John Paul Abner

John Paul Abner serves as Professor of Occupational Therapy, Psychology, and Counseling and Director of Academic Advising at Milligan University. He teaches graduate-level research methods for occupational therapists and undergraduate courses in child development, developmental psychology, and children's mental health issues.

He holds a BA in Psychology from Middle Tennessee State University and MS/PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Florida.

Dr. Abner specializes in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), an evidence-based treatment for childhood disruptive behaviors. His groundbreaking work includes co-authoring the first randomized controlled trial proving PCIT's efficacy for children on the autism spectrum and developing international training standards. Research extends to children's mental health interventions and developmental psychology applications.

Among his distinctions, he is one of only 21 PCIT International Global Trainers globally. He established the PCIT certification process, co-authored its exam, and trained over 300 therapists through Tennessee's Centers of Excellence for Children in State Custody.

Deeply committed to student mentorship, Dr. Abner emphasizes meaningful academic guidance within Milligan's Christian community. He actively engages students through the university's mission-focused environment and service-oriented curriculum.