Counseling Program Mission

The East Tennessee State University Graduate Program in Counseling is in the Department of Counseling and Human Services within the College of Health Sciences. As part of ETSU, the Counseling Program is committed to diversity and does not discriminate against applicants or students based on age, sex, race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, gender identity, or sexual/affectional identity.

The mission of the ETSU Counseling Program is to prepare students to function as knowledgeable, ethical, and effective counselors in a pluralistic society.  

Although each of our counseling faculty have various specialties and interests, the faculty teach and supervise across concentration areas and make every attempt to focus on excellence in the preparation of professional counselors regardless of the setting in which they will be employed. Counseling faculty are committed to creating teaching-learning environments that encourage the active participation of students.  Instruction in counseling is founded upon commitment to the following beliefs held by the counselor education faculty at ETSU: 

• That the work of the professional counselor is to promote mental health, social and physical well-being, and development of the person, families, organizations, and community with whom the counselor interacts as a professional.
• That counseling is a unique, interactive relationship process which focuses on prevention, problem resolution, mental health, and development by using an understanding of individual, systemic, and social contexts.
• That it is important to aspire to create an atmosphere that promotes self-examination, self-determination, and critical and reflective thinking to facilitate intellectual and emotional development.
• That counselors should continue their own growth, study, and learning throughout their career.
• That a heightened awareness of a multicultural and diverse world and the impact of the dominant culture, the family, and individual behavior on the clients with whom we work, the students we are training, and ourselves is critically important.
• That counselors are called to actionable steps that promote social justice at the client, community, system, and macro levels, which also requires adequate reflection and careful consideration of the interest and welfare of the persons affected by said actions.  
   
  The ETSU Counseling Program has traditionally served full-time and part-time students since 1963.  Two master’s level concentrations are offered – Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling – with the option to take specialization courses in couple and family counseling or college counseling and student affairs.  In addition, the program offers an Education Specialist Degree in Counselor Leadership in partnership with the Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis (ELPA) Department. 

In order to continue to effectively carry out our mission and goals, we engage in ongoing program and student assessment processes. To see our assessment reports click here.