Richard Balkin

Richard Balkin is a Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Leadership and Counselor Education at the University of Mississippi, School of Education. He is also the Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling and former editor of the Journal of Counseling & Development. Balkin specializes in counseling research, measurement, and assessment, with a focus on adolescents and forgiveness.

• Education: Ph.D. in Counselor Education from the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville (2003)
• Key Roles: ACA Fellow, past-president of the Association for Assessment and Research in Counseling

Research Interests:
His work spans counseling outcomes, adolescent crisis stabilization, self-compassion, and life balance. Balkin developed the Forgiveness Reconciliation Inventory and pioneered a tele-mental health system for underserved youth in Mississippi. He emphasizes statistical rigor in counseling research, advocating for Bayesian methods and effect size reporting.

Scientific Awards:

• ACA Fellow

Contributions:
Balkin has authored over 100 publications, including textbooks on assessment and Practicing Forgiveness: A Path Toward Healing (Oxford University Press). His initiatives in counseling research methodology and crisis interventions for youth highlight his commitment to advancing the field.