EDUCATION
| Degree | Area of Study | University |
|---|---|---|
| Ph.D. | Counselor Education and Supervision | University of Holy Cross |
| M.A. | Clinical Mental Health Counseling | University of Alabama at Birmingham |
AWARDS AND HONORS
| Year | Award |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Hoover’s Magazine “Best of the Best” Award for Best Mental Health Practice (McKenzie Strategies LLC) |
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Motivational interviewing
Counselor training
Group work
First responder mental health
CURRENT RESEARCH AND GRANT PROJECTS
- Research on first responder mental health, currently leading the largest known statewide qualitative study of Alabama firefighters’ lived experiences with mental health (presented at the 2025 VitAL Conference)
- Group counseling specialization; contributed to Group: Process and Practice (11th ed., 2025) with Dr. Gerald Corey (Chapter 7: Motivational Interviewing in the Transitional Stages)
HIGHLIGHTED PUBLICATIONS
- Pimsler, M., & McKenzie, M. (2020). Experiential Motivational Interviewing: An Action-Oriented Way of Being
- Corey, G. (Ed.), with McKenzie, M. B. (2025). Group: Process and Practice (11th ed.), Chapter 7
- Corey, G. (Ed.), with McKenzie, M. B. (2025). Voices from the Field contribution
- Current working paper: The Lived Experiences with Mental Health Amongst First Responders
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS / ACTIVITIES
- Member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) (one of two in Alabama)
- Certified MINT Trainer, delivering trainings nationally in Motivational Interviewing
- Licensed Professional Counselor – Supervisor (LPC-S)
- Clinical practice owner (McKenzie Strategies LLC), specializing in counseling, supervision, and training
TEACHING PHILOSOPHY
Dr. McKenzie views teaching as a relational and collaborative process. His approach emphasizes experiential learning, reflective practice, and skill development rooted in real-world application. He strives to create inclusive and engaging classroom environments where students can connect theory to practice, strengthen their professional identities, and build the confidence to serve clients with cultural humility and competence.
BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Matthew B. McKenzie is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Educational Studies in Psychology, Research Methodology, and Counseling at the University of Alabama. A Licensed Professional Counselor – Supervisor and Certified MINT Trainer, Dr. McKenzie specializes in motivational interviewing, counselor training, group work, and first responder mental health. He is one of only two members of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) in Alabama.
His current research, with Dr. David. L. Albright, explores the lived experiences of firefighters in Alabama, representing the largest statewide qualitative sample of its kind, which he presented at the 2025 VitAL Conference. Dr. McKenzie has published on experiential approaches to motivational interviewing and co-authored chapters in the 11th edition of Group: Process and Practice (2025) with Dr. Gerald Corey, including his contribution to Voices from the Field (2025).
Dr. McKenzie earned his Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from the University of Holy Cross and his M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Beyond academia, he is the founder of McKenzie Strategies LLC, a counseling, supervision, and training practice recognized as “Best Mental Health Practice” in Hoover, Alabama (2025). His teaching emphasizes experiential learning, reflective practice, and cultural humility, preparing the next generation of counselors to serve diverse communities with skill and compassion.