Dr. J. Keith Killian
Dr. J. Keith Killian is a seasoned mental health professional, educator, and leader with more than 25 years of experience in addiction treatment and behavioral health. As a Professor at the University of Central Oklahoma, he has spent over 17 years shaping the next generation of clinicians while serving as Director of the Master’s program in Addiction Counseling. Widely recognized for his leadership in psychotherapy education, Dr. Killian has played a pivotal role in developing one of the region’s only stand-alone co-occurring disorder programs, equipping students with the knowledge and clinical skills needed to address complex mental health and substance use challenges.
Throughout his career, Dr. Killian has combined academic leadership with hands-on clinical expertise. Licensed in substance abuse counseling and certified through the American Association of Sex Addiction Therapy, he remains actively engaged in the field to ensure his teaching reflects current, evidence-based practices. His professional background includes work as a clinical psychiatrist, forensic specialist, and clinical director, as well as service as Chairman of the Oklahoma Board of Licensed Drug and Alcohol Counselors. In addition, he has collaborated with government agencies and contributed to national and international initiatives, including curriculum development efforts abroad.
What distinguishes Dr. Killian’s work is his deeply personal and transformative journey in recovery, which informs his compassionate and authentic approach to both teaching and clinical practice. Drawing from lived experience, he is committed to instilling hope, resilience, and professional purpose in his students—many of whom are navigating their own recovery paths. Today, he continues to mentor emerging professionals, supervise clinicians through licensure, and expand his impact through specialized work in sex addiction therapy, reinforcing his dedication to advancing the field and improving outcomes for individuals and families affected by addiction.
• Oklahoma State University (medical school)
• University of Central Oklahoma (undergraduate)
• Riverside Hospital, Kansas (internship) | Cherokee, Iowa (residency in psychiatry and mental health
• Cherokee Mental Health Institure (psychiatric residency)
• D.O.
• LADC-MH
• AASAT
• Board-Certified Psychiatrist
• Vanderford award Univetsity of Central Oklahoma
• Chairman of Licensing Board
Areas of Specialization/Expertise
- Addictions and Mental Health
- Sex Addiction Therapy
- Co-occurring Disorders
What do you enjoy most about practicing medicine?
I love supervising people through their licensing process - that's one of my favorite things. I typically have between 15 and 20 people that I supervise, and I get all kinds of crazy calls like 'Hey, I have a client here who...' and I'm going 'Oh, God, okay.' I still work in the field because it's one of the requirements I have for all the people who work in our department - they have to continue to do something in the field to keep up-to-date. It's changing constantly, and over the last 15 years, so much more knowledge has come out about addiction and where it works in the brain, how it works, and all that kind of stuff. We're really very science-focused on a lot of it. I also find it important to show my students, especially those just coming in - and the majority of my students are also in recovery - that there is a way out and that you can actually turn your life around and come up with a really good-paying job out of it.