been a practitioner for 35 years in the areas of community and school mental health. He also specializes in couples and family counseling, as well as team building and outdoor leadership. Dr. Hinkle has taught graduate courses in family counseling, psychological testing, counseling research and psychodiagnosis in the United States and Europe, and has offered numerous distance education courses online.

Presented by: Corinne Zupko Ed.S., NCC, BCC, LPC

Corinne Zupko is an adjunct professor of counselor education at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ), where she has developed and taught classes focusing on wellness and mindfulness at the graduate and undergraduate levels. She earned her B.A. in psychology from TCNJ, her M.A. in counseling from TCNJ, and her Ed.S. in counseling with a concentration in meditation from Rider University. Ms. Zupko is a licensed professional counselor in New Jersey, a National Certified Counselor and a Board Certified Coach.

Ms. Zupko has presented on mindfulness at many professional conferences including the American School Counselor Association and the New Jersey Counseling Association, and she was a recent keynote speaker at the New Jersey Association for Multicultural Counseling. Her interests include the topics of wellness, mindfulness, and spirituality in counseling. Ms. Zupko teaches mindfulness-based stress reduction classes in her community, and has produced a series of five-minute mindfulness meditation recordings for busy people.

Presented by: Bob Bertolino Ph.D, NCC, LPC

Bob Bertolino is associate professor of rehabilitation counseling at Maryville University, senior clinical advisor at Youth In Need, Inc. and senior associate for the International Center for Clinical Excellence. He has taught more than 400 workshops throughout the United States and 11 countries and authored or coauthored 14 books, including The Therapist’s Notebook on Positive Psychology: Activities, Exercises, and Handouts; Strengths-Based Engagement and Practice: Creating Effective Helping Relationships; and Thriving on the Front Lines: Strengths-Based Youth Care Work. Dr. Bertolino is licensed as a marital and family therapist and professional counselor in the state of Missouri and is a National Certified Counselor.

Presented by: John McCarthy Ph.D, NCC, LPC

John McCarthy loves learning about, talking about and experiencing creativity. As a professor in the Department of Counseling at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, he regularly teaches the course Creative Approaches to Counseling. Dr. McCarthy is a member of the Association for Creativity in Counseling and is the primary author of an upcoming e-book titled Driving Forward in Reverse. A global lecturer, he currently serves as an International Scholar in the Open Society Foundations’ Academic Fellowship Program, working with the psychology program at Tbilisi State University, in the country of Georgia. Dr. McCarthy is also active in volunteering with the NBCC Foundation in his role as chair of the Foundation Ambassadors.

Melissa J. Fickling M.A., NCC, LPC

Melissa Fickling is a second-year doctoral student in counseling and counselor education at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She earned her master's degree in community counseling at Roosevelt University in Chicago. She is a National Certified Counselor (NCC) and a licensed professional counselor (LPC). Ms. Fickling has six years of experience providing career counseling to adults in university, community and private practice settings and particularly enjoys talking with new counselors about their career development. She was recently selected as one of eight members of the 2014 class of the National Career Development Association's Leadership Academy.

Mark P. Eades M.A., NCC, LPCA

Mark Eades is a current doctoral student in the Department of Counseling and Educational Development at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and holds a master’s degree in school counseling from Wake Forest University. He is a National Certified Counselor (NCC) and a licensed school counselor and licensed professional counselor associate (LPCA) in North Carolina. Mr. Eades enjoys working with students of all ages and has counseled students from kindergarten through graduate school in a variety of settings. He has a special interest in talking with students about multicultural considerations, family concerns, teacher-student relationships and career-personality matching.

Alexander Vesely M.A.

Alexander Vesely has directed many short films, commercials and documentaries, but is most proud of his latest work, Viktor & I: An Alexander Vesely Film, based on the life and works of his grandfather, Viktor Frankl, the notable Austrian neurologist, psychiatrist and founder of logotherapy. Viktor & I won several prestigious film awards in the United States, including the diamond award for best documentary at the California Film Awards.

Mr. Vesely is a resident of Vienna, Austria. He holds an M.A. and a B.A in psychotherapeutic science from Sigmund Freud University, in Vienna. He holds the diplomate in logotherapy credential from the Viktor Frankl Institute of Logotherapy in Abilene, Texas, and a diplomate in psychotherapy training from the South German Institute of Logotherapy. In addition, Mr. Vesely is head of the media department and family representative for the Viktor Frankl Institute in Vienna.

Mr. Vesely has been producing films that captivate audiences worldwide for more than 20 years. As a former psychotherapist himself, he believes in a direct connection between psychotherapy and film. His own training in psychotherapy gives Mr. Vesely an advantage as a film director when it comes to understanding human dynamics, especially when interacting with partners, actors, editors, composers and other creative artists.

E. Amalia StanciuNCC, ACS, GCDF

E. Amalia Stanciu holds a doctorate in counseling and counselor education from Syracuse University, in New York; a master’s degree in counseling from Wake Forest University, in North Carolina; and a master’s degree in career counseling from Polytechnic University, in Bucharest, Romania. She is business development director for the European Board for Certified Counselors (EBCC). Dr. Stanciu is a National Certified Counselor (NCC), a registered Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF) International Master Trainer, an Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS) and a Mental Health Facilitator (MHF) master trainer.

Dr. Stanciu has experience in career counseling in school and business settings, clinical mental health counseling, supervision, research, and counselor education. She holds a strong interest in the development of career counseling in Romania and the rest of Europe. As one of the first Global Career Development Facilitators (GCDFs) in her country of Romania, her doctoral thesis provided the first empirical validation of the GCDF program in Romania.