Belmont University Counseling Center is staffed by professionally trained and licensed clinicians who have special expertise in working with college students. We are also a training site for master’s and doctoral level students pursuing clinical degrees.
Katherine Cornelius, LCSWDirectorView BioShe / Her / Hers
Degree/Training: BS Vanderbilt University, MSSW University of TN, EMDR (Level I and II), Brainspotting, DBT
Years Working with BUCS / Responsibilities: I’ve been at Belmont for 17 years, as hard as that is to believe! I’ve worked in the Counseling Center for the past 11 years. My responsibilities include a little bit of everything, which I love: outreach, therapy - group and individual, education, relationship building, reporting (yes, I’m an Excel nerd), Medicat guru, supervision, dreamer & “make it happen-er.” ☺
Areas of Clinical Interest: I’m passionate about the journey of self-discovery and self-actualization! We each have a unique story and I find it a distinct honor to bear witness to my fellow journeyers' experiences. My clinical interests include: Trauma, Mindfulness, Cognitive Behavioral Approaches, Anxiety & Depression, Relationship Dynamics, Emerging Adulthood - Stages of Development, Identity Formation and Group Work.
Hometown: Oak Ridge, TN (home of one of the Manhattan project sites and no, I don’t glow at night)
Personal Interests: Gardening, hiking and camping with my two boys, beekeeping, reading (fiction!), crocheting and knitting, hanging with my family’s many furry friends (yes, we have two cats, a dog, guinea pig, fish, and the bees)
COVID Survival Tip: Lots of gummy bears….just kidding! Don’t skimp on the self-care. It’s important to slow down and check in with yourself. Find what gets you grounded. For me, it’s frequently nature. I remind myself to “look up and look down” and even started a photo album of pics that remind me to get perspective. Glance up at the sky; really take a look at the ground in front of you. Notice the details. I also really love Insight Timer. It’s been a great source of moments of mindfulness in the mornings.
Suzanne Rhinehardt, LCSWAssistant DirectorView BioShe / Her / Hers
Degree / Training: BS Vanderbilt University, MSSW University of Tennessee - EMDR (Level I and II), Brainspotting, Internal Family Systems, Experiential Modalities
Years Working with BUCS / Responsibilities: 8 years / Clinical Supervisor, Community Liason, TAO Queen, Mental Health First Aid Trainer, filling in the gaps & putting out fires
Areas of Clinical Interest: Mindfulness, Healthy Relationships, Healing from Trauma, Managing Anxiety/Depression, Experiential Therapy, Group Work. Humans are complicated and resilient. Life is messy and amazing - and sometimes really, really hard. Talking helps.
Hometown: NASHVILLE!
Personal Interests: Outside of work, I might be hiking in the park, baking something sweet, working with bees, watching Netflix (currently Alone and Love on the Spectrum) or dreaming about where to travel next.
COVID Survival Tip: 30 minute naps & Spotify's French Café playlist
Lesley Muenzen, LCSWTherapistView BioShe / Her / Hers
Degree / Training: Licensed Clinical Social Worker, BA, Rutgers University; MSW, Simmons University School of Social Work, Boston, MA / Trained in EMDR Level I & II and Brainspotting
Years Working with BUCS / Responsibilities: Almost a decade! / Graduate Training Coordinator, Graduate Intern Supervisor, Individual & Group Therapist
Areas of Clinical Interest: Trauma Support & Reprocessing, Grief & Loss, Crisis Intervention, Identity Development, Family of Origin Issues, Relationship Dynamics, College Student Mental Health
Hometown: Westfield, New Jersey
Personal Interests: Chasing after my 19-month-old daughter, coaching or watching my 10-year-old daughter's soccer games, bike rides with the family, following the Nashville Predators, New York Giants and Boston Red Sox
COVID Survival Tip: Two recent go-to's include watching Tiny Kitchen videos and listening to the Unlocking Us podcast
Dave Jaeger, LMFTTherapistView BioHe / Him / His
Degree / Training: Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in TN – Masters in Marriage & Family Therapy from Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, TN
Years Working with BUCS / Responsibilities: 3 years – Outreach, Convocation, Intern Supervisor, Queso Eater, Individual & Group Therapist
Areas of Clinical Interest: Anxiety, Enneagram, Spiritual Trauma/Deconstruction, Working with Creatives
Hometown: Cambridge, MN
Personal Interests: Woodworking, yardwork, hanging out with my wife (Grace) & our dog (Rey), travel, food, lake days
COVID Survival Tip: If I figure it out, Ill let you know ☺
Jonathan Sharpes, MFTCTherapistView BioHe / Him / His
Degree/Training: Marriage and Family Therapy
Years Working with BUCS / Responsibilities: I have worked at Belmont for over three years. I provide psychotherapy for Belmont students and run the BUCS IG account.
Areas of Clinical Interest: I enjoy working with clients to understand their mental health through an attachment lens. I believe that we learn a lot about ourselves when we look at relationships and events throughout our lives and how they impacted our belief about what the world is and who we are. We all get to a point in life when we are ready for a new narrative. I love being a small part of creating space for clients to name where they come from and develop a sense of agency in where they are going.
Hometown: Lima, OH & Philadelphia, PA
Personal Interests: I love film (preferably in a dark, cool theatre). I enjoy playing disc golf a few times a month. You will often find me at a playground with my wife and toddler on the weekends with a coffee in hand. I will go through a cycle of reading three or four books back-to-back and then not read anything for a few months. The most important hobby I have is supporting The Ohio State University football team 24/7.
Covid Survival Tip: Self care can be very personal sometimes. If you've tried all the tricks and tips and nothing seems to work, that's okay. Take a minute and just ask yourself what you need and give yourself permission to have it. For me, that has looked like going on walks by myself, even when I could be something more productive for the family.
