As a former petty officer in the U.S. Navy, Dr. Cross earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology and biblical studies from William Carey College in 1998. He went on to earn his master’s degree in counseling psychology in 2002, also from William Carey College. Upon graduation, Robert worked as a counselor in the Jones County Youth Court before transitioning to working with adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) at Ellisville State School and Hudspeth Regional Center. Robert spent time working as an in-home counselor for Youth Villages and later began his career in addictions at MS Children’s Home Services. After several years serving as the coordinator of an all-male drug and alcohol residential treatment center, Robert decided it was time to return to school. In 2019, after being away from school for 17 years, Robert began studies at Mississippi College and in 2021, graduated with the Doctor of Professional Counseling Degree. It was at that time that Robert and his family made the move to Oxford, MS to work with alcoholics and addicts at the Oxford Treatment Center. Robert is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC-S) and supervises those who are working towards earning their LPC. He has been trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and is certified by the State of Mississippi to conduct telemental health counseling.

My understanding of the path to healing from emotional and mental pain grew out of years of working with alcoholics and drug addicts, both teenagers and adults. I believe the foundation for a person’s view of their identity and self-worth is created within the first years of life, where safety and security are either created or left lacking. Later experiences in life will either reinforce these beliefs or help to create new and healthier beliefs. I believe that shame grows out of childhood experiences where connection and attachment are less than ideal, and in the worst cases, where abuse and trauma are found. I believe it is my role as a counselor to assist my clients with gaining greater understanding of the conditions that created their present mental and emotional struggles, not to point the finger and place blame, but for the freedom that comes with the knowledge that can begin to answer the question of why someone is experiencing emotional pain. Healing begins with understanding and grows through the physical, cognitive, spiritual, and emotional aspects of human experience.  

Robert is a husband, father of four, former sailor, lover of 70s and 80s rock-n-roll, avid reader and collector of vinyl records, and a die-hard LSU Tiger fan who believes, without a doubt, that the SEC is by far the best conference in all of college sports.

Special Areas of Interest:

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Guilt and Shame

• Spirituality

• Substance Abuse and Addiction

• Codependency

• Low Self-worth

• Unresolved Trauma

• PTSD and Complex Trauma issues

• ADHD in adults