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Counselor Recognition Nominations
Recipients of Recognition Certificates for April 2010:
- Representing Community Mental Health Counselors - Eric Bair
- Representing Private Practice Counselors - Mary Ann Davis
- Representing School Counselors - Barb Frederick
- Representing Counselor Educators - Dr. Douglas Spears
- Representing Counseling Students - Lisa Debbler
- Representing Chemical Dependency Counselors - Anthony Gargano
Representing Community Mental Health Counselors
Eric Bair, LPCCS
Eric Bair: Community counselor recognition recipient 2010 Eric Bair currently works as a counselor and counselor supervisor at Centerpoint Health. Eric received a B.S. in Telecommunications from Ohio University. He received his Masters in Community Counseling from Bowling Green State University. In 2009, Wright State University recognized Eric for outstanding service as an internship supervisor. Also in 2009, Eric obtained a grant from the Greater Cincinnati Foundation for Summertime Kids, which is Centerpoint Health’s summer social skills program for children. In 2004 Eric, helped develop curriculum and trained service providers on the use of the clinical documentation system used by Talbert House and Centerpoint Health.
These are the words of a person who nominated Eric for this recognition tonight. Eric has been an excellent supervisor and mentor for me as a student intern and a professional counselor. He makes every effort to be available to his supervisees, while he manages to balance his time between counseling clients, paperwork requirements, and his supervision and administration work. He is honest with his feedback and provides constructive criticism in ways that are respectful and useful. He emphasizes self-awareness so that his supervisees can practice ethically and do what is in the best interest of the clients. He shows sincere concern for the welfare of his clients, his supervisees, the agents, and the clients of his supervisees. His support, encouragement, mentoring, and feedback have enabled me to become a better counselor and person.
Eric and his wife Cynthia, a clinical psychologist, have four daughters Makenzie (age 12) twins Erica and Delaney (age 3), and Stella (3 months). Eric enjoys playing guitar and writing songs with his band “The New Machines”. One of their songs was featured on a PBS TV series last fall.
Representing Private Practice Counselors
Mary Ann Davis
Nearly 20 or so years ago, I attended an appointment at the University of Cincinnati to discuss options for my career. The individual I met with seemed compassionate and caring, expressing a genuine interest in what I had to say. She took the time to answer the questions I had and to explore greater details of my career path. I remember leaving that appointment with a higher level of optimism and hope for finding a career that matched my interests. I went on to quit my banking job and pursue a career in counseling. The individual that assisted me some 20 years ago was Mary Ann Davis.
Ms. Davis has a Master of Arts in Community Counseling from the University of Cincinnati and a Bachelor’s of Business Administration from Indiana University. She is a licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Ohio and is recognized by the National Career Development Association as a Master Career Counselor. Mary Ann is also certified as a Distance Credentialed Counselor.
She is a member of the American Counseling Association, Ohio Counselors Association and Greater Cincinnati Counselor Association, National Career Development Association, and National Employment Counseling Association. Mary Ann was recognized by the University of Cincinnati Counseling Program as one of its most outstanding 100 graduates.
Her private practice work includes ‘career counseling’ and ‘coaching and counseling’ for life’s transitions. She began providing these services at the Holistic Counseling Care of Cincinnati and later expanded these services to on-line clients with her business called “Your Career Plan”. Throughout her career, Ms. Davis has made a continuing contribution to the field of counseling in a wide variety of ways. In addition, to serving as the GCCA Treasurer, she has also been an active member in the Gestalt Institute of Cincinnati. In her private practice, she has developed a unique approach to working with individuals as they explore life planning issues, along with career explorations and development. She is an empathetic counselor, effective coach, and an experience guide on life’s journey. Another talent of Mary Ann’s, is her ability to develop and offer innovative, dynamic workshops and classes to assist individuals in various topics related to her career counseling specialty. Finally, Mary Ann has provided career counseling services to students at Cincinnati State and the University of Cincinnati, where she served as director, supervisor, and mentor to many.
Representing School Counselors
Barb Frederick
Barb Frederick has been in education for 32 years. She began her career as a Special Education teacher in Cleveland. While there, Mrs. Frederick decided to go into School Counseling. Barb has been a counselor in the Princeton School District for the past 21 years. Currently she is head of the Middle School Guidance Department.
The selection committee for this April recognition event received 7 nominations for Barb, an outstanding response. One of the letters written on Barb’s behalf represents the opinions of her colleagues most comprehensively:
“Barb Frederick is one of the most talented and dedicated educators I know, and absolutely the best counselor I’ve ever encountered. We’ve worked together now for about 12 years, after Barb came here from the high school. Without question, Princeton Community Middle School is a better place in which to learn, and to teach, because she came here. A leader, a wise advisor, a hard working inspiration to all of us lucky enough to work with her, Barb is Department Head/Grade Leader, and full-load Counselor to nearly 400 13 & 14 year olds, including my students this year.
This is my 18th year teaching 8th grade English at PCM and serving in various leadership positions, currently as Team/Department Leader. Barb is our 8th grade Counselor this year. I wish I had a nickel for every fire she’s put out for our team; and at PCMS, an urban district with significant poverty related issues, the fires are often acute and tragic. Ours is just one of four teams that rely upon Ms. Frederick.
I could regale with individual stories of Barb’s insightful student interventions. I could tell about how often I’ve driven out of the PCMS driveway at 6:30 or 7 pm and seen through her window, Barb at her computer. I could tell you how the PCMS Leadership Team listens with rapt attention whenever Barb weighs in on a topic of importance. I could tell you how much she cares about the teachers in this building and how she supports and encourages us.
