Grafton T. Eliason - Career Counseling Across the Lifespan: Community, School, and Higher Education

Grafton Eliason is currently a full professor and coordinator in the Department of Counselor Education and Services, California University of Pennsylvania. He is also an ordained Presbyterian minister volunteering as a member of the company of pastors at Bower Hill Community Church, and Chaplain at The Woodlands, a camp for children with disabilities. Grafton has a special interest in pastoral care, counseling, cross cultural studies, spirituality, existentialism, grief and loss. In addition, he has taught classes and published extensively on these various subjects. He has enjoyed participating in a number of mission trips in the past, and believes that he and his students gain just as much from their experiences as the people visited. So far, they have worked and studied in India, Peru, Belize, Puerto Rico, and South Africa. They have been able to work in schools, orphanages, homes for the elderly, addiction centers, and have had the opportunity to share experiences with nurses, police, teachers, and students. Grafton received a Doctorate in Counselor Education and Supervision from Duquesne University, an MEd in School Counseling from Shippensburg University, an MDiv from Princeton Theological Seminary, and a BA from Shippensburg University in English Literature and Psychology. He has worked previously as a Presbyterian Pastor of two rural churches, as a licensed professional counselor (LPC) and community mental health therapist, and he has taught at Duquesne University, The Citadel, and Chatham University.

Trisha Eliason currently teaches classes for Argosy University and works as an independent consultant and therapist. She is interested in the study of Folklore as Psychological Coping Mechanism, and has published on the relationship between urban legends after terrorist attacks and cycles of folklore throughout history used as psychological coping mechanisms. She has worked therapeutically with individuals in community, schools, and higher education. Her counseling includes all areas of human development, with an emphasis on education, career, and personal success and happiness.

Jeff L. Samide is Associate Professor of Counselor Education at California University of Pennsylvania. His experiences in Career Development have spanned 30 years. His interest was renewed as he assisted his daughter, Rosie, as she made decisions about her path in life. Dr. Samide has published on diverse topics including spirituality and counseling, the fusion of art, science and technology into counselor education, clinical supervision and folklore. Dr. Samide is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), National Certified Counselor (NCC), Master Addictions Counselor (MAC), Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS) and a past PA State Certified Elementary School Guidance Counselor. As a psychotherapist with over thirty years experience, he has expertise in working with individuals and families suffering from a variety of problems including addiction, sexual abuse, domestic violence and more. He has provided expert testimony in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania courts well over two hundred times. Past positions include clinical director at a chemical dependency rehabilitation center, individual and group psychotherapist in a variety of settings, consultant, school counselor, and mental health emergency case worker specialist. In addition to teaching, Dr. Samide maintains a clinical consultation practice dealing with children, youth and family issues in Westmoreland County PA.

John Patrick is a Professor in the Department of Counselor Education at California University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Patrick has taught numerous courses in Career Counseling and has a special interest in using the creative arts in career counseling. He has published extensively on various career topics, including career assessment, curriculum development, outcome assessment, and vocational rehabilitation. Dr. Patrick is a professional artist, Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, National Certified Counselor, and a Licensed Professional Counselor.