Rebecca Kennedy, Ph.D.
Director, Health and Counseling Services
I am very happy to work at the University of West Florida and interact with students, staff and faculty in a variety of ways. I completed my Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at the State University of New York at Buffalo and my Bachelor of Science in Psychology at George Mason University. I am a Licensed Psychologist and have worked in a variety of settings with children, adults, and families.
As the director of Health and Counseling I broadly oversee the areas of Counseling and Wellness services as well as Student Health Services. I am the lead administrator for Counseling and Wellness Services but also provide individual, couples, and group psychotherapy, consultation, crisis intervention, supervision and outreach. In regards to physical health, I work closely with the director and medical director of the Student Health Center to ensure that they have the resources they need to provide excellent service there as well.
I am passionate about prevention and intentionally endeavor to help create a culture at UWF in which students, staff and faculty strive for physical and mental health. I particularly enjoy my interactions with students. Regardless of their age and background, students occupy a unique status or place in the world, the status of someone who is exploring, learning and integrating new ideas and information into their world. I am very proud of the work of the Wellness Services staff and Peer Educators as I play a supportive role in substance abuse and misuse prevention, sexual assault prevention, and sexual health promotion.
In my clinical work I help students make sense out of what is going on for them and find ways to either cope with or eradicate the problems as indicated. It is my privilege to work with a person throughout confusing, unsettling and often downright disruptive times in their life. My goal is to help them with avoiding, when possible, getting into the same painful situations in the future or to simply survive what has happened to them and pursue their own life’s passions. In general, my goal is to help people live life well and enjoy it.