Scott Ketring, Ph.D., LMFT

Scott Ketring, Ph.D., LMFT

  • Program and Clinic Director Marriage and Family Therapy
  • Associate Professor
(334) 707-9101
ketrisa@auburn.edu
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https://humsci.auburn.edu/hdfs/grad/masters_mft.php
Accepting new graduate students: Yes
Accepting new undergraduate students: Yes

 

Scott A. Ketring, PhD, LMFT, is the Program and Clinic Director for the Marriage and Family Therapy program at Auburn University. He is trauma-trained in TF-CBT and NET with extensive experience working with survivors of abuse and violence, including active-duty military personnel, veterans, DEA agents, battered women, and children. His clinical work includes long-term in-home therapy with Kansas children experiencing severe abuse and neglect, as well as hospital-based care in ER, ICU, NICU, end-of-life, and crisis-response settings. For more than 25 years, Dr. Ketring has provided disaster response services following natural disasters, participating in 13 hurricane and 6 tornado relief efforts across the southeastern United States. He is highly involved in training therapists to understand and treat trauma and has specialized training in aging relationships and human sexuality in later life. Dr. Ketring earned his doctorate from Kansas State University. He has published 53 peer-reviewed articles, one book, and three book chapters. Currently, he is working on evaluating evidence-based practice outcomes in training student therapists. Additionally, He served as Co-Principal Investigator on the Alabama Healthy Marriage and Relationship Education Initiative (AHMREI), a DHHS-funded program supporting families across Alabama. A leader in the profession, Dr. Ketring is a former Chair of the Alabama Board of Examiners for Marriage and Family Therapy (2015-2020) and past President of the Alabama Division of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, which he served for ten years (2005-2015). He successfully led efforts to amend LMFT regulations to allow teletherapy and tele-supervision in Alabama—changes that took effect just before the COVID-19 pandemic. He also spearheaded the efforts to allow Marriage and Family Therapists to diagnose in Alabama, his crowning achievement in 2015. His honors include the AAMFT Outstanding Volunteer Service Award (2018) and the Alabama MFT Lifetime Achievement Award (2017).

Education

  • Ph.D.Kansas State University1999

  • M.S.Brigham Young University1996

  • B.S.Brigham Young University1994

Professional Experience

As a leading educator, trainer, practitioner, researcher, and presenter in Marriage and Family Therapy, I have consistently supported Auburn University’s mission to improve lives and deliver an exceptional student experience grounded in learning, service, and professionalism. My work reflects a sustained commitment to the Auburn Creed and the Auburn Family. My professional approach is defined by directness, ethical responsibility, and an unwavering focus on addressing shame related to trauma, sexuality, addiction, and systemic harm. This approach is grounded in evidence-based practice and the realities faced by frontline professionals working with vulnerable populations.

My impact extends well beyond Auburn University. In April 2016, I first presented for the Honorable Michael Fellows, Circuit Judge for Lee County Family Court on trauma- informed care. In November 2025, Judge Fellows again affirmed the value of my work at the Judicial Child Summit, where he introduced me before an audience of 250 Family Court Judges and DHR Commissioners for the state of Alabama, stating that my presentation was “the most informative and helpful training” he had received as a judge making life-altering decisions for Alabama’s children. He emphasized that my ability to bring complex and painful realities into the room in a personable, relatable, and impactful way made the training memorable and effective.

Following the presentation at the Judicial Child Summit, the Director of Children and Family Services at the Alabama Department of Human Resources requested that I provide training to all frontline social workers across Alabama. I have begun statewide training for bachelor's- and master's-level social workers, extending Auburn University’s impact into systems serving vulnerable children and families.

State and National Awards

Outstanding Volunteer Service Award, American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, Fall 2018

Life Achievement Award, Alabama Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, Spring 2017

Auburn University Award

SGA Outstanding Faculty Award, College of Human Sciences, Spring 2003

Innovation


Recent Publications

Carmona, J., Ketring, S., & Bean, R. (In-Press). Parental involvement, social capital, and academic aspirations among Hispanic adolescents: A structural equation modeling approach. The Family Journal. https://doi.org/

Johnson, L. N., Delgado, E., Ketring, S. A., Bradford, A. B., & Anderson, S. R. (2024). Dyadic alliance development over the first six couple therapy sessions: The Roleof Relationship Adjustment, symptom distress, and attachment. Contemporary Family Therapy, 46(4), 363–372. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-024-09699-8 

