Peter Emerson, Ed.D., LPC-S

“The animals in the Forest don’t think too much. They just Are”– From The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff

Dr. Emerson received his B.S. in Psychology from Brigham Young University and his Master’s in Counseling and Doctorate in Counselor Education from Idaho State University.

His University work experience began with Upward Bound and Special Services at Southern Utah State College (now Southern Utah University) where he was Director of those programs for four years. He came to Southeastern in 1987 as an Assistant Professor in Counseling. He went to the University of New Orleans from 1988-90 to work on CACREP accreditation for UNO which was accredited prior to his leaving. He returned to Southeastern and worked to revise the counseling program from 36 to 48 hours and gain CACREP accreditation at Southeastern. Currently, he is Director of the University Counseling Center and is also teaching in the Counseling Program.

Emerson’s professional involvement in Louisiana started with his appointment to the Louisiana Professional Counselors Board of Examiners where he was appointed for two consecutive four-year terms, first by Governor Buddy Roemer and then Governor Edwin Edwards. While on the LPC Board he was elected Chair for six one-year terms. He served as Executive Director of the American Association of State Counseling Board for two years and was then elected President of the Board. Dr. Emerson is a past President of the Association for Adult Development and Aging and served as their first Journal Editor and as their Newsletter Editor. He has also served on the American Counseling Association’s National Ethics Committee and started the Louisiana Journal of Counseling of which he served as editor/co-editor until 2020.

Dr. Emerson has worked as a counselor at a home for multi-problem male youth, as a counselor in an alternative school and has also been in private practice, primarily marriage and family counseling. He served as the director of a drug prevention program for junior and senior high school students, and while working on his doctorate, served as co-director of the Idaho State University Parent Education Program.

Dr. Emerson has five children, twelve grandchildren and a wonderfully understanding wife of thirty-eight years. His specialty areas are marriage and family counseling, professional/personal development of the counselor and supervision.