Alumni Spotlight:
Katherine Luke ’21, LPC
Master of Arts in Clinical Counseling
Class of: 2021
The Journey Continues…
Licensed Professional Counselor | Founder, Pure Life Counseling
For Katherine Luke ’21, supporting others begins with creating a space for them to feel safe, understood, and encouraged. That commitment has shaped her work as a counselor and mentor and continues to guide her as she embraces motherhood.
A resident of Rockaway, New Jersey, Luke earned her Master of Arts in Clinical Counseling from Centenary University in 2021. She previously earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Spanish from Drew University.
At Centenary, hands-on learning and close relationships with faculty helped Luke build her clinical skills and her confidence. Luke remembers a supportive community where classmates spent hours studying together and professors were available to offer advice.
“My time at Centenary University truly set me up for success,” Luke said. “Because the program was so hands-on, I always had a professor or advisor in my corner to offer guidance and support whenever I needed it.”
Luke credits Professor Keith Morgen, PhD, with modeling the ethical, dedicated approach she brings to her own work. Under his guidance, she became a published contributor to a chapter on diagnostic considerations in Counseling Individuals with Co-Occurring Addictive and Mental Disorders: A Comprehensive Approach.
Luke gained internship experience across private practice, school settings, and an eating disorder treatment center offering intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization programs. In 2024, Luke became Lead Clinician at Falcon Behavioral Care, combining individual psychotherapy with mentorship and support for fellow therapists.
“Much of what I learned at Centenary remains at the core of how I practice,” Luke said.
In her client work, she focused on creating an environment where people felt safe enough to work through challenges. As a colleague and mentor, she found fulfillment in helping new clinicians develop confidence and grow into their practice. Luke advocated for healthy boundaries and self-care among her colleagues. For her, supporting other clinicians meant recognizing their humanity as well as their professional responsibilities. Her accomplishments also include recognition through Centenary University’s 30 Under 30 award.
With guidance from Falcon Behavioral Care, Luke established Pure Life Counseling, LLC. Soon afterward, she and her family welcomed a baby girl, and she chose to step back from professional work to focus on motherhood.
Looking ahead, Luke plans to return to counseling, continue developing her practice, and pursue the credentials needed to provide clinical supervision. Motherhood has also sparked an interest in perinatal mental health, opening another avenue for supporting people through important life transitions.
For today’s Centenary students, she offers encouragement to pursue their interests while making room for support along the way: “Find what you’re passionate about and chase it. Learn to lean on those around you, stay curious, ask for help (It’s always there!), and don’t be afraid to take risks.”
She also encourages students to keep their larger goals in view: “Envision the life you want for yourself, and work hard to build it. Remind yourself why you’re doing this in the first place.”