Siloam Springs Community Guide

2021 Siloam Springs community guide | 28 licensed faculty members, graduate students provide counseling services to all ages and to people from all socioeconomic and educational levels. Experiential learning prepares them "to become competent professionally while providing a service to the community. We have a pretty rigorous training program." Dinger explained that training standards are set by different licensing bodies and that before counseling clients, the students have to pass required classes and an evaluation "to see if they're ready to enter clinical work. Once the student completes their training, they can then apply with the state to get a license to continue their supervised practice." Trainees provide counseling services for a minimal six hours weekly and meet with their supervisors once a week. "We actually take their work and review their sessions, then give them feedback on their delivery of service," Dinger said. Why do students choose to become therapists? Dinger suggests that while there are many reasons, "Most notably is a sense of congruence with their desire to serve. ey report wanting to understand relationships, the challenges with living and the role of mental health in living well. Pursuing a master's degree in counseling equips them to work effectively in a range of settings and impact their community. It's challenging work but rewarding." As a Christian liberal arts institution, John Brown University includes spiritual formation as integral to a holistic education. "We identify ourselves as Christians," Dinger said, "but ethically we also recognize we can't impose values. So, while our training emphasizes integrating Christian faith into our understanding of people and wellness, we accept all walks of life. e responsibility is on the trainees [graduate students] to respect diversity and honor people whatever their belief standards are. Oen faith is manifest in just the character of the counselor." Dinger explained how the system works. "When a call comes in to the clinic, we take an assessment of their presenting need to see if we can serve them. en we ask about their availability and match it to a trainee that's available." Students majoring in marriage and family counseling are assigned couples and families. "ose majoring in clinical mental health see diverse clients across the age span." While all graduate counseling students have undergone general training in child and adolescent mental health needs, "We limit those trainees that are serving young children to those with training in play therapy." Play therapy is a type of psychotherapy "which helps children process complex emotions through playing, a method which comes most naturally for children," as described a press release that announced the dedication of a new play therapy center added to the clinic. Like other faculty members in the graduate program, Dingle maintains a limited counseling practice of his own. "is is so we can sharpen our own skills and be relevant to our students." To request an appointment or for more information, visit the JBU Community Counseling Clinic website, or call 479-524-7300. John Brown University campus. (Courtesy photo)

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