The new program, Psychology of Personal and Societal Wellness, will include a capstone internship at a mental health facility and will award students with a Mental Health Technician Certificate.
Pellissippi State Community College, Covenant Health, and the McNabb Center have partnered to offer a new course, Psychology of Personal and Societal Wellness, that will award students with a Mental Health Technician Certificate. The program, which is the first of its kind in the Tennessee Board of Regents system, is available for students who are pursuing an associate degree in psychology and are looking for hands-on experience to help guide their career path.
According to an article on Pellissippi State Community College’s website, Georgette Samaras, who serves as a professor of psychology at the college, was quoted as saying of the program, “We have found that students are not just looking to fulfill the requirements of their degree program, but also to get key exposure to their chosen field. So, with this course, we’re giving them practical skills to bridge what they learn in the classroom into the industry itself. We believe with our hands-on academic model that we are fully giving students the chance to be successful in their field. They are going to help the next generation, which will face a growing need for these services.”
The new Psychology of Personal and Societal Wellness course will allow students to get hands-on experience by working alongside psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, counselors, and social workers, which will help the student determine their career interests.
Devan Johnson, the president and chief administrative officer of Covenant Health’s Parkwest Medical Center and Peninsula, said, “We are very excited to partner with Pellissippi State to help prepare more individuals for meaningful careers in behavioral health. The patients we serve benefit greatly from the expertise and compassion of well-trained professionals, and the demand for qualified behavioral health workers continues to grow throughout the greater Knoxville area. This partnership represents an important step toward strengthening the workforce and meeting the increasing need for behavioral health services in our community.”
Echoing these sentiments, Jill Barnes, the vice president of human resources at the McNabb Center, said, “The McNabb Center is excited and honored to be a part of this initiative to advance education for those seeking careers as front-line mental health technicians. A specialty certification is a level up for students who desire to work more effectively with people who are experiencing mental health challenges that impact their quality of life. We look forward to our ongoing partnership to train students for the tough and rewarding work in our Center’s programming.”
For more information about Pellissippi State Community College, visit the school’s website.