Dr. Mark Schwarze

06/05/2026

After reading the hateful and vile comments in many Pride Month Facebook posts this week, I am glad to put this perspective out there in the universe.

What happens to a person’s mental health when they spend years feeling unheard, unsafe, dismissed, or forced to justify their basic humanity? One issue that continues to impact emotional wellbeing

06/04/2026

I currently have a few spots open for new clients. My practice is now virtual counseling only.

Feel free to use my listing to get details:

Mark J. Schwarze, Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, Boone, NC, 28607, (828) 374-9467, As a counselor I operate from a Person-centered approach. This means I will work hard to create a warm, non-judgmental, and empathetic space for us to do our work. I am interested in the way you think and....

06/01/2026

Happy Pride Month!

This month is an opportunity to celebrate authenticity, courage, love, and the rich diversity that strengthens our communities. As a counselor, educator, and advocate for mental health, I believe that everyone deserves to be seen, valued, respected, and supported for who they are.

Wishing a joyful and affirming Pride Month to all. Let us continue building communities where people can live openly, connect authentically, and thrive.

05/18/2026

Excited to have this one out!

Dr. Mark Schwarze, associate professor, and Dr. Katie Biddle, assistant professor, both in the Department of Counseling, Family Therapy, and Higher Education, recently published in the Journal of Creativity in Mental Health.

Their article introduces an innovative framework using video creation and guided storytelling to support counseling with older adults. By addressing key themes—loneliness, grief, life transitions, and health — their work highlights how creative, technology-supported approaches can strengthen connection and enhance therapeutic outcomes.

Click the link in the comments to read the article.

05/05/2026

My May column is now available.

Public awareness of gender-expansive identities has grown in recent years, yet understanding often lags. For many individuals and families, questions about gender identity are not abstract. They are deeply personal,

04/01/2026

The April column is out!

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, more commonly known as ADHD, is one of the most widely discussed and misunderstood mental health conditions in both schools and clinical settings. As a counselor educator and

03/31/2026

This decision is a troubling example of what happens when ideology outweighs science. The research is clear and consistent: conversion therapy is harmful, ineffective, and linked to increased risks of depression, anxiety, and su***de. As counseling professionals, our responsibility is to protect client well-being through evidence-based, ethical care. When policy departs from science, it is vulnerable individuals who bear the cost.

The American Counseling Association (ACA) is profoundly disappointed in today's ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Colorado's ban on conversion therapy. Despite the ruling, the evidence remains clear: conversion therapy is harmful, discredited, and unsupported by science, and its risks to client well-being are well documented. ACA, SAIGE and other leading mental health organizations remain committed to ethical, evidence-based, and affirming care, and will continue to oppose practices that violate these standards of care.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/4bUJdbE

03/24/2026

Honored and grateful to share that I’ve been selected as the 2026 Leadership Excellence for Counselors by Counselors Award recipient by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) Foundation.

This award is especially meaningful because it was created for counselors, by counselors to recognize those working to expand access to mental health services, strengthen our profession, and support counselor education and advocacy.

I’m incredibly proud that this recognition reflects work done through my time serving as Chair of the NC Board for Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors and in my role as Program Director for the App State Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program at Appalachian State University.

Only one award in this category was given nationally this year, which makes this even more humbling.

I’m thankful to be part of a profession committed to ethical practice, meaningful access to care, and preparing the next generation of counselors.

Dr. Mark Schwarze, associate professor and program director of the Master of Arts in clinical mental health counseling program at Appalachian State University, has been named the recipient of the 2026 Leadership Excellence for Counselors by Counselors Award by the National Board for Certified Counse...

03/06/2026

As a mental health counselor, professor, and researcher, I’m reminded daily that older adults deserve more than just mental health care, they deserve the care that truly fits them.

As a mental health counselor, professor, and researcher, I’m reminded daily that older adults deserve more than just mental health care, they deserve the care that truly fits them. And

02/22/2026

Enjoyed my time at this year’s conference.