Auburn University Student Counseling & Psychological Services (SCPS)
Doctoral Internship Program for Health Service Providers

The SCPS training program is aimed to offer generalist training with the goal of fostering personal and professional growth over the course of the year such that interns are ready to transition into the next phase of their career. Conceptual and experiential training will be provided to ensure that interns have sufficient knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values to be competent practitioners. Constructive feedback will be an important part of the internship year as a means of facilitating the greatest possible growth. An effort will be made to integrate interns as a part of the permanent staff while still respecting that interns are trainees and maintaining appropriate professional boundaries between permanent staff members and trainees.

A broad understanding of diversity will be important. It is hoped that diversity will be woven in throughout various aspects of the training experience and not limited specifically to the Diversity seminar. While there are certain training experiences that SCPS deem important to be uniform between the interns completing the program, the goal of the SCPS permanent staff is to provide space for interns to tailor their internship in certain ways such as choosing the types of groups they co-facilitate, what types of outreach events they provide, and their preferred areas of rotation each semester.

The specific training areas covered in the SCPS program are aligned with standard accreditation standards and will provide a broad range of generalist training that highlights the incorporation of science and practice within a collegial and collaborative environment.

Doug Hankes

Ph.D., Executive Director
Licensed Psychologist

Doug completed his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of North Texas in 1996. He is a licensed psychologist in Alabama and Tennessee. He holds graduate faculty status in the Department of Psychology, the Department of Kinesiology, and the Department of Special Education, Rehabilitation, and Counseling. Doug describes his therapy approach as mindfully eclectic and fosters a collaborative relationship with clients to promote change. He has been actively involved at the national level in sport and exercise psychology and has served on the Executive Boards of the American Psychological Association (APA) Division 47 Society for Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology and the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP). Doug is Past President of Division 47. He is an AASP Fellow and CMPC Emeriti. Doug is listed on the 2020-2024 United States Olympic Committee Sport Psychology Registry and Mental Health Registry. When he’s not at work, you can find him hiking the Appalachian Trail.

Supervision Style:

My supervision style is developmental and focuses on providing the structure and guidance appropriate to the individual needs of the supervisee. My goal is to facilitate a supervisee’s development of a therapeutic identity and style that is both genuine and clinically effective. I view supervision as a collaborative process where a supervisee’s professional training, needs and goals are integrated with excellent client care. Very similar to my work with clients, we will have fun while we do hard work that brings about change.

Joeleen Cooper-Bhatia

Ph.D., Associate Director, Licensed Psychologist

Joeleen is originally from northeastern Pennsylvania and completed her doctoral degree in Counseling Psychology at the University at Albany, SUNY. Prior to joining the staff at SCPS in 2008, she worked with college students in several settings, including during her internship at Virginia Tech’s Cook Counseling Center. Joeleen enjoys providing group therapy, particularly working with students in SCPS’ Understanding Self and Others groups. She is actively involved in the American Group Psychotherapy Association, where she has held a number of leadership roles, and is a Certified Group Psychotherapist. Additionally, Joeleen is passionate about supervision and training and her clinical interests include relationship concerns, trauma, family issues, and working with emotions. She uses a collaborative approach to therapy, focusing on the therapy relationship while incorporating tools to help her clients improve coping. In her time outside of work, Joeleen enjoys reading, long walks, binge-watching TV shows, and spending time with family.

Supervision Style:

My supervision style is developmental in nature, working to meet trainees where they are (e.g., providing more direct guidance to beginning trainees than trainees later in their development). I am generally non-directive as a supervisor, allowing trainees to decide what seems most appropriate to discuss in supervision. I also rely heavily on feedback about supervision to help me adapt to the needs of trainees, and I ask that my supervisees are open and honest with me about their experience of supervision. I also believe that supervision should include more than just case management; thus, I encourage supervisees to talk about issues related to their professional development, their experiences at SCS, and their reactions to their clients and clinical work

Julie Dodd

Ph.D., Licensed Psychologist

Julie earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1996 and has been a licensed psychologist since 2001. Her clinical experience includes work in hospital and clinic settings, providing services to the general public, veterans, and incarcerated offenders. Julie’s clinical and professional interests include treatment of depression, anxiety, substance abuse, posttraumatic stress, and helping others manage critical incidents and disaster response. Having trained as a generalist, she has experience addressing a wide variety of clinical concerns. Julie’s therapeutic approach is integrative, incorporating cognitive-behavioral, person-centered, motivational interviewing, and mindfulness perspectives. She values developing authentic, collaborative relationships with her clients, helping them tap into their own strengths while developing new coping strategies to become their best selves.  Outside of work, Julie enjoys keeping up with the latest tech, researching genealogy, leading her church’s livestream team, and is excited to be a member of the Auburn Family.

