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CTS Counseling Center Meets Community Needs Amid Pandemic

By May 5, 2020October 29th, 2021No Comments
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From personnel reconfiguration to facility enhancement to service delivery, the Counseling Center at Christian Theological Seminary (CTS) has undergone significant changes over the past few months. These efforts are to ensure that the Counseling Center continues to be a powerful resource in the community.

“For over fifty years, the Counseling Center at CTS has been known as a safe, caring, and inclusive environment,” said President David M. Mellott. “I’m grateful for the gifted leadership of the faculty, staff, and residents – everyone involved – and their adaptive service to the seminary, our outstanding degree programs, and the many clients.”

Bryan Votaw, who is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in the State of Indiana and a 2013 CTS alumnus with a Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling, was recently appointed Clinic Director. In this newly designed role, Votaw will oversee the day to day clinical operations of the Center and provide clinical supervision to interns enrolled in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) program at the Counseling Center.

The Counseling Center remains a vital component of the Seminary and its academic programs. This restructuring includes an expanded faculty in both counseling degree programs. Dr. Suzanne Coyle completed her term as Executive Director in March and will be focusing her attention on teaching and serving as Director of the accredited Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) program. Rev. Dr. Christina Davis, the former Clinic Director, has been appointed Assistant Professor of Pastoral Theology and Marriage and Family Therapy.

Earlier this academic year, Rev. Dr. Nicole Z. Robertson was hired as Assistant Professor of Clinical Mental Health Counseling. In addition to teaching, Robertson is playing a key role in the CMHC program’s application for accreditation from the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). She will begin supervising CMHC interns in May and assume directorship of the CMHC program in July following Rev. Dr. Matthias Beier’s tenure as director.

In addition to the personnel changes, the Counseling Center has experienced physical changes – including new carpet and cameras. The new carpet is part of an initiative to enhance the aesthetics and comfortability of the counseling spaces. Carpet is being installed on all three floors of the building and is scheduled to be completed during the first week of May. A new, state of the art, camera system was installed in January 2020. This new system provides an upgrade in both video and audio quality and has features that will enhance the student’s educational experience in ways that our previous system could not provide.

The Counseling Center adapted a third set of changes, service delivery changes, in response to the COVID-19 global pandemic. The Center adapted in this time of distress and uncertainty by transitioning all services to telehealth platforms. Doing so helps ensure both the continuity of care for clients as well as the health and safety of all.

“While we have effectively served Indianapolis and the surrounding communities for decades, adding teletherapy to our toolbox increases our reach for clients and opportunities for our clinicians,” Votaw said.

The Counseling Center is continuing to listen to the needs of the community during this time and considering all the various ways that it can be of help right now and in the days and months to come.

The Counseling Center is accepting new patients for telehealth. To reach the Center, please call the virtual front desk at 317-924-5205 or visit www.cts.edu/Counseling-Center.