Georgetta Harris-Wyatt, PhDTherapistView BioShe / Her / Hers
Degree / Training: Provisionally Licensed Psychologist, HSP; PhD in Counseling Psychology - Tennessee State University (Nashville, TN); MS in Juvenile Forensic Psychology - Prairie View A&M University (Prairie View, TX); BS in Psychology - University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (Chattanooga, TN)
Years Working with BUCS / Responsibilities: 2 years – Individual & Group Therapist, Graduate Intern Supervisor, Outreach, BU Athletics Counseling Services Liaison
Areas of Clinical Interest: Family & Relationship Dynamics, Individuation & Emerging Adulthood, Mindfulness, Managing Anxiety, Interpersonal Process Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Neuropsychology, Psychopathology
Hometown: I don’t know that I have a hometown because I grew up as a military Dependent and moved every 2-3 years until I went off to college. However, Aberdeen, Maryland was probably my favorite place to live!
Personal Interests: Playing basketball, engaging in anything sports/active/competitive with my husband and two sons (ages: 4 and 14), running, bowling, and traveling
COVID Survival Tip: Radical acceptance, mindfulness, spending time outside, and reminding myself of my 2020 mantra: “I can do hard things!” Please note: these coping mechanisms only kick in AFTER I’ve freaked out a little ☺
Hannah Peterson, LMSWTherapistView BioShe / Her / Hers
Degree / Training: BFA in Art History from the University of Kansas, Masters in Social Work from The University of Tennessee
Years Working with BUCS / Responsibilities: 3 years - I started as an intern during the 2017-18 academic year and began working full time with BUCS in May 2018 / I am a counselor and also help with our communications and outreach on campus. I am also starting to dabble in creating self-guided videos for our Self-help section on Blackboard.
Areas of Clinical Interest: In addition to counseling, I am also a hot yoga instructor and am very interested in somatic work. I hope to continue to learn more about a whole person/whole body approach from the therapeutic perspective.
Hometown: Ottawa, KS
Personal Interests: Hot yoga, creating art of all kinds, grilling/cooking, gardening, the list goes on.
COVID Survival Tip: MAKE SURE to take time to be idle. Not focused on the past, not focused on the future, just being okay in the moment.
Lauren CierzanOffice ManagerLocation: Gabhart 209View BioShe / Her / Hers
Years Working with BUCS / Responsibilities: 1 year / Front office operator, all-around helping hand, amateur tech support
Personal Interests: Art, adventuring outdoors, all things food-related & a good Wikipedia rabbit hole
COVID Survival Tip: Be especially kind and patient with yourself. Also, comfortable pants (this applies always)
Olivia DeAngeloDoctoral Practicum Student, Tennessee State UniversityView BioShe / Her / Hers
Degree / Training: BS in Clinical Psychology and Sociology from East Tennessee State University; Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from Middle Tennessee State University. Currently a third-year doctoral candidate studying Counseling Psychology at Tennessee State University
Areas of Clinical Interest: Relationship Issues, Anxiety, Depression, Self-Confidence/Self-Esteem Issues
Hometown: Knoxville, TN
Personal Interests: Hiking, kayaking, petting every dog I can find, avid Survivor fan and Friends / The Office binge watcher
COVID Survival Tip: Call your friends/family! Sometimes just hearing a loved one's voice brings joy and peace in an unsettling time.
Alyson HaffnerGraduate Intern, Vanderbilt UniversityView BioShe / Her / Hers
Degree / Training: Bachelor of Science at Vanderbilt University, Currently working towards my Master of Education at Vanderbilt University for Human Development Counseling
Areas of Clinical Interest: Anxiety & Depression, Grief & Loss, Mindfulness, Relationship Dynamics, Processing Trauma. We all need connection and community to make it through stressful times. Now more than ever, it’s important to lean on our support systems.
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
Personal Interests: Taking long walks outside, cuddling with my dog Teddy, trying new recipes, reading, watching TV (especially reality TV), and listening to podcasts
COVID Survival Tip: Try something new! Every day can feel repetitive so pushing myself to try a new food or walk a new route helps me break out of a funk.
Leah KepleyGraduate Intern, Vanderbilt UniversityView BioShe / Her / Hers
Degree / Training: BS in Applied Mathematics from Trevecca Nazarene University; currently finishing an M.Ed in Human Development Counseling from Vanderbilt University
Areas of Clinical Interest: LGBTQIA+ issues, Identity Development (especially gender identity and sexual orientation), Anxiety & Depression, Relationships, Intimate Partner Violence, Continuous Traumatic Stress
Hometown: Portland, TN
Personal Interests: Weightlifting, reading for fun, nature walks, tennis, creative writing
COVID Survival Tip: Adopt some houseplants! They'll brighten your space, freshen the air, and boost your mood. Cookies are also good.
Alan WhitleyGraduate Intern, University of TennesseeView BioHe / Him / His
Degree / Training: BS in social work from Belmont University; currently working towards a master's degree in social work at The University of Tennessee. I am a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist through The TN Department of Mental Health & Substance Abuse and am under supervision working towards my licensure as an alcohol and drug abuse counselor.
Areas of Clinical Interest: Religious Trauma / Spiritual Issues, the issues and barriers faced by the LGBTQIA community, and Substance Use
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
Personal Interests: My faith community, working in the yard, spending time with my family, and making my way to a greenway for some mindfulness in nature!
COVID Survival Tip:The Serenity Prayer has been a great tool during COVID-19. I have had to make a lot of gratitude lists this year. Keeping gratitude close to my heart continues to give me the courage to take it one day at a time. Sometimes, it is just about taking it step by step.