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Richard Anderson

575

Bold Points

1x

Finalist

1x

Winner

Bio

My name is Richie, my wife and I have been married for 21 years this year. We have a daughter who is a senior in high school, and a son who is a freshman in high school. I'm currently working toward a master's degree in professional counseling. I work at Centerstone of Tennessee as a crisis care consultant, providing de-escalation, active listening, and support to callers who are in a mental health crisis and possibly suicidal. Lines I answer for include Centerstone's crisis line, Lifeline/988, and NFL Lifeline. Prior to crisis care I was a case manager at Centerstone, worked in youth ministry, and am a veteran of the United States Air Force.

Education

Amridge University

Master's degree program
2019 - 2024
  • Majors:
    • Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology

Amridge University

Bachelor's degree program
2014 - 2018
  • Majors:
    • Bible/Biblical Studies
  • Not planning to go to medical school
  • Career

    • Dream career field:

      Mental Health Care

    • Dream career goals:

    • Crisis Care Consultant

      Centerstone
      2022 – Present2 years
    • Case Manger

      Centerstone
      2022 – 2022
    • Youth and Family Minister

      Rivergate Church of Christ
      2021 – 2021
    • Family Life and Youth Minister

      Westside Church of Christ
      2016 – 20204 years
    • Tactical Aircraft Maintenance Technician

      United States Air Force Reserve
      2016 – 20204 years
    • Geospatial Intelligence Analyst

      United States Air Force
      2013 – 20163 years
    • Tactical Aircraft Maintenance Technician

      United States Air Force
      2007 – 20136 years
    Steven Penn Bryan Scholarship Fund
    Winner
    My name is Richie Anderson, I’m 41 years old and currently enrolled in the Professional Counseling graduate program at Amridge University. My wife and I have been married for 20 years, we have a 16-year-old daughter and a 14-year-old son. I started thinking about going into counseling while I was serving in the United States Air Force. When I enlisted the plan was to complete one six-year contract to gain some stability for my then-young family, but when my wife and I learned I could retire at the age of 46, we decided to make it a 20-year career. As my career progressed, I set the goal for myself to achieve the rank of at least Master Sergeant (E-7) and apply to become a First Sergeant. A First Sergeant’s job is to support and be the voice of the enlisted personnel to the commander. This wanting to take care of people eventually led me to consider counseling as a career after I retired. The 20-year career plan didn’t pan out for me, I left active duty at the end of my six-year enlistment and joined the Air Force Reserve to start a career in youth ministry. I had already begun working toward a Bachelor of Science in Bible/Ministry at Amridge University while on active duty and completed it while serving in youth ministry and in the Reserve. I exhausted my Post 9/11 GI Bill benefit after the Summer 2023 semester. I have four semesters left, which led me to find the Steven Penn Bryan scholarship. I’m on track to begin my internship in the Spring 2024 semester and complete coursework after the Fall semester. Since working in ministry, I moved on to work as a mental health case manager at Centerstone of Tennessee and am currently still employed at Centerstone as a crisis care consultant, supporting people in crisis for Centerstone’s crisis services as well as Lifeline (988) and NFL Lifeline. I plan to integrate soul and spirit into my work by having a Christ-informed mindset, not Christian counseling outright, but by letting Jesus’ example of love and compassion guide me in how I work with people to help them heal and move forward. My experience in the military has led me to be very interested in EMDR as a treatment for trauma, that will integrate mind and body. However, I was recently introduced to Somatic Experiencing this semester in the Counseling for Abusive Relationship course, and am very interested in learning more. I plan to use Reality Therapy to bring all these pieces together.