Counseling

Welcome to the Department of Counseling in the College of Professional Advancement

Welcome to the Department of Counseling at Mercer University! We are committed to developing diverse leaders in the counseling profession as counselors, educators, supervisors, and researchers. Our CACREP-accredited programs provide students with a strong foundation in the core areas of professional counseling, including professional orientation and ethics, social and cultural diversity, human growth and development, group work, assessment, helping relationships, research, and career development.

Our faculty represent diverse backgrounds and research interests. They work closely with students on research projects, internships, and other hands-on learning experiences inside and outside the classroom. We aim to create an optimal educational environment for each student to thrive.

Our diverse student body provides a rich environment for students to learn from one another. We support you in developing counseling abilities and ethical practices to effectively help diverse clients. Upon graduation, you’ll be prepared to pass licensing exams and launch your counseling career. Whether you are interested in a master’s degree in school counseling, clinical mental health counseling, clinical rehabilitation counseling, or a Ph.D. in counselor education and supervision, we have the perfect program option for you. We also offer exciting, combined degree programs in Clinical Mental Health Counseling/Master of Divinity and Clinical Mental Health Counseling/Master of Theological Studies.

We excitedly welcome your interest in becoming part of our vibrant department. Please contact us if you would like more information on our programs.

Tyler Wilkinson, Ph.D., LPC, NCC, ACS
Chair, Department of Counseling, Associate Professor

Mission and goals

The Department of Counseling prepares Master’s and Doctoral level professional mental health counselors, school counselors, rehabilitation counselors, and counselor educators and supervisors to become highly skilled, ethical, and compassionate mental health professionals grounded in a commitment to social justice.

The Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Master of Science in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling, Master of Science in School Counseling, and Doctor of Philosophy in Counselor Education and Supervision programs emphasize the client-counselor relationship, creative and experiential modalities in counseling practice, a thorough understanding of mental health issues across the lifespan, and a curriculum that reflects multiple theoretical perspectives with guidance to support students in developing their own theoretical framework for community and clinical practice and supervision.

Department Objectives

The Department of Counseling fulfills its mission and goals by:

• Providing knowledge in the core curricular experiences identified in CACREP standards: professional orientation and ethical practice, social and cultural diversity, human growth and development, group work, assessment, helping relationships, research and program evaluation, and career development, and in the different programs’ specialty areas
• Teaching skills in therapeutic communications and counseling
• Attracting, enrolling, and graduating a diverse student body
• Cultivating professional and ethical dispositions to allow students to work with diverse clients in clinical settings
• Assisting students in passing national licensing exams
• Attracting and retaining diverse faculty
• Encouraging students to obtain careers in the area in which they have been trained

Accreditation

Mercer University offers graduate counseling programs that are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) until October 31, 2025, under the 2009 standards. Benefits of this accreditation include increased program recognition and enhanced program value. Students who enroll in these courses gain knowledge in the eight common core curricular experiences identified in CACREP standards:

CACREP is an organization that accredits master’s and doctoral degree counseling programs offered by colleges and universities both in the United States and around the world.

Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
1001 North Fairfax Street, Suite 510, Alexandria, VA 22314
703.535.5990
cacrep.org

Mercer University’s CACREP-Accredited Counseling Programs

• Counselor Education and Supervision, Ph.D.
• Clinical Mental Health Counseling, M.S.
• Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling, M.S.
• School Counseling, M.S.

Program outcomes

In 2023, Mercer University counseling graduates achieved a 95% pass rate on their first attempt at the national Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE). Mercer students have also consistently averaged scores on these exams that are above the national average scores for other counseling programs. Learn more about program-specific outcomes: