Student Community

Submitted by hudspethea on Tue, 01/24/2012 - 3:24pm

feet

We walk this path together!

The Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is typically a 2 to 3 year program. During this time of commitment to personal and professional growth, our students often remark on the sense of 'community' they develop with one another. Admission to the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is quite competitive, and we believe our students are a significant aspect of our success as a professional counselor preparation program.

Here, you will find profiles of featured students selected to demonstrate the variety of interests and backgrounds within our student community as well as updates of student achievements (i.e. awards & honors).

 

Featured Students

Jessica Scales, B.A.

Entry Year: 2011
Academic Tracks: Marriage and Family Concentration and Expressive Arts Therapy Certificate
Prior education: B.A. Psychology
Why I Chose App:
"I did not hear of using art, movement, and music in therapy until I navigated the Graduate School website about the HPC department. Once I read about the different courses and concentrations offered, I knew Appalachian was the place for me. Using Expressive Arts as a modality in counseling was foreign to me, but now that I am involved in the coursework, I know that it will help shape my own future practice of counseling."
Counseling Interests:"My interests include using different modalities such as play, art and music to work with children and adolescents who are dealing with issues such as self-esteem, bullying, behavior disorders, and other mental health issues."
Awards: Jessica was one of five students selected to be in the Diversity Research Associate Program for the 2011-2012 academic year. She was given a $9,000 grant for graduate reearch on ways to increase diversity and incluseveness in the Human and Psychological Development Department. Jesica chose to research the need for more bilingual counselors in today's helping progession. Jessica was also chosed to be a member of Chi Sigma Iota, teh Counseling Academic and Professional Honor Society.

Keisha Carswell, B.S.

Entry Year: Fall 2011
Academic Track: Marraige and Family Concentration,  Addictions Concentration and Certificate
Prior education: B.S. Communication Disorders and Psychology
Why I chose App:
"I went to Appalachian as an undergraduate student and knew that I wanted to stay here for graduate school. Boone is such a great town with wonderful people and plenty of things to do. I chose this program because it fit perfectly with what I wanted to do with my career and I knew it would prepare me for my future. It offers a wide variety of courses that will be beneficial to my career as a counselor one day. The faculty and students are kind and helpful, and this program is the right fit for me.
Interests:  My interests are working with adults with substance abuse issues and also working with their families. This population, in particular, is where my passion lies.
 

 

 

Student Achievements

2012 Achievements

  • Congratulations to Elizabeth De Santo for receiving the Lovill Fellow.
  • Congratulations to Anne Hosey and James G. Bursenos for receiving the Chancellors Fellows.
  • Congratulations to Shellie Beeker for receiving the Joyce Lawrence Professional Development award.

2011 Achievements

  • Congratulations to David Weisenhorn for being the selected winner of the 2010 National Board of Certified Counselors Military Scholarship. The military scholarship provides financial support to service members and veterans who are currently enrolled in a master's-level CACREP-accredited counseling program and who commit to serving military personnel after graduation.

2010 Achievements

  • Congratulations to Candice McDowell who has received the Mary Thomas Burke Award from the North Carolina Association for Spiritual, Ethical, Religious and Values in Counseling (ASERVIC) for her strong commitment to honoring these important aspects in the counseling process with her clients in practicum internship.
  • Congratulations to Anna Clay for being the recipient of the ASU Graduate School Joyce V. Lawrence (Athena) Research Award, which recognizes outstanding graduate student research!
  • Congratulations to Shantae Jones, Tyler Keziah, and Connie Carringer for being inducted into the Cratis D. Williams Society. The award recognizes the top 1-2% of Appalachian graduating graduate students each academic year and is based on academic and related professional achievements.