Professional School Counseling

Melissa Boas works full-time at Lancaster Bible College as the Director of the Professional School Counseling program.  Prior to coming to LBC she worked 12 years in public education as a former middle school and high school counselor, and a supervisor of school counseling services. Melissa believes that school counselors are integral within school districts in meeting the needs of all students social emotional development, fostering academic growth, and providing career education services.  Melissa believes that the profession of school counseling is a special calling from God, a very rewarding career, and is excited to train the next generation of school counselors.  Melissa serves as an associate professor, teaches multiple courses, and supervises and advises future school counseling students.  She is currently working on her Doctorate in Education degree and when she is not working she enjoys spending time with her husband, Joel, and three children Joel Jr., Luca, and Maverick.

Holding a doctorate in Clinical Psychology, Dr. Kuehner considers himself fortunate to serve students as Associate Professor, Director of the M.A. Professional Counseling Program, and Chair of the Counseling & Social Work Department. Whether through ongoing research projects, student instruction and advisement, clinical practice, curriculum development, admissions management, or accreditation endeavors, Dr. Kuehner brings a wealth of scholarly and practical knowledge toward the goal of maintaining and growing premier undergraduate and graduate programs. Surrounded by extremely gifted colleagues, Dr. Kuehner is enthused to collectively forge ahead in training students in both the art and the science of professional psychotherapy undergirded by Integrationist Theory. Areas of instruction for Dr. Kuehner encompass psychopharmacology, abnormal psychology, biopsychology, professional ethics, applied counseling techniques, theories of personality, specialized therapies, and advanced applied research practicum. Dr. Kuehner has been married for 13 years; he and his wife have three children.

While working as a substitute teacher after graduating with my undergraduate degree in 2008, I was introduced to using the arts with students with disabilities and the profession of art therapy. While completing my Master of Science degree, I had the great opportunity to participate in an international exploratory art therapy internship in Tanzania, Africa in August of 2007. Upon graduation from Nazareth College, I took a position as the only art therapist at Monroe 2--Orleans BOCES serving schools throughout Monroe County in New York State. Over the next four years, I grew the art therapy program and found joy in working with students with Autism Spectrum Disorders. While developing the program and interventions to support these children I realized the need for further education and entered the Counseling and Human Development program at Warner School of Education at the University of Rochester. During this time, I was a LEND fellow from 2012-2013, which enhanced my skills in understanding and working with children with neurodevelopmental and other related disorders through the Golisano Children's Hospital. I am a Board-Certified Art Therapist (ATR-BC), Licensed Creative Arts Therapist in NYS (LCAT), and a Licensed Professional Counselor in PA (LPC). In August 2020, I was awarded my Doctorate in Education from the University of Rochester. My dissertation evaluated an original art therapy intervention with adults with ASD to teach idioms. I help parallel careers in higher education in administrative positions at Roberts Wesleyan College and Colgate University. After leaving higher education, I realized my passion lied in working with students and seeing their growth and development throughout their education. God gave me the passion to teach in higher education, which affords me the ability to combine my knowledge of the field and the enjoyment of working with students to develop their gifts from God.

Professor Sean Dougherty is blessed to serve as an assistant professor in the Master of Education in the school counseling degree program at LBC | Capital's main campus and the Associate Provost for Student Success. Professor Dougherty is a two-time graduate of Lancaster Bible College, holding a master’s degree of education in school counseling and a bachelor’s degree in biblical studies. His second master’s degree is from the California University of Pennsylvania in Sports Management. Dougherty is a certified school counselor and worked in public and private school settings for more than 10 years. He also spent several years working as a child and adolescent therapist. Dougherty is passionate about youth mental health and his areas of instruction at the college have included career counseling, group counseling and exceptional learners. He remains actively involved with his local school district and is married with five beautiful children.

Jon is a graduate of Lancaster Bible College with a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Counseling. He is certified by the State of Pennsylvania as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and a Certified Advanced Alcohol & Drug Counselor (CAADC) and is also certified as an Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS). In addition to teaching, Jon provides individual, couples, and family therapy, specifically working in the areas of relational conflict resolution, substance related issues, addictions, anxiety and depression. He is a member of Christian Association for Psychological Studies (CAPS).