John M. Fugett, MA, LPC, NCC
John is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the states of Alaska and Oregon and a National Certified Counselor (NCC) specializing in treating adolescents and adults aged 16 and older. John is experienced in individual and couple therapy work.
John received his Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Master of Arts in Counseling from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va. He was first licensed as a Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in Florida in 1996. In 2005 he moved to Anchorage, Alaska, where he lived and practiced for 15 years.
In July of 2020, after converting his practice to TeleHealth during the Covid-19 pandemic, John moved to Drain, Oregon, to be near his daughter, who was pregnant with his second granddaughter. John and his wife Karen began their family at Fort Lewis, Washington, in the 1980s. Though leaving Alaska was very difficult, they looked forward to returning to the Pacific Northwest and being near family.
After the end of the pandemic and TeleHealth having proven itself to be as effective as in-person sessions for the clients he serves, John decided to move his work location to Oregon permanently. He continues to practice in Alaska and is licensed in Oregon, with plans to become licensed in Washington State and California.
John currently sees up to 30 clients per week and has no plans to expand. Currently, most of his clients are Alaska residents, but being licensed in multiple states makes sense in a TeleHealth environment and provides for timely business decisions.
John has been married for 37 years and has raised three daughters. His oldest daughter received her MFA from Oregon State University, where she taught and established her writing career. His middle daughter lives with her family in Pensacola, Florida, and works as a traveling RN. John’s youngest daughter is a successful artist and is currently studying cellular biology at the University of North Carolina.
Before entering the mental health field, John served ten years in the U.S. Army, attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant. After leaving the service in 1991, he began work as a substance abuse counselor, operating three halfway houses for men in recovery.
John worked as the primary adult psychotherapist for a private, partial hospitalization program, then began employment with Lakeview Community Mental Health Center in Pensacola, Florida. That agency selected John to work with the first Florida Assertive Community Treatment (FACT) team.
John later moved to Tampa, Florida, where he served as the FACT team leader for the Community Mental Health Center in Hillsborough County. John left that position to take the same position for Anchorage Community Mental Health Services, where he was eventually promoted to director for all the agency’s adult services. In 2013 John began private practice, and now, with over 30 years of experience as a counselor and psychotherapist, he works as a private practitioner with a broad spectrum of clients.
John has presented at the National GAINS conference on the successful implementation of the APIC model for the treatment of ex-offenders in Alaska. He has also presented to the National Association of Social Workers and the State Division of Behavioral Health Change Agent Conference in Anchorage. He has been a guest speaker at the University of Alaska Anchorage on recovery topics and the value of peer support in mental health treatment.
John taught courses in Psychology and Peer Support as an adjunct professor at the University of Alaska Anchorage and Prince William Sound Community College and has been an instructor in motivational interviewing techniques.
John utilizes a wide range of therapeutic techniques in counseling and psychotherapy with a strong emphasis on Interpersonal Neurobiology, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing interventions. John has received training to work with childhood trauma victims and uses these skills in his work with couples as they navigate their relationship dynamics.
John believes that although skill in therapeutic technique is essential, the key to success in therapy is the relationship between the therapist and the individual, so the emphasis is placed on building rapport and understanding the wants, needs, and desires of those with whom he works.
His approach involves providing support and practical feedback to help clients address personal life challenges effectively. He accomplishes this by integrating complementary methodologies and techniques to offer a highly personalized approach tailored to each individual.
With compassion and understanding, he works with each couple or individual to help build on strengths and attain the personal growth they are committed to accomplishing.
John is an active member of the American Counseling Association and the American Psychological Association. He served for three years on the Alaska State Mental Health Board and the board of Soteria Alaska. He also served on the board of NAMI Anchorage.
Karen Fugett, BA Business Administrator
