What COPE Strives For

The Clinic for Outreach and Personal Enrichment was created for the purpose of providing quality mental health counseling to the University of Mississippi and the Oxford-Laffayette community.

Mission

The mission of the COPE clinic at the University of Mississippi is the transformation of individuals and communities to advance mental health equity, inclusivity, and excellence through quality educational experiences and professional supervision of counselors-in-training.

Vision

The vision of the COPE clinic at the University of Mississippi is to prepare and engage multiculturally competent and clinically capable counseling professionals who advocate for clients and consistently implement best practices in the delivery of mental health services in order to enrich the lives of the residents of Mississippi.

Values

Our clinic prioritizes quality teaching and training. Our values are based on the acronym TEACH:

  • We believe that counseling Touches lives and our clients are the top priority for all interns and staff at COPE.
  • We believe in Equity and empowerment for all of our clients and community and offer mental health services for free as a direct result of this value.
  • We believe that everyone should have Access to mental health care and COPE offers mental health services using telehealth platforms so that people across the state of Mississippi have access to care.
  • We believe in success for all Clients and understand that success will look different from person to person and as a result, our interns take a client centered approach to treatment.
  • We believe in High quality training for future counselors because thorough education and training prepares counselors-in-training to provide the best care possible to clients.

Academics

The School of Education's Department of Counselor Education provides the following degree programs. Each of the degree programs incorporates field experience opportunities for aspiring counselors.

Who Are We?

COPE Counselors

COPE counselors are a team of talented graduate students working under the supervision of licensed counselors and faculty. The clinic is an essential component of our training program as it allows students to apply what they have learned in the classroom to clinical experience.

Our counselors have a passion for helping others. The Department of Counselor Education at the School of Education integrates meaningful field opportunities through COPE to aspiring counselors. Through this program, our graduate students gain valuable, real-life experience as they correspond with prospective clients, counsel existing clients, protect sensitive information in compliance with HIPAA guidelines, engage in professional and leadership development workshops, and much more.

Faculty and Staff

Master's and doctoral-level counseling students provide counseling services at COPE. The University of Mississippi's renowned Counselor Education graduate program faculty educates and trains these students. The clinical director and assistant clinical director, Dr. Erica Montgomery and Rosalyn Daniels, respectively, supervise the students as they serve Mississippians across the state.

Meet our Faculty and Staff

The counselor education program is comprised of faculty members committed to their students, the program, and the profession of counseling, as well as their own professional development. They are involved in professional activities at the state, national, and international levels, including research and publication, conference presentations, and engagement in professional organizations.
Richard Balkin

Richard Balkin

  • Department Chair and Professor of Counselor Education
Erica Montgomery

Erica Montgomery

  • Program Director
Acacia Warren

Acacia Warren

  • Graduate Assistant
Hope Hill

Hope Hill

  • Graduate Assistant