Professor of Counselor Education / Associate Dean for Academic and Faculty Affairs

Jane Okech, Ph.D., is a Professor of Counselor Education and serves as the Associate Dean for Academic and Faculty Affairs for the College of Education and Social Services.  Her scholarship primarily focuses on the advancement of proficiencies in the practice of group psychotherapy and clinical supervision with diverse populations. She examines counseling micro skill and advanced skill acquisition processes, and their contributions to the development of complex relational dynamics that advance the efficacy of the therapeutic process in individual and group contexts.

Dr. Okech also explores models of clinical supervision and the development of core supervision intervention proficiencies across various domains of clinical practice. Associated aspects of this scholarship foci is its intersection with professional ethics and standards of practice. Her body of work has received professional accolades including recognition with the 2017 “Article of the Year” award by the Association for Specialists in Group Work (ASGW) and Dr. Okech’s election to Fellow status by ASGW in 2018. She currently serves as Associate Editor for the Journal for Specialists in Group Work.

Publications

Geroski, A. M., Okech, J. E. A., & Krauss, K. L. (2020). Group Work in Schools: Preparing, leading, responding. San Diego, CA: Cognella.

Okech, J. E. A. (2019). Editorial Introduction. The Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 44(1), 1-2. 10.1080/01933922.2018.1561071

Van Eeghen, C., Hitt, J., King, J. G., Atieno Okech, J. E., Rouleau, B., Melekis, K., Kessler, R., & Pinckney, R. (2019). An Interprofessional Education Pilot Program on Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) Improves Student Knowledge, Skills, and Attitudes. International Journal of Higher Education, 8(1), 119. 10.5430/IJHE.V8N1P119

Wolff, J. R., Atieno Okech, J. E., Smith, L. C., & Southwick, P. J. (2019). Protecting sexual and gender minorities in academic institutions with disallowing policies: Psychological, ethical, and accreditation concerns. Training and Education in Psychology, 14(3), 249-256. 10.1037/TEP0000272

Okech, J. E. A. & Rubel, D. J.  (Eds). (2018). Counselor education in the 21st century: Issues and experiences. Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association Publication Press.

Okech, J. E. A. & Rubel, D. J. (2018). Preface. In J. E. A Okech & D. J. Rubel (Eds.). Counselor Education in the 21st Century: Issues and Experiences. (pp. vii-ix). Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association. 

Okech, J. E. A. & Rubel, D. (2018). Introduction to counselor education in the 21st century. In J. E. A Okech & D. Rubel (Eds.). Counselor Education in the 21st Century: Issues and Experiences. (pp. 1-16). Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association.

Rubel, D. & Okech, J. E. A. (2018). Diversity and multicultural  group counseling.  In D. Capuzzi & M. Stauffer (Eds.), Foundations of Group Counseling. (pp 111-131). Denver: Pearson.

Rubel, J. D., & Okech, J. E. A. (2017). Qualitative research in group work: Status, synergies, and implementation. Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 42(1), 54-86. doi:10.1080/01933922.2016.1264522  [abstract]

Smith, L. C., & Okech, J. E. A. (2016). Ethical issues raised by CACREP accreditation of programs within institutions that disaffirm or disallow diverse sexual orientations. Journal of Counseling & Development, 94, 252-264. doi.10.1002/jcad.12084  [abstract]

Smith, L. C., & Okech, J. E. A. (2016). Negotiating CACREP accreditation practices, religious, and sexual orientation diversity: A rejoinder to Sells and Hagedorn. Journal of Counseling and Development, 94, 280-284. doi.10.1002/jcad.12082

Okech, J. E. A., Pimpleton, A., Vannata, R., & Champe, J. (2016). Intercultural conflict in groups. Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 41(4), 350-369. doi:10.1080/01933922.2016.1232769.  [abstract]

Okech, J. E. A., Pimpleton, A., Vannata, R., & Champe, J. (2015). Intercultural communication: an application to group work. Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 40, 268-293. doi10.1080/01933922.2015.1056568  [abstract]

Okech, J. E. A. (2015). The ORAL model for feedback exchange. In M. Luke & K. Goodrich (Eds.). Group Work experts share their favorite supervision activities. (pp. 162-167). Alexandria, VA: Association for Specialists in Group Work

Okech, J. E. A. (2015). An introduction to group work supervision activities. In M. Luke & K. Goodrich (Eds.). Group Work experts share their favorite supervision activities. (pp. 243-247). Alexandria, VA: Association for Specialists in Group Work.

