Asbury Adds Counseling Faculty
The Department of Counseling and Pastoral Care (CPC) is growing at an exciting pace. Since the Master of Mental Health Counseling was accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), potential students seem to have recognized the advantages of training in a Christian context that is professionally affirmed and theologically relevant. They hear from our current students that Asbury is a setting for graduate education that can develop “integrated” persons. More than one who simply talks knowledgably about how counseling and Christianity relate, our students hear a call to live an integrated life where orthodox Christian faith, spiritual formation, and professional practice are embodied.
Now, Asbury will be pursuing CACREP accreditation for its Masters of Marriage and Family Counseling. We anticipate additional expansion in our student numbers as persons who want marriage and family training can experience the same integrative experience in faith, formation, and practice.
As a result of the unprecedented advancement, Asbury is adding four new faculty positions, starting as soon as July 1, in preparation for the 2021-2022 academic year. Two of those positions will help Asbury serve the growing student population that we see in the CACREP accredited programs, located in Florida and Kentucky. A third position will be dedicated to the Masters in Pastoral Counseling on the Kentucky campus, which is also seeing growth. Finally, a fourth position is dedicated to a “Founding Dean” for a new School of Counseling at Asbury. Yes, current growth trends among students and faculty suggest that Asbury needs to plan for a whole new School, alongside current schools in Theology and Formation, Biblical Interpretation, World Missions and Evangelism, Urban Ministries, and Practical Theology.
The Department of Counseling and Pastoral Care is currently housed administratively in the Beeson School of Practical Theology. Asbury views counseling and pastoral care as an extension of a robust Wesleyan practical theology that supports the ministry of the Church within and also beyond its walls — to believers and non-believers. Now, the plan is to develop a new School of Counseling that will focus specifically on formational and restorative professional care that is so needed in our world today. The new School of Counseling represents Asbury’s vision to prepare integrated professionals who can provide hope, helps, and healing in sacred and secular settings.
Please spread the news. Asbury is in an exhilarating moment. If you know of any potential students who are looking for an opportunity to grow in the kind of experience that Asbury offers, we hope that you will mention all that is happening. If you know of any experienced persons who might value a faculty position with our team of counselor educators, we hope that you will encourage them to consider one of our positions.
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