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George Vera, Ph.D.

Professor and Program Director Ph.D. in Counseling

George Vera, Ph.D.
George Vera, Ph.D. Professor and Program Director Ph.D. in Counseling

Education

  • Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision, University of New Orleans
  • MEd in Counselor Education, University of New Orleans
  • MS in Counseling Psychology, Center for Psychiatric, Psychological, and Sexual Research Studies
  • BEd in Counseling and Guidance, University of Zulia

Biography

Dr. Vera is an interdisciplinary scholar, educator, clinical supervisor, and counseling practitioner who has brought higher-level expertise and international experience to the Counseling Program at ϲʹ since 2019. His balanced global and local perspective enriches his research, teaching, and clinical practices centered on holistic and preventive approaches while shaping his understanding of mental health and well-being in the contemporary world.

Dr. Vera’s extensive studies and research in English and Spanish related to counseling leadership and public policy, counseling pedagogy, counseling practice innovations, reflective clinical-educational supervision, and ethical-critical thinking practices for counselors’ education and practitioners’ professional improvement are a testament to his life-long commitment to the counseling field advance. His scholarly work includes research paper presentations and invited speeches at prestigious counseling conferences worldwide. His postdoctoral work includes a clinical mental health counseling residency (The McFarland Institute, 2002), working with underserved populations suffering from various mental, educational, and wellness challenges. Likewise, Dr. Vera completed a human science post-doctorate focused on counseling practitioners’ ethics, politics, pedagogy discourse, emergent practices, and education in Latin America (University of Zulia, 2011). Also, he holds several top mental health counseling licenses and professional credentials, such as Licensed Professional Counseling (LPC-CT), Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC-FL), Licensed Professional Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LPCMHC-NM), National Certified Counselor (NCC, NBCC), Certified Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS, CCE), Board-Certified Clinical Mental Health Counseling (BC-CMHC, NBCC), Mental Health Facilitator Master Trainer (MHF-MT, NBCC), and Board-Certifed TeleMental Health (NBCC).

Besides teaching, research, and mental health counseling practices, Dr. Vera has also contributed by promoting and holding leadership positions in communities, academic institutions, and professional organizations. For example, he was one of the founding members of the International Society for Policy Research and Evaluation in School-Based Counseling () and its newly chair-elected (2023-2026), the International Registry of Counselor Education Program (, a worldwide affiliated), the Latin American Counseling Professional Network (RELAPRO), and the Venezuelan Counseling Professional. Similarly, Professor Vera contributed to counselors’ practices quality and professional identity enhancements by helping to design country-specific professional competency-based certification and counseling-related legislation initiatives in association with The National Board-Certified Counselor (USA) and country-based counseling organizations in Argentina, Cuba, Mexico, and Venezuela, as well as lecturing on counseling pedagogy, research, service, policies, and leadership across Latin America.

Recent Selected Publications

Books Chapters

  • Vera, G. and Barreto, A. (2017). Historical Influences on the Development of Policy Affecting School-Based Guidance and Counseling in Latin America in J. Carey, B. Harris, Sang M. L, and Oyazimo A. (Editors). International Handbook of School-Based Policy and Policy Research. Springer International Publishing. DOI:
  • Vera, G. D. Jiménez, and A. Barreto (2017). Contemporary Public Policy on Guidance and Counseling in Venezuela, Costa Rica, and Other Latin American Countries in J. Carey, B. Harris, Sang M. L, and Oyazimo A. (Editors). International Handbook of School-Based Policy and Policy Research. Springer International Publishing. DOI
  • Vera G. & Villa G. (2011). La profesión de orientación. Desafíos contemporáneos, reflexiones desde la diversidad latinoamericana [The Counseling profession. Contemporary challenges, reflections from Latin-American diversity]. Investigacion en Ciencias Humanas. Universidad del Zulia. Vol II, N 2, p 167-187.
  • Villa G. & Vera G. (2012). Implicaciones Ética en la inter y transdisciplinariedad en Orientación [Ethics Implications of the Inter and Transdisciplinar in Counseling]. Investigacion en Ciencias Humanas. Universidad del Zulia. Vol III, N 1, p 137-153.
  • Molina, D. L. and Vera G. (2014). Resignification de Orientación para la Prevención de la Violencia Escolar [Re-meaning of School Violence Prevention Counseling]. Investigación en Ciencias Humanas. Universidad del Zulia. Vol V, N 5, p 137-153.

