“Always look for the helpers. There will always be helpers,” Mr. Rogers said in an interview

with the Archive of American Television.

That’s exactly what Savannah Cormier, director of the Play Therapy Education and Research Center at Arkansas State University, is providing.

“I feel like we’re the helpers,” Cormier, who is also an associate professor of counseling, said.

Cormier is entering her seventh year as a faculty member at A-State. She’s from Arnaudville,

Louisiana and attended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette for her Bachelor’s degree in

Psychology. 

Following that, she earned her Master’s degree in Counseling with an emphasis in

Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Play Therapy.

“I wanted to make a bigger impact, and so I went back to school for my PhD so I could train

people to expand the impact that we can make on the world,” Cormier said. 

She earned her PhD at the University of Northern Colorado. Cormier started her job at A-State in the summer of 2019 and has held that position since.

She said she attributes her leadership skills to her education and life experiences, such as formerly teaching at the preschool level. Cormier said she is a service-oriented leader and keeps the code of ethics at the center of all her leadership endeavors.

Weston Sandusky said Cormier is an amazing leader.

“She is able to not only focus on what is required of running a mental health clinic, but also give some of that responsibility to students so they are able to learn about their future careers in ways that are not always available to them,” Sandusky said.

He works with Cormier in the Counseling Program and helps supervise students in the Lupine

Wellness Center.

“I believe in my team and I can get amazing things from them by motivating them, helping them

feel cared for and supported,” Cormier said. 

Cormier teaches individual counseling, group counseling and play therapy. She also serves on a variety of committees that help serve the university, such as supervising the Lupine Center.

During this time, she oversees graduate students in counseling sessions.

“As the Lupine director, Dr. Cormier always puts students experience and learning opportunities

at the forefront of decisions made regarding Lupine,” Sandusky said. 

Cormier said she gives graduate students the ability to express and test their own ideas. She said she believes the best way for students to learn is to step out of the classroom.

Emma Adams, a senior psychology major from Harrisburg, Arkansas, said she agreed and would want someone she could relate with.

The Lupine Center offers a wide variety of counseling, including the less traditional practices.

Recently, the clinic provided psychoeducation training to a few elementary schools in the area. They also hold workshops and partner with A-State’s Transition Program to help students with

learning disabilities.

Because the clinic doesn’t work with insurance, they have fewer limitations than most mental

health clinics.

“We do it based on a mental health professional perspective tailored to your client,” Cormier

said. 

She said because the clinic doubles as a research facility, they’re able to improve constantly and meet the needs of the community. Students pay for counseling services as part of their tuition. The clinic is also available to the public on a sliding-scale fee.

Graduate students receive feedback from a PhD-level counselor and their peers, totaling about

five hours of supervision per week. Faculty put these measures in place to ensure clients are

receiving quality services.

“We want to make sure they’re protected as graduate students, and that our clients are almost receiving a team treatment approach,” Cormier said.

With Cormier’s heavy workload, she said balancing her life is a family endeavor. She’s married and has a six-year-old son. To prevent burnout, she said she sets appropriate boundaries between her professional and personal life. 

She said her team of colleagues has also made it easier for her.

“I have a lot of supportive colleagues that we all work so great together. I don’t think things

could function as well as they do if I didn’t have Dr. Sandusky or even Dean Hux in our college,”

Cormier said. “I do highly recommend any student, faculty, or staff who is needing some help to reach out to the Lupine service center to schedule an intake.”

Like Mr. Rogers would say, there’s always help available, especially from Cormier and her team.

Categories: Life