WVCA Awards 2025

Lauren Pavlic, LPC

"Lauren always takes the time to truly connect with her clients — myself included. She’s helped me navigate some incredibly difficult moments with compassion, offering both perspective and practical coping tools that have reshaped my mindset. Her deep love for West Virginia shines through in everything she does. She’s not only supported her clients with care, but has also actively nurtured and uplifted her community.  Lauren is an outstanding young woman who is dedicated to her profession. Continual self-improvement has allowed her to remain on the cutting edge of mental health and therapy. Of course, credentials don't help an individual's improvement process. It's what you do with your skillset. For example, Lauren has used her training in the Gottman method to help couples understand each other and bring them closer together."

This award honors an outstanding clinical supervisor who has demonstrated exceptional knowledge and skill in the art of clinical supervision; dedication in supporting the next generation of professional counselors; innovation in clinical supervision and/or supervision research; and leadership in the advancement of supervision knowledge, techniques, and theory.

Requirement(s): WV LPC and ALPS credentials

Renee Bair, LPC, ALPS

"I am honored to nominate Renee for the Outstanding Clinical Supervisor Award. As a clinical supervisor for CCA, Renee exemplifies excellence in leadership, mentorship, and professional development across multiple states. Her commitment to onboarding new counselors is unparalleled, providing them with a strong foundation in clinical theory and practical interventions. Renee's thoughtful and personalized approach empowers counselors to grow in confidence and competence, fostering ethical and effective practice. She consistently goes above and beyond to support clinicians at every stage of their development, making a lasting impact on the quality of care delivered across CCA. Her dedication to the profession and her supervisees makes her a truly deserving candidate for this recognition.  Renee has been very active in the WVCA and has brought us many students and provides an excellent avenue for students to get their internships and experience."

Ginger Conley, LPC, ALPS

"As my clinical supervisor, Ginger has demonstrated exceptional leadership, mentorship and dedication to fostering professional growth. She has worked to provide an effective, safe learning environment that has been instrumental in fostering growth both professionally and personally. She is committed to making the department the best it can be and maintains a voice of advocacy for each student served by our department. In every sense, she has modeled dedication and inspires us all to be better clinicians. "

Terina Gardner, LPC, ALPS

"Terina is an incredible leader and supervisor with experience in both the clinical mental health and school counseling spaces. She is an excellent role model for other clinicians, demonstrating solid clinical acumen and impeccable ethical decision-making. She is confident but also humble - she's not afraid to ask questions and show vulnerability, and she's down-to-earth and approachable.  Terina also serves in the Air National Guard here in West Virginia, where she also serves in a leadership capacity."

Angie Juniper, LPC, ALPS

"I am honored to nominate Angie in recognition of her exceptional leadership and dedication to advancing the ALPS training program across the state of West Virginia. Angie played an integral role in not only developing and implementing the training but also in identifying critical gaps and leading the charge for meaningful changes that address longstanding supervisory challenges. Her work has resulted in improved standards, better support for supervisors, and a stronger, more effective framework for the entire ALPS system. Angie’s unwavering commitment to the profession and her tireless efforts to elevate the quality of supervision in our state make her a truly deserving recipient of this award.  Angie has worked in multiple roles as a counselor in the state and works to improve other counselors she works with. I have worked with her on the ALPS training and love her dedication to the improvements needed for supervision."

WVCA Innovative Research Award

This award honors a significant research project, conducted by member(s) of the counseling profession in West Virginia, that has been published, is in the process of being published, or is publishable.  The individual(s) honored will have demonstrated dedication to the advancement of the counseling profession through scholarship.

Requirement(s): Published/publishable research project by a member of the counseling profession in WV

Dr. Eric Beeson

"Artificial Intelligence (AI) is evolving quickly, and like most things, it has the potential to be used either for "good" or for "bad". Dr. Beeson has immersed himself in understanding AI and how it can be used in ways that is not only ethical but also actually beneficial to the counseling profession. His current study focuses on the ongoing evolution of the use of AI for simulation-based learning in counselor education. It also explores how the use of AI in this capacity compares to more traditional methods of skills practice, such as role plays with friends/family, peers, actors, and standardized clients/patients."

