Content

Office Phone: 336-758-8625

Email: nationjr@wfu.edu

Location: Carswell 223

Education:

• DMin in Marriage and Family Counseling, Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary
• MDiv, Duke Divinity School, Duke University
• BA in History, Duke University

Research and Special Interests:

• Integrating Spirituality and Counseling, Premarital Counseling, Couples and Family Counseling, Group Counseling, Coaching Clergy, Relationship Assessment, and Consulting Religious Organizations in Transition

Counseling Experience:

• I began providing pastoral care and counseling as a United Methodist Pastor. I became the Director of Religious Services and Counselor for a psychiatric hospital. Before going full time in teaching for Wake Forest, I was the Director of Counseling and congregational care for a large downtown church for 21 years.

Teaching Experience

• Visiting Professor, Caribbean Graduate School of Theology, Masters in Counseling Department
• Adjunct Instructor, Pfeiffer University, Masters in Applied Practical Theology Department
• Adjunct Instructor, Wake Forest University, Counseling Department

Professional Licensure and Memberships (selected):

• American Counseling Association
• American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
• North Carolina Marriage and Family Therapy
• American Group Psychotherapy Association
• Association of Clinical Pastoral Education
• Carolinas Group Psychotherapy Society
• International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors
• The International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy
• Transitional Intentional Interim Ministry Specialist
• Ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church

Publications

• Wellness Counseling: A Holistic Approach to Prevention and Intervention, American Counseling Association Publications, 2019. Contributing Author, Chapter 6, Spirit.

Presentations at Professional Conferences

• Casares, R., Nations, J., & Warden, S. Podcasting a Wide Net: Opportunities for Enhancing Pedagogy and Promoting Equity. Roundtable presentation to the Southern Association for Counselor Education and Supervision 2018 Conference. Myrtle Beach, SC, October 12, 2018
• Nations, J. R., Coping with Trauma: Spirituality as a Major Asset. Presentation to the North Carolina Counselors Association 2017 Conference, Durham, NC, February 22, 2017
• Nations, J. R., (2016, February). Counseling Couples and Families Recovering from Disasters. Presentation given at 2016 Spring Seminar, Wake Forest University Department of Counseling, Winston-Salem, NC, February 26, 2016.
• Nations, J. R., (2016, February). Mindfulness and Attachment Theory in Couples Counseling. Presentation given at North Carolina Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, 2016 Annual Conference, Cary, NC, February 25, 2016.
• Warden, S. P., & Nations, J. R., Faith Based Counseling: Challenges and Opportunities. (2016 February). Presentation given at North Carolina Counseling Association, 2016 Annual Conference, Greensboro, NC, February 18, 2016
• Nations, J. R., (2016, February). Mindfulness and Attachment Theory in Couples Counseling. Presentation given at North Carolina Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, 2016 Annual Conference, Cary, NC, February 25, 2016.
• Nations, J. R., (2011, July). Right Brain and Left Brain People in Ministry: Collusion or Collision. Presentation given at National Association for Church Business Administrators Annual Conference, Baltimore, MD, July 23, 2011.
• Nations, J. R., (2012, July). Part II, Right Brain and Left Brain People in Ministry: Collusion or Collision. Presentation given at National Association for Church Business Administrators Annual Conference, Baltimore, MD, July 21, 2012.
• Nations, J. R., (2009, February). Effective Couples Assessment Using Pre-Marriage andCouples Inventories. Presentation given at North Carolina Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, 2009 Annual Conference, Greensboro, NC, February 26, 2009.
• Nations, J. R., (2006, November). Spiritual Issues in Counseling: Applying Attachment Theory in Understanding Spirituality and Psychotherapy. Presentation given at Wake Forest University, Professional Community Workshop, Winston-Salem, NC, November 17, 2006.
• Nations, J. R., (2006, March). Spiritual Issues in Couples Therapy: Applying Attachment Theory in Understanding Spirituality and Psychotherapy with Couples. Presentation given at North Carolina Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, 2006 Annual Conference, Chapel Hill, NC, March 30, 2006

Recent Presentations

• South Carolina Highway Patrol and First Responder Chaplains, Family Systems Theory and Relationship Assessments, Columbia SC, June 6-8, 2024
• National Association for Church Business Administrators Annual Conferences: Right Brain and Left Brain People in Ministry: Collusion or Collision. Part 1 in 2010 and part 2 in 2011.
• NCAMFT Conference, 2009, Effective Couples Assessment Using Pre-marriage and Couples Inventories.
• Wake Forest University, Professional Community Workshop, 2006, Spiritual Issues in Counseling: Applying Attachment Theory in Understanding Spirituality and Psychotherapy.
• NCAMFT Conference,2006, Spiritual Issues in Couples Therapy: Applying Attachment Theory in Understanding Spirituality and Psychotherapy with couples.

Personal

I enjoy spending time with my family. Other than the love of being with my family, I am a big fan of ACC sports. Reading, listening to music, hiking, and encountering nature and wildlife in are a few of my guilty pleasures.