UNCG Department of Counseling and Educational Development

09/02/2026

Dr. Jenny Niles is making changes among counseling professionals and school counselors with her research. Read morehttps://soe.uncg.edu/meet-the-researcher-dr-jennifer-niles/

08/31/2026

What our students are saying!

Julia Gilmour, Class of 2026, graduated with a degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.

08/28/2026

CED's Christian Chan was interviewed about the August Blues on Fox8!

08/28/2026

Earlier this month, New Arrivals Institutes hosted its first ever Refugee Youth Summit, that invited refugee youth ages 16-24 years old from across North Carolina to connect, share experiences, and develop skills for their futures. Carla Vargas, 3rd Year PhD student was a guest speaker and had the opportunity to facilitate a discussion on the mental health aspects of goal achievement, including maintaining motivation, managing the pressures of building a new life in the United States (e.g., navigating various systems), and pursuing personal and professional aspirations in a healthy and sustainable way including tapping into one's own resilience and community.

08/26/2026

Youn Jung Ho, a 3rd year doctoral student in CED, received a student research grant from the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision. They will be exploring critical reflexivity in counselors' development that could support the application of culturally sensitive and just clinical practices. Congratulations, Youn Jung!

08/25/2026

Dr. Christian Chan was recently featured in Real Simple, contributing to a discussion on why more adults are choosing singlehood and how definitions of fulfillment, connection, and well-being are evolving.

His insights highlight how counselor educators help shape important conversations about human development, relationships, and mental health in today's society.

More people are choosing to be single over being in a relationship. Ahead, we tapped psychologists and marriage and family therapists to learn why and dive into the benefits of choosing singlehood.

08/21/2026

🤝 Building a Stronger Workforce for Those Who Care for Others

Dr. Jennifer Deaton and associate professor Madelynn Stackhouse have received $11,000 in REACH funding to launch State of the Trauma Workforce – NC Piedmont Triad.

Through a regional "listening tour," they will engage counselors, educators, social workers, healthcare providers, and other helping professionals to better understand the realities of trauma-informed work, including workforce challenges, organizational supports, and professional well-being.

The project will help establish the MORE (Measurement, Outcome Research, and Evaluation) Research Consortium for Helping Professionals, a community-engaged initiative that brings together practitioners, researchers, and community partners to co-create meaningful, actionable research.

This work reflects a commitment to building evidence with helping professionals, not simply about them, ensuring that research directly informs practice and supports those serving our communities every day.

08/19/2026

We are proud to celebrate Dr. Carrie Wachter Morris' recent professional service contributions that are helping shape the future of counseling education and mental health training.

✅ Selected to serve a five-year term on the CACREP Board of Directors, helping guide accreditation and quality standards for counselor education programs.

✅ Contributed extensive revisions to the Mental Health Facilitator (MHF) Educator's Edition curriculum for the NBCC Foundation, supporting a global mental health training program used in more than 30 countries.

These leadership roles reflect our faculty's commitment to advancing professional excellence, strengthening counselor preparation, and expanding access to mental health education around the world.

08/17/2026

08/14/2026

🤝 Community Impact Across North Carolina

Drs. Jennifer Deaton and Jenny Niles recently facilitated a Trauma-Informed Professional Practice training for Transition to Community Living (TCL) staff serving individuals across NC.

The focus: helping professionals recognize the effects of trauma and respond in ways that promote safety, trust, collaboration, and empowerment.

📊 Impact:
✅ 95.24% said the training provided helpful information about trauma-informed practices
✅ 80.9% felt better prepared to support individuals who have experienced trauma
✅ 85.7% reported being very or extremely confident in promoting choice, collaboration, and empowerment after the training

Participants left with practical strategies including active listening, collaborative decision-making, trust-building, and creating safe environments for those transitioning into their communities.

We are proud to partner with organizations committed to strengthening trauma-informed systems of care across North Carolina.