Frank N. Thomas

Since 2005

Associate Professor, Counseling

817.257.6562

f.thomas@tcu.edu

Educational Background

B.S. (University of South Dakota), 1975

M.Div. (North American Baptist Seminary), 1980

Ph.D. (Texas Tech University), 1988

Teaching Responsibilities

EDEC 41123 Learner-Centered Teaching:  Families

EDGU 50223 Helping Relationships

EDGU 60143 Counseling Interventions

EDGU 60213 Intro to Marriage and Family Therapy

EDGU 70103 Practicum I

EDGU 70203 Practicum II

EDGU 70970 Special Topics

EDSP 41123 Learner-Centered Teaching:  Families

EDUC 50003 Diversity in American Education

Research Interests

Qualitative inquiry methodologies

Client experiences of counseling

Therapist and supervisee perspectives in counseling

Spirituality in counseling

Resiliency in families and individuals

Exemplary school counselors

Relational creativity

Supervision and training

Selected Publications

Thomas, F. N., & Nelson, T. S. (Eds.) (1998). Tales from Family Therapy: Life-Changing Clinical Experiences. Binghamton, NY: The Haworth Press. (ISBN: 0-7890-0065-2)

Thomas, F. N., & Cockburn, J. (1998). Competency-Based Counseling: Building on Client Strengths. Minneapolis: Fortress Press. (ISBN: 0-8006-2977-9)

Nelson, T. S., & Thomas, F. N. (Eds.) (2007). Handbook of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy: Clinical Applications. Binghamton, NY: The Haworth Press.

Nelson, T. S., & Thomas, F. N. (2007). Instructors’ Guide to the Handbook of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy: Clinical Applications. Binghamton, NY: The Haworth Press.

Thomas, F. N., Waits, R. A., & Hartsfield, G. L. (2007). The influence of Gregory Bateson: Legacy or vestige? Kybernetes: The International Journal of Systems & Cybernetics, 37, 871-883.

Thomas, F. N. (2007). Possible limitations, misunderstandings, and misuses of solution-focused brief therapy. In T. S. Nelson & F. N. Thomas (Eds.), Handbook of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy: Clinical Applications (pp. 391-408). Binghamton, NY: Haworth.

Thomas, F. N. & Nelson, T. S. (2007). Assumptions within the solution-focused brief therapy tradition. In T. S. Nelson & F. N. Thomas (Eds.), Handbook of Solution-Focused Brief Therapy: Clinical Applications (pp. 3-24). Binghamton, NY: Haworth.

Thomas, F. N. (2007). Simpler may not be better: A personal journey with and beyond systemic and solution-focused practices. Journal of the Texas Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, 12(1), 4-29.

Thomas, F. N. (2007). Scout’s honor: Utilization with adolescents in family therapy. Journal of Family Psychotherapy, 18(3), 85-89.

Thomas, F. N. (2007). Back to basics: Creating a “No Pathology” zone. RATKES: The Journal of the Finnish Association for Solution Focused and Resource Oriented Methods, 3.

Thomas, F. N. (2007). Back to basics: Being curious, respectful, and tentative. RATKES: The Journal of the Finnish Association for Solution Focused and Resource Oriented Methods, 4.

Thomas, F. N. (2008). The hurried therapist: Ethics and the pressure toward mastery. CONTEXT: The Magazine for Family Therapy and Systemic Practice, 46, 33-35.

Recent Presentations

The dance of supervision. A five-hour institute presented with Shelley Green, PhD at the Annual Conference of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), Austin, TX, October 19, 2006.

Clarifying the questions: Spirituality and solution-focused practices. A workshop presented with Mark Mitchell, MA, Dvorah Simon, PhD, and Duane Bidwell, PhD at the Annual Conference of the Solution Focused Brief Therapy Association (SFBTA), Denver, CO, November 4, 2006.

Solution-focused supervision: Processes of creativity. A workshop presented with Thorana Nelson, PhD at the Annual Conference of the Solution Focused Brief Therapy Association (SFBTA), Denver, CO, November 4, 2006.

A couple of solutions: A live solution-focused brief therapy couples therapy interview. A workshop presented with Thorana Nelson, PhD at the international Annual Conference of the Solution Focused Brief Therapy Association, Toronto, Canada, November 3, 2007.

Aspirational ethics: Beyond laws and codes. An ethics workshop presented as a featured presenter at the Annual Conference of the Louisiana Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (LAMFT), Baton Rouge, LA, March 2, 2006.

Ethics and self-care: A resource-focused approach. An all-day workshop presented for the Louisiana Association of Substance Abuse Counselors and Trainers (LASACT), Baton Rouge, LA, July 26, 2006.

Possible limitations, misuses, and misunderstandings of solution-focused brief therapy. A plenary panel presented at the Annual Conference of the European Brief Therapy Association (EBTA), Krakow, POLAND, September 24, 2006.

The “rules of life” as therapeutic ethics: Wisdom and strategies. A four-city ethics tour (Metairie, Baton Rouge, Alexandria, and Ruston, LA) presented for the Louisiana Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (LAMFT), November 15-18, 2006.

Self-care and the family therapist. An all-day workshop presented at the Annual Conference of the Louisiana Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (LAMFT), Baton Rouge, February 27, 2007.

Solution-focused supervision: Coaxing expertise. An all-day workshop presented for the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work, April 19, 2007.

Solution-focused practices: Building solutions in business management, leadership, coaching, and supervisory relationships. A two-day workshop presented for the PROFACT Network, Pretoria, SOUTH AFRICA, March 10-11, 2008.

The leader and self-care. A one-day workshop presented for the PROFACT Network and ministerial alliances of Johannesburg and Pretoria, SOUTH AFRICA, March 12, 2008.

Being good, doing good: The virtue of goodness in ethical practice. A plenary to be presented for the Annual Conference of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, Memphis, TN, October 30, 2008.

Resources and expertise. A three-day workshop to be presented for the Finnish Association for the Advancement of Solution and Resource Oriented Therapy and Methods, Helsinki, FINLAND, March 10-12, 2009.

Professional Affiliations

Editorial Advisory Board, Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 2007-present

Editorial Board, The Qualitative Report, 2007-present

Associate Editor, The Qualitative Report, 1998-2003

English Editor, RATKES: Journal of the Finnish Association for the Advancement of Solution and Resource Oriented Therapy and Methods, 2004-present

Editorial Advisory Board, The Journal of Couple and Relationship Therapy, 2000-present

Editorial Review Board, Journal of the Texas Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, 1996-present

Editorial Review Board, Journal of Family Psychotherapy (the official journal of the International Family Therapy Association [IFTA]), 1993-present

Reviewer, Kybernetes: The International Journal of Systems & Cybernetics, 2005-present

Editorial Advisory Board (Emeritus), The Journal of Systemic Therapies, 2004-present

Licensures & Certifications 

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (TX), (4/15/1992-present)

Approved Supervisor Status, Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT) (11/4/1994 - present)

Approved Supervisor, American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (1989-present)

Clinical Member, American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (1987-present)

Clinical Member, Texas Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (1987-present)

Approved Supervisor (member level), American Association of Pastoral Counselors (1996-present)

Professional Service

Member, Harris Methodist Health Systems Clinical Pastoral Education Professional Advisory Group, 2005-present

Member, TCU Graduate Council, 2007-present

Member, TCU Honors Program Committee, 2007-present

Various search committees, TCU College of Education

Member, TCU COE Cabinet

Honors & Awards

2007 Mortar Board Preferred Professor, Ampersand Chapter, Texas Christian University