Oregon Board approves graduate counseling program
July 17, 2009
Last month, the new Master of Arts in Counseling, which begins in fall, was approved by The Oregon Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists (OBLPCT).
The approval, says Janine Allen, Dean of Education and Counseling, will allow program graduates a seamless entry as registered interns with the State in pursuing their license as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC).
Three components are present in Corban’s M.A. in Counseling program: content, a practitioner program, and the theological framework in which a biblical worldview informs the counselor’s practice. Allen describes it as “an excellent way for students to serve: becoming Christian thought leaders in the field of counseling and supporting individuals as they seek healing, reconciliation, and positive change in their lives.”
Allen stresses the need for well-trained counselors. According to the National Mental Health Institute, one in four adults suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder in any given year, and five percent of children, ages 4-17, experience emotional and behavioral difficulties. “It is human nature to face challenges in life. Oftentimes these experiences can be setbacks to an individual’s mental health. Many seek the counseling setting to reconcile relationships and deepen self-awareness.”
Pat Myers, Director of Graduate Counseling, said interest in the program has been high; acceptances have been selective. The first class will be capped at 18 students.
Another benefit of being added to OBLPCT’s formal list is that graduates will have a “jump start” on direct-contact client hours as a registered intern of the State of Oregon. Up to 200 hours from a student’s supervised internship can be applied toward an LPC license.
Myers is pleased with the approval: “This puts our graduates a few steps closer to licensure.”
By Jenny Hirschfelder, Staff Writer, Office of Marketing & Communications
503-375-7005 | jhirschfelder@corban.edu
