LaTeX
Proficient in document production, package management, and class development, with a specialty in Tikz and biblatex. Used to format a self-published book and to typeset and publish the Journal of Life Care Planning.
Smokefall Counseling
Education, Therapy, Rehabilitation
Curriculum Vitae
Assistant Professor of Clinical Mental Health and School Counseling, University of Wisconsin–Whitewater. Rehabilitation counselor, life care planning researcher, and CACREP Board of Directors member.
Education & Licensure
University of Iowa — CACREP Accredited
St. Cloud State University — CORE Accredited
University of Minnesota–Duluth
Certification #00153085
License #8349-226
Certification #1404 — intentionally non-renewed
Certification #40148 — intentionally non-renewed
Professional Experience
University of Wisconsin–Whitewater, Clinical Mental Health and School Counseling Programs
Montana State University Billings, Rehabilitation and Mental Health Program
Student Health Services, Montana State University Billings, Billings, MT
Rocky Mountain Rehab, Billings, MT
Research & Publications
Mertes, A. (2023). Careers in Private Rehabilitation Counseling. Self-published. Website link
Mertes, A., & Reid, C. (2023). Research in life care planning. In T. Rutherford-Owen & M. Barros-Bailey (Eds.), Life care planning and case management handbook. Routledge.
Fernandez, M. S., Mertes, A., Kurian, K. M., & Provost, K. (2026). CACREP's response to rehabilitation counseling education accreditation history, empirical standards, and implications after the merger of CORE and CACREP. Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling. https://doi.org/10.1891/JARC-2025-0032
Mertes, A. (2025). The state of rehabilitation counseling using data and evidence. Journal of Applied Rehabilitation Counseling. [In press]
Mertes, A. (2021). Pedagogical technologies for remote learning in counselor education: Hyflex course design. Rehabilitation Counselors and Educators Journal, 12(2). https://doi.org/10.52017/001c.84544
Mertes, A., & Albee, T. (2020). The effects of post-Sanchez hearsay in life care planning. Journal of Life Care Planning, 18(2), 81–89.
Mertes, A., Masterson, J., Mitchell, N., Penilton, D., Marcinko, D., Thomas, K., Smolarski, R., & Turner, D. (2019). International Academy of Life Care Planners' position paper on transdisciplinary practice. Journal of Life Care Planning, 17(2), 3–4.
Mertes, A. (2017). Content analysis of the research priorities in the Journal of Life Care Planning 2004–2017. Journal of Life Care Planning, 16(2), 3–9.
Mertes, A., & Harden, T. (2017). The role of rehabilitation counseling in life care planning. Journal of Life Care Planning, 17(1), 39–44.
Presentations
Selected recent presentations are listed below; full historical lists are available in each expandable category.
Mertes, A., Shale, A., & Konop, D. Wisconsin Counseling Association (WCA), Madison, WI.
Mertes, A., Warshaw, S., Carpenter, G., & Chart, H. Wisconsin Counseling Association (WCA), Madison, WI.
Mertes, A., & Shlemon, P. Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES), Philadelphia, PA.
Public appearance
Grants & Teaching
Mertes, A. Sponsored by the Office of the Provost, University of Wisconsin–Whitewater. $1,000.
Toenjes, K., Mertes, A., & Bangert, L. Montana State University Billings. $50,000.
Estrada-Hernandez, N. & Mertes, A. The University of Iowa. $9,131.
Mertes, A. Sponsored by the Rehabilitation Services Administration, Federal. $3,000.
Mertes, A. $500.
Mertes, A. The University of Iowa. $600.
| Session | Course | Course Title |
|---|---|---|
| Summer 2026 | COUNSED 746 | Counseling Chemical Dependency |
| Summer 2026 | COUNSED 751 | Ethics and Consultation |
| Spring 2026 | COUNSED 719 | Appraisal Procedures in Counseling |
| Spring 2026 | COUNSED 795 | Internship |
| Fall 2025 | COUNSED 718 | Principles of Counseling |
| Fall 2025 | COUNSED 751 | Ethics and Consultation |
| Fall 2025 | COUNSED 795 | Internship |
| Summer 2025 | COUNSED 746 | Counseling Chemical Dependency |
| Spring 2025 | COUNSED 719 | Appraisal Procedures in Counseling |
| Spring 2025 | COUNSED 795 | Internship |
| Fall 2024 | COUNSED 718 | Principles of Counseling |
| Fall 2024 | COUNSED 751 | Ethics and Consultation |
| Fall 2024 | COUNSED 795 | Internship |
| Summer 2024 | COUNSED 712 | Foundations of Counseling |
| Spring 2024 | REHA 520 (Hyflex) | Group & Individual Evaluation |
| Spring 2024 | REHA 515 (Hyflex) | Med & Psych-Soc Aspects of Disability |
| Spring 2024 | REHA 594 | Counseling Practicum |
| Fall 2023 | IND: REHA 523 | Advanced Group Counseling |
| Fall 2023 | REHA 594 | Counseling Practicum |
| Fall 2023 | REHA 525 (Hyflex) | Career Development, Placement, & Support |
| Fall 2023 | REHA 517 (Hyflex) | Research & Program Evaluation |
| Fall 2023 | REHA 406 (Hyflex) | Med & Psych-Soc Aspects of Disability |
| Summer 2023 | REHA 520 (Hyflex) | Group & Individual Evaluation |
| Summer 2023 | REHA 596 | Counseling Internship |
| Spring 2023 | REHA 520 (Hyflex) | Group & Individual Evaluation |
| Spring 2023 | REHA 515 (Hyflex) | Med & Psych-Soc Aspects of Disability |
| Spring 2023 | REHA 594 | Counseling Practicum |
| Fall 2022 | REHA 594 | Counseling Practicum |
| Fall 2022 | REHA 525 (Hyflex) | Career Development, Placement, & Support |
| Fall 2022 | REHA 517 (Hyflex) | Research & Program Evaluation |
| Fall 2022 | REHA 406 (Hyflex) | Med & Psych-Soc Aspects of Disability |
| Summer 2022 | REHA 551 (Hyflex) | Med & Psych-Soc Aspects of Disability |
| Spring 2022 | REHA 520 (Hyflex) | Group & Individual Evaluation |
| Spring 2022 | REHA 515 | Med & Psych-Soc Aspects of Disability |
| Spring 2022 | REHA 594 | Counseling Practicum |
| Fall 2021 | REHA 406 | Assessment in HS and Addiction Programs |
| Fall 2021 | HS 335 | Introduction to Counseling |
| Fall 2021 | REHA 525 (Hyflex) | Career Development, Placement, & Support |
| Fall 2021 | REHA 594 (Hyflex) | Counseling Practicum |
| Summer 2021 | REHA 520 (Hyflex) | Group & Individual Evaluation |
| Summer 2021 | HS 335 | Introduction to Counseling |
| Summer 2021 | REHA 594 | Counseling Practicum |
| Fall 2020 | REHA 594 | Counseling Practicum |
| Fall 2020 | REHA 525 | Career Development, Placement, & Support |
| Fall 2020 | REHA 406 | Assessment in HS and Addiction Programs |
| Fall 2020 | HS 335 | Introduction to Counseling |
| Spring 2020 | REHA 590 | Counseling Practicum |
| Spring 2020 | REHA 520 | Group & Individual Evaluation |
| Spring 2020 | HS 335 | Introduction to Counseling |
| Fall 2019 | REHA 505 | Theories of Counseling |
| Fall 2019 | REHA 406 | Assessment in HS and Addiction Programs |
| Spring 2019 | PSY 3330 | Child Psychopathology |
| Spring 2019 | PSY 2501 | Social Psychology |
| Spring 2019 | PSY 2101 | Understanding Social Influence |
| Fall 2018 | PSY 2501 | Social Psychology |
| Fall 2018 | RCE 4195 (Online) | Ethics in Human Relations |
| Online, ongoing | CRCC eUniversity | Ethical Decision-Making Tools |
| Summer 2016 | RCE 5241 | Intro to Rehab & MHC |
| Fall 2006 | PHIL 1007 | World Religions |
Dissertations: Henderson, Patrice (2021). Barriers to entry-level work for master's-level rehabilitation counselors. Governors State University. In progress.
Service & Leadership
President (Chair Elect, President, Past President)
Student Representative
Strategic Planning Task Force
Committee Member
President
Student Representative
Vice-President
Member
Member
Clinical Counselor
Member
Researcher, Enrollment and Retention of Native American Students in Montana
Facilitator, Empirically-Based Strategic Planning Process
Member
Member
Support to the Office of Institutional Research
Member
Member
Member
Chair
Member
Member
Liaison
Member
Member
Member
Member
Honors & Skills
Proficient in document production, package management, and class development, with a specialty in Tikz and biblatex. Used to format a self-published book and to typeset and publish the Journal of Life Care Planning.
Scholastica editorial management with CrossRef DOI indexing; EBSCO and ProQuest FTP upload for article indexing; CrossRef onboarding and article registration; digital backlogging of historical journal issues.
Proficient in prompt engineering, vibe coding, and agentic training for task completion. Familiar with the strengths and limitations of ChatGPT/Codex, Claude, Grok, Google AI Studio, Google NotebookLM, Google Gemini, and Microsoft Copilot.