Effective Nov. 1, Dr. Tim Sisemore, current director of Henegar/CBI Counseling Center, will transition to directing and enhancing Richmont’s research efforts full-time and Dr. Jeff Eckert will assume the directorship of the Henegar/CBI Counseling Center.
“I am delighted that, based on Richmont’s strategic goals, Tim and Jeff are assuming these new roles at this point in the life of the university,” said Richmont’s president, Bob Rodgers. “It is a privilege to have such qualified, capable and experienced individuals already serving on the faculty and staff. I am especially grateful that both Tim and Jeff are so committed to doing and being what Richmont needs in this next season.”
For more than 18 years, Dr. Sisemore has served Richmont in a variety of administrative roles. Most recently, he has directed the Henegar/CBI Counseling Center since 2002. An author of multiple scholarly and popular books and highly-regarded articles, his current research efforts include the Richmont Grace Project which is an effort to demonstrate the clinical utility and empirical validity of using explicitly Christian concepts in counseling. He is also authoring a Psychology of Religion textbook for John Wiley and Sons Publisher. Transitioning out of his role at Henegar/CBI Counseling Center, Dr. Sisemore looks forward to intentionally engaging students, faculty and staff in research projects on a national and international scale.
“It has been a great honor to serve as director of Henegar/CBI Counseling Center for 11 years, and I am most grateful for the development of one of the finest counseling staffs anywhere during that time,” said Dr. Sisemore. “However, growing opportunities for writing and research have come my way, and I am grateful that Richmont values such scholarly work and is willing to give me opportunity to develop the scholarly productivity of the university. This move is a providential one as I have the privilege of handing the counseling center directorship to Jeff Eckert and am thus confident in the continued quality and growth of Henegar/CBI.”
Dr. Eckert is a licensed psychologist and clinical social worker specializing in sexual addiction and abuse, trauma, marriage and family therapy, conduct and affective disorders, and oppositional adolescents. Joining the Henegar/CBI Counseling Center in 2002, Dr. Eckert has served the Chattanooga community for nearly 12 years and his wife, Kim, is also a psychologist and author.
“I look forward to serving the Lord in a new capacity, surrounded by a gifted group of therapists and support staff,” said Dr. Eckert. “I pray that The Lord uses the Henegar/CBI Counseling Center to impact the hurting and the searching for his kingdom."
The clinical team at Henegar/CBI is looking forward to supporting Dr. Sisemore in his enhanced research efforts and working under Dr. Eckert’s direction, officials said.
“Dr. Sisemore has demonstrated a relationship-based and participatory leadership style in which each clinician felt valued," said Bill McGee, counselor at the Henegar/CBI Counseling Center. "His openness, honesty, sincerity and integrity have allowed the Henegar/CBI Counseling Center to develop as it has into one of the premier counseling centers in this region. The staff operates in the same healthy manner that we hope to help families achieve, which is the result and legacy of Dr. Sisemore’s leadership style. We will miss him in that role, but celebrate with him in his new role just as we celebrate Dr. Eckert moving into that position. Dr. Eckert has been with the Henegar/CBI Counseling Center for many years, and is a trusted and respected colleague. We know him to be caring and competent, and we look forward to the same kind of healthy leadership style and sense of collegiality that we have come to value over the years.”
For more than 30 years, CBI has offered a broad range of counseling and psychological services to the Chattanooga community. On average, licensed psychologists, marriage and family therapists, counselors, and insured student interns provide approximately 1,400 client sessions per month.
“Based on the number of monthly client sessions, it is apparent that each CBI counselor seeks to serve all persons with compassion and sensitivity to their uniqueness while assisting them in meeting life’s challenges,” said Mr. Rodgers.
As CBI’s fiscal agent, Richmont Graduate University has campuses in Chattanooga and Atlanta. Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, Richmont offers master’s-level training in counseling to help individuals, families and groups successfully confront life’s challenges. Presently, students have the opportunity to pursue master's degrees in: Professional Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, Ministry, and Psychological Studies as well as specializations in addictions, child and adolescent therapy, sex therapy, spirituality and counseling, and trauma counseling.
Currently, several CBI counselors are accepting new clients. Scheduling information can be obtained by calling 756-2894 or by visiting:
www.cbicounseling.com. Open five days a week, the counseling center’s physical address is 1815 McCallie Ave.