Gary H. Bischof

Gary H. Bischof, Ph.D., is a Professor at Western Michigan University in the Department of Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology. He was a faculty member in CECP 1999-2012, and rejoined the department faculty in Fall 2019 after seven years in administrative roles at WMU as chair of the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences and Dean of the Lee Honors College.

Dr. Bischof is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in Michigan. He previously served as President of the Michigan Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, and was also appointed by Governor Snyder to the Michigan Board of Marriage and Family Therapy, on which he served a 4-year term, 2012-16.

Dr. Bischof is a Clinical Fellow and Approved Supervisor and active member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, participating as a leader in strategic planning and restructuring of the association, serving on the Elections Council, including one year as chair, and conducting refresher trainings for AAMFT approved supervisors.

Dr. Bischof has published over 25 peer-reviewed journal articles and 14 chapters in edited books. Topics have included families of juvenile sex offenders, couple therapy, clinical supervision, integrating religion and spirituality in therapy, brief solution-oriented therapy, the integration of family therapy and medicine and most recently couples with at least one transgender partner. He has done numerous presentations on these topics and others at local, state, national and international levels.

Dr. Bischof is married to Dr. Karen B. Helmeke, LMFT, who teaches part-time for CECP and has a private counseling and supervision practice in Portage, MI. They are the parents of two daughter, both of whom are students at WMU. Gary’s interests outside of work include biking, hiking, walking and kayaking. He is an avid fan of WMU sports and college basketball, having attended four men’s and one women’s Final Fours.