Dr. Carol Parker, Ph.D. LPCC
Counseling Program Chair, Southwestern Counseling Center Clinical Supervisor & Ecopsychology Certificate Program Director
We welcome your interest in the MA in Counseling program here at Southwestern College. This master’s program has a unique holistic approach within an experiential and transformational learning environment. Students are prepared to practice as mental health professionals while also cultivating personal development. If you are interested in applying to the program, visit our online Admissions Office for program requirements and details on the admissions process.
- Curriculum and Degree prepare graduates for licensure
- 96 quarter units (equivalent to 64 semester units)
- Both practicum and internship experience
- Full-time two year program; part-time program available too
- Strong sense of community within our college setting
- Experiential learning including self-reflection and application of theory
- Diverse faculty with a 1:4 ratio resulting in personal attention and great mentorship opportunities
You can learn more about specializing in other areas of Counseling on our
Certificates Program page.
The master’s program in counseling integrates effective modes of counseling while incorporating all levels of psychological functioning including the imaginal, emotional, mental and spiritual. This holistic approach fosters a creative sense of self and the potential for change and growth.
Students experience their own personal psychological transformation through self-reflection as they learn counseling theory and practice. They develop their own professional counselor identities which are examined and reinforced through applied learning in practica and internships. Faculty are dedicated to encouraging a sense of individuality and creativity within the learning process for students.
The Counseling program is dedicated to helping students determine what it means to live their soul’s journey, both personally and professionally. Through a wide variety of psycho-spiritual, somatic, eco-psychological, and solution-focused counseling practices the students become compassionate and powerful agents for mid-wifing individual, community, and planetary renewal and regeneration. Our teachers are dedicated to assisting students in making the vital paradigm shift from isolated separation to authentic sharing and “giving back.” Our graduates are often described by employers as “true therapists”, well-trained in professional counseling practices, and centered in authenticity and connectedness.