Sterrett‐Hong, E. M., Sutton, A., Brown, K. S., Culver‐Turner, R. E., Rastogi, M., & Ketring, S. (2023). “I was simply trying to make it through the day”: A collaborative autoethnography of couple/marriage and Family Therapy Program Directors in a Diversity and anti‐racism Peer Consultation Group. Family Process, 63(2), 594–611. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12907 

Lowery, D. F., Novak, J. R., McWey, L. M., & Ketring, S. A. (2023). A test of the dyadic associations between ineffective arguing, emotional distress, and violence perpetration and victimization among couples seeking therapy. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 49(4), 762–780. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.12654

Anderson, S. R., Banford Witting, A., Tambling, R. R., Ketring, S. A., & Johnson, L. N. (2019). Pressure to attend therapy, Dyadic adjustment, and adverse childhood experiences: Direct and indirect effects on the Therapeutic Alliance in couples therapy. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 46(2), 366–380. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.12394

Ketring, S. A., Bradford, A. B., Davis, S. Y., Adler‐Baeder, F., McGill, J., & Smith, T. A. (2017). The role of the facilitator in couple relationship education. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 43(3), 374–390. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.12223 

Dr. Scott A. Ketring’s research advances Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) through a continuum-of-care approach, examining outcomes for at-risk families facing trauma, mental health challenges, and resource scarcity. His work emphasizes the therapeutic alliance as a key predictor of individual and relational functioning, particularly among low-income, minority, and trauma-affected populations. Dr. Ketring has led multisite clinical research, developed evidence-based interventions, and participated in federally funded projects evaluating client outcomes. He is also deeply committed to mentorship, training graduate students in clinical research, assessment, and evidence-based practice to strengthen relational health and family stability.

Mentorship is central to his work, training graduate students in clinical research, curriculum development, and evidence-based practice, with the overarching goal of uniting research and therapy to promote relational health and family stability for Alabama citizens.

Engagement

Dr. Scott A. Ketring’s extension and outreach efforts focus on trauma-informed care, community recovery, and relationship education across Alabama. He has delivered extensive training to school counselors, educators, administrators, caregivers, parents, and community leaders on child maltreatment, caregiver health, suicide prevention, and relationship functioning. Following the Dadeville mass shooting, Dr. Ketring co-established a multi-year outreach initiative providing free trauma therapy through the Auburn University Marriage and Family Therapy Center and led coordinated trainings and consultations with multiple school districts, civic leaders, and judicial officials. His outreach work emphasizes translating clinical trauma expertise into accessible, community-based interventions that support children, families, and professionals responding to crisis and long-term recovery.

Recent Outreach Efforts

Ketring, S., (2025, January). Trauma and Recovery: Working with children who are suffering maltreatment. Auburn City Schools School Counselors and Staff. Auburn, AL. 120-minute presentation Audience: 42

Ketring, S., (2023, October). Trauma and Recovery: Healing after the mass shooting trauma in Dadeville. Opelika City Schools Teachers, School Counselors, and Staff. Opelika, AL. 120-minute presentation Audience: 56

Ketring, S., (2023, September). Trauma and Recovery: Healing after the mass shooting trauma in Dadeville. Opelika City Schools Superintendent, Principals, and Administrators. Opelika, AL. 120-minute presentation Audience: 32

Ketring, S., & Livingston, R. (2023, May). Trauma and Recovery: Healing after the mass shooting trauma in Dadeville, Tallassee School Administrators, teachers, civic leaders, parents, and youth. Tallassee, AL. 120-minute presentation. Audience: 50


Outreach/Extension Publications:

Books/Manuals

McGill, J., Ketring, S., &; Adler-Baeder, F. (2016). Couples Communicating Mindfully: A Relationship Education Program.

Futris, T. G., AdlerBaeder, F., Ketring, S., Smith, T., et al. (2014). ELEVATE: Taking Your Relationship to the Next Level. Published by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M and Auburn Universities: Publication No. FCS2047) and the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension 

Ketring, S. (2011). RESPECT: Developing strong physical, emotional, sexual, and emotional relationship, a six-week marriage class. Developed and Pilot tested in Auburn, Opelika, and Montgomery.

In 2011, I served as an Investigator on a three-year U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Family Assistance grant, which was later extended by an additional year. My responsibilities spanned public awareness, program development, and delivering relationship and sexuality education to low-income, underserved, and diverse communities. During this project, I authored the RESPECT CRE curriculum, the first relationship education curriculum to include a substantive, research-grounded sexuality component. This work laid the foundation for the sexuality component of the ELEVATE curriculum, a nationally disseminated curriculum used across the U.S. My leadership continued as I mentored a doctoral student in the development and evaluation of Couples Communicating Mindfully (CCM), including authoring the curriculum’s sexuality section and training relationship educators across Alabama.


Journal Editorial Board and Ad Hoc Reviewing

Editorial Board, (2004 – Present). Journal of Marital and Family Therapy.

Ad Hoc Reviewer, (2024 – Present). Child Abuse & Neglect.

Ad Hoc Reviewer, (2015 – Present). Contemporary Family Therapy.

Ad Hoc Reviewer, (2011 - Present). Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy


Serving the Community and Supporting Youth and Families

Ketring, S. (2025, November). Trauma effects on children are impacting the recovery process. Child Welfare Judicial Summit, Point Clear, AL. (250 attendees)

President (2025 – Present). Serve as the President of the “I Am My Brother’s Keeper” Board to ensure growth and expansion of services for youth and families.


Serving the University, College, Department, and Program

Annual meeting with communities of interest (COI) to ensure feedback for the COAMFTE Annual Report (2019-Present).

1. Multicultural Alums Advisory Board Meeting (MAAB)

2. Community Supervisors

3. MFT Faculty, HDFS Faculty, and Adjunct Faculty meeting


Virtual Open House Recruitment (2021 – Present). Advertise and coordinate the AU MFT Open House for 

potential recruits, contacting and sending flyers to four universities that have Auburn Alumni.


Ketring, S., Novak, J., & Gillis, B. (2023 & 2025). Revise the Kansas State Supervision Rating Form 

from 29 to 09 questions.


Organized the Training Conference with the University of Georgia for Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET)


Coordinated with Dr. Liz Weiling the Director of the University of Georgia, Doctoral MFT Program to Complete the NET Training


Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) is a short-term, evidence-based trauma treatment for survivors of multiple or complex trauma, for individuals exposed to multiple or prolonged traumatic events, particularly in contexts of organized violence, displacement, or chronic interpersonal trauma (e.g., war, sexual abuse, refugees). It combines cognitive-behavioral exposure techniques with narrative psychology, helping patients construct a chronological, coherent life story, reducing PTSD symptoms, and contextualizing fragmented traumatic memories.  In international development contexts, NET is widely used as an evidence-based mental health intervention for populations exposed to war, displacement, political violence, and chronic adversity. It was originally developed for low-resource and humanitarian settings and aligns well with global mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) frameworks.

Provided Training for Nine individuals in evidence-based mental health intervention for populations exposed to war, displacement, political violence, and chronic adversity. Including therapists from the Ukraine and Israel, along with alumni working with women experiencing abuse in rural religious communities, juvenile sex offenders in Alabama, and Native American populations in Oklahoma.


6/06/25 Dr. Ketring - Polyvagal Theory and Trauma Mapping of Nervous System 4 Hrs

6/13/25 Dr. Ketring - Racial Trauma and Health: Ethical Responsibilities 2 Hrs

6/20/25 Dr. Ketring - Narrative Exposure Therapy (NET) Introduction 2 Hrs

6/27/25 Dr. Wieling - NET Treatment Approach for trauma and PTSD Flooding 2 Hrs

7/11/25 Dr. Ketring - NET addressing PTSD, Dissociation, and Special Needs 2 Hrs

7/31/25 Dr. Wieling - NET Lifeline Demonstration and Debrief 3 Hrs. 

7/31/25 Dr. Wieling - NET Exposure Demonstration and Debrief 2 Hrs.

7/31/25 Dr. Wieling - NET Group role Play Treating PTSD and Complex Trauma 2 Hrs.

8/01/25 Dr. Wieling - NET Exposure Small Group Trauma Exercise 3 Hrs.  

8/01/25 Dr. Wieling - NET Ethical Treatment of Complex Trauma 3 Hrs.

