Michael Horst

Michael Horst earned a BS in Psychology and MA in Counseling from Eastern Mennonite University and completed his PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision at James Madison University. Michael has held many roles at EMU: student, window-washer, custodian, apartment manager, counselor, instructor, and program director. In his work as a counselor, he has had the opportunity to work with children, adolescents, college students, adults, and elders in a variety of settings, including college counseling centers, community agencies/free clinics, retirement centers, and a partial hospitalization program. Michael’s clinical work is influenced by existential, contemplative, and psychodynamic/psychoanalytic perspectives. He continues to attempt to find a home for his love of philosophy in counseling, counselor education, and supervision. Michael has also had the privilege of exploring his passion for counselor education through teaching counseling and psychology courses at EMU and JMU. He has taught in EMU’s MA in Counseling department in various capacities since 2014. His research interests include explorations of Gendlin's focusing, contemplative practices and therapeutic relationships, counselor formation, the intersections of the humanities and philosophy with psychotherapy, inquiries into Psychoanalysis, and much more. 

Hammond, C., Cline, J., Horst, M., & Czyszczon, G. (2022). A Passion for Theories: A Collaborative Experiential Pedagogy Using Original Sources. Southern Association for Counselor Education and Supervision. 

Horst, M. L. & Nafziger, S. W. (2018). From countertransference to cotransference. Virginia Counselors Association.

Koser, N. J., Horst, M. L., & Nafziger, S. W. (2017). Theoretical InACTmeant. Virginia Counselors Association. 

Koser, N., Horst, M. L., & Nafziger, S. (2016). On Transference. Virginia Counselors Association.

Horst, M. L. & Nafziger, S. (2015). Being more than one story: Contemplative psychotherapy and counselor formation. Virginia Counselors Association.

Horst, M. L., Metz, A., & Bukowski, M. (2015). Mindfulness outside the box: Nature connection as a tool for counselor self-care. Virginia Counselors Association.

Hammond, C. & Horst, M. L. (2015). Mindfulness on and off the cushion: How meditation and mindfulness affect the therapeutic relationship. Virginia Counselors Association.

Echterling, L., Stewart, A., Cowan, E., Horst, M., George, S. (2015). Thriving together: Strengthening attachments that enrich our growth as counselors. Virginia Counselors Association.

Koser, N., Horst, M. L., & Nafziger, S. (2015). Interpretation and Its Fates: Culture and Clinic. Harrisonburg Center for Psychoanalysis. Presented at Eastern Mennonite University.

Horst, M. L. (2014, April). An investigation of student attitudes towards campus counseling services. Poster presented at Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, VA.

Horst, M. L. (2011, April). The effect of mindfulness based stress reduction on a test of basic mathematics. Poster presented at the Virginia Psychological Association Annual Meeting, Norfolk, VA.

Fisher, R., Horst, M. L., Miller, B. J., & Horst, S. J. (2011, October). To serve and lead: Operationally defining servant leadership. Presentation at the Northeastern Educational Research Association Annual Meeting, Rocky Hill, Connecticut.

Central Valley Counselors Association (CVCA) - Immediate Past President (August 2019 - August 2020)

Central Valley Counselors Association (CVCA) - Co-President (August 2018 - August 2019)

Central Valley Counselors Association (CVCA) – Editor (August 2015 – August 2016)
Duties include advertising, gathering and selecting newsletter submissions; editing submissions; and designing and creating the newsletter.

Community Mennonite Church – Patchwork Pantry Recycling Coordinator

Grants:

Health Resources and Services Administration [HRSA] Behavioral Health Workforce, Education, and Training [BHWET] program: 4-year, $2.3 million grant award (competing continuation). Serving as Project Director (2025-2029).

Health Resources and Services Administration [HRSA] Behavioral Health Workforce, Education, and Training [BHWET] program: 4-year, $1.01 million grant award (competing continuation). Serving as Project Director (2021-2025).

Health Resources and Services Administration [HRSA] Behavioral Health Workforce, Education, and Training [BHWET] program: 4-year, $1.28 millon grant award.  Served as Professional Practice Coordinator (2017-2018) and Project Director (2018 - 2021).  

Honors and Awards:

Chapter Member of the Year (2022): Central Valley Counselors Associtation, Virginia Counselors Association

Chpater Member of the Year (2019): Central Valley Counselors Association, Virginia Counselors Association

Most Distinguished (2017): James Madison University Department of Graduate Psychology
This award is presented to students who have made exceptional contributions in scholarship, teaching, and service.

William Hall Award for Contributions to the Learning Community (2016): James Madison University Department of Graduate psychology
This award is presented to the Counseling Program graduate student who has made outstanding contribution to the professional growth of other students and has significantly advanced the study of counseling.

Certifications:

• National Certified Counselor (NCC): National Board for Certifed Counselors

Professional Memberships:

• American Counseling Association (ACA)
• American Psychological Association (APA)
• Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES)
• Virginia Counseling Association (VCA)
• Central Valley Counselors Association (CVCA)
• The International Focusing Institute (TIFI)