Julia Whisenhunt, Ph.D., LPC, NCC, CPCS

Professor of Counselor Education and Assistant Department Chair
Department of Counseling, Higher Education, and Speech-Language Pathology College of Education

678-839-6116
jwhisenh@westga.e7Sj0FYvXp2JAKfzT3nndu

Education Annex - Room 241

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Julia Whisenhunt, Ph.D., LPC, NCC, CPCS
Biography

Julia Whisenhunt, Ph.D., LPC, NCC, CPCS is a Professor of Counselor Education and Assistant Department Chair in the Department of Counseling, Higher Education, and Speech-Language Pathology at the University of West Georgia. Dr. Whisenhunt is also the Director of the Ed.D. program in Professional Counseling and Supervision. Dr. Whisenhunt earned her M.A. in Psychology and Ed.S. in Guidance and Counseling from the University of West Georgia and her Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Practice from Georgia State University. She holds licensure as a professional counselor (LPC) in the State of Georgia, a National Certified Counselor (NCC), and a Certified Professional Counseling Supervisor (CPCS) in Georgia. Dr. Whisenhunt has instructed psychology and counseling courses since 2004. She is trained as an Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) facilitator who specializes in the areas of suicide prevention and self-injury. Dr. Whisenhunt has published peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, and presented at the international, national, regional, and state levels. Dr. Whisenhunt is also a co-author on the Crisis Intervention Ethics Casebook, which was published by the American Counseling Association in 2021.

Education / Degrees
  • B.A., Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, State University of West Georgia, 2001
  • M.A., Master of Arts in Psychology, University of West Georgia, 2003
  • Ed.S., Specialist in Education in Guidance and Counseling, University of West Georgia, 2009
  • Ph.D., Doctor of Philosophy in Counselor Education and Practice, Georgia State University, 2012
Courses Taught
Course Sections and Syllabi

Fall 2025 Sections

Summer 2025 Sections

Spring 2025 Sections

Fall 2024 Sections

Summer 2024 Sections

Spring 2024 Sections

Fall 2023 Sections

Summer 2023 Sections

Spring 2023 Sections

Fall 2022 Sections

Summer 2022 Sections

Spring 2022 Sections

Fall 2021 Sections

Summer 2021 Sections

Spring 2021 Sections

Fall 2020 Sections

Publication List

Crisis Intervention Strategies, 9th ed.

Vafaei, T., Samavi, S. A., Whisenhunt, J. L., & Najarpourian, S. (2023). An investigation of self-injury in female adolescents: A qualitative study. Quality and Quantity.

Whisenhunt, J., Biber, D., & Heidorn, B. (2022). On the front line: The role of health educators in preventing student suicide. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance, 93(3).

Vafaei, T. S., Samavi, A., Whisenhunt, J. L., & Najarpourian, S. (2021). The effectiveness of group training of emotional regulation on adolescent’s self- injury, depression and anger. Journal of Research and Health, 11(6).

Myer, R., Whisenhunt, J., and James, R. (2021). Crisis Intervention Ethics Casebook. American Counseling Association.

Whisenhunt, J., Chang, C. Y., Parrish, M. S., & Carter, J. R. (2019). Addressing single parents’ needs in professional counseling: A qualitative examination of single parenthood. The Family Journal, 27(2), 188-198. doi: 10.1177/1066480719835343

Stargell, N., Craigen, L., Bradley, N., Whisenhunt, J., Campbell, E., Kress, V. E. (2020). Relational-cultural supervision: A humanistic approach to promoting vulnerability and counselor development. Journal of Humanistic Counseling, 59(3), 188-200. http

Whisenhunt, J. (2020). Understanding and responding to self-injury in college students. In Gonzalez, L. M., Palladino, D., & Watson, J. (Eds). College Counseling and Student Development: Theory, Practice, and Campus Collaboration (pp. 391-412). American Co

Whisenhunt, J. L., & Wade, M. (2019). Legal and ethical issues in clinical settings. In J. C. Watson (Ed.). Introduction to clinical mental health counseling: Contemporary issues. Sage.

Bradley, N., Stargell, N., Craigen, L., Whisenhunt, J., Campbell E., & Kress, V. (2019). Creative approaches for promoting vulnerability in supervision: A relational-cultural approach. Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, 14(3), 391-404. doi: 10.1080/

Paige, M., DeVore, J., Chang, C. Y., Whisenhunt, J. (2017). The trauma-competent clinician: A qualitative model of knowledge, skills, and attitudes supporting Adlerian-based trauma psychotherapy. Journal of Individual Psychology, 73(1). 8-37. doi: 10.1

Whisenhunt, J. L. & Heidorn, B. (2018). The role of physical educators as allies for students who self-injure. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance, 89(1), 46-51.

Stargell, N. A., Zoldan, C., A. Kress, V. E., Walker-Andrews, L. M., & Whisenhunt, J. L. (2017). Student non-suicidal self-injury: A comprehensive school counseling protocol. Professional School Counseling Journal, 21(1), 37-46. doi: 10.5330/1096-2409-21

Whisenhunt, J. L., DuFresne, R. M., Zoldan, C. A., Rovnak, A., Stargell, N. A., and Kress, V. (2017). Supporting counselors after a client suicide: Creative supervision techniques. Journal of Creativity in Mental Health. doi: 10.1080/15401383.2017.1281

Temple, M., Roy, J., Godner, T., & Whisenhunt, J. (2015). School counselors’ role in college readiness for students with disabilities. Georgia School Counselor Association (GSCA) Journal, 22. 49-59.

Whisenhunt, J., Chang, C., Brack, G., Orr, J., Adams, L., Paige, M., McDonald, C., & O’Hara, C. (2015). Self-injury and suicide: Practical information for college counselors. Journal of College Counseling.

Working with clients who self-injure: A grounded theory approach

Professional counselors’ conceptualizations of the relationship between suicide and self-injury

Bradley, N., Whisenhunt, J., & Adamson, N., & Kress, V. (2013). Creative approaches for promoting counselors’ self-care. Journal of Creativity in Mental Health. 8, 456-469. [View Publication External Resource]

Whisenhunt, J., & Kress, V. (2013). The use of visual arts in counseling clients who engage in non-suicidal self-injury. Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, 8(2), 120-135.

Whisenhunt, J. L., & Kress, V. E. (2013). Non-suicidal self-injury. In ACA (Ed.), ACA: Practice Briefs. [View Publication External Resource]