Department of Leadership, Technology, and Human Development

Counselor Education

Fayth M. Parks, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor: Counselor Education
Georgia Southern University

Education

Ph.D., Counseling Psychology, 1997
Department of Educational Psychology
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC)

M.S., Student Personnel Services and Counseling, 1980
Upsala College, East Orange, N.J.

B.A., Psychology, 1977
Upsala College, East Orange, N.J.

Professional Credentials

• Licensed Psychologist, SC
• Licensed Professional Counselor (Eligible)

Teaching Experience

8/02-present
Assistant Professor, Department of Leadership, Technology, and Human Development, Counselor Education, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA

12/97-8/02
Lecturer, Intern Supervisor, APA Pre-doctoral Internship Program in Psychology and Counselor Education, Counseling and Human Development Center, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC

9/00
Guest Lecturer, WOST 710 Women’s Health Issues, Women’s Studies Program, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC

9/99 & 10/01
Guest Lecturer, PH 314 Consumer Health Issues, School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC

12/98
Guest Lecturer, WOST 702 Research Approaches in Women’s Studies, Women’s Studies Program, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC

8/95-11/97
Visiting Curriculum Coordinator, coordinated course offerings with university-wide general education requirements, recruited and advised undergraduate minors, developed new courses with program faculty, and developed a study abroad initiative for the African Diaspora Studies component of a Ford Foundation grant-initiative, Afro-American Studies and Research Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

1/93-11/97
Visiting Teaching Associate, Afro-American Studies and Research Program, Introduction to Afro-American Studies, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

10/96
Guest Lecturer, Ed Psy 360 Introduction to Counseling and Psychotherapy, African American folk beliefs: Implications for counseling and psychotherapy, Department of Educational Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

10/95 & 10/96
Guest Lecturer, Nusc 204 Cultural Health issues through the Life Span, African American folk healing: Midwives & nurses, School of Nursing, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

11/96
Guest Lecturer, African American folk healing: Midwives & nurses, Women’s History Month Lecture, Parkland Community College, Nursing Program, Champaign, IL

3/95
Guest Lecturer, Introduction to Criminology, Substance abuse and addiction: 1995 National Drug Control Strategy, Parkland Community College, Champaign, IL

Courses taught at Georgia Southern:

• Professional Orientation and Ethics-WebCT
• Models and Techniques in Counseling & Psychotherapy
• Counseling Practicum
• Individual Analysis- WebCT
• Student Services in Higher Education
• College Student Development
• Administration and Leadership in Higher Education
• Ethics and Professional Issues in Student Services-WebCT

Clinical and Counseling Experience

12/97-8/02
Counseling Psychologist/Outreach Coordinator, provided assessment, counseling, and psychotherapy to individuals, couples, families, and groups. Conducted training seminars and psycho-educational workshops; developed, organized, scheduled, and evaluated the center’s outreach programs. Counseling and Human Development Center, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC

1/96-1/97
Clinical Counselor, contractual services, provided assessment, counseling, and psychotherapy to clients referred by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), primary populations: families, adolescents, and children, coordinated wrap-around services with school counselors. Centerpoint, Counseling and Personal Development Services: A Division of the Mental Health Center, Champaign, IL

1/94-6/95
Director of Outpatient Services, managed outpatient treatment services for adults, adolescents, forensic client populations who were substance abusers or chemically dependent. Hired, trained, and supervised a staff of 17 full and part-time clinical counselors and outreach workers. Prairie Center for Substance Abuse, Champaign, IL

4/93-8/93
Addictions Counselor, Residential treatment program, provided assessment, individual, and group psychotherapy to clients who were substance abusers or chemically dependent, adult population, Prairie Center for Substance Abuse, Champaign, IL

8/90-8/91
APA Pre-doctoral Intern, Provided assessment, counseling and psychotherapy to adult individuals, couples, and families, co-facilitated Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACOA) group, specialized training in counseling supervision. Counseling and Human Development Center, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC

8/88-12/88
Advanced Group Practicum, co-facilitated a process support group for interracial and cross-cultural couples, Communiversity/YMCA, Champaign, IL

8/85-5/86
Advanced Practicum, assessment, individual counseling and psychotherapy, adult population, Psychological Clinic, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

1/80-7/81
Head Counselor, Educational Opportunity Program, recruited, advised, facilitated undergraduate at-risk students, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Madison, NJ

8/78-12/79
Counseling Internship, Educational Opportunity Fund Program, Upsala College, East Orange, NJ

8/77-5/78
Counseling Practicum, Educational Opportunity Program, Upsala College, East Orange, NJ

Student Services Experience

8/91-8/92
Program Coordinator, Campus Alcohol Drug Education Program, set up the campus alcohol drug education program funded by a FIPSE grant, initiated peer-educators, media campaign, collaboration across university departments and offices, Counseling Center, South Carolina State University, Orangeburg, SC

1/89-8/91
Area Coordinator, managed overall services, student residential life functions for an area comprising three residence halls (1500 students). Supervised a staff of 3 full-time residence hall directors, 1 administrative assistant, and 3 graduate assistants, coordinated building and food services operations. University Housing, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

8/88-12/88
Graduate Assistant, Minority Student Programs, Residence Life, University Housing, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

1/86-7/88
Resident Director (international graduate residence hall) 500 occupancy, managed residence hall services, coordinated building services operation, supervised 1 full-time administrative assistant, 15 part-time student workers, University Housing, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

8/81-12/85
Resident Director, managed residence life functions for an undergraduate residence hall (500 occupancy), University Housing, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

6/83-8/83, 6/84-8/84
Conference Coordinator, summer conference housing, Conference Housing Office, University Housing, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Scholarly Activities

• (2004) Reviewer, Contemporary Psychology (APA Journal)
• (2003) External reviewer, New York University Press

Publications

Dissertation

Parks, F.M. (1996). Attribution Models of Helping and Coping: A Transgenerational theory of African American traditional healing (Doctoral dissertation, University of Illinois at Urbana, 1996). Dissertation Abstracts International, 57,3624.

Peer-reviewed

Parks, F.M. (2003). The role of African American folk beliefs in the modern therapeutic process. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice,10 (4), 456-467.

Parks, F.M. (1999). African American traditional healing beliefs and practices in the United States. Psykhe: Revista de la Escuela de Psicologia, 8(1), 75-81.

Parks, F.M. (1998). Models of helping and coping: A transgenerational theory of African American traditional healing. Interamerican Journal of Psychology, 32 (1), 95-110.

Book Chapters

Parks, F.M. (2002). Standing their ground: Black women’s sacred daily lives. In C. Higgs, E. Ferguson, & B. Moss (Eds.) Stepping forward: Black women in the African diaspora. Athens: Ohio University Press

Parks, F.M. (2000). When troubled waters rise: African American folk healing and the bible. In V. Wimbush (Ed.) African Americans and the Bible. New York: Continuum International Publishing.

Other publications

Parks, F.M. (1998, March). Traditional folk healing remains popular among African Americans. Clinical Psychology of Ethnic Minorities Newsletter, 9, American Psychological Association, Division 45, Society for the Psychological Study of Ethnic Minority Issues.

Parks, F.M. (1996, November). Transforming Thanksgiving: A harvest of cultures. (Feature article). The Octopus, p.6.

Parks, F.M. (1992) Effects of a micro-computer intensive residence hall environment on computer-related attitudes and skills of undergraduate students: A study of race differences. Unpublished Master’s thesis equivalency, University of Illinois at Urbana.

Conference Papers and Presentations

International

(1997, July). African American traditional healing beliefs and practices in the United States. In A.T. Caldwell-Colbert (Chair), Cultural issues relevant to psychological intervention. Round Table at the 26th Interamerican Congress of Psychology, São Paulo, Brazil

National

(2003, February) F. Parks and L. Spencer, co-presenters. Anchors of integrity: A model for implementing multi-cultural ethical practices,14th Annual National Youth-at-Risk Conference, Savannah, GA

(2000, April) Folk healing and the bible. African Americans and the Bible Conference. Union Theological Seminary/Columbia University, New York.