Selected Counseling Peer-Reviewed Publications

  • Barreto, A., Vera, G., Fung, M., Macias, F., & Medina, F. (2024). Orientación Escolar en Latinoamérica: Historia y Contexto Actual en Legislación y Políticas Públicas. Journal of School-Based Counseling Policy and Evaluation, 6(1), 16-26.
  • Vera, G., Barreto, A., Fung, M., and F. Macias (March 2022). School Counseling in Latin America: Public Policy Contemporary Challenges. Comparative School Counseling, 2022, Volume 2, 21-22.
  • Smith, S. & Vera, G. (July 2021): Training School Counselors in Challenging Times: A Faculty’s View on Creative Strategies to Meet Practicum and Internship Requirements. Comparative School Counseling, 1, 51-55.
  • Vera, G. & B. Vera (2020). Venezuela Counseling Profession. Critical Events & Contemporary Advances. Enfoque Humanistico, N 37, 19-57, September.
  • Barreto, A., & Vera, G. D. (2020). Social Publisher Foundation. Practitioner Research.
  • Martin, I., & Vera, G. (2020). Practices and Priorities of School-Based Counselors in Venezuela and Costa Rica. Journal of School-Based Counseling Policy and Evaluation, 2(1), 71-80
  • Vera, G. & Jimenez, D. (2015). Educating counseling and guidance professionals from a pedagogy perspective: experiences from a Latin American undergraduate academic program. International Journal for Educational and Vocational Guidance. 15 (2). DOI
  • Vera, G. (2013). La profesión de orientación. Desafíos contemporáneos, reflexiones desde la diversidad latinoamericana [The guidance & counseling profession. contemporary challenges, reflections from Latin-American diversity]. Revista Cubana de Psicología,1 (2), 16-33.

Selected Research Paper Conference Presentations

  • Barreto, A., McCrin, C, Vera, G. (November, 2023). Human Energy Leadership in Higher Education Administration. Discussing the construction of a pedagogical model. 67th Annual Meeting of the Florida Educational Research. DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Hollywood, FL
  • Vera, G., Vera, B., and Barreto, A., (September, 2023). Enhancing Individuals’ Resilience in Challenging Times: Counselors-in-Training Experiences.” Florida Counseling Association’s 74th Annual Convention. “Resilience Amidst the Storm” in Tampa, Florida.
  • Shure, L., Demezier D., Vera, G. (March 2023). Riding the Tides of COVID-19: Effectiveness in Online and Distance Counselor Training. American Counseling Association (ACA) Conference & Expo in Toronto, Canada.
  • Vera, G., Barreto, A., and Vera, B., (March 2022). Re-Thinking School Counselling Education in Challenging Times. Counselling Educators’ Reflections. Comparative School Counseling. Second International Virtual Conference. Bulgarian Comparative Education Society
  • Vera, G., Barreto, A., Macia, F., Fung, M (March 2022). School Counseling in Latin America: History and Contemporary Challenges in Public Policy. Second International Virtual Conference on Comparative School Counseling. Comparative Education Society. Sofia, Bulgaria.
  • Smith, S. & Vera, G. (July 2021): Training School Counselors in Challenging Times: A Faculty’s View on Creative Strategies to Meet Practicum and Internship Requirements. First International Virtual Comparative School Counseling Conference. Comparative Education Society. Sofia, Bulgaria.
  • Smith, S. & Vera, G. (March 2021).Training School Counselors in Challenging Times: A Faculty’s View on Creative Strategies to Meet Practicum & Internship Requirements. Comparative School Counseling International Virtual Conference. Sofia, Bulgarian Comparative Education Society
  • Vera, G. (September 2020). Research Across Counseling Specialties: Current Challenges Beyond Borders [Panel Chair]. International Encounter: Humanistic Counseling & XVIII National Encounter Counseling. Humanism in Today’s World. Buenos Aires, Argentina.
  • Vera, G. & Barreto, A. (December 2020).Equity in Access to Quality School-Based Counseling Services. Venezuelan Counselors’ Experiences in the Context of the Covid-19 Pandemic. The International Society for Policy Research and Evaluation in School-Based Counseling (ISPRESC). Worldwide Conference.
  • Vera, G. (September 2020).The Counseling Profession: Contemporary Challenges. International Encounter: Humanistic Counseling & XVIII National Encounter Counseling.Humanism in Today’s World. Buenos Aires, Argentina.
  • Vera, G, D. Jiménez y A. Barreto (October 2014). La Orientación: Profesión y política de Estado.Tendencia y desafíos contemporáneos en Venezuela.First National Counseling Congress”50 Years of Counseling in Costa Rica: Achievements and Challenges. Heredia, Costa Rica.
  • Martin, J. Carey,G. Veraand C. Turriago.(October 2014).Estudios Sobre Políticas en Orientación Escolar en los Estados Unidos, años 2000 al 2013. Hacia la Identificación de Implicaciones Nacionales e Internacionales. First National Counseling Congress”50 Years of Counseling in Costa Rica: Achievements and Challenges. Heredia, Costa Rica.
  • Vera, G. & A. Barreto (October, 2014). Supervisión y Desarrollo Permanente desde la Praxis Orientadora. Formación Crítica por Competencias Personales, Pedagógicas y Operativas. [Supervise and constantly develop counseling practices. Critical Formation based on individual, pedagogy, and operative competencies]. First National Counseling Congress”50 Years of Counseling in Costa Rica: Achievements and Challenges, Heredia, Costa Rica.
  • Vera, G. & Barreto. A. (June 2014).A Counseling Supervision Pedagogically Oriented Model. Experiences at the Undergraduate Counseling Program.X International Clinical Supervision Conference, Adelphi University. Garden City, NY.

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