Missouri State University

Skip to content Skip to navigation
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

College of Education News

Responding to mental health trends

February 1, 2022 by Strategic Communication

Field of memories display 2016.

According to the American Psychological Association, suicide rates rose at an alarming rate over the past two decades.  

This is a trend that Robin Farris, licensed counselor and director of Missouri State University’s Center City Counseling Clinic (CCCC), observed over the past decade. 

“We used to tell students ‘You might see suicidal issues in a semester,’” Farris said. “Now, we tell students ‘You WILL see clients with suicidal ideation every week.’”  This has increased so much that students now take a mandatory training in suicide prevention before they even start working with clients. 

The clinic is a community outreach of the department of counseling leadership and special education at MSU. 

Missouri State master’s level students obtain direct client contact experience by providing counseling sessions to adults, teens, children and couples at the clinic under the supervision of licensed instructors. 

“We are proud of our ability to assist between 80-90 people per week with their emotional struggles and mental health issues,” said Farris. “For many of our clients, it’s a service they just couldn’t afford if not for the clinic’s sliding scale policy. We won’t turn away anyone because of an inability to pay.”  

Learn more about the Center City Counseling Clinic 

Mental health concerns 

Mental health is a complex issue, specifically when considering the recent uptick in anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation 

“There is so much rapid change with technology and so much crisis with the whole world – environmentally, economically and politically,” Farris said. “So much of that stress is felt by people in their day to day without them being consciously aware of it.”  

While the recent pandemic has brought these issues to the forefront, the trend existed before quarantine and social distancing protocols.  

“People are so frantic for life, meaning and connection,” Farris said. “They don’t know which way to go, so they’re just crashing.” 

Negative stigmas around mental health care still exist, but attitudes are becoming more compassionate thanks to better education about mental health.  

“It’s not just about physical and spiritual health. There’s also mental and emotional health,” Farris said. “To be a healthy, well-rounded person, we need to be as balanced and healthy as we can across these categories.” 

Making a difference  

The Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) accredits the counseling program. This gives students a leg up in their job search after graduation.  

In addition to receiving training through an accredited program, MSU students learn to navigate a variety of intense concerns that shape the role of counselors. 

Farris said the Center City Counseling Clinic is known for its warm, inclusive environment and receives positive feedback each semester in their anonymous surveys of clients. 

“I’m always proud to pass positive feedback on to students,” she said. “They may be in their early stages as counselors, but they are making a difference.” 

Access campus mental health resources 

Explore degrees in counseling  

Filed Under: Counseling, Graduate Program Tagged With: Counseling, counseling leadership and special education, Graduate Program

Master’s in counseling program recognized for best value

February 12, 2019 by Abigail Blaes

College of education class

Missouri State University’s master’s in counseling degree was recognized as one of the highest valued in the country by Human Services Edu.

“We created the list to help potential students find information about accredited and top quality programs,” said Kelly Simpson, outreach specialist for Human Services Edu.

Missouri State is one of only two schools in Missouri to be recognized.

About the ranking

Human Services Edu listed several benefits of the MSU program:

  • Missouri State provides an exceptional learning experience for the most affordable price.
  • MSU’s program is nearly $8,000 less than the state average for counseling master’s degrees.
  • The counseling program offers opportunities for service-learning practicums, cross-cultural experiences and hands-on learning.

Ranking criteria

Human Services Edu uses various criteria to determine a school’s placement on the list. The criteria for this ranking includes:

  • Must be fully accredited
  • Incorporation of scientific, evidence-based practices in the curriculum
  • High standards for supervised fieldwork experience
  • Demonstration of student comprehension and competence in legal and ethical standards
  • Opportunities for international travel
  • Online and in-class enrollment options
  • Stand-out faculty

Filed Under: Counseling, Graduate Program Tagged With: award, Counseling, Graduate Program

Subscribe via email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 11 other subscribers

Categories

  • Bear POWER
  • Child Life Studies
  • COE Alumni
  • COE Faculty
  • COE Staff
  • COE Students
  • Counseling
  • Early Childhood and Family Development
  • Educational Administration
  • Elementary Education
  • Graduate Program
  • Literacy
  • Secondary Education
  • Special Education
  • Student Affairs
  • Uncategorized

Archives

  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • November 2020
  • September 2020
  • July 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • December 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • July 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org
Make your Missouri statementMake your Missouri statement
  • Last Modified: February 12, 2019
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Disclosures
  • EO/AA/M/F/Veterans/Disability/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity
  • © 2013 Board of Governors, Missouri State University
  • Contact Information