Okech, J. E. A., & Geroski, A. (2015). Interdisciplinary training: Preparing counselors for collaborative practice. The Professional Counselor, 5(4), 458-472. doi:10.15241/jeo.5.4.458  [abstract]

Okech, J. E. A., & Kimemia, M. (2013). Professional counseling in Kenya. In Hohenshil, T, Amundson, N., & Niles, S. (Eds.), Counseling Around the World: An International Handbook. (pp.31-40). American Counseling Association.  [abstract]

Champe, J., Okech, J. E. A., & Rubel, D. (2013). Emotion regulation: Processes, strategies, and applications for group work training and supervision. Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 38(4), 349-368.  [abstract]

Okech, J. E. A., & Kimemia, M. (2012). Professional counseling in Kenya: History, current status, and future trends. Journal of Counseling & Development, 90, 107-118.  [abstract]

Okech, J. E. A. (2012). A multidimensional assessment of children in conflictual contexts: The case of Kenya. International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling, 34(4), p331-348.  [abstract]

Rubel, D. & Okech, J. E. A. (2011). Qualitative research in group work. In R. K. Conyne (Ed.), The Oxford Handbook of Group Counseling.(pp. 260-286). New York: Oxford University Press.

Awards and Recognition

Counselor Education and Supervision Publication of the Year Award (2019). Awarded by the Association for Counselor Educators and Supervisors (ACES) in recognition of the edited volume,  (Okech, J. E. A & Rubel, D. J.  (Eds). (2018). Counselor Education in the 21st Century: Issues and Experiences. Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association).

Association for Specialists in Group Work (ASGW) Fellow from Association for Specialists in Group Work (ASGW): Election to Fellow status in ASGW recognizes extraordinary efforts of an individual on behalf of the Association, and/or extraordinary professional achievements compatible with and enhancing the purposes of the Association. (2018)

2017 Article of the Year Award from Association for Specialists in Group Work: 2017-Article of the Year Award-Selected by the editorial board members of the Journal for Specialist in Group work. This national award will be presented on March 17, 2017 at the Annual American Counseling Association Conference in SanFrancisco, CA. (2017)

2015 Outstanding Article Award from Associationl for Specialist in Group Work: 2015 Outstanding Article Award-The award is voted on by the members of the editorial board for the Journal for Specialists in Group Work. This national award was presented on February 19, 2016 at the Association for Specialists in Group Work Conference, Alexandria, VA. (2016)

Outstanding Faculty Award from ALANA Center, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA.: Awarded to a faculty member who has displayed continual commitment to leadership, advocacy, and social Justice. This award particularly recognizes the positive impact a faculty member has on the UVM community through the promotion of racial and ethnic justice, inclusion and equity. (2014)

John Dewey Educator’s Award for Excellence in Teaching from College of Education and Social Services (CESS), University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA.: 2014-John Dewey Educator’s Award for Excellence in Teaching-Presented during the May 18th Commencement Ceremony by the College of Education and Social Services, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA (2014)

Research Award from Western Association for Counselor Educators & Supervisors: Okech, J. E. A., Astramovich, R., Johnson, M., Hoskins, W., & Rubel, D. (2006). Doctoral research training of counselor education faculty. Counselor Education & Supervision, 46(2), 131-145. (2008)

Outstanding Faculty Woman Award from University of Vermont’s Women’s Center and Women’s & Gender Studies Program: 2007-Outstanding Faculty Woman Award. University of Vermont’s Women’s Center and Women’s & Gender Studies Program, Burlington, VT, USA. This award honors faculty women who have made significant contributions to the lives of women on campus through service, teaching and feminist scholarship. (2007)

2005 Outstanding Article Award from Association for Specialists in Group Work: 2005-Outstanding Article Award-Selected by the editorial board members of the Journal for Specialist in Group work. This national award was presented on April 1, 2006 at the Annual American Counseling Association Conference in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (2006)

Associations and Affiliations

  • American Counseling Association (ACA)
  • American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA)
  • Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES)
  • Association for Specialists in Group Work (ASGW)
  • North Atlantic Regional Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (NARACES)
  • Vermont Mental Health Counselors Association (VTMHCA)
Jane Okech

Areas of Expertise and/or Research

  • Clinical supervision
  • Diversity, access and equity
  • Ethics
  • Group co-leadership
  • Group psychotherapy
  • Mental health
  • Multiculturalism
  • Social justice

Education

  • Ph.D. in Counselor Education & Counseling from Idaho State University
  • M.A. in Counseling Psychology from United States International University-Africa
  • B.Ed. in Education from Kenyatta University

Contact

Email:

Jane.Okech@uvm.edu

Phone:
  • 802-656-1481
Office Location:

Waterman 412

Website(s):
  1. Google Scholar

Courses Taught

Advanced Group Counseling: Theory & Practice; Advanced Group: Theory & Practice; Clinical Mental Health Internship; DBT: Fundamental Change Strategies ; DBT: Origins & Theory ; DBT: Validation and Dialects ; Developmental Perspectives in Counseling; Internship in Clinical Mental Health; Internship: Clinical Mental Health; Laboratory Experience in Counseling; Professional Issues in Counseling; The Practice of Mental Health Counseling