Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Columbia Campus Core Faculty

Katherine H. DeWitt, PhD, LPC, LPC/S
Program Director, Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Dr. Katherine DeWitt is an Associate Professor and Program Director for the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at South University in Columbia, South Carolina. Serving in this role since April 2021, Dr. DeWitt has successfully guided the program through the transition out of COVID-19 protocols and secured reaffirmation of accreditation from the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) in 2025.

Having spent most of her professional career in higher education as both an academic and career counselor, Dr. DeWitt has worked extensively in student retention with at-risk populations, developing programs and resources designed to support first-generation, underrepresented, and low-income college students in persisting to graduation and, for many, continuing on to graduate education. 

Dr. DeWitt’s clinical experience includes working with adolescents involved in the juvenile justice system, serving as a case manager for a teen drug court program, supporting youth and families navigating the foster care system, and assisting young adults aging out of state custody as they transition into independent living. She has also led parent and family psychoeducational groups as part of a behavioral intervention program within Richland County School District Two in Columbia, South Carolina.

Dr. DeWitt is a passionate advocate for the counseling profession and has served on the Board of the South Carolina Counseling Association for the past four years. In June 2026, she assumed the role of President of the association, where she will serve over the next year as an advocate and representative for counselors, as well as the clients and communities they serve. In this role, she is committed to improving the quality of care for Carolinians and protecting the integrity of the profession and its licensure as the state advances and implements the Professional Counselor Licensure Compact.

Outside of her work as a counselor educator and practitioner, Dr. DeWitt is a sports enthusiast who also enjoys movies, reading, and spending time with her daughter, dogs, and family.

Shanta A. Jerideau, PhD, LPC, LPC/S 
Clinical Coordinator, Clinical Mental Health Counseling 

Dr. Shanta A. Jerideau is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Counselor Supervisor with a Ph.D. from the University of South Carolina. Her academic background also includes a Master of Arts in Professional Counseling – Clinical Mental Health Counseling from South University in 2013. 

Dr. Jerideau’s professional journey has taken her through a variety of settings, from supporting individuals experiencing housing insecurity to working with clients involved in foster care services. These diverse experiences have informed her core belief that healing is not a one-size-fits-all process. She utilizes an integrative therapeutic approach, incorporating Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Emotionally Focused Therapy, and Schema Therapy to tailor her support to each client's unique needs. 

Outside of her clinical work, Dr. Jerideau is a proud mom, daughter, niece, and friend. She is a devoted coffee enthusiast, an avid fan of Gilmore Girls, and a passionate reader when time permits. She also finds peace and inspiration in watching classic black-and-white films.

Dan Lawther, PhD
Full-time Faculty, Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program

Dr. Lawther’s background and experience are diverse.  His BA degree is in History and English from the University of Indianapolis, he holds a MA in General Experimental Psychology from Indiana State University, and a PhD in Counselor Education from the University of South Carolina.

He has variously worked as the Director of Housing at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Director of Cottage Life for the Midlands Center (SCDMR), the Director of the Charleston Evaluation Center (SCDJJ), Psychologist III for the Intensive Behavior Modification Program (SCDJJ), Assistant Coordinator for the Intensive Care Units (SCDJJ), Director of Staff Development (SCDJJ), and Training Director for First Corrections Corporation.  He has previous teaching experience at Limestone College and Webster University before beginning employment with South University.  Dr. Lawther is coauthor of “Institutional Programs” in L. Villeponteau and D. Kirkpatrick (Eds) The Correctional Learning System.

Dr. Lawther’s major area of interest has been developing programs for the oppositional and conduct disturbed adolescent.  To that end, he has presented programs for the Southern States Correctional Association and consulted with various program entities in Arizona, Alabama, Georgia, and the US Virgin Islands, St. Croix.

Elizabeth M. Combs, PhD
Assistant Professor, Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Dr. Elizabeth M. Combs, or “Professor Moriarty,” is a Counselor Educator, Researcher, Practitioner, and Advocate. Dr. Combs is a two-times alumnus of the University of South Carolina (PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision, 2025; B.A. in Experimental Psychology, 2014), and an alumnus of Western Carolina University (M.A. in Clinical Psychology, 2018). She has an extensive background in counseling/counselor education and psychological assessment and research, as well as a diverse, interdisciplinary background in the overall human services sphere: crisis intervention and sexual/domestic assault survivor advocacy, social services case management, educator for neurodiverse children and adolescents, and collaborative nursing research in tandem with public health, social work, and computer science and engineering. 

Dr. Combs’ primary professional foci are in health equity, such as improving health treatment outcomes and overall wellbeing for minority populations, particularly the LGBTQ+ community, as well as increasing cultural humility and cultural consideration competency within counselors and counselors-in-training. Dr. Combs’ research expertise, clinical practice, and professional advocacy center on bolstering the strengths and resiliencies in disenfranchised groups, particularly those who have multiple minority statuses (e.g., BIPOC transgender individuals), rather than focusing solely on the health disparities these communities often face. In addition, Dr. Combs’ clinical experience and interest are mainly substance use treatment with disadvantaged populations (i.e., rural, low income, unhoused, those referred by court systems, parole boards, and Department of Social Services cases, as well as non-English speakers, LGBTQ+ persons, racial/ethnic minorities, etc.).

When she is not wearing one of her professional “hats,” Dr. Combs enjoys spending quality time with her family, including loudly engaging in competitive tabletop games and trivia. She is a lifelong film enthusiast and an avid reader (hence the homage to Sherlock Holmes with “Professor Moriarty”), as well as an enjoyer of nature and outdoor activities (i.e., hiking, swimming, bodysurfing, kayaking, running, badminton, baseball, soccer, etc.).

These are some of the career options* you can explore when you have earned your degree:

• Mental Health Counselor

*South University does not promise or guarantee licensure, employment, or salary amounts. 

Graduates are required to pass the national certification exam and obtain a state license in order to work in the field. (Exam names vary by program.) Please refer to the State Professional Licensure Determination and National Certification/Licensure section of the University catalog for additional information. South University cannot guarantee each graduate will pass the required licensure examinations. South University does not promise or guarantee licensure, employment or salary amounts.

The Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program Guide contains information specific to students enrolled in the Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at South University. It is the responsibility of all students to be knowledgeable about the policies, procedures, regulations and expectations contained within. If at any time there is a conflict between the Program Guide and the Academic Catalog, the Academic Catalog will take precedence.

This Guidebook has been prepared by the CMHC program. Information in it maybe be modified, supplemented or discontinued with or without notice.

To view the South University, Columbia Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) Program Guide, click HERE.

Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Course Syllabi Samples

The syllabi listed below represent the courses in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program.  They are provided for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as the “official” syllabus for the course.

CNS6002, Counseling Theory

CNS6018, Psychopathology

CNS6050, Lifespan Development

CNS6051, Diagnostics of Psychopathology and Treatment

CNS6161, Counseling Techniques

CNS6313, Professional Orientation and Ethics

CNS6425, Clinical Mental Health Counseling

CNS6509, Group Dynamics

CNS6529, Research and Statistical Evaluation

CNS6535, Clinical Mental Health Appraisal I

CNS6565, Multicultural Foundations

CNS6602, Lifestyle and Career Development

CNS6709, Couples, Marital, and Family Dynamics

CNS6775, Counseling Administration, Advocacy, Supervision and Policy

CNS6800, Human Sexuality

CNS6850, Psychopharmacology

CNS6901, Diagnosis and Treatment of Addictive Disorders

CNS7010, Pre-Practicum IA

CNS7011, Practicum IB

CNS7510, CNS7610, CNS7611, Internship IA, Internship IIA, Internship IIB

CNS7950, Child/Adolescent Psychopathology and Treatment

CNS7970, Crisis and Trauma