Joy Phifer

Biography

Dr. Joy Kelly Phifer holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Counseling and Counselor Education from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG). Her previous degrees include a Master of Science and Specialist in Education dual degree in Couple and Family Counseling, a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, and a Bachelor of Arts in Dance Studies—all from UNCG.

Currently, she serves as a National Certified Counselor (NCC) and a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) in the state of North Carolina, treating individuals, couples, and families in an outpatient, private agency setting. Clinically, she maintains special training in Emotionally-Focused Couples Therapy (EFT) through the Carolina Center for EFT and trauma-specific training as a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP) through the International Association of Trauma Professionals. In her clinical practice, she promotes the power of the counseling relationship, in that it has the unique potential to serve as a catalyst for individual insight, progressive change, and overall mental health wellness.

As a counselor educator, Dr. Phifer maintains a special passion for the classroom in providing experiential and transformative experiences for her students, where she enjoys teaching classes in counseling skills, career counseling, sexuality counseling, family violence, and more. Additionally, Dr. Phifer holds a strong passion for the clinical supervision process in helping developing counselors hone their clinical skills with a focus on providing high quality therapeutic services for clients. Her areas of research interest primarily relate to the prevention, treatment, and recovery experiences of victims and survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV), alongside research implications in couple and family counseling practice—all of which reflect her spiritual calling to the field.

Dr. Phifer is passionate about the performing arts where she enjoys social dancing with her husband and attending live concerts. In her free time, Dr. Phifer enjoys traveling, watching movies full of suspense and drama, and spending time with close friends and family.

Degrees Earned

Ph.D., Counseling and Counselor Education, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Master of Science and Specialist in Education, Couple & Family Counseling, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Bachelor of Science, Business Administration, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Bachelor of Arts, Dance Studies, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Work Experience

Assistant Professor and Field Coordinator, Core Faculty, January 2021 – Present, Concordia University Irvine (CUI) — Townsend Institute (TI) for Leadership & Counseling – Irvine, CA

Adjunct Instructor and Clinical Supervisor, UNCG, Department of Counseling and Educational Development, August 2020 – Present

Visiting Assistant Professor, UNCG, Department of Counseling and Educational Developmental – Greensboro, NC

First Year Experience Instructor, UNCG, New Student Transition and First Year Experience – Greensboro, NC, Fall 2019

Graduate Instructor and Supervisor, UNCG, Department of Counseling and Educational Development – Greensboro, NC, Fall 2017 – May 2019

Outpatient Counselor, Family Solutions, PLLC – Greensboro, NC, August 2017 – Present

Clinical Intern (Doctoral-level); Advanced Practicum Student Counselor (Doctoral-level); Counseling Intern (Master’s-level), Family Service of the Piedmont – Greensboro, NC, August 2015 – May 2016

Nicholas A. Vacc Counseling and Consulting Clinic, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro – Greensboro, NC, August – December 2016

Family Solutions, PLLC – Greensboro, NC, January – August 2017

Advanced Practicum Student Counselor (Master’s-level), Nicholas A. Vacc Counseling and Consulting Clinical – Greensboro, NC, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, January – May 2015

Peer Support Specialist, Client First Behavioral Health – Goldsboro, NC, December 2012 – February 2013

Courses Taught

COUN 640 Supervised Practicum

COUN 641 Supervised Internship 1

COUN 642 Supervised Internship 2

COUN 607 Social and Cultural Foundations

COUN 612 Career and Lifestyle Development

COUN 606 Foundations and Contextual Dimensions of Clinical Mental Health Counseling

COUN 633 Counseling Skills and Techniques

COUN 601 Human Growth and Development

COUN 600 Personal Development Skills and Process Group

COUN 623 Foundations of Marriage and Family Therapy

Additional Certifications

Certified Clinical Trauma Professional

Approved Clinical Supervisor

Externship in Emotionally-Focused Therapy

Professional Memberships

Certified Clinical Trauma Professional

Approved Clinical Supervisor

Externship in Emotionally-Focused Therapy

Specialized Practice Areas

Couple and family counseling

Intimate partner violence

Clinical supervision