Thomas V. Copeland

Associate Professor of Psychology & Director of Honors Program
325-670-1533
HSU Box
Cynthia Ann Parker College of Liberal Arts
Psychology
copeland@hsutx.edu

I grew up in Levelland, in real west Texas, in a family of farmers and ranchers. I understand how to drive a tractor, brand a calf and move irrigation pipe through a cotton field. I love Texas, and could easily spend the rest of my life here. I can't see any good reason to go anywhere else for very long. I have been blessed with an amazing and wonderful partner in life, Lori Copeland, also a psychology professor at HSU, and we have been married since 1983. We have two incredible adult daughters, Katie McCracken and Jordan Copeland and a great son-in law, Tyler.

I graduated from Texas A&M University with a B.S. in psychology in 1981. I then received a Master's degree in Religious Education in 1983 with a concentration in Counseling, from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

I worked for several years in Student Development, serving as everything from a Dorm Director to Director of Counseling Services to Dean of Students. In 1994 I completed an Ed.D. in Educational Psychology with a Developmental Emphasis, from Texas Tech University. I have always had an interest in the relationship between religion and psychological development, particularly as it pertains to young adults. Consequently, my dissertation topic for my doctorate was The Relationship between Protestant Fundamentalism and Intellectual and Moral Development among College Students.

I worked for nine years in Student Development prior to finishing my doctoral work and joining the faculty at HSU. Most of that time was spent as Dean of Students at Wayland Baptist University in Plainview, Texas. I joined the faculty at Hardin Simmons in 1994 and have been here since. In addition, I worked for two years as a therapist at the Ministry of Counseling and Enrichment at First Baptist Church here in Abilene. I am also the Director of the HSU Honors Program.

I consider myself primarily a developmental psychologist; however, I have considerable interest in theory and practice of therapy, philosophical foundations of psychology, psychology of religion, faith development, and the study of human sexuality. I am particularly interested in the developmental theories of Erik Erikson, William Perry, James Fowler and Lawrence Kohlberg. My interest in philosophical foundations is reflected in my high regard for some of the Christian existentialist philosophers and theologians, particularly Soren Kierkegaard.

I believe in an integrated approach to therapy, utilizing a biological-psychological-social-spiritual model, and a multi-faceted collection of techniques. I believe, as did Rollo May, Paul Tournier, and others that the primary component of therapy is the human connection that occurs between people. Thus I believe that relationship is the key to good work as a therapist.