Pair of CAPS counselors hold prestigious roles within professional organizations

Clemson's staff members are frequently celebrated for their incredible contributions to the institution. Some go above and beyond, striving to make an impact outside of the University's circle - in the community, the state, and the nation as a whole. Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) houses two of these individuals: Debra Crisp and Andie Eaton.

Both Crisp and Eaton already hold a lot of responsibility in their roles at Clemson. Crisp is the associate director and training director at CAPS; she oversees the intern and trainee programs for aspiring counselors, while also maintaining the department's American Psychological Association (APA) accreditation. Meanwhile, Eaton serves as assistant director, and her duties include coordinating programs for dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) services and eating disorders, while also supervising postdoctoral researchers in Crisp's training program.

Both women derive significant joy from their positions in CAPS. Crisp appreciates the close connections between coworkers, Eaton identifies client work as a source of enjoyment, and the two together praise their involvement in the training process as a unique opportunity to foster growth in upcoming psychologists and help trainees "develop their professional identities."

Crisp and Eaton's passion for psychology and motivation to make a difference in the field led them to pursue leadership positions in prestigious organizations beyond Clemson. Crisp serves as president of the Association of Counseling Center Training Agencies (ACCTA) - an organization dedicated to promoting excellence in doctoral psychology internship training programs for universities across the nation. ACCTA provides valuable input and leadership into the training community, serving in tandem with several national groups such as the APA and the Bureau of Education. During her presidency, Crisp's primary goal is to highlight the standing committee on diversity within ACCTA. Having previously served in multiple roles on the committee, she feels a personal connection to this work and looks forward to championing its efforts. "It's next to my heart," she says.

Meanwhile, Eaton serves as the vice chair of the South Carolina Board of Examiners in Psychology, a position appointed by Governor Henry McMaster last year. The purpose of the Board is to uphold state state laws in the psychology domain; Eaton is in charge of handling misconduct reports, giving oral exams for licensures, and more. In the past, she has acted as the legislative contact for the Board, maintaining a line of clear communication with South Carolina's lawmakers. She is currently the first commissioner for the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact, which allows psychologists to practice across state lines. Eaton was born and raised in South Carolina, and she credits this as her motivation to join the organization. "It's important to me to protect the people of this state," she says. "It's important to me that psychologists behave in an ethical manner and do the right things, and the only way I can make sure that happens is to have a role in it."

Eaton is quick to redistribute individual praise and validate the overall quality of Clemson's practitioners. "The staff we have at CAPS and Redfern is unbelievable," she says. "The amount of talent that exists in this building rivals any other counseling center. These professional leadership positions highlight the strength we have as a health center."