President's Report 2025

Answering the Call: SMWC’s New MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program By Sara Church ‘07, MS Director of MS in CMHC/Visiting Assistant Professor

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) has a long tradition of preparing graduates to serve others with compassion, courage and integrity. That mission continues with the College’s Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MS-CMHC) program, launched in 2024. This program is designed to address one of today’s most pressing needs: access to quality mental health care in Indiana and beyond. The program is built on a trauma informed framework, equipping ready to guide others toward healing and hope. The College’s visionary

students to recognize and respond to the complex ways that trauma affects individuals, families and communities. Just as importantly, it emphasizes multicultural awareness and social justice, preparing counselors to understand how culture, identity and systemic inequities shape mental health experiences. By preparing future counselors to meet clients where they are—with sensitivity, knowledge and resilience — SMWC is shaping professionals

foundress, Saint Mother Theodore Guérin, wrote, “We are not called upon to do all the good that is possible, but only that which we can do.” In a time when the demand for mental health services far exceeds the number of available professionals, SMWC, a leader in online learning, strove to be part of meaningful change in our community by offering an online pathway to become a mental health counselor.

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