Counseling Psychology (University of Southern Mississippi)

05/29/2026

CPY graduates making a difference! Way to go Dr. Futral!

Meet Those Who Make Pine Grove Special

For more than 25 years, Dr. Greg Futral has helped individuals find hope, healing, and lasting recovery.

As Director of Pine Grove's Gratitude Program, Dr. Futral specializes in helping individuals struggling with compulsive sexual behaviors, relationship issues, intimacy disorders, and related mental health concerns. Since joining Pine Grove in 2000, he has served in multiple clinical roles, bringing extensive experience in addiction treatment, crisis intervention, trauma, anger management, and behavioral health care.

Dr. Futral earned both his master's and doctoral degrees in Counseling Psychology from The University of Southern Mississippi and has dedicated his career to helping people navigate some of life's most difficult challenges with compassion and expertise.

We are grateful for leaders like Dr. Futral who continue to guide individuals and families toward recovery, healthier relationships, and renewed hope every day.
1-888-574-HOPE
pinegrovetreatment.com

04/21/2026

100% match rate for over a decade in the Counseling Psych PhD Program! Congrats to this year's students that matched to some of their top choices!

02/20/2026

We are celebrating four of our most advanced CPY doctoral students today! They matched at some of their top choice sites for pre-doctoral internship today. This has been a process in the making since they began their doctoral program and involved a nearly year-long application process. We are so proud of all they have and will accomplish. Congratulations, Nikkie, Mallory, Summer, and Lindsey!

12/12/2025

10/07/2025

Congratulations to CPY PhD alumni, Dr. Josie Nicholson!

On behalf of the Division 47 Executive Committee, we would like to announce and extend congratulations to our newly elected APA Fellows!!!

✨Mitch Abrams, PsyD
✨Jessica Bartley, PsyD
✨Kensa Gunter, PsyD
✨Josie Nicholson, PhD
✨Jesse Steinfeldt, PhD

Fellows are elected annually at the annual convention and as defined by APA, “Fellow status is an honor bestowed by APA to members who have shown evidence of unusual and outstanding contributions or performance in the field of psychology and requires that a person's work has had a national impact on the field of psychology."

Again, congratulations to our 2025 Fellows class!!

Also, the application portal for this year's cycle is now open!! We also invite anyone interested in becoming a fellow to notify the Division 47 Fellows Chair, prior to beginning their application and to check out the information on our website which can be found here:
https://www.apadivisions.org/division-47/membership/fellows

✅ All application materials, including endorsement letters, must be submitted to the APA Fellows portal by Monday, December 15, 2025. Please contact the Fellows Chair or a member of the Presidential Trio to address any questions or for more information.

08/13/2025

Our new and returning students are officially back on campus for the Fall 2025 semester! Welcome USM Counseling Psychology PhD and Masters students!

07/08/2025

MS CPY grads - USM Career Services is hiring!

Want to be part of an amazing team and make a lasting impact on the lives of Southern Miss students? Career Services is hiring a Career Counselor. See the job description and link to apply below.

04/28/2025

Great work Lindsey! Congratulations on this recognition!

Congrats to Lindsey Ostermiller, recipient of the Outstanding Graduate Research Award for Southern Miss Psychology! 🎉👏🦅

Lindsey is completing her third year in the Counseling Psychology Ph.D. program and feels passionately about pursing research that contributes to our understanding of the health of sexual and gender minority individuals. She is grateful to be involved in clinical work that allows her to share vulnerable moments with others and hopes to continue providing therapy to underserved communities.

Her dissertation examines the feasibility and acceptability of a brief app-based mindfulness intervention for sexual and gender minority individuals. Additionally, Lindsey’s research has examined the role of lifestyle factors among transgender college students and disparities in nature engagement using both quantitative and qualitative methods.

During the annual Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition put on by The University of Southern Mississippi Graduate School in 2023, Lindsey made it to the semifinals round and placed runner-up for her entry: “Lifestyle Behaviors and Mental Health Outcomes in LGBTQ+ Graduate Students.”

Lindsey has gotten involved in Hattiesburg through co-founding a Health Education and Relationship Training as well as participating in USM’s Counseling Psychology Diversity Committee and Hub City Velo’s Cycling Group.

Outside of her academic pursuits, Lindsey loves spending time on her bike, cuddling with her cat and sharing meals with friends. She aspires to pursue a career in academia that provides ample opportunity to have meaningful interactions with a diverse group of individuals, encourages personal growth and exploration, and provides independence, flexibility and time for riding her bike.

04/21/2025

Congratulations to CPY MS student Kayce Hunter on being selected for this College of Education & Human Sciences at Southern Miss Student Advisor Award!

Congrats to Kayce Hunter, recipient of the Outstanding Student Advisor Award! 🎉👏🦅

Kayce is a first-year graduate assistant in the CEHS Student Advisement and Support Center (SASC). She is also completing her first year in Southern Miss Psychology’s master's program in counseling psychology.

She is highly deserving of this award due to her impressive level of professionalism, dependability and hard work. The positive approach and care Kayce shows each student exemplifies CEHS’s dedication to student success. She is a quick learner, always willing to help, and goes above and beyond in everything she does. We are fortunate to have Kayce in the SASC and cannot wait to see what else she will accomplish with us next year!

04/10/2025

Masters students Klaria and Sam doing amazing things supporting undergraduate student success at USM. Way to go!