Hi. I'm Ken McCurdy. I am an associate professor of Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Gannon University. Gannon is located in the heart of downtown Erie Pennsylvania, right on the lake (well, about 1/2 mile from it). One of the reasons I love Erie is the variety of activities that can be done in this four season’s climate of northwestern Pennsylvania. Erie is a great place to live and enjoy life!
I am a faculty member in our nationally accredited counselor education program. We are a small program that does some great things. What makes us stand apart from other counseling programs is our focus on wellness and reflective learning. We prepare clinically competent general counseling practitioners to work with young people, adults, couples, and families in various counseling and mental health settings.
I am a Professional Counselor. This is what I went to school for, the degrees I earned, and the license that I have. I am not a Psychologist, Psychiatrist, Therapist, etc.
My research interests focus on:
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Professional Identity in Counseling
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Counselor Education and Supervision
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Adlerian / Individual Psychology
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Children’s Mental Health & Play Therapy
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Family & Couples Counseling
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Ethical and Legal Issues in Counseling
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Crisis and Disaster Counseling
I have two kids who attend classes at Gannon. My family, friends, relatives, and I enjoy everything that Erie has to offer. In my spare time, I love to sail in the bay and on Lake Erie. I can be found most Sundays and Wednesdays during the summer racing sailboats in the Erie Yacht Club Racing Fleet. I also love long distance racing in the Chigago Yacht Club to Mackinac Island and the Bayview to Mackinac Island races. For the past 4 years I have served as the assistant coach for the Gannon University Sailing Team (GUST).
Oh, and did I mention that I love the Pittsburg STEELERS!!!!!!
Outside of Gannon, I do some part-time counseling with a few clients at Family Services of Nothwestern Pennsylvania and have been a Disaster Mental Health Counselor with the American Red Cross for almost 20 years. I also conduct trainings for the Red Cross in Psych First Aid and Disaster Mental Health.... So I keep pretty busy.
I was born and raised in Erie but I have lived throughout Pennsylvania and Ohio before returning home, again in 2003. Who knows what the future holds but for 16 years, Erie and Gannon have been HOME.