Counseling and Student Affairs Staff

Jill Duba Sauerheber is a Professor and Department Chair of the Department of Counseling and Student Affairs at Western Kentucky University. She serves as the Program Coordinator for the MCFC and CMHC programs, CACREP-accreditation liaison, Program Administer for NBCC ACEP; and Coordinator for the Gottman Couples Therapy Method University Outreach. She earned a B.S. in biology at Saint Xavier University (Chicago), a M.A. in Marriage and Family Counseling at Governors State University, and a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision, with a cognate in marriage and family counseling at Kent State University. Dr. Sauerheber became a Hilltopper in 2004 when she was hired as a Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling faculty member within the Department of Counseling and Student Affairs. She has taught courses housed in all of the department's program areas.

Dr. Sauerheber is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC)-Supervisor, National Certified Counselor (NCC), Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP), EMDR certified, Brainspotting (BSP) certified, Reality Therapy Certified, and Gottman Couples Therapy trained (Level 3). She holds certifications as a Brain Health Professional (Amen University) and Integrative Mental Health Professional (CIMHP), plus completion of the Institute for Functional Medicine's 33-hour Applying Functional Medicine in Clinical Practice course, Neurofeedback training (Stens Corporation), and a Certificate in Adlerian Psychology. She employs a functional and integrative model of mental health—emphasizing whole-system factors for comprehensive healing—in her private practice serving individuals, couples, and families. Dr. Sauerheber also delivers training on integrative mental health to national and community groups nationwide, including the Catholic Media Association, WKU Lifelong Learning Community, and Diocese of Owensboro.

Dr. Sauerheber is a graduate of the Harvard Graduate School of Education Management Development Program. She has an extensive record of research and scholarship related to couples and family counseling; integrative psychological wellness, marital satisfaction, trauma-informed practice and counselor education. She has authored, co-authored and edited over 45 peer reviewed journal articles and 6 books, has conducted over 50 scholarly international and national presentations and provides the mental health training for “counselors” of various summer camps. Dr. Sauerheber has also been actively involved in the counseling profession since graduate school. She is past president of the North American Society of Adlerian Psychology, the co-founder and past president of the Kentucky/Tennessee Society of Adlerian Psychology and an editorial review member of the Journal of Individual Psychology. Dr. Sauerheber served as Secretary, as well as Board Member-at-Large on the International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors board; as a Site Team Member for the Council of Accreditation of Counseling and Related Programs (CACREP); as Interview Column Editor and Editorial Board member for The Family Journal; and as Co-Chair of the American Counseling Association (ACA) Professional Standards Committee.

Dr. Sauerheber has held many service appointments on campus, as well as within the community. She has served the university in various ways including as co-chair of WKU's President's Wellness Committee, faculty sponsor of the WKU Newman Center, member of WKU’s Institute for Rural Health Restructuring Committee, and member of the CEBS Curriculum Committee. Additionally, she has served on the WKU Provost Search Committee; the WKU Ad Hoc Committee on Faculty Continuance, Promotion & Tenure Committee; as well as on Faculty Senate. Dr. Sauerheber also chaired the Boyd-Lubker Visiting Scholar Program Committee, served as Clinical Coordinator of the Counseling programs, and as a member on various search committees. Her service has extended to the community including member of the Bowling Green Medical Center Health Foundation Community Relations Committee, Board Member of the St. Gianna Crisis Pregnancy Home, Canonical Advocate for St Joseph’s Catholic Church, and as a mental and behavioral consultant to the Catholic Diocese of Owensboro. She appreciates work/life balance, holds a Green Belt/Kyu in Japanese Ju-Jutsu, and enjoys lake days with her husband and chocolate lab, visiting with family, monthly book club, and traveling with her extended family.