empowering professionals to serve

Training & Development for Professionals

Strengthening Communities by Equipping the Professionals Who Serve Them

Professionals working in counseling, nonprofit, higher education, and community-service settings need practical training that reflects the real demands of their work. These professionals often balance service delivery with grants, compliance, supervision, leadership, career development, and program operations.

The Parris Foundation offers training, consultation, and guidance designed to help professionals strengthen ethical practice, improve program quality, meet applicable Texas training requirements, and build skills that support long-term professional growth.

Our training model is informed by decades of experience in counseling, supervision, nonprofit leadership, higher education, grant development, and community-based programming. Under the leadership of Executive Director Dr. Katherine Bacon — a previous Texas Counseling Association (TCA) licensed professional counselor (LPC) regulatory board liaison, former Texas Counseling Association president, and longtime professional leader — The Parris Foundation provides practical, experience-informed training for professionals and organizations.

Whether you are a counselor, nonprofit professional, higher education professional, organizational leader, or community-service professional, The Parris Foundation offers training designed to strengthen your work and support effective service delivery.

No matter how you serve others in your profession, The Parris Foundation is ready to help you experience greater success and satisfaction by providing the training you’re looking for. 

Click the training and consultation areas below to learn more:

Expert Consultation, Training and Development 
for Nonprofit, Higher Education, and Mental Health Professionals

Nonprofit Management Training

Enhance your nonprofit's performance and grow as an executive through our expert strategies and practical applications. 

This training includes:

Programmatic and Fiscal Management
From setting up structures to managing compliance throughout the project lifecycle, you’ll gain key insights in all aspects of nonprofit management.

Audit Preparation and Oversight
Navigating audits doesn’t have to be overwhelming when you understand how to approach them. I’ll use my extensive experience to help you prepare for and manage various audit scenarios, ensuring clean financials and compliance documentation. 

Governance and Compliance
Gain the knowledge and strategies you need to successfully manage governance and compliance, including budgeting, fiscal management, and shared governance.

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Higher Education Leadership Training

By accessing our Higher Education and Leadership Training, you’ll receive tools & institutional insights to help you drive growth, innovation, and student success on campus.

This training includes:

Grants and Compliance
With nearly 30 years of experience, I can guide you through every step, from identifying funding sources to developing successful proposals and managing post-award compliance.

Career Development and Mentorship
Overcome the challenges of transitioning from graduate school to staff and faculty positions with this detailed, skill-based mentorship. I’ll help you navigate the higher education system, understand its various components, and develop strategies for success.

Institutional Insight
Having worked in multiple states and held various leadership roles, I bring a comprehensive understanding of how higher education institutions function and how they intersect with larger structures like shared governance.

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Texas LPC Supervisor Training

Understand what it takes to become an LPC supervisor in Texas, from the former long-serving legislative liaison to the Texas State Board of Professional Counselors.

This training provides help with:

Supervision Training
As a licensed supervisor with 20 years of experience and a legislative liaison, I offer unique insights into licensure regulations and supervision practices. We offer the 40 hour supervisor training course required in Texas as well as individual supervision training courses for those experienced supervisors who require continuing education for licensure renewal.

Ethics and Legal Framework
Receive valuable training and consultation grounded in real-world applications thanks to my experience teaching graduate-level advanced ethics and law in nationally accredited programs.

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Training for Grant Writing

Our Training for Grant Writing includes guidance with development, fiscal management, and compliance from an expert who has secured over $35 million in funding.

You’ll receive help with:

Proposal Development
Crafting a winning grant proposal requires skill and experience. Having secured over $35 million in funding, I can help you develop proposals that get funded.

Grant Management
Effective grant management is crucial for compliance and success. I offer guidance on programmatic and fiscal management, ensuring your projects run smoothly and meet all requirements.

External Evaluation 
If you need an external evaluator for your project, I bring years of experience to provide unbiased and thorough evaluations to ensure your project meets its goals. 

