Two graduate counseling programs at Grand Canyon University have received accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs (CACREP). The accredited programs are the Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, covering all emphasis areas both online and in-person, and the Master of Education in School Counseling.
This accreditation is recognized as a significant standard in counselor education. Graduates from these programs, retroactively dating to January 17, 2024, will be considered graduates of a CACREP-accredited program. This status can simplify licensure processes and expand employment opportunities for students.
Emalee London, a graduate student in clinical mental health counseling with a focus on trauma, said the accreditation will help her obtain licensure more quickly and increase her job prospects. She noted, “In my experience in the program, the rigorousness of the curriculum as well as the holistic perspective and emphasis on ethics is a great asset,” London said. “In each course, I have had the opportunity to connect what I’m learning to specific examples and apply everything in light of the American Counseling Association Code of Ethics and specific CACREP standards.”
Dr. Kimberly Grigg, CACREP liaison and director of the school counseling program at GCU, explained that the accreditation process evaluates how programs meet standards related to academic excellence, accountability, and preparing students who are “ethically and culturally responsive and dedicated to serving the needs of diverse communities.” She also highlighted that “Christian faith is the essence of the counseling programs,” adding that this aspect was central during their journey toward accreditation: “We are not the norm, and so we also had to tell our story, who we are, that’s probably different than the average traditional counseling program,” she said. “And we did.” Grigg continued: “Christian faith is the essence of the counseling programs,” Grigg added, “and this was never more evident than the Lord’s faithful provision throughout this journey.”
Assistant Dean Dr. Anna Edgeston leads GCU’s graduate counseling programs. She commented on setting high standards within their field: “You are setting a standard, especially in the counseling field, that you are going out there to serve people and help people and make a difference in their lives.” Edgeston emphasized that beyond accreditations, their goal is to prepare students to make an impact: “There is a greater calling to what we are doing here.”
The university has seen substantial growth in its counseling programs over recent years—expanding from fewer than 1,000 students six years ago to nearly 5,000 today—and has increased faculty numbers tenfold. It now ranks among one of the largest graduate counseling programs nationally.
CHSS Dean Dr. Sherman Elliott remarked on this achievement by saying it reflects both program quality and community: “Accreditation affirms the quality of our program, but more importantly, it celebrates the people – faculty, students and alumni – who make this community so exceptional.”
University leadership acknowledged partnerships with local mental health providers as important contributors to reaching this milestone.