Supervision Style:

My approach to supervision is very integrative/blended. It combines elements of Stoltenberg and Delworth’s (1987) developmental model with elements of Hersey and Blanchard’s (1977) Situational Leadership Model. I work collaboratively with each supervisee to identify where they are in terms of development of clinical skills and provide input to a degree consistent with their level of mastery or comfort. To the extent that the supervisee requires development of specific competencies, we establish a development plan with specific, measurable, achievable targets so we are both in tune with expectations. I strive to ensure that each supervisee will know what I expect of them and how I believe they are doing throughout their training experience. No surprises. I provide clinical supervision from an integrated theoretical perspective, drawing from CBT, DBT, motivational interviewing, client-centered, narrative, and interpersonal models in conceptualization of cases and treatment development.

Jack Howard

Ph.D., Clinical Sport Psychologist
Licensed Psychologist

Jack completed his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Southern Mississippi in 2021. Jack is a licensed psychologist in Alabama and California. Prior to joining Auburn’s Counseling and Sport Psychology team, Jack completed his internship at North Carolina State University’s Counseling Center and a postdoctoral fellowship at Stanford’s School of Medicine with a specialization in Sport and Performance Psychology. Jack is actively involved with Clinical/Counseling Sport Psychology Association (CCSPA) and APA Division 47 (Society for Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology). He is currently working toward his Certified Mental Performance Consultant certification. Jack maintains an integrated approach to therapy, drawing primarily from cognitive-behavioral, acceptance-commitment, and relational-cultural theories. Jack works with student-athletes on the full spectrum of well-being from performance enhancement to clinical mental health concerns. When he’s not at an athletic event, Jack enjoys playing sports, spending time with family and friends, and enjoying the outdoors with his partner and little dog, Blue.

Supervision Style:

My supervision style is anchored in the integrated developmental model. I believe that a successful supervisory relationship develops over time with a focus on building a strong working alliance between supervisor and supervisee. In supervision, I enjoy drawing from many theoretical orientations (CBT, ACT, Relational-Cultural) with some additional strengths-based interventions (e.g., use of self) to meet my supervisees where they are. I strive to cerate a transparent, non-judgmental, and collaborative space to explore various successes, challenges, and developments in my supervisee’s practice and life. I also aim to take on flexible roles (teacher, guide, supporter) for supervisees as they grow their autonomy, competence, and relatedness on the journey toward independent practice and licensure.

Austin Luker

M.D., Psychiatrist

Dr. Luker recently joined East Alabama Psychiatric Services, and is thrilled to be an Auburn University affiliate at the Student Counseling & Psychological Services office. Dr. Luker earned his undergraduate and medical degrees from UAB, where he also completed his general psychiatry residency and child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship. Dr. Luker is a proud native of Clay County, Alabama, and is excited to be practicing psychiatry in the East Alabama area. He has known he wanted to be a psychiatrist since he was a teenager, and has clinical interest in ADHD, depressive disorders, bipolar disorders, PTSD, and psychotic disorders.  As a child and adult psychiatrist, he has an interest in development across the lifespan and feels privileged to be working with Auburn University students at this unique and exciting stage of their lives. In his spare time, Dr. Luker enjoys running, DIY projects, playing the mandolin and guitar, Auburn athletics, and spending time with his family.

Megan Manierski

Psy.D., Group Coordinator, Licensed Psychologist

Megan recently completed her doctoral degree from Rutgers University in School Psychology.  She is originally from Macomb, Michigan and earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Adelphi University.  Megan has experience working with college students in a variety of settings including athletic departments, hospitals, and community mental health centers. Her professional interests include anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, identity development, adjustment issues, and working with student-athletes.  Although Megan primarily uses cognitive behavioral strategies, she takes an integrative approach to treatment and works collaboratively with each client to best meet their needs. Outside of work, Megan enjoys spending time with her dog, exercising, reading, and being outdoors.

