红杏视频

The Online Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Online School Counseling programs in the College of Education have been officially accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) after a multi-year assessment process. The recognition cements SU’s position as a leader in online counseling education in the Pacific Northwest and nationally.

is a gold standard in counselor education, ensuring that programs provide high-quality instruction, clinical training and outcomes that meet the expectations of the profession. For students, accreditation enhances their career prospects, licensure portability and eligibility for federal programs.

"Receiving CACREP accreditation is a powerful affirmation of the strength and integrity of our online programs," says Dr. Jennifer Gess, interim chair of the Counseling Department and director of the Online Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. “It directly counters the stigma that online education often faces by demonstrating that our programs meet the same high standards as their in-person counterparts.”

Faculty members from the counseling programs along with President Eduardo Peñalver (above).

SU’s in-person counseling programs were the first CACREP-accredited programs in the Pacific Northwest, earning accreditation in 2010. Now, their online counterparts can claim the same prestigious status.

“I'm incredibly proud that our online clinical mental health counseling and school counseling programs have official CACREP approval as a delivery pathway,” says Dr. Juquatta Brewer, assistant clinical professor of online Clinical Mental Health Counseling, who served as the department’s liaison to CACREP during the process. “It's a major step forward in establishing our online program's reputation as a respected leader in counselor education nationwide.”

With CACREP accreditation, the programs can now help expand access to quality mental health care in rural and underserved communities, ultimately empowering students to remain in their home communities while preparing to serve as professional counselors.

“The Counseling Department is rooted in a deep commitment to social justice,” says Gess. “Our online CACREP-accredited programs provide the opportunity for students from rural, remote and marginalized communities to become the very school and mental health counselors their communities have long needed.”

The journey toward accreditation was a collective effort led by Brewer, Gess, Dr. Jen Money-Brady, interim program director of the Online School Counseling and in-person School Counseling programs, Dr. Keith Mobley, program director of the in-person Clinical Mental Health Counseling program and Professor of Counseling Dr. Manivong Ratts.

Together, the two online counseling programs now serve more than 300 remote students and are supported by 22 full-time remote faculty members.

Learn more about 红杏视频’s Counseling programs.