This content is sponsored by Washington Adventist University.
The United States faces a significant shortage of mental health professionals, a critical issue impacting the nation’s well-being.
With fewer professionals available, those seeking help often encounter long wait times and limited access to specialized services. It means that many people who are struggling with mental health issues may not receive timely or adequate care.
Washington Adventist University (WAU), a private university in Takoma Park, Maryland, aims to help turn that around through a program that gives students the tools they need to become licensed counselors.
“It is a very valuable and very important program,” said Madge Quesenberry, a licensed counselor and a professor of psychology at WAU. “Many people need our help, especially with their mental health.”
The master of arts degree in “clinical mental health counseling” prepares students to be counseling psychologists and to operate independent practices, making a positive difference in people’s lives.
Students are eligible to take the state of Maryland licensure exam for the L.C.P.C. or L.C.A.D.C. upon completion of the degree and 2,000 hours of supervised clinical experience.
Quesenberry went through the program when she was a WAU student.
“I felt like I was being called to serve others, mainly in mental health, because there’s such a shortage in that field,” Quesenberry said. “It’s such a benefit to enroll in this program because the professors have a lot of academic integrity and knowledge and they’re just great mentors to their students.”
The program places a strong emphasis on ethical and professional conduct, counseling techniques aligned with the ACA and the integration of faith perspectives.
Students are pushed to excel
Students become fully equipped to make a profound impact in the mental health counseling arena through WAU’s comprehensive curriculum that seamlessly bridges theory with real-world practice.
They gain the theoretical knowledge, analytical skills and practical expertise needed to excel.
“You’re able to have your values and your beliefs and your faith without being compromised,” said Quesenberry. “That’s what I was looking for – a faith-based institution where I could feel comfortable in my studies.”
As a result of online learning, students are able to pursue their goals without being confined to traditional class schedules or to a campus.
Offering online courses is beneficial as it provides flexibility, enabling students to learn at their own pace and manage their schedules more effectively.
It also increases accessibility, allowing students from different geographical locations to participate.
“It’s mostly online now, which is really great for a lot of people because we have students all over the country who are taking our program,” Quesenberry said. “It makes it very convenient for them.”
Students can access course material, exchange ideas with faculty and other students and submit course assignments via the internet.
How WAU incorporates faith
WAU has been a leader in providing career-building degree programs for working professionals.
Its vision is to produce graduates who bring competence and moral leadership to their communities.
Founded in 1904, the school is owned by the Seventh-day Adventist Church and offers a Christian education to students of differing faiths, providing an unrivaled opportunity for learning, work, recreation, service and worship.
Faith plays a pivotal role in shaping people morally, spiritually and intellectually.
By prioritizing faith, WAU creates a space where students can explore their spiritual identities, allowing for personal growth and a deeper understanding of ethical principles.
“I think it’s very important that people have the opportunity to stay true to what they believe without being compromised,” Quesenberry said. “Oftentimes, the professors even have a prayer with you before or after class.”
The faculty at WAU are a key strength of the master of arts degree in clinical mental health counseling.
Instructors are experienced professionals in the field of counseling, bringing a wealth of knowledge and practical insights to the classroom.
They are dedicated to mentoring students and developing a supportive and collaborative learning environment.
“It helped me blossom and bring out the person that I am today,” said Rae Pearl Canizares, who completed the program and is now a licensed counselor.
Canizares initially was more interested in nursing school, but she gravitated toward mental health after experiencing a tragedy in her family.
She gained a new appreciation for therapy and came to the realization that she wanted to make a lasting difference in the lives of others.
“By the time I finished WAU’s program and started practicing, I was practicing really as a professional,” said Canizares. “All the professors I had were seasoned educators who knew their craft, and they delivered exactly what they needed to deliver academically.”
