By Kim Shirley
More than 1 in 5 adults in the United States suffer from a mental illness, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Reformed Theological Seminary (RTS) is responding to the ever-growing need for counselors and counseling with a biblical worldview, right here in Mississippi, by offering accessible mental health counseling, as well as educating and preparing the next generation of counselors.
The Counseling Center at RTS, located off Meadowbrook Road in Jackson, is committed to providing the community with well-trained counselors who assist people in working through and healing a variety of challenges, including but not limited to anxiety, depression, stress disorders, abuse, self-harm, anger, and marital problems. Many people lack access to mental health care through their insurance or cannot afford service fees and therefore don’t receive the help they need. To support this need, The Counseling Center offers services based on a sliding scale determined by annual household income, making counseling available to those who may not have access otherwise. In addition, these services can be offered to individuals and couples across the state through telehealth.
To address the growing demand for mental health services, it is also crucial to educate and prepare future counselors. The Master of Arts in Counseling (MAC) program at RTS is distinct in integrating a biblical worldview with clinical mental health counseling. Not only are students who graduate from the RTS MAC program prepared to become licensed professional counselors, but they also have completed numerous hours of theology coursework, which equips them with a strong theological foundation from which to counsel clients.
The RTS MAC program is unique due to three elements: academics, cohort structure, and on-site clinical experience. Students are taught skills in clinical mental health and marriage and family counseling as part of the program. The intentional cohort format benefits the students by providing them with a support system that shares the vision of helping God’s people while completing their intense preparation. Another clear benefit is the chance to finish the required clinical internship through the on-site clinic at The Counseling Center. While most programs require students to source their internship, RTS MAC has the clinical site and supervision built into the program. After receiving at least two and a half hours of weekly supervision and consultation, students’ skills strengthen significantly.
In response to the growing need for mental health support, The Counseling Center at RTS offers affordable, biblically-based mental health care throughout Mississippi. Through Reformed Theological Seminary’s Master of Arts in Counseling program, RTS prepares future counselors who will bring hope and healing to their communities. By interweaving theological foundations with practical clinical training, RTS is shaping the future of mental health care, ensuring that compassionate, well-equipped professionals are ready to serve both the church and our communities.
Kim Shirley, senior director of communications and marketing at Reformed Theological Seminary, brings over 17 years of expertise in nonprofit communications. With extensive experience in church communications, Kim is dedicated to using strategic messaging to develop impactful resources that support and guide others on their faith journey.