(1999, August). Roles and organization (1999, August). Roles and organization in African American folk healing. In M. Zea (Chair), Spirituality in indigenous African traditions in the Americas. Symposium conducted at the American Psychological Association 107th Annual Convention, Boston, MA

(1997, August). African American traditional healing beliefs and practices. In T. Moore (Chair), Traditional healing among ethnic minorities: Approaches to community empowerment Symposium conducted at the American Psychological Association 105th Annual Conference, Chicago, IL

(1996, September). A transgenerational theory of African American traditional healing: Women & spirituality. Poster session presented at the American Psychological Association Women's Health Conference, Washington, DC

(1996, August). Attribution models of helping and coping: A transgenerational theory of African American traditional healing. Paper presented at the Association of Black Psychologists 28th Annual Convention, Chicago, IL

Regional

(2003, May). Zora Neale Hurston’s Sanctified Church: Gullah traditions in sacred daily life. In D.E. Washington (Chair), Naming ourselves through memory, spirit, and song. Academic Forum at the 17th Annual Gullah Festival of South Carolina, Beaufort, SC.

(2003, February) F. Parks, L. Spencer, M. Jackson, and M. Alexander-Snow, co-presenters. Anchors of integrity: A model for implementing multi-cultural ethical practices, 2nd Annual Southeastern Conference on Cross-cultural Issues in Counseling and Education, Savannah, GA

(2002, May). Remembering community: Gullah religious traditions. In D. E. Washington (Chair), Naming ourselves through memory, spirit, and song. Academic Forum at the 16th Annual Gullah Festival of South Carolina, Beaufort, SC

(1994, April). Attribution models of helping and coping: A transgenerational theory of African American traditional healing: Preliminary results from the pilot study. Paper presented at the American Psychological Association Midwest Conference, Division 17, University of Notre Dame

State

(2001, February). Standing their ground: Black women’s sacred daily life. Paper presented at the 14th Annual Women’s Studies Conference, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC

(1993, November). Making gender-balanced, multicultural education a reality in Illinois schools: Psychology in the social sciences. Paper presented at a statewide conference of Illinois Secondary Schools and Community Colleges, Champaign, IL

Research Award

1997 (July) Interamerican Society of Psychology Research Award (Graduate level), dissertation study on African American folk healing. Award received at the international conference, São Paulo, Brazil.

Grant Support

$1,000 grant award from the Midwest Universities Consortium for International Activities (MUCIA) toward travel costs to explore potential institutional linkages for study and research abroad opportunities with a focus on the history and culture of Afro-Brazilians. Visit to São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Bahia Brazil, July 1997.

$100 grant, Department of Educational Psychology, University of Illinois presented a paper at the Counseling Psychology, Division 17 Great Lakes Regional Conference, University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN

Honors

• 2002, April, African American Professor’s Program Service Award University of South Carolina
• 2002, August, South Carolina Educational Opportunity/TRIO Programs, Service Recognition, University of South Carolina
• Spring 1994 published List of Teachers Ranked as Excellent by Their Students University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• 1984 Kappa Delta Pi, Education Honor Society

Workshops conducted

3/04
Anchors of Integrity: A Model for Implementing Ethical Practices
20th Annual MAP/MRO Conference, Office of Minority Student Affairs, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA

2/03
A Narrative Approach to Incorporating African American Folk Beliefs in Counseling and Psychotherapy, Georgia Licensed Professional Counselor Association, Savannah, GA

11/02
Taking Care of Yourself in the Midst of It All
GSU Annual Financial Aid Staff Development, Nessmith Continuing Education, Statesboro, GA

3/02
Taking Care of Yourself in the Midst of It All
Post Trauma Response: Mental Health Tools for Communities in Crisis sponsored by the South Carolina Mental Health Association, Columbia, SC

5/00
Bridging the Gap: Cross-Cultural Competency. Columbia Area Mental Health Center, Columbia, SC

12/98
Self-Care: A Holistic Model for Helping Professionals. TRIO Programs, University of South Carolina.

