When Valeria Ayala, a master’s graduate from Fresno, California, began her quest for a doctoral program in counselor education, the pickings were slim. Although there are over 90 accredited counselor education programs in the country, just three of them are in the West and none had the multicultural community emphasis that she was looking for.
It’s not an issue just facing Ayala; many master’s level counselors in California, Washington, Oregon, and Nevada struggle to find places for additional training. And, with Nevada currently ranked 51st in the nation for access to mental health, it’s something UNLV’s College of Education is taking seriously.
Thankfully a solution was on the horizon. Associate professor Heather Dahl-Jacinto and her colleagues quickly turned their vision for UNLV’s new doctoral program in counselor education and supervision into a reality. The program prepares candidates to be both educators and clinical supervisors who can help close the gap in training opportunities.
“Increasing access to educational programs for those who will train and supervise counselors is a crucial way that we can address the workforce development needs in our state,” she notes.
As the program’s graduate coordinator, Dahl-Jacinto is excited to train future leaders in the field. This fall she welcomed five doctoral students — including Ayala — each of whom have brought a unique perspective and passion to the cohort.
A Commitment to Multicultural Competency
For Ayala, this wasn't just about fulfilling an academic need — the program she joined had to align with her personal values. As a Latina, she knew the diversity of the community around her needed to be valued by the