Tyler Puryear

Dr. Tyler Puryear is a licensed mental health counselor with clinical and research experience in LGBTQIA+ issues, integrated behavioral health, harm reduction, and anxiety disorders. He completed his doctorate in Counseling and Supervision at James Madison University, focusing his dissertation on LGBTQIA+ competencies in counselor education.

Dr. Puryear brings an interdisciplinary lens to counselor education, combining experience in public health and clinical training to foster inclusive, evidence-informed practices. He has clinical experience in integrated behavioral health (IBH) settings, as well as maintaining a private practice caseload, where he primarily works with individuals with chronic illnesses. A passionate clinician, Dr. Puryear incorporates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with elements of queer theory in his counseling approach. His research and clinical work emphasize cultural humility, chronic illness, and advocacy for underserved populations. Dr. Puryear has co-authored peer-reviewed publications in journals such as Nicotine & Tobacco Research and Harm Reduction Journal, and has presented nationally on topics such as harm reduction and LGBTQIA+ competency in counseling.

Dr. Puryear enjoys teaching a variety of counseling courses, such as, internship and practicum, addictions counseling, multicultural counseling, behavioral medicine in counseling, research, and assessment. He hopes to aid future counselors in developing their professional counselor identity through cultural humility, and a systems-based lens of counseling and mental health care.