Carrie Elder

Dr. Carrie Elder serves as Assistant Professor of Counseling and Clinical Coordinator for the Department of Counseling within Mercer University's College of Professional Advancement. She holds a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision from Mercer (2021), MS in Art Therapy from Eastern Virginia Medical School (2005), and BA in Studio Art with Psychology minor from Berry College (2002), plus a mindfulness certificate from Lesley University.

Her research spans Counselor Wellness, Burnout Resilience, Art Therapy, Mindfulness Integration, and Ethics in Clinical Practice, with specialized focus on LGBTQ+ advocacy, postpartum mental health, and cognitive behavioral interventions for severe anxiety. She pioneered creative experiential methods for supervision and developed protocols for counseling adults with persistent mental illness.

Dr. Elder teaches core counseling curriculum including Practicum, Ethics, and Advanced Theories courses while maintaining active professional engagement through ACA, LPCA of GA, and NBCC. Her 2022 Counseling Today publication on pandemic-related counselor burnout reflects her commitment to practitioner wellness, complemented by conference presentations on mindfulness-based expressive arts and ethical remediation processes.

Professional credentials include National Certified Counselor (NCC), Certified Professional Counselor Supervisor (CPCS), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), and Board Certified Art Therapist (ATR-BC). Her clinical background at Atlanta Regional Hospital informs current scholarship on telemental health accessibility for rural populations and moral injury frameworks.