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Warner School counseling programs earn CACREP reaccreditation

Warner School counseling programs earn CACREP reaccreditation

The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) has granted the Warner School of Education at the University of Rochester accreditation to the three programs in the Department of Counseling and Human Development. The community mental health counseling and school counseling master’s programs and the counselor education and supervision doctoral programs have received full accreditation and renewal under the CACREP 2016 standards.

Kathryn Douthit, professor and former chair of counseling and human development, led the effort for CACREP reaccreditation, which is among the highest acclaims that an academic program can receive in the counseling field. The accreditation ensures that the counseling programs at Warner align with professional standards of quality, and graduate students will continue to receive a graduate-level counseling education that will help them to develop the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in the field.

“This third consecutive accreditation is a true testament to the high quality and strength of our counseling programs and the dedication and caliber of our counseling faculty at Warner,” says Douthit. “It is a strong reaffirmation that we continue to be on the right track by providing high-quality courses and program offerings that meet the rigorous set of national standards set forth by the counselor education accrediting body.”

The successful accreditation review process involved an extensive self-study and a CACREP evaluation of review materials, followed by a team virtual site visit. Founded in 1981, CACREP is a corporate affiliate of the American Counseling Association, designed to strengthen the counseling field by establishing and maintaining uniform professional standards. Schools with accredited programs agree to provide high-quality counseling training, to continually evaluate their own practices, and to revise curricula as necessary to respond to the changing needs of society and the counseling field.

In addition to Douthit, Warner faculty and staff members supporting the reaccreditation process include: Pamela Kaptein, administrator for accreditation and licensure; Martha Mock, associate dean for academic affairs; Douglas Guiffrida, associate dean for graduate studies; Bonnie Rubenstein, professor and chair of counseling and human development; Scott McGuinness, assistant professor and counseling program director; Martin Lynch, associate professor; Karen Mackie, associate professor; and Andre Marquis, associate professor.

The master’s in community mental health counseling is a 60-credit program that prepares qualified, license-eligible mental health counselors for practice in a variety of diverse clinical or community settings. The program is designed to prepare graduates to work effectively as counselors offering services to people challenged by emotional, behavioral, and relationship issues.

The master’s in school counseling is offered as a 48-credit program, providing the shortest path to NYS provisional certification, or a 60-credit program that meets all coursework requirements for both NYS provisional and permanent certification. The programs prepare graduates as school counselors providing the academic, career, and social-emotional counseling and developmental learning needed for today’s children and youth.

The PhD and EdD degrees focusing on counselor education and supervision are designed to shape students as innovative leaders and researchers in counseling. The PhD program prepares graduates for academic positions in universities and other higher education settings, as well as research positions in government agencies or other educational organizations. The EdD programs prepare and support experienced counselors for leadership positions in their field, as well as selected higher education faculty positions.

Notification of the CACREP reaccreditation approval was received in March 2021. The current CACRP accredited status will last through March 31, 2028.