W. David Lane

W. David Lane is a Professor of Counseling in the Department of Counseling within Mercer University's College of Professional Advancement. As the founding faculty member of the Counseling Program, he has spent 30 years at Mercer University building a distinguished career that spans 48 years of professional experience as a counselor, counselor educator, and supervisor. His expertise centers on trauma counseling, with specializations in veterans issues, child and adolescent counseling, marriage and family therapy, and counselor supervision.

Dr. Lane earned his PhD in Counseling from Georgia State University in 1992, following a Master of Education in Counseling (1981) and Bachelor of Science in Education (1976). His professional credentials include being a Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Nationally Board Certified Counselor, and former Certified Professional Counselor Supervisor.

His research focuses on trauma intervention, particularly through his signature Trauma Narrative Treatment model developed with his wife, Dr. Donna Lane. This narrative group approach to trauma recovery has been translated into five languages and is currently used in 14 countries worldwide. His work extends beyond traditional academic boundaries, with significant international experience including post-earthquake trauma work in Haiti, Sandy Hook school shooting response, and an ongoing Mercer On Mission program in Rwanda that has engaged 36 counseling students since 2022.

Dr. Lane's publication record shows consistent scholarly output over the past decade, with a focus on trauma treatment, veterans counseling, multicultural supervision, and narrative therapy approaches. His work demonstrates a clear trajectory from clinical practice to developing internationally recognized treatment models.

• John Burns Lifetime Achievement Award (2018)
• Linda Painter Service Award (2018)
• Gold Medal Children's Picture Book, Pinnacle Book Awards (2022)
• Multiple awards for children's books totaling over 40 national and international recognitions
• Appointed by Governor to Composite Board for Counselors, Social Workers, and Marriage and Family Therapists (2021)

As an educator, Dr. Lane has taught every course in the master's counseling curriculum except for career/vocational counseling and cultural perspectives, plus six courses in the Ph.D. curriculum. He actively involves students in research and international trauma work, demonstrating his commitment to experiential learning. His leadership extends to professional organizations, where he served 12 years on the LPCA-GA Board (including as ethics chair), edited the Georgia Journal of Professional Counseling for a decade, and helped create the CPCS credential. Currently serving as Vice-Chair of Georgia's counseling licensing board, he continues to shape the profession while maintaining an active clinical and scholarly practice.