Currently, 1 in 5 U.S. adults lives with a mental illness, yet the field remains severely under-resourced. In New Jersey alone, the biggest shortage of mental health counselors is located in the highest-need communities. To ensure everyone has access to quality mental health care services, we must first ensure that those providing the care are supported and well-equipped.

We sat down with Dr. Sandy Gibson, Department Chair of the new Department of Online Counselor Education at The College of New Jersey, to hear how TCNJ is revolutionizing the mental health care sector by preparing a diverse cohort of counselors with lived experience and expertise.

Can you tell me about the Clinical Mental Health Counseling online program and the new Department of Online Counselor Education at TCNJ?

  • Our new online clinical mental health counseling program is making the process of becoming a licensed mental health professional more accessible than ever before. This accelerated online program grants students academic eligibility in New Jersey to become a licensed professional counselor after passing the national exam and completing a period of supervised care. Previously, students were expected to travel to on-site locations to provide 700+ hours of unpaid work to obtain this degree, a commitment that is simply not possible for most. This flexible online program, while intensive and consolidated, allows students to complete most of it from the comfort of their home, removing barriers like access to transportation and childcare. The program is designed with the existing mental health workforce in mind, creating a clear path for those already providing mental health care to work alongside clinicians, psychiatrists and psychologists.

What inspired the development of this program?

  • In New Jersey, and throughout the entire country, there is a huge shortage of licensed mental health care workers. Because obtaining a license has historically been a time-consuming process that results in a lot of debt, it has become a rather privileged and undiversified field. To address this, we’ve made it so people can go to school and still work full time — people who maybe thought this degree was inaccessible before.

What makes this program unique? What gap do you think it's filling in the mental health space?

  • TCNJ is the first-ever college in the U.S. to propose clinical mental health counseling as an apprenticeship degree. This means that students no longer have to have an unpaid practicum and internship period, and the academic assignments are reduced, greatly increasing access to individuals who previously found these programs insurmountable. Apprenticeship programs are also a win-win for agencies who get convenient full-time placements following graduation and—depending on the county—may even qualify for tax benefits.

How does this program play a role in creating a more diverse mental health workforce and why is that important?

  • Statistically, we know that communities of color are less likely to engage with mental health care than white communities. We also know that people are more likely to seek mental health care from someone who looks like them and has shared lived experiences. So it is absolutely crucial to have a diverse workforce. In order to make this a reality, our program offers tuition scholarships to students who work in HPSAs (Health Professional Shortage Areas) and/or previously graduated from an HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities). There’s also the element of increased earning potential once these students graduate, creating career growth and financial sustainability following graduation. The goal here is for mental health care to become normative in these communities, and prevalence and presence are key.

How do you envision this program contributing to the broader mental health care space in New Jersey?

  • Our ultimate goal is to create a reality in New Jersey, and down the line, across the country, where as long as someone has the desire and disposition to be a clinical mental health counselor, they can become a mental health counselor.

To learn more about this new program, visit here.

About the Online Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program: The online Master of Arts in clinical mental health counseling is designed to put students’ goals within reach. Three start dates each year and a manageable course load of just two classes during each accelerated term enables students to earn their degree in as few as two years — all while maintaining an ideal work/school/life balance. This 60-credit program prepares participants to work with individuals across the lifespan and treatment spectrum.