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phoenix campus faculty

Master of Science in Counseling / Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Gain hands-on experience from our Arizona faculty of clinical mental health counseling professionals who have worked for many years in the field. They bring their knowledge and expertise to help prepare you to provide counseling to the community.

phoenix campus

Associate Dean

Sheila Babendir, Associate Dean

Sheila Babendir, EdD, LPC

Associate Dean, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences

phoenix campus

Core faculty

Gabrielle Ficchi

Gabrielle Ficchi, Ph.D., LPC

Dr. Gabrielle Ficchi works as full-time faculty at the university of phoenix. She has served as a full-time... 

...faculty member since November 2022, where she teaches a variety of counseling courses and serves as a clinical supervisor for practicum and internship students. She earned her PhD from University of Arizona in Rehabilitation and Mental Health. She is a licensed therapist as well as a certified rehabilitation counselor. Gabrielle has 10 years of both teaching and counseling experience. She also works as the CEO & Therapist at her therapy practice, New Perspectives LLC. Working to bring mental health services to the disability community & their families. Her specialty and research areas focus on disability adjustment both for individuals and families, independent living, resilience, and disability identity. Her passion is to educate future counselors and advocate for equality and justice for the disability community.

Wendy Whinnery

Wendy Whinnery, Ph.D., NCC, LMHC, CCMHC, CCTP, CGCS 

Dr. Wendy J. Whinnery received her PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision with a...

...Specialization in Trauma and Crisis from Walden University in 2019. Dr. Whinnery is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in New York, receiving full licensure in 2014. She became a Nationally Certified Counselor, and Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor in 2014, and an Approved Clinical Supervisor in 2021. Dr. Whinnery joined the UOPX family in April 2020 as an Associate Faculty. She joined the Core Faculty in January 2021. Dr. Whinnery has also served as Remediation and Student Support Coordinator, Lead Instructor for Human Sexuality and Sex Therapy, and on the Faculty Council and Hiring Team.

phoenix campus

Non-core faculty

Barbara Burt, Psy.D., LP

Elliot Isom, Ph.D., LPC

Gary Zarchy, M.C., LPC, LISAC, HS-BCP, ACS

Kelly King, Ph.D., LAC, LPC, C-DBT  

Kimberly Mahr, M.SC., NCC, LPC

Patricia Kerstner, Ph.D., NCC, LP

Ronald Dankowski, Ph.D., LP