Supervision Style:

My supervision style utilizes a developmental and humanistic lens. I strive to meet supervisees where they are at developmentally while creating an honest, open, and non-judgmental space. As supervisees gain experience, I will expect them to have more autonomy and responsibility. However, I do not expect trainees to know everything and will encourage supervisees to ask questions and consult about mistakes, confusions, and concerns. I value transparency and feel that growth comes from discussing a range of topics, including supervisees’ emotional reactions to clinical work and our differences in cultural backgrounds, identities, and experience levels. Additionally, I am happy to use supervision to provide support related to the transition to Auburn and professional development. I understand that a strong relationship is a necessary foundation for these conversations and will do all I can to build a trusting space. My theoretical orientation is integrative, primarily incorporating aspects of CBT, ACT, emotion-focused, and client-centered strategies.

Christina Newberry

Psy.D., Licensed Psychologist

Christy is the embedded Licensed Psychologist for Auburn Vet Med, providing therapy and consultation services. She earned her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, Chicago, a master’s in Clinical Psychology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and a master’s degree in Professional Psychology from Geneva College in Beaver Falls, PA. Christy incorporates warmth, empathy, and humor into her strengths-based, collaborative approach. Specific clinical interests include compassion fatigue, burnout, stress, anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and trauma. Originally from southeast Tennessee, Christy enjoys coffee shops, spending time with her sister, friends, and her sweet rescue pup, Joy.

Supervision Style:

Consistent with my approach to therapy, I incorporate a strengths-based and collaborative approach to supervision where I work to meet the unique needs of the trainee. My primary aim in supervision is to provide a supportive environment in which to learn and grow. I work to be warm, empathic, approachable, and available. I value open and honest communication and a strong supervisory relationship built on mutual respect and trust. My supervision style is based on Integrative Development Model as described by Stoltenberg, McNeill, and Delworth (2003).  This model emphasizes the importance of the trainee’s developmental level and the use of skills and supervisory approaches which match the developmental level. This model of supervision allows for flexibility and enhances the growth of supervisees. I provide clinical supervision from an integrated theoretical perspective, which typically includes CBT, humanism, and interpersonal process.

Dr. Rooster

In training to meet TDI Certification and AKC Canine Good Citizen Standards

Rooster is a 8-year-old Black Labrador Retriever. He was trained by Auburn University Canine Performance Sciences as a chemical or biological threat detection dog. During his time at Canine Performance Sciences, Rooster was trained to undergo fMRI scanning to evaluate the dog-human bond based on his interactions with his human partner and their relationship. He was one of the best dogs for the fMRI machine as he easily adapted to it and would even fall asleep in the machine! He was trained in collaboration with Canine Performance Sciences and Student Counseling & Psychological Services to share his therapy skills with Auburn students. At SCPS, Rooster works with students in individual and group counseling sessions. In addition, Rooster likes to spend time at outreach events where he can get some pets and give some tail wags to the Auburn community. Rooster’s therapeutic approach includes calming breaths, leaning into the issue at hand, and sensory exploration through belly rubs. In his free time, Rooster enjoys talking walks in the sunshine, playing with his toys, and meeting new friends.

Supervision Style:

My supervision style incorporates an all-hands-on approach and positive reinforcement. My goal is to collaboratively walk with my supervisee through the process and offer encouraging nuzzles and belly rubs along the way. I have a no bark policy and want my supervisee to come with openness and excitement to this experience just as I do. I find that mid-supervision wet licks and leaning into our time together can make for a cohesive and supportive space.

Kristee Treadwell

Ph.D., Assistant Director for Clinical Services, Licensed Psychologist

Kristee completed her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from West Virginia University in 2006. After completing her degree, Kristee worked as an inpatient psychologist at a community mental health center in Tallahassee, Florida for four years. Kristee joined SCS in December 2010 and was excited to return to her alma mater since she received her bachelor’s degree from Auburn University. Her clinical interests include working with survivors of trauma, anger management and other presenting concerns relative to the college student population, crisis intervention, group counseling, graduate student training and outreach and instruction within the university and larger community. Kristee approaches her clinical work from an integrative perspective as informed by cognitive- behavioral theory and techniques, interpersonal and other psychodynamic perspectives (e.g., object relations).

Supervision Style:

My supervisory approach is developmental in nature. It recognizes the various roles that a supervisor may need to assume balanced with meeting the supervisee where they are in their training background. In addition, it is supervisee-centered. There is an emphasis on collaboration involving providing education and clinical instruction from an integrated theoretical approach to counseling (including CBT, interpersonal process and inclusion of psychodynamic perspectives including object relations with consideration of multicultural factors) while supporting the supervisee’s independent thought and clinical skill development.