Assistant Professor of Counselor Education at Marywood University, was selected by the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) Foundation to be showcased as its sole featured volunteer for the month of April

Richard Joseph Behun, Ph.D., LPC, NCC, ACS, Old Forge, Pa., assistant professor of counselor education at Marywood University, was selected by the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) Foundation to be showcased as its sole featured volunteer for the month of April. This national recognition is bestowed to one Nationally Certified Counselor each month. Dr. Behun has been an NBCC Foundation Volunteer since 2014, serving as a reviewer for the military, rural, and minority scholarship. He also serves as a mentor for the NBCC Foundation Scholarship Program.

Additionally, Dr. Behun was recently elected to serve as the president of the Pennsylvania Counseling Association (PCA) in 2018-2019. With more than 500 active members, the PCA is a state branch of the Washington, D.C.-based American Counseling Association (ACA), the national professional association that represents the more than 526,000 professional counselors who live and practice in the United States. The PCA is also a part of the American Counseling Association—North Atlantic Region’s (ACA—NAR) network of state branches, the ACA—NAR being one of four regional chapters of the ACA. The PCA president serves as the association’s official delegate to the ACA-NAR.

Dr. Behun completed his doctoral studies in counselor education and supervision at Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pa. He also earned an undergraduate degree in political science from California University of Pennsylvania and three master’s degrees. Dr. Behun holds a master’s degree of studies in law with a major in education law from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, a master’s degree of science in education with a major in school counseling and a master’s degree of science in education with a major in school administration, both from Duquesne University.

Dr. Behun is certified as a PK-12 school counselor in Pennsylvania, he is licensed as a professional counselor (LPC) in Pennsylvania and holds credentials as a National Certified Counselor (NCC) and Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS). Additionally, he is a ten-year veteran of the United States Army.

Currently, Dr. Behun enjoys teaching school and clinical mental health counseling at both graduate and undergraduate levels at Marywood University. Prior to teaching in higher education, Dr. Behun was employed as the principal of an international baccalaureate high school, as well as a high school counselor in the private sector and as a middle school counselor in the public-school system.

Dr. Behun focuses his research on legal and ethical issues in the helping professions, concentrating on civil liability and tort law with a specialty in counselor negligence. He also conducts research in the area of mandated reporting of child maltreatment with an emphasis on child sexual abuse.