Counselors

Pam Reese Comer, LPC, director of counseling services is a graduate of the EMU master of arts in counseling program and JMU master of education in counseling program. She is a licensed professional counselor and is also a part of the EMU M.A. in Counseling administrative staff. Her areas of interest in counseling include: relationships, identity and esteem issues, depression and other mood disorders, women’s issues, abuse and trauma. Pam has over 20 years experience working with issues on death, dying and grief. She has been a consultant and trainer for the state where she developed a state-wide grief network for professional and lay caregivers. She has been trained in an international model on suicide intervention issues and provides training workshops in the community.

Nate Koser, MA, earned his BS in psychology and MA in counseling from Eastern Mennonite University. Nate is a current doctoral student working toward a PhD in psychology at Saybrook University in San Francisco, California. Nate is also a faculty member of the EMU Masters of Arts in Counseling program and works with a private practice agency called Horizons Consultation and Counseling. A wide foundation in psychology and the humanities influences his work with clients from an existential perspective infused with a psychoanalytic approach. Nate’s research interests include broadening our understanding of human-to-human relationships, ethics, the problem of intersubjectivity, and Lacanian/Freudian psychoanalysis.
“In the experience of the therapeutic relationship and through an exploration of the way one relates to oneself, others and the world around them, a person is able to tap into their own potential for growth and healing.” -Nate

Kristy Koser, MA, works from an emotion-focused and attachment perspective. She earned a BS in psychology and an MA in counseling from EMU. She has completed advanced training in Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy and focuses on interpersonal relationships, self growth, trauma, identity issues and working with couples. She also works with a private practice agency called Horizons Consultation and Counseling.
“Creating a safe place to walk with others through pain and a suffering is essential to the healing process and that there is great freedom that can be found through the safety and security of healthy attachments. I believe in the value of the therapeutic relationship and healing capacity of face-to-face encounters. Each person has great potential for change and self-growth, sometimes it’s just a matter of finding a safe place to discover it.” -Kristy

Lindsey Barrett is a graduate intern from the EMU Master of Arts in Counseling program and has earned her BA in psychology from Bridgewater College. Lindsey works from a person-centered perspective and truly believes in making a solid counseling foundation through the counselor-client relationship. She welcomes you to come join in a safe relationship where you can grow and learn.
“I hope we can join together to create a safe and healthy space for you to grow, heal and learn. A one-on-one relationship is just the start in creating and fostering self-worth and healing.”-Lindsey

Dana Blauch is a graduate intern from the EMU Master of Arts in Counseling program. She holds a BS in Human Services from James Madison University and has experience working in mental health services with adults and children as well as a background in youth ministry. She works from an attachment, person-centered and emotion-focused perspective and focuses on areas such as: interpersonal relationships, personal growth and emotion regulation.
“In my view, each of us has an innate desire to grow and change positively and our environment and experiences affect this growth. I believe we are created to be in relationship with others as well as with our own body, mind, emotions and spirit. At times we are fragmented and disengaged from the whole person and this disconnect creates disharmony. The integration of head and heart makes humans wiser than our intellects alone – I desire to assist my clients in this process of integration.”-Dana

Margaret Grubb is a graduate intern from the Master of Arts Counseling at EMU. She works from an emotion focused and attachment perspective while taking inspiration from client centered and existential perspectives. Her interests include interpersonal relationship, identity and sexuality issues, couples work and expressive arts.
“I believe strongly in joining each individual where they are in their journey through change, struggle or pain. It is through this joining and the creation of relationship that potential for healing and growth may be found within.”–Margaret

April Gunderson is graduate intern from the Master of Arts in Counseling program at EMU. Working creatively from an attachment perspective, she believes that hope and healing emerge in the context of safe relationships. Her counseling interests lie mainly in the areas of women’s issues and chronic life circumstances.
“I believe that at the center of our being is a need for connection. We were not meant to walk through life alone. As we connect with others, allowing them to bear witness to and join us in our story, our journey becomes more bearable, no matter how rocky or winding the path may be.”-April

Ryan Senator is a graduate intern from the Master of Arts in Counseling program at EMU. He comes to the program with a background in analytical (or Jungian) psychology as an organizer for a Jungian study group of more than 250 members in New York City. He is particularly interested in depth psychology, or focusing on what is beneath the concerns and challenges we face in our lives. He enjoys connecting with others and feels that such a connection is the foundation of counseling.
“In the therapeutic relationship both the client and the therapist have a rare and unique opportunity to visit places and address challenges that may seem impossible; during this hour the client may find they are more courageous than they ever thought they could be. This journey toward wholeness is shared and it is an honor for me to go alongside you.”-Ryan