Okay, just one story, from this year. For three years Barb’s been working with a very unstable and low-performing girl on my team. As this girl has progressed through three years of middle school, Barb has worked with her 25 to 30 teachers, including me, helping us understand and work with this 14 year old’s extreme issues. Barb has never tired of advocating for this girl. She has helped write behavior and academic plans that the girl struggles to uphold, but Barb never gives up. This girl will pass the 8th grade, despite her disabilities, thanks to Barb Frederick. And that’s one of a dozen struggling students on our team for whom this could be said. Tonight, I’m finishing this letter after a 12 hour-parent-conference-night-drama-filled-school day that started this morning with a 7:15am Building Leadership Team meeting, where I saw Barb. At 7:30pm, exhausted, I drove past Barb’s window; of course her light was on, and she was at her computer, no doubt responding to a hundred emails or entering her notes about the dozen conferences she attended this evening.
Barb so deserves of recognition an appreciation for her service to her students, her colleagues, and to her school. I am one of many who believe that Barb Frederick is an angel. Barb has 2 adult children and lives in Fairfield with her husband.
Representing Counselor Educators
Dr. Douglas Spears
Dr. Spears serves as Professor in the Counseling and Family Studies Department and the Program Director for the Community Mental Health (MAC) program of CCU. His responsibility includes the oversight of the academic and clinical aspects of the counseling program. He is in his 16th year as an instructor at CCU and has served the last 8 years as Department Chair. In his 16 years of teaching at CCU he has taught 29 different courses and accumulated over 500 teaching hours and provided clinical supervision for over 200 students and clinical residents in Ohio and Kentucky. He was chosen as “Teacher of the Year” in 2004. Additionally, Dr. Spears provides clinical supervision for students and professional counselors in Ohio and Kentucky. He serves on the Board of Directors for two Counseling Agencies, as well as a consultant to churches and minister’s regarding counseling concerns and ethical dilemmas. In his spare time he serves as a baseball coach on CCU’s baseball team.
Representing Counseling Students
Lisa Debbeler, Counselor Trainee
Lisa Debbeler currently attends the Athenaeum of Ohio where she is to complete the Master of Pastoral Counseling program, in May of 2010. She received a BA degree in English at Xavier University in 1977. She completed with honors – graduating Summa Cum Laude and chosen class Valedictorian. She then entered law school at the University of Cincinnati receiving a law degree in 1980.
Lisa has been active and held leadership roles in several organizations for the past several years, including: President, Board of Advisors, the Catholic Telegraph President, Board of Due Process, Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati President, Board of Trustees, Ursuline Academy of Cincinnati President, Ursuline Academy Mothers’ Club and Parent’s Associations Vice-President, Jesuit Spiritual Center at Milford President, ARC, an advocacy agency for the rights and full participation of all people with intellectual and developmental disabilities Lisa was honored by being selected for the Ursuline Academy, Women of the Year in 2000.
For 17 years, Lisa dedicated herself to being a full time parent to her three daughters. When her children became grown, Lisa was met with a life changing decision. In describing this process of pursuing pastoral counseling, Lisa states “I worked for a law firm and then as a Vice President for the regional Coca Cola Bottler as in-house legal counsel. After my children were born, I opted to be a stay-at-home parent. I was primarily at home with my children after 1987. When my oldest child left for college in 2004, I asked myself what I wanted to do when my youngest child left in 5 years. I could no longer see myself working in law, as much as that had satisfied me as a younger person. I talked to my friends, sought counsel of people I admired, and looked deep within myself. A strong desire to be with people as they worked through the “stuff” of life emerged from this reflective process. Counseling seemed like the best way to do that. I sometimes say ‘I used to be a counselor-at-law, and soon I will be a counselor-at-life”.
Lisa has completed 18 months of internship at I KRON Incorporated (a community counseling agency), and is currently volunteering at Mercy Professional Services doing office and administrative work. Sharing her training experiences and exposure to counseling professionals, she states “As I learn the milieu of different professional counseling groups at M. P. S., I’ve discovered these counselors are committed to serving the full spectrum of society just as those at I KRON, and they inspire me in much the same way. Lisa’s warm gentle manner extends to the individuals with whom she works. Her natural ability to empathize, accept, and encourage when working with clients, demonstrate that Lisa has most likely possessed these qualities long before she entered a counseling training program. She will be a great asset to the profession.
Representing Chemical Dependency Counselors
Anthony Gargano
Anthony Gargano: Chemical dependency counselor recognition recipient 2010 Tony is a graduate of Oak Hills High School, here in Cincinnati. After high school, Tony went on to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies, with an emphasis in Psychology at Cincinnati Christian University. After earning his Bachelor’s degree, Tony completed a Master of Arts in counseling degree at Cincinnati Christian University, graduating in December 2009. Tony currently holds a Chemical Dependency Counselor Assistant (CDCA) license, and he is pursuing both a LCDC-III license and a LPC license to continue working in the field of chemical dependency. Tony is currently employed with Clermont Recovery Center in Batavia and provides individual and family counseling for adolescents in an in-home or office setting. In addition to providing individual counseling, Tony also is the lead counselor in the Intensive Outpatient Program at CRC and is a part of a team that provides and orchestrates group counseling. In addition to working with “at-risk” youth, Tony has 5+ years of experience in youth ministry and is currently working at Oakland Christian Church in Falmouth, Kentucky. Tony is also in a Christian rock band who is touring the Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati area at this time.