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Professional Counselor Consultation

Get expert guidance from a seasoned counselor to navigate career shifts and achieve your professional goals.

You’ll receive help with:

Career Development and Transitions
Whether you're seeking new opportunities or navigating career transitions, I offer tailored guidance and support to help you succeed.

Having worked as a professional counselor for nearly 30 years in public schools, charter schools, community mental health agencies, faith-based agencies, nonprofit victim services, hospitals, college counseling, and career development, I can provide the guidance and insights that counselors need to navigate shifts in their careers.

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Integrated Care Training

Elevate your career and the quality of care you provide by gaining expertise in holistic patient care. This training helps you offer superior care by meeting both the behavioral health and primary care needs of your patients.

This includes:

Expertise in Integrated Care Models
With extensive experience in integrated care models, I can assist healthcare and mental health professionals in developing and implementing comprehensive, collaborative care strategies that enhance patient outcomes. My expertise covers the integration of behavioral health and primary care, fostering a holistic approach to patient well-being.

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With every training, you and your team will receive…

Knowledge to increase skills and broaden scope of practice

A deeper understanding of how to better serve communities

Best practices to directly apply in your workplace

A continuing education unit (CEU) or continuing education credit (CEC)

Hello, I’m Dr. Katherine Bacon, Executive Director and Founder of The Parris Foundation.

Let's work together to unlock your potential and achieve your goals.

Meet the Leadership, Experience, and Team Behind Our Professional Training and Development

My professional journey has included work as a:
  • PhD counselor educator and supervisor
  • Licensed professional counselor
  • Council-approved supervisor
  • Nationally certified counselor
  • Former tenured university professor
  • Previous Texas Counseling Association (TCA) licensed professional counselor (LPC) regulatory board liaison
  • Former Texas Counseling Association president

Those titles are meaningful, but they only tell part of the story. My personal connection to the foster care system has shaped the way I understand the importance of stability, education, guidance, and practical support. That lived connection, combined with more than 30 years of professional experience, continues to inform my work in counseling, supervision, higher education, nonprofit leadership, grant development, community-based programming, and professional training.

I have had the privilege of leading and supporting more than $35 million in grant-funded initiatives, including programs focused on crime victims’ rights, crime victims’ advocacy, educational outreach, and TRIO services.

These experiences shape The Parris Foundation’s training and development work. While my background provides a strong foundation for our training model, the strength of The Parris Foundation also comes from the collective experience of our team. Our trainers, staff, consultants, and partners bring professional expertise, personal insight, resilience, and practical field experience that enrich the training we provide.

Together, we design trainings that offer practical tools, professional insight, and experience-informed guidance for counselors, nonprofit professionals, higher education professionals, organizational leaders, and community-service professionals.

Now, let The Parris Foundation help you strengthen your professional practice, clarify your goals, and continue building the work you are called to do.

Internship Requirements:

  • A minimum of 12 hours per week on-site
  • A minimum of 2 school semesters
  • Attend Monthly Practice Wide Trainings
  • Maintain progress notes and other documentation in timely manner
  • Perform intake assessments
  • Create treatment plans

Graduate counseling students have the opportunity to complete an internship or field placement requirement through our Counseling & Wellness Division. It’s a great way to gain first-hand experience in the mental health industry and make a difference.

Application Due Dates:

Seeking Spring Internship

Seeking Summer Internship

Seeking Fall Internship

October 1st
March 1st
June 1st
Bilingual counselors are encouraged to apply

Internship Opportunities for Graduate Students

  • Attend team meetings and case consultations
  • Meet weekly for supervision
  • Submit 3 individual development plans per semester
  • Participate in off-site partnership activities
  • Attend a minimum of 1 outreach event per month
  • Possible stipend available

Working Together to Strengthen Service and Support

Go to our Events Page to see when and where we’ll host upcoming trainings. We’re grateful for your heart to serve!