WVCA Distinguished Advocacy Award

This award honors a member of the counseling profession who has demonstrated outstanding service and commitment to the counseling profession, clients, and/or community through advocacy work* in West Virginia.  

*This is based on the American Counseling Association's definition of "capital A advocacy actions", which are "larger-scale, organized efforts such as those aimed at changing federal or state legislation or local policies and practices" (ACA Advocacy Task Force, 2020).

Requirement(s): Demonstrated advocacy involvement in West Virginia

Dr. Carol Smith

"Dr. Smith has been an incredible addition to the WVCA Legislative/Advocacy Committee. She has participated in meetings with our lobbyist and, earlier this year, testified at the Capitol in support of the mental health payment parity bill that was introduced. Despite being an incredibly busy counselor educator, she makes a point to keep herself informed on issues impacting the counseling profession, including ongoing insurance-related battles, AI, and "Big Tech". As the Founding President of the International Association of Resilience and Trauma Counselors (IARTC), she is a strong voice for the profession both in West Virginia and nationally."

WVCA Community Impact Award

This award honors an organization in West Virginia that has either (a) made a significant, positive impact on the mental health of the community over the past year, or (b) has made significant contributions to the counseling profession over the past year.

Requirement(s): Organization must be located in West Virginia

J Terry Consulting

"J Terry Consulting is the consulting firm of Julie Terry, the lobbyist representing WVCA and WVLPCA. Julie works tirelessly to represent the interests of our profession, both during and outside of Legislative Session. Because of this organization, the West Virginia state legislature continues to review the first responder PTSD bill (for which JTC continues to fight for LPCs and other behavioral health professions to be able to diagnose in accordance with the scope of our licensure). Additionally, a bill calling for true parity for mental health providers was introduced earlier this year, with overwhelming bipartisan support and is expected to continue to build momentum in the interims this fall. JTC somehow is able to navigate the incredible complexity of our state legislature with energy, positivity, and poise. Julie is an amazing advocate and is so knowledgeable about the legislators, helping us to identify allies that will join us in our fight. Without JTC, it would be very difficult, if not impossible, for WVCA to make headway legislatively."

Mountain Care Network

"MCN is growing into so many WV communities! They are diversifying their offerings in terms of specialties in mental health care, training multiple levels of staff and encouraging pursuit of higher education and training for the purposes of increasing needed offerings in WV, and they continue to remain active and engaged supporters and participants in local festivals, events, and conferences."

Project Hope for Women and Children

"Project Hope for Women and Children is a leading residential treatment program addressing the needs of those women with SUD & Co- occurring disorders. PHWC works to keep mothers with their children, while in treatment. PHWC has successfully allowed 300 families through their doors since opening. PHWC is focused on High quality care, research, advocacy, and overall positive impact in their community and across WV.  PHWC focuses on high quality multi disciplinary treatment to help not only the mother heal, but promote healing within the family. PHWC uses community resources in order to ensure the families become involved in their community. PHWC has developed positive relationships with all 55 court systems advocating for families, working with drug courts and other systems."

Honorable Mentions

While we certainly appreciate the kudos, the WVCA Board has voted to exclude Executive Board members (President, President-Elect, Immediate Past-President, and Secretary) from being eligible for awards.  However, we do want to acknowledge their nominations:

Dr. Brandon Waggoner: Nominated for WVCA Outstanding Clinical Supervisor Award

Dr. Jerica Wesley: Nominated for WVCA Excellence in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Award, WVCA Outstanding Counselor Educator Award, and WVCA Outstanding Clinical Supervisor Award

Dr. Kari Mika-Lude: Nominated for WVCA Distinguished Advocacy Award

Thank you for these nominations!