11/98
Mental Health and Spirituality. University of South Carolina Chaplains' Association.

5/97
Champaign-Urbana Ministerial Alliance Annual Workshop. Covenant Medical Center, Champaign, IL. Workshop presented to hospital chaplains on the use of folk healing beliefs and practices by African Americans as helping seeking and coping strategies.

6/96
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District: Training workshop for case managers and community health workers on African American folk beliefs and healing communities.

4/96
African American Families. Champaign County, Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.

Invited public lectures and guest speaking

(2004, March) Presenter, Ministers’ Spouses, Widows & Widowers Organization Annual Retreat, The African Methodist Episcopal Church Seventh Episcopal District, Hilton Head, SC

(2003, February) Keynote speaker, Black History Month, Mather School Anniversary Luncheon, Technical College of the Low Country, Beaufort, SC

(2000, March) Spirituality and faith in Black women’s sacred daily lives, Women’s History Month Lecture Series, York W. Bailey Museum, Penn Center, St. Helena Island, SC

(1999, March) Gallery Talk: Spirituality and Women. International Women's Festival, The Field Museum, Chicago, IL

(1999, January) Brown Bag Noon Lecture: Lunacy or Legacy? African American Folk Healing Beliefs and Practices. Collaborative Learning Center, Columbia College, Columbia, SC

(1998, April) Keynote speaker: Women and business: Is There a Place for Spirituality? American Business Women’s Association Triad Chapter Awards Banquet, Columbia, SC

(1998, February) Is It Lunacy or Legacy? African American Folk Healing Beliefs and Practices, Black History Month Lecture: Co-sponsored by the Office of Continuing Education and African American Students Association, University of South Carolina, Beaufort.

(1997, January) Keynote: Making Real the Dream: King's Vision of Beloved Community. 12th Annual Martin Luther King Day Community Prayer Breakfast at First United Methodist Church, Champaign, IL

(1996, May) Gallery Talk: Folk traditions: Healing Beliefs among African Americans, East Gallery, Krannert Art Museum, University of Illinois at Urbana.

(1994, April) Brown Bag Lecture: A Transgenerational Theory of African American Traditional Healing. Afro-American Studies and Research Program, University of Illinois at Urbana

(1994, March) African American Traditional Healing: The Role of Women. Women's History Month Lecture Series, Women's Studies Department. Illinois State University, Bloomington, IL

University Service

Georgia Southern University

• Volunteer, A Day for Southern Campaign, 2003
• Chair, Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education, Professional Preparation Programs Self-Assessment Committee, 2003
• Member, Counselor Education Admission Committee, 2002 - present
• Member, Student Affairs Leadership Advisory Council, 2002 - present
• Member, Southeastern Cross-cultural Conference Planning Committee, 2002 - present

University of South Carolina

• Member, President’s Interfaith Advisory Committee, 1998 - 2002
• Member, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration Planning Committee, 1998 - 2002
• Member, Campus Residency Advisory Committee, 2002

Professional Development Activities

(2003, March) Counseling Techniques for Reducing Anxiety, Cross Country University

(2002,August) Counseling Victims of Sexual Abuse. Cross Country University

(2001, November) Trends in Family Therapy and Mental Health Practice. Family Service Center of South Carolina

(2001, January) Psychology of Health, Immunity, and Disease Conference. National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine

(2000, July) Clinical Hypnosis Training Academy, Silver Spring, MD

(1999, March) Mental Health and Spirituality. South Carolina Mental Health Association

Professional Membership

• 1997- present American Psychological Association
• 1997-present APA Division 45 Society for the Psychological Study of Ethnic Minority Issues

Last updated January 18, 2007