Katherine Davenport of the Anderson University College of Health Professions recently completed her second master’s degree in counseling, as well as licensing requirements to practice counseling.
Davenport, who came to Anderson University in 2011 and is currently program coordinator for the School of Nursing, is now an LPCA (Licensed Professional Counselor Associate). She completed a 300 hour practicum and a 600 hour internship and passed a national examination to qualify for licensure. Davenport received her clinical mental health counselor master’s degree from Liberty University. Prior to that, she received her pastoral counseling degree, focusing on crisis and trauma.
The daughter of a hospital administrator at Self Memorial Hospital in Greenwood, South Carolina, Davenport became familiar with hospitals, but wasn’t initially drawn into health care. Having done undergraduate work in history, she worked for a period of time as a seasonal park ranger at Ninety-Six National Historic Site and also enjoyed taking part in battle re-enactments. She also worked as a paralegal, then devoted time to her twins as a stay-at-home mom before entering health care.
Davenport has a keen interest in helping others sort out traumatic events they’ve experienced.
“I’ve always been interested in traumatic relief; if a mass event happens, being able to go and help,” Davenport said. She says there’s often a misconception that counselors are simply instructing their patients on what to do. Something Davenport heard in one of her classes about counseling others resonated with her.
“Instead, we help them untangle the mass of colored yarn into the different colors so they can process what’s happened, make sense of it and come to terms with it,” Davenport said. “You can’t react. You just have to listen and let the Lord lead you where it needs to go.”
Davenport hopes to continue in her counseling education. Her areas of interest include counseling individuals with eating disorders, as well as PTSD.