Ottawa University

Ottawa University MAPC Program Expands

PHOENIX, Arizona - Dr. Patricia Hernadez, Director of Graduate Studies in Counseling at Ottawa University, Phoenix, Arizona, announces the appointment of three new positions in the Masters of Arts in Professional Counseling (MAPC) program. These positions will help grow OU's program by adding depth and scope to the current department structure, and by providing guidance and expertise for graduate students who seek training in specialized content areas.

Dr. Sue Drury joins the MAPC team this fall in her new capacity as Professor in Charge - Treatment of Trauma, Abuse, and Deprivation (PIC-TAD). Dr. Drury is a licensed Psyhcologist. The Treatment of Trauma, Abuse and Deprivation program of study provides an opportunity for students to develop the understanding and clinical skills to work with traumatized populations. This includes individuals, families, and groups who have been victims or are adult survivors of violence, abuse, emergency and disaster, loss, and/or neglect and deprivation.

Dr. Barbara Bagan remains with the MAPC team as both an academic advisor and in her new role as Professor in Charge - Expressive Arts Therapy (PIC-EAT). Dr. Bagan is a Board Certified Registered Art Therapist. The Expressive Art Therapy program offers an opportunity for students to develop and integrate clinical skills with therapeutic art. The expressive arts can be utilized with a variety of populations and within a wide range of settings. Expressive Arts Therapy approaches include art therapy, music therapy, dance therapy, phototherapy, poetry/writing, as well as other expressive arts mediums.

Ms. Rachel Thomas returns to the MAPC team in her new role as Professor in Charge - Marriage and Family Therapy (PIC-MFT). Ms. Thomas is officially charged with overseeing and growing the MFT concentration. Ms. Thomas is licensed in Arizona and California as a Marriage and Family Therapist. Additionally, she is an AAMFT approved supervisor. The Marriage and Family Therapy concentration is based upon the educational requirements for Arizona licensure as a Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT). 

"We have a solid MAPC program and I'm excited to build the Marriage and Family Therapy Concentration," said Thomas. "Drs. Bagan and Drury are dynamic professionals, and I know they will make a huge contribution to the Expressive Arts Therapy and Trauma, Abuse and Deprivation programs as well.  The result will be more opportunity and competency for our students!"

Ottawa University is unique in offering counseling students the option of completing coursework in specialized content areas. The completion of the specialized coursework may lead to additional certification or licensure in the respective areas of Expressive Arts Therapy, Traumatology, and Marriage and Family Therapy. Regardless of the concentration pursued, each clinical professional area enhances the knowledge, experience, and expertise of students, making them more marketable in the field of counseling. The Master of Arts in Professional Counseling program is a 60-semester-credit-hour program that is designed to meet the educational requirements, in Arizona, for licensure as a Licensed Associate Counselor.

# # #

Founded in 1865, Ottawa University is a comprehensive, not-for-profit educational institution. Ottawa University's educational mission brings together a residential campus in Ottawa, Kansas, and adult campuses in Kansas City, Missouri; Phoenix, Mesa and Tempe, Arizona; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Jeffersonville, Indiana; as well as multiple international instructional sites.  For more information, visit http://www.ottawa.edu/.