25 hours of NET Training

Supervision Mentoring of Doctoral HDFS Students

Created, Piloted, and Directed Supervision Mentoring

Name                     Degree             Year              Current Position

Winter, Madison            Pd.D.          2025-27        Doctoral Candidate, Auburn University

Christensen, Karl            Ph.D.         2025-26         Doctoral Candidate, Auburn University

Mitchell, Theresa             M.S.         2024-25       Clinician Montgomery Area

Dahle, Trevor                  Ph.D.         2024-25         Doctoral Candidate, Auburn University

Kaeppler, Alex                 Ph.D.         2023-24         Assistant Professor, MFT, Southern Mississippi

Gillis, Brian                      Ph.D.         2020-21         Assistant Professor, MFT, Auburn University

Pyle, Raven                     Ph.D.         2017-18         Clinical Services Manager, Auburn University

Goodman, Rebecca       Ph.D.         2017-18         Quantico, VA. Statistician, MFT

Perez-Bertl, Yesenia        M.S.         2017-18        Private Practice, Houston, TX, MFT

Sabey, Allen                    Ph.D.         2016-17         Associate Professor, MFT, Northwestern University

Chan, Alex                       Ph.D.         2016-17         Associate Professor, Extension, University of Maryland

Jensen, Jakob                 Ph.D.         2015-16          Associate Professor, MFT, East Carolina University

Kahokumoku, Emily      Ph.D.         2014-15          Associate Professor, MFT, Chaminade University

Gregson, Kimberly        Ph.D.         2013-14          Asheville, NC, Private Practice, MFT

Lucier-Greer, Mallory   Ph.D.         2012-13          Professor, HDFS, Auburn University

Bradford, Angela           Ph.D.         2012-13          Professor, MFT, Brigham Young University

 

HDFS 7910: Marriage and Family Therapy Supervision Mentoring

  • Developed and directed a doctoral-level supervision course designed to prepare students for COAMFTE-approved supervisor status.

  • Structured the program to meet national supervision standards, providing:

  • 36 weeks of weekly supervision-of-supervision

  • 36 additional weeks of ongoing supervision

  • 72 total weeks required for competitive AAMFT/COAMFTE supervisory and faculty roles.

  • Designed curriculum emphasizing systemic supervision, ethics, multicultural competence, model-specific supervisory skills, and isomorphism in supervisory relationships.

  • Provide sustained mentorship to doctoral and professional supervisors completing Approved Supervisor training while supporting clinical skill development among MFT trainees.

  • Contribute a significant service role by enabling doctoral students to complete the Approved Supervisor process during their academic program, strengthening the department’s supervisory pipeline.

  • Integrated trained supervisors into the program as adjunct faculty (e.g., HDFS 7631 – Christensen; HDFS 7920 – Steele, Mitchell), expanding supervision capacity and enriching clinical training.

  • Support departmental diversity and clinical excellence by incorporating supervisors with varied clinical and cultural backgrounds to enhance student training and program quality.

Program and Clinic Director Auburn Marriage and Family Therapy

Dr. Scott A. Ketring has provided sustained administrative leadership for the Auburn University Marriage and Family Therapy Program, serving as Program Director since 2018 and previously as Acting Program Director across multiple terms. He chaired the COAMFTE Self-Study (2023–2025) and Site Visit (2025), resulting in 100% compliance across all COAMFTE evaluative components and zero stipulations, qualifying the program for a seven-year accreditation cycle—a distinction not achieved by any peer program in the same review year and one that produced significant cost savings through extended accreditation.

Consistent with COAMFTE standards for governance, outcomes-based education (OBE), and continuous program improvement, Dr. Ketring directs all assessment and accreditation activities, including annual COAMFTE reports, sustaining fees, university assessment submissions, and cyclical OBE evaluations. He leads systematic collection, analysis, and use of data from students, alumni, supervisors, faculty, and communities of interest to inform programmatic decision-making, curricular revision, and policy development, with particular attention to diversity, equity, inclusion, and multicultural competence. His leadership includes oversight of program and clinic handbooks, supervision evaluation tools, and clinical skills assessment processes, as well as training and supervising undergraduate researchers to ensure reliable and valid measurement of student clinical competencies.

Dr. Ketring also chairs the MFT student admissions process (2019–present), overseeing applicant screening, interviews, ranking, recruitment, and matriculation support in alignment with COAMFTE standards for transparent, equitable, and mission-consistent admissions practices. Under his leadership, the program achieved its largest applicant pool to date (62 applicants in 2025). Additionally, he has led long-term recruitment and marketing initiatives to expand multicultural representation and Spanish-speaking clinical services, strengthening access to care, supervision, and culturally responsive training within the program and surrounding community. He might be hte only Program Director to have 100% of respond to the COAMFTE anonymous alumni survey for accreditation, a testament to his relationship with students and alumni.

Significant Accomplishments as Program Director

Grants received related to teaching 2019 - Present: ($715,960.05)

Clinical Assistantship Placements

INTEGREA - East Alabama Mental Health Center
Chambers Council for Neglected & Dependent Children and Youth (Circle of Care)
Lee County Youth Development Center (LCYDC) - Family Links
I Am My Brother's Keeper (IAMBK)
   

We also partner with Dr. Raven Livingston, Auburn University ABSOP Therapist, offering clinical assistantships with the Alabama Juvenile Sexual Offender Program at Mt. Meigs 

Career Milestones Impacting Alabama Marriage and Family Therapy

Dr. Scott A. Ketring has played a pivotal role in expanding access to Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) services for Alabama residents. He championed the legislative and regulatory efforts that enabled MFTs in Alabama to “Diagnose and Treat” mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders, codified into law in 2018. Anticipating the need for remote services, he directed the revision of ABEMFT rules to allow teletherapy and telesupervision, implemented in January 2020—prior to the COVID-19 pandemic—positioning Alabama MFTs as the only mental health providers in the state immediately authorized to provide full clinical and supervisory services online. These efforts ensured that families, couples, and individuals could continue receiving care without interruption and helped Auburn University’s MFT program rapidly transition to teletherapy in April 2020.

Ketring, S. & Berryhill, B. (2024). Co-organized the effort to ensure that COAMFTE students can count their relational hours post 500 towards the Alabama Licensure (August 2024).

Ketring, S. (August 2023). Wrote the White Paper for the Alabama MFT Licensure Board to present to the Alabama Medicare Commissioner. Completing the legislative fight to receive Medicare reimbursement in Alabama.

Jones, K., & Ketring, S. (2020). Co-organized the effort to assure teletherapy and tele-supervision services throughout Alabama during the COVID-19 State of Emergency, “stay-at-home” order by Governor Ivey (March 16, 2020, through April 30, 2020).

Ketring, S. (2019 & 2020). Organized the effort to ensure that COAMFTE students can take the National Licensure Exam in the State of Alabama the last month of their program.

Jones, K. & Ketring, S. (2020). Ensure teletherapy and tele-supervision continuing education was provided within 30 days to meet the re-adjusted continuing education requirements for Associate MFT’s, LMFT’s, and MFT Supervisors.

Ketring, S. & Jones, K. (2020). Initiated and directed effort to “suspend/adjust” mandatory training guidelines for teletherapy and tele-supervision, allowing MFTs in Alabama to offer services for children and families immediately following COVID. Alabama Board of Examiners in Marriage and Family Therapy Emergency Meeting, March, 27, 2020.

Ketring, S. (2020). Revised ABEMFT Rules and Regulation allowing for teletherapy and telesupervision for licensed Alabama MFTs and allowed 100% of training to be teletherapy and telesupervison.

  • The rule changes occurred in January 2020 before COVID hit in March

  • Presented to membership at the ALAMFT February conference about allowing 100% Teletherapy and Telesupervison with membership upset over the changes. Then COVID hit

  • We were the only mental health associated not required to have a special dispensation by the Governor allowing up to do teletherapy and telesupervison in Alabama because we had passed it

  • The Auburn MFT Program was the second quickest program in the country to be receiving clients by teletherapy (April 1, 2020).

Member (2015 – 2018). Diagnose and Treat Codified in Alabama law for MFTs. Alabama Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.

  • Bill passed the House and Senate on 03/15/2018

  • I chaired the committee until I transitioned to the ABEMFT Licensure Board and had to step down from my role

Past-President, (2014 - 2015). Alabama Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.

President, (2012 - 2014). Alabama Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. 

President-Elect (2010 – 2012). Alabama Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.

Chair (2015 – 2018). Revise Rules, Regulations, and Code of Ethics for the Alabama Board of Examiners in Marriage and Family therapy. ABEMFT Sub-Committee.

Chair (2011 – 2012). Revise the Code of Ethics for Marriage and Family therapy. ABEMFT Sub-Committee.