Belhaven University Welcomes Dr. Clayr Simnacher to Prepare the Next Generation of Christian Counselors

JACKSON, Miss. (July 23, 2026) — Belhaven University has appointed Dr. Clayr Simnacher as specialty instructor of counseling. A licensed professional counselor supervisor (LPC-S) with extensive clinical and teaching experience, Dr. Simnacher brings a passion for counselor education and the integration of faith and psychology to Belhaven's graduate counseling program.

With more than a decade of experience across private practice, community mental health, school counseling, and managed care, Dr. Simnacher has worked with individuals, couples, and families facing a wide range of mental health challenges. Her diverse professional background provides students with practical clinical insight while emphasizing compassionate, evidence-based care grounded in Christian principles.

Prior to joining Belhaven, Dr. Simnacher served as an adjunct professor at B. H. Carroll Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, where she helped prepare graduate students for careers in counseling and ministry.

Her clinical and academic interests include child and adolescent development, attachment theory, women's mental health, and the integration of faith and psychology. She is an Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)-trained therapist, has completed Levels 1 and 2 of Gottman Method Couples Therapy training, and has advanced training in Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders through Postpartum Support International. She is especially passionate about mentoring future counselors as they develop the clinical knowledge, ethical judgment, and interpersonal skills necessary for effective professional practice.

Dr. Simnacher earned a Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Arts from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, a Master of Theology from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Bachelor of Arts from Southern Methodist University.

Outside the classroom and counseling office, Dr. Simnacher enjoys spending time with her family, hosting friends around the dinner table, and never turns down an iced coffee or a friendly game of mahjong.

Belhaven University's graduate counseling programs prepare students to become competent, compassionate mental health professionals through academically rigorous, Christ-centered education that integrates clinical excellence, ethical practice, and servant leadership.