ATLANTA – Mercer University’s Center for the Study of Narrative (CSN) will host a lecture by Dr. Richard La Fleur at 5 p.m. April 16 in Atlanta as part of the annual Narrative Showcase. Dr. La Fleur will deliver “The World as We Tell It: Where Phenomenology and Narrative Collide.”
Dr. La Fleur is an assistant professor of psychology at the University of West Georgia, where he teaches courses to both undergraduate and graduate students and also conducts research. Central to his research is the concept of moral injury and the lived experiences of cultural dissonance that perpetuate populous fragmentation and create deep wounds within the soul.
Dr. La Fleur seeks to initiate spaces for communal dialogues to foster physical, mental and spiritual healing and growth both through individuals and community. As a liaison and advocate for veterans and health care workers, he is instrumental in navigating the challenges of transitioning from military life to civilian life, including veterans seeking higher education. As a certified facilitator of therapeutic enactment – a group-based therapy that engages clients in a dynamic interpersonal and action-based process – Dr. La Fleur helps clients physically, emotionally, cognitively and spiritually address trauma on multiple levels. He has published several articles and presented at conferences internationally on his research, with his most recent publications being Psychology as a Human Science and Moral Injury and the American Veteran: Finding Meaning in Trauma, Guilt and Shame.
Also during the event, Dr. Don Redmond, professor of counseling and director of the Center for the Study of Narrative, will reflect on the recently completed 11th Narrative Theory Study Abroad to Holland and Paris and share a digital narrative from the trip.
Recent graduates of Mercer’s doctoral program in counselor education and supervision will present findings from recently successfully defended qualitative dissertation research. Dr. Jesyca Lyle will present “Staying the Course: A Phenomenological Study of Professional School Counselor Perspectives on Retention Amidst the Covid-19 Pandemic,” and Dr. Brentia Caldwell will present “Me, Myself, and I: A Qualitative Exploration of the Lived Experiences of Unmarried, Childless, Professional, Middle-Aged Black Women.”
The event is free and open to the public and includes a complimentary buffet dinner. The program takes place in the second-floor auditorium of the Atlanta Administration and Conference Center. Please contact Dr. Don Redmond at Redmond_db@mercer.edu for additional details.
The Center for the Study of Narrative is a multidisciplinary initiative housed within the College of Professional Advancement incorporating counseling, theology, psychology, sociology and literary studies among others. Faculty and student collaborators emphasize qualitative research methods and “story listening” to study the lives of individuals and larger populations.
