PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT: M.A. in Professional Counseling
Charlcee Cervantez I May 24, 2023
The College of Education values the importance of an effective counselor who is dedicated to their personal growth towards promoting ethical behavior, lifelong learning, and pro-social autonomy. We cultivate these principles in a diverse and dynamic learning environment that emphasizes critical thinking, scholarship, praxis, and the integration of knowledge.
The M.A. Degree in Professional Counseling provides the essential training and coursework needed to fulfill academic requirements for credentials and professional work in schools and mental health agencies.
"The Professional Counseling program is unique in that we have the most extensive clinical sequence of any counseling program, which allows students to gain confidence and enhanced skill over time,” said Dr. Kevin Fall, chair of the Department of Counseling, Leadership, Adult Education and School Psychology.
The program offers three concentrations that fulfill the academic requirements for licensure and certification in Texas: Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC); Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling (MCFC); and School Counseling (SC). Upon graduation, individuals may apply to become a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Associate, or Certified School Counselor, depending on their chosen concentration.
Eddie Reyes is 2012 graduate of the program, and now has his own private practice, Dos Diez Counseling that offers counseling to children, adolescents, and adults.
“The professors are the guiding light of the program. The high expectations and authentic relationships they cultivate among the student body makes all the difference in the world,” Reyes said. “The learning environment requires preparation outside of class time, but invites any questions students have in an effort to reach a deep level of engagement and academic proficiency.”
The program strives to meet the community's mental health needs by offering counseling services to community members at the San Marcos and Round Rock campuses. The counseling clinics are fully equipped teaching clinics that offer supervised clinical experience to advanced master’s degree-seeking counseling students. Additionally, affordable mental health services are provided to the community.
The Assessment & Counseling Clinic (ACC) serves to meet the mental health needs of persons in the university, San Marcos and Hays County communities.
Counseling Services at the Round Rock Campus includes the Counseling Practicum Clinic (CPC) and career exploration services. CPC is a fully equipped teaching clinic providing affordable mental health services to the community.
Lacey Fisher graduated from the professional counseling program in 2011, and now is the owner and clinical director of Open Heart Counseling of Austin.
“I loved how connected the professors were to the students and how much those professors cared about the profession,” Fisher said. “I also love how much practice we had with real people while under the mentorship of the professors; I believe it really helped me feel prepared to continue seeing more people once I graduated no matter the setting I went into.”
To learn more and for program application details visit the Professional Counseling Program Website.