FHU Doctor of Behavioral Health Program Marks 10 Years of Preparing Professionals to Serve the Whole Person

Ten years ago, Freed-Hardeman University entered relatively uncommon territory when it launched its Doctor of Behavioral Health program. At the time, FHU was one of only three universities offering the degree.

A decade later, the program has grown to approximately 90 students, reached professionals well beyond Tennessee and continues preparing experienced clinicians and healthcare professionals to address the interconnected behavioral, mental and physical health needs of the people they serve.

FHU launched the 60-credit-hour doctoral program in 2016. Rebecca Gatlin became its first graduate in December 2019 and continues working as a clinician in Ripley, Tennessee. Dr. Nadine McNeal, who now directs the DBH program, completed the degree in May 2020.

According to McNeal, since Fall 2019, there have been 40 total graduates and 251 total unduplicated enrollments. “The program is doing well, and we are continuing to grow and expand,” she said.

Today, the program attracts experienced professionals from social work, mental health counseling, psychology, family sciences, education and medical fields who want to broaden their ability to serve patients and clients holistically.

Among the current students are Tiffany and Nick Secula, a married couple who operate their own private counseling practice in Kentucky. Tiffany entered the program with a master’s degree in the field, while Nick already holds a doctorate in pastoral care. Their decision to pursue the DBH reflects the program’s ability to bring professionals with different educational and clinical backgrounds together around a shared understanding of behavioral health and whole-person care.

To complete the program, students must earn 60 hours, taking an estimated three to four years. Seven weeks into the program, the Seculas said the program is proving to be both engaging and motivating. “The emphasis on scripture alongside scientific research, the encouragement toward engaging with fellow students, and the encouragement received from the faculty have made me positive this was the right program for me,” Tiffany said. “I can see how the course work will help improve my skills not only as a therapist, but as a business owner as well. Being able to do the program alongside my husband, to share in deeper discussions, and process material together has made it even more meaningful.

Nick added that he came into the program with high expectations for what he wanted to gain. “Freed-Hardeman has delivered. The program allows me to expand my practical skills in behavioral health while learning from professors who are not only highly accomplished in their field, but who also share the same faith-based foundation I want to bring to our own practice."

That breadth is intentional. The curriculum combines behavioral and mental health education with an understanding of physical health and executive leadership. Students also encounter areas such as psychopharmacology and the business and administrative responsibilities involved in operating a healthcare or behavioral health practice.
“You may not be doing all the pieces, but you need to understand all the roles that are needed,” McNeal said.

The interdisciplinary approach has become increasingly important as professionals encounter patients whose needs rarely fit neatly into one category. Many students come to FHU after years in their professions and have witnessed firsthand the need for stronger mental health advocacy, integrated care and systemic change.

FHU’s Christian mission also distinguishes the program. What began as one of three Doctor of Behavioral Health programs in 2016 remains one of only a handful nationwide, according to McNeal, and FHU’s is the only program of its kind intentionally grounded in Christian faith.

That integration begins at orientation with prayer and continues throughout the doctoral experience. For clinicians whose professional work intersects with ministry or who approach patient care through a Christian worldview, the program provides an opportunity to integrate faith with advanced professional preparation.

The virtual format has allowed that community to extend far beyond Henderson. Students attend web-based classes from across the country, with one current student participating from Europe.

Most students take two three-credit-hour courses each semester, and the program operates year-round through spring, summer and fall. Approximately 90% of classes are held in the evening, with some abbreviated Saturday classes, allowing working professionals to pursue the degree while continuing their careers. Students typically complete the program in three to four years, culminating in a doctoral capstone project.

The flexibility comes with high academic expectations. Students must maintain a 3.5 GPA, including before advancing into the capstone portion of the program. Coursework requires significant study and research beyond time spent in the virtual classroom.
“You want to be committed,” McNeal said.

For prospective students, McNeal emphasizes time management, planning and personal responsibility. Doctoral candidates often balance careers, families and other obligations while completing demanding coursework.
“Life will happen,” McNeal said. “We are compassionate and caring. We understand the commitment that they’re making.”

That compassion, she said, exists alongside accountability. Students are expected to meet the scholarly and professional standards required of a doctoral program. As behavioral healthcare evolves, FHU also is considering how the DBH can respond to emerging needs without sacrificing the structure and rigor of its 60-hour curriculum. Potential areas for future development include specialized study related to alcohol and drug treatment and gerontology, particularly as an aging population increases the demand for professionals equipped to address the behavioral and mental health dimensions of elder care.

Emerging technology is creating another area of focus. Artificial intelligence has become part of conversations within the program, with faculty emphasizing how students can use the technology responsibly without allowing it to replace original scholarship or professional expertise.

AI may assist with organizing ideas or developing outlines, McNeal said, but doctoral students remain responsible for understanding, articulating and defending their work. Verbal presentations and other assessments help reinforce that accountability.
After a decade, McNeal sees the quality of FHU’s students and graduates as one of the program’s strongest measures of success.
“We have some excellent students,” she said.

Those students have taken the knowledge developed through the program into counseling, healthcare, social work, education, ministry, private practice and leadership roles — extending the DBH program’s influence well beyond FHU’s classrooms.

As FHU celebrates 10 years of the Doctor of Behavioral Health program, the next chapter will continue the work that began in 2016: preparing professionals to understand the whole person, navigate the systems surrounding their care and use their expertise to lead, advocate and serve.