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About Thomas Watson
After a career in the theatre, film, and music industries, Dr. Watson focused on an earlier goal of becoming a mental health clinician. Upon earning his master’s degree in counseling, he worked as a college counselor, outreach coordinator, and liaison to returning combat veteran and military students at The Art Institute of Atlanta. Subsequent clinical work includes the role of Team Member for the United States Marine Forces Reserve Psychological Health Outreach Program-Atlantic Division (MFR-PHOP) through government contractor Serco-NA. Dr. Watson’s work with MFR-PHOP resulted in a team win of the Serco-NA Regional and Global Pulse Awards for services to Marine Reservists and their families.
His work with military-affiliated college students led to Dr. Watson’s involvement with the Military & Government Counseling Association (MGCA) division of ACA. He would eventually serve two terms as president of the association. During his tenure, he and the MGCA Board were instrumental in generating the Exemplary Practices for Military Populations and Best Practices for Counseling First Responders documents on a national level to assist counselors in providing enhanced services to these special populations. Among other awards, Dr. Watson was the recipient of the 2019 ACA National Counselor Educator Advocacy Award.
Research Interests and Specialties
College Counseling (Outreach Coordinator, Student Wellness)
Military Populations (Service Members, Veterans, Families)
First-Responder Populations (and families)
Adults, Young Adults
Treatment Approaches: Integrative – CBT, REBT, Existential, Adlerian, SFBT, Strategic, Structural, & Experiential Systems, Expressive Arts Therapy.
Distinctions & Associations
- Georgia Counseling Association (GCA)
- Military & Government Counseling Association (MGCA)
- International Association of Marriage & Family Counselors (IAMFC)
- Association for Creativity in Counseling (ACC)
- Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES)
- Southern Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (SACES)
- American Counseling Association (ACA)
- Licensed Professional Counselor’s Association of Georgia (LPCA)
- Society for Sexual, Affectional, Intersex, and Gender Expansive Identities (SAIGE)
- Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development (AMCD)
- Chi-Sigma-Iota/ Alpha Upsilon Alpha Chapter (CSI-AUA)
Selected Publications and Presentations
Carter, T., & Watson, T. I. (2018) Infusing military culture into counselor education. Journal of Military and Government Counseling, 6(3), 155-170.
Quoted: Bray, B. (Aug. 2018). Putting PTSD Treatment on a Faster Track. Counseling Today (online).
Watson, T. I. (2012). The Experience of Civilian Husbands Married to Military Women Who Have Deployed [Dissertation research].
Watson, T. I. (2021). The often-invisible military client: Civilian husbands and adult children of military upbringing. Virtual presentation for ACA of GA – April 12, 2021
Watson, T. I., & Spargo, A. (*2019). The ethics of assessment with military affiliated clients through a multicultural lens. IAMFC Annual Conference – January 31 – February 2, 2019 – New Orleans, LA
Watson, T. I., & Sztalkoper, J. (2018). Navigating the home front: Military spouses. IAMFC Annual Conference – February 1, 2018 – New Orleans, LA
Watson, T. I., & Snyder, C. (2017). Mental Health-Related Professional Development in Supervision. Argosy University Online Webinar – April 17, 2017
Marine Forces Reserve. (2009-2013). Suicide Awareness and Prevention. Interactive topical presentation for USMC Reserve service members at Marine Forces Reserve Centers in Maryland, DC, Virginia, West Virginia, Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida (Author-MARFORRES). Facilitated and updated statistical information by month.
Watson, T. I. (2009-2013). Deployment and the Military Family: Strength and Resilience. Interactive topical presentation for USMC Reserve service members and their Families BUMED approved briefing.
Educational Background
Argosy University
EdD in Counselor Education & Supervision
Argosy University-Atlanta
MA in Professional Counseling
Georgia State University
BA in Communications