Master of Arts Degree Program Receives Accreditation from the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)

PALO ALTO, Calif., Feb. 15, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Palo Alto University's (PAU) Master of Arts in Counseling programs in Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling and in Clinical Mental Health Counseling were awarded 8 years of accreditation by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).  CACREP accreditation is recognition that the programs' quality meets the national standards set by the counseling profession and is among the highest commendation that an academic program can receive in the counseling field.    These accreditation decisions were based on the CACREP's Board's extensive review of the self-study documents submitted by PAU, the visiting team's report, and PAU's response to the visiting team's report.    The Counseling department was further accredited by CACREP to deliver its two emphases in both a Residential Hybrid and a Distance Learning (online) with Limited Residency format.  Palo Alto University is now the only university with a CACREP accredited online masters program located west of the Rockies and is one of only eight CACREP accredited residential programs with these emphases in California.   Alumnus Sharlisa Byrd, Community Involvement Specialist and MFTi, stated: "Palo Alto University is like coming home. Home is not only a physical place, but a place of purpose and growth, that connects and creates relationships. The M.A. Counseling program allowed me to be both powerful and vulnerable. I was provided with the tools to be able to use myself as a producer of healing, hope and transformation. Now it is my turn to open doors to welcome others home."   The Master Degree Program in PAU is under the excellent Leadership of Dr. William Snow who received the Outstanding Mentor Award from the Western Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (WACES) in December 2016. The award is testament to the high quality support and commitment of Dr. Snow, and was the result of many professors and students submitting sincere and heartfelt nominations and letters on his behalf.    Dr. Snow will be presenting his thoughts on "The Importance of Mentorship in Leaders".    March 7th, 5:30 to 6:15pm Room C15a, PAU's Los Altos Campus, 5150 El Camino, Los Altos, CA.  About Palo Alto University   Register for this event by clicking here   Palo Alto University (PAU) was founded in 1975 and is dedicated to education with an emphasis in the behavioral and social sciences.  Offering bachelor, master and doctorate degrees, PAU's mission is to improve lives, with an emphasis on diverse cultures and serving the community.    M.A. Counseling (MFT/LPCC). This program prepares students to pursue a license as a mental health counselor or marriage and family therapist and with two areas of emphasis;  Marriage, Family, and Child emphasis fulfills all requirements for MFT licensure in the State of California and similar licenses in many other states, and Clinical Mental Health emphasis fulfills all requirements for LPCC licensure in California and many other U.S. states and territories.   Contact:  Helena Ting, VP of Community Development, Hting@paloaltou.edu   SOURCE Palo Alto University