Kelly Coker

Dr. Kelly Coker serves as Full Professor in the Counseling Department at Palo Alto University (PAU) and holds the Faculty Senate Chair position for 2024-2025. A licensed clinical mental health counselor (LCMHC) in North Carolina, she maintains a tele-mental health private practice while dedicating herself to counselor education and advocating for anti-racist practices in academic and clinical settings.

Her academic credentials include:

• PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision from UNC-Greensboro (CACREP Accredited)
• MBA from Walden University
• MA in Agency Counseling from Appalachian State University (CACREP Accredited)

Dr. Coker's research critically examines Online learning and Tele-mental health counseling methodologies, with deep focus on Lifespan Development through cultural and contextual lenses—particularly older adult development. She actively investigates Assessment and Accreditation in Higher Education and Clinical Training at the Doctoral Level, integrating anti-oppressive frameworks into counselor education curricula.

Her 2022-2024 publications reveal a cohesive research trajectory centered on decolonizing lifespan development theory and its clinical applications. Key works include the 2024 book DSM-5-TR and Family Systems and multiple articles exploring anti-oppressive teaching methodologies in online environments, counselor competency assessment, and the sociocultural dimensions of human development.

Scientific Awards: No awards listed in source materials.

Dr. Coker mentors emerging counselors with emphasis on client-centered practice and cultural humility. While specific grant details aren't provided, her accreditation expertise and CACREP involvement indicate substantial contributions to program evaluation and educational standards development.

She operates a private tele-mental health practice serving adult clients and maintains active engagement with CACREP, influencing national counseling education standards through her accreditation work.