Mark A. Young, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Counselor Education, & Director of Marriage and Family Counseling

I am a counselor who trains counselors. I enjoy the learning that comes from experience and want students to be active learners in the classroom and in the profession. I was once told by a former client that relationships and people are my creative medium....

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Contact Information

Education & Curriculum Vitae

Ph.D., Counselor Education and Counseling, Idaho State University

M.Coun., Marriage and Family Counseling, Idaho State University

B.A., Business Administration, Idaho State University

I am a counselor who trains counselors. I enjoy the learning that comes from experience and want students to be active learners in the classroom and in the profession. I was once told by a former client that relationships and people are my creative medium. When I ask “how are you,” I really want to know. I am focused on how to help students become the better version of themselves and want to support them at the edge of their competence. I am focused on the use of live supervision as both a form of supervision and as a form of training counselors. I enjoy talking about relationships and reading about how to help all of us have healthy relationships. As the Director of the Marriage and Family Counseling Program, I am lucky to focus my work on the relationships we have with ourselves, our partners, our families, and within our communities. I work to help students understand the process of change and to identify what they believe is needed to create lasting change in the lives of those they serve. I believe we are our most important tool and how we deliver our process of counseling is what makes the biggest impact on our clients. I focus my training on developing procedural knowledge, deliberate practice, being emotionally focused, and working in the present. Marriage and Family Counseling students learn how to help individuals, couples, families, and groups through a relational lens and through an understanding of theories developed specifically for relationships. As we become more secure in who we are as individuals and as counselors, we can offer our clients both a safe haven and a secure base as they work on the patterns and needs within their lives. I want students to enjoy the process of learning and to be supported as they find their passion in life and in the profession.

Articles

  • Young, M. A. (2012). Purpose-driven conversations: An interview with James Bitter. The Family Journal, 20(2), 200-204. doi:10.1177/1066480712438521
  • Kolodinsky, W. P., Young, M. A., & Lindsey, C. V. (2011). An analysis of supervision modalities utilized in CACREP on-campus clinical training programs: Results of a national survey. Professional Issues in Counseling.
  • Young, M. A. & Kleist, D.M. (2010). Healthy couple relationships: A grounded theory. The Family Journal: Counseling and Therapy for Couples and Families, 18(4), 338-343. doi:10.1177/1066480710377740
  • Young, M. A. (2008). Attachment theory's focus in EFT: An interview with Susan Johnson. The Family Journal, 16(3), 264-270. doi:10.1177/1066480708317673
  • Young, M. A. (2005). Creating a Confluence: An Interview with Susan Johnson and John Gottman. The Family Journal, 13(2), 219-225. doi:10.1177/1066480704272597
  • Young, M. A. (2004). Healthy Relationships: Where's the Research? The Family Journal, 12(2), 159-162. doi:10.1177/1066480703262090

Book Chapters

  • Young, M.A. (2024). Voices from the field. In G. Corey, M.S., Corey, & C. Corey, Issues and ethics in the helping profession (11th ed). Cengage Learning Custom Publishing.
  • Young, M. A., & Erford, B. T. (2023). Supervision and consultation. In B. T. Erford (Ed.), Orientation to the counseling profession: Advocacy, ethics, and other essential professional issues (4th ed). Columbus, OH: Pearson Merrill Prentice Hall.
  • Bennett, E.D. and Young, M.A. (2023). Other pertinent Issues in Counseling Practice. In Erford, B. (Eds) Practicum and Internship Experiences in Counseling. New Jersey: Routledge.
  • Murray, K.W., Champe, J., & Young, M.A. (2022). Integrating theories: Emotion-Focused therapy. In Counseling and Psychotherapy: Theories and Interventions (7th ed). American Counseling Association.
  • Young, M.A., Kleist. D, & Biter, J.R. (2020). Virtue, ethics, and legality in couples and family practice. In Theory and Practice of Couples and Family Counseling (3rd ed). American Counseling Association.
  • Young, M. A., & Basham, D.A. (2017). Consultation and supervision. In B. T. Erford (Ed.), Orientation to the counseling profession: Advocacy, ethics, and other essential professional issues (3rd ed). Columbus, OH: Pearson Merrill Prentice Hall.
  • Young, M. A., & Basham, D.A. (2013). Consultation and supervision. In B. T. Erford (Ed.), Orientation to the counseling profession: Advocacy, ethics, and other essential professional issues (2nd ed). Columbus, OH: Pearson Merrill Prentice Hall.

Professional Papers Presented

National & International

  • Young, M. (2021). Creating procedural knowledge through deliberate practice. Association for Counselor Education and Supervision National Conference. Atlanta, GA.
  • Norton, C. & Young, M. (2019). Integrating emotion-focused therapy, self-compassion, and compassion-focused therapy into outdoor behavioral healthcare. Association of Outdoor
    Recreation and Education – Association for Experiential Education Joint Conference. Spokane, WA.
  • Person, M., Young, M., Min, C.*, Stockton, L.*, & Swanson, S.* (2019). Applying principles of athletic mastery to Pre-Practicum courses. Association for Counselor Education and Supervision
    National Conference. Seattle, WA.
  • Young, M., Clayton, N.*, Young, E.*, Roos, S.*, & Swanson, S.* (2019). Live supervision: The experience of the supervisor and the supervisee. Association for Counselor Education and
    Supervision National Conference. Seattle, WA.
  • Young, M.A. & Mak, T.W.* (2017). Training in the expert way: Using live supervision to engage in deliberate practice. Association for Counselor Education and Supervision National Conference. Chicago, IL.
  • Lamar, M., Speciale, M., Ladany, N., Lau, J., Ng, K., Scherer, R., & Young, M. (2016). Hot topics panel: Using technology in counseling supervision. Western Association for Counselor Education and Supervision Annual Conference. Vancouver, BC.
  • Young, M.A. (2016). Being emotionally focused in our teaching and supervision. Western Association for Counselor Education and Supervision Annual Conference. Vancouver, BC.
  • Young, M.A. & Mak, T.W.* (2015). Infusing live supervision into experiential pedagogy and practice. Association for Counselor Education and Supervision Annual Conference. Philadelphia, PA.
  • Reilly, B. & Young, M.A., (2015). BITE to the rescue! A supervisory training tool to assist counselor educators with today’s fast paced educational environment. Association for Counselor Education and Supervision Annual Conference. Philadelphia, PA.

Regional & Local

  • Young, M. (2024). Deliberate practice and experiential learning in couple and family counseling courses. Western Association for Counselor Education and Supervision. Tucson, AZ.
  • Young, M. (2024). Returning from sabbatical: Is it possible to create new patterns in your professional work? Western Association for Counselor Education and Supervision, Tucson, AZ.
  • Davenport, N.* & Young, M. (2024). Tapestry of teaching: Weaving technology and multimedia tools into CACREP courses to foster diverse student engagement and active learning. Rocky Mountain Association for Counselor Education and Supervision. Whitefish, MT.
  • Young, M. & Davenport, N.* (2022). Couple and Family Counseling: Sharing assignments and activities to enhance the student experience. Rocky Mountain Association for Counselor Education and Supervision. Coeur d’Alene, ID.
  • Young, M. (2022). Creating procedural knowledge through live supervision and deliberate practice. Western Association for Counselor Education and Supervision Conference. Portland, OR.
  • Young, M. (2021). Rise Up: Using your voice to empower relationships. School Nurses Organization of Washington 2021 Spring Virtual Conference.
  • Young, M., Person, M., McKinney, R., Bennett, E., Garner, C., & Wissel, A. (2020). What do counselor educators do best? Rocky Mountain Association for Counselor Education and Supervision Conference. (virtual).
  • Young, M.A., Evans, A.*, & Pettersborg, J.* (2018). Attachment based interventions. Idaho Counseling Association Super Conference. Boise. ID.
  • Young, M.A. (2018). Emotionally Focused Therapy with couples across the lifespan. Division Distinguished Presenter. Idaho Counseling Association Super Conference. Boise. ID.
  • Young, M.A. & Wissel. A. (2018). Live supervision across CACREP programs. Western Association for Counselor Education and Supervision Conference. Santa Rosa, CA.
  • Young, M.A. (2018). A roundtable on the potential benefits of roundtable presentations as a teaching tool. Western Association for Counselor Education and Supervision Conference. Santa Rosa, CA.
  • Young, M.A. & Ball, E.* (2016). Attachment based interventions. Washington Counseling Association Annual Conference. Spokane, WA.
  • Young, M.A., Ball, E.*, & Le, K.* (2016). The power of empathy. Washington Counseling Association Annual Conference. Spokane, WA.
  • Young, M.A., Barrett, S.*, Sewell, G.*, Sendelbach, L.*, & Baksis, C.* (2015). Accessible and responsive: Two keys to creating secure relationships. Washington Counseling Association Annual Conference. Spokane, WA.
  • Young, M.A., Garn, P.*, & Ngo, K.* (2015). Emotion is the most powerful thing in the room. Washington Counseling Association Annual Conference. Spokane, WA.
    Young, M.A. (2015). What do the best counselor educators do? Distinguished Presenter. Idaho Counseling Association Annual Conference. Pocatello, ID.
  • Young, M.A, Reilly, B., & Garn, P.* (2015). Live supervision: Reflecting in Action. Live! Part I. Idaho Counseling Association Annual Conference. Pocatello, ID.
  • Young, M.A, Reilly, B., & Garn, P.* (2015). Live supervision: Reflecting in Action. Live! Part II. Idaho Counseling Association Annual Conference. Pocatello, ID.
  • Young, M.A. & Kaley, R.* (2014). Live supervision: Teaching counselors to reflect in action. Washington Counseling Association Annual Conference. Seattle, WA.

I have two different areas that I research. One area is in couple relationships. My first research project was a qualitative study on healthy couple relationships and the relationship process that describes their experience. The results and peoples' response has been fascinating and I’ve developed a model from my research that I now teach at workshops and presentations. I plan to continue to study different aspects of this model to better understand healthy couple relationships. Also in the area of couple relationships, I am one of only a few counselors in the Spokane area who work with Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT).

My second area of research is in supervision. I’m currently part of two research projects studying live supervision. One project is a national survey of CACREP programs and their use of the different live supervision formats. My research team has just finished collecting our data and now we working on an article. From this I hope to do future training in live supervision and have already done several projects. My second study is a comparison of the effectiveness of live supervision compared with traditional post-session supervision. We will be collecting data for another 6 months to a year. We are looking at universities across the country that use either bug-in-the-ear supervision or live observation with feedback given after the session. Both of these projects speak to my interest in live supervision and how to encourage counselor educators and professional counselors to use it more in their practice. In addition, I’m just finishing an article on long distance live supervision and how we can tap into the benefits of live supervision using video conferencing.