Dr. Cates is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Alabama and Georgia, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in Florida, an approved Counselor Supervisor (LPC-S) in Alabama and Georgia, a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC), an Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS), a Board Certified Telemental Health Provider (BC-TMH), and is Endorsed as an Infant Mental Health provider by First 5 Alabama.

He has been in the field of health services since 1996 and has worked as a licensed Paramedic; as a psychiatric assessor and clinician in hospital, clinic, and community settings; and as faculty and full professor in higher education settings. 

He has experience teaching in counseling and psychology graduate and undergraduate programs; supervision and clinical direction of educational and community counseling programs; managing mental health programs, staff, program evaluation and client evaluation in educational and community settings; administering regulatory licensing boards; and providing clinical counseling and supervision services in face-to-face and distance formats.