STUDENT LIFE I INTERNATIONAL I SOCIAL CLUBS I ACADEMICS I PEOPLE I LEADERSHIP I ATHLETICS I ORGANIZATIONS ' STORY- ' Cannon-Clary College of Education combined graduate degree programs in professional school counseling, clinical mental health counseling, and marriage & family therapy. The Cannon-Clary College of Education formed a new department for mental health and wellness. Associate Professor of Counselor Education Dr. Todd Patten was named chair of the mental health and wellness department and explained chat the program spanned three different campuses, and students that completed the program became either licensed professional counselors, licensed marriage and family therapists, or professional school counselors. "We have three graduate degrees: [Master of Science] in Professional School Counseling, [Master of Science or Education of Science] in Clinical Meneal Health Counseling and [Master of Science] in Marriage and Family Therapy," Patten said. "All three programs are under the same umbrella." A student pursuing a degree in the professional school counseling program was expected to complete 48 credit hours within the program before becoming a counselor in a school setting. The marriage and family therapy program was designed for those who wanted to help families and couples improve their relationships. Graduate student Abigail Adams spoke highly of her department and studies. "This program not only trains me to be a therapist, but also helps me learn more about myself and grow in my faith through learning new ways to see the world around me," Adams said. The clinical mental health counseling graduate degree program required 68 hours to obtain a Master of Science in professional counseling. Completion of the degree was an essential step to acquiring the license needed to counsel professionally. Clinical mencal health counseling graduate student Clayton Henrichson appreciated his professors and his overall experience with the new degree program at Harding. As one of the three schools in Arkansas with CACREP accreditation, students who have completed the program find it easier to obtain the license necessary to practice. "The [clinical mental health counseling] program is excellent," Henrichson said. "We hold a 100 percent job placement rate within a six-month period, and a 100 percent pass rate on the NEC. The statistics speak for themselves." Henrichson found that going to Harding to pursue his master's degree was different than it would have been had he gone to a state school. "There is a definite Christian focus," Henrichson said. "The professors have a lot of experience in their respective fields, and chat experience translates well into the classroom." Students in the professional counseling program were required to complete a total of 200 hours in a practicum and 600 hours in an internship on top of the course hours required for each specific program. Henrichson reflected on his experience within the department and explained the draw to the program and the counseling career chat would follow. "A large part of counseling is to start a healing process," Henrichson said. "Counselors are story-changers. Watching someone transform and knowing that you are changing their story is just wonderful to watch and experience." story by Emily Sundermeier & Morgan Taylor 108
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