Dr. Amy O'Hana is the director of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at the University of Western States. She has been a full-time faculty member in the clinical mental health counseling program since 2021. She graduated from Oregon State University in 2005 with a PhD in counseling and has been a full-time counselor educator for 20 years. She is a licensed professional counselor in Oregon and a Board-approved clinical supervisor. She recently completed the graduate certificate in Applied Sport Psychology at UWS and has a deep appreciation for the integration of CMHC and SPP.

Dr. O'H is the owner of Embodied Performance LLC, which is a mental health organization specializing in sport and performance psychology in Central Oregon. Additionally, she has served as the director of two counseling training clinics. Her clinical expertise is in counseling ethics; diagnosis and assessment; career and vocational counseling; first responders and military; and grief, loss, and adjustment. Her research interests are human potential and motivation, erotic intelligence (which isn't necessarily about sexuality), integrative approaches and spirituality.

Outside of the classroom, Dr. O'Hana loves to write. She is the author of three books: When Your Child is Grieving (2019), Beyond Burnout: What to Do When Your Work Isn't Working for You (2020), and Working with Erotic Intelligence: The Smart Woman's Guide to Beating Burnout and Achieving Incredible Success at Work (2022). She has authored or co-authored many other professional publications and presentations, and she is a regular podcast guest.

When not writing, counseling or teaching, you can find Dr. O'H playing with her French bulldog Sunny, kayaking, working out, or exploring the mountains of Central Oregon.

College of Graduate Studies Faculty Member of the Year - 2022

What made you decide to teach at UWS?

I love teaching at UWS because our programs are stellar. We train counselors and SPP consultants from an integrative model. Spirit - body - mind approaches are an interest of mine, and it fits within the wholistic wellness paradigm of the counseling profession.

Where does your passion for teaching stem from?

I experience transcendent moments when teaching. It is in these moments that I realize that I am truly "following my bliss" (Joseph Campbell). There is no other work in the world that I should do - I AM a teacher.

You're also a researcher - what do you study and why?

I've studied quite a bit about vocational burnout, but I have always been fascinated by theories and models of human potential. Several years ago, I stumbled across a phenomenon called erotic intelligence (Er-I), which is all about helping people achieve their highest good while maintaining a state of equilibrium and wholeness. Most people are surprised to learn that the erotic is not always about sexuality.

Can professional counselors and SPP consultants use Er-I in their work?

Yes. Though Er-I comes from a metaphysical phenomenon, it can be utilized in practical ways in counseling, sport and performance psychology, and other human helping vocations. Find me on my personal website (below) or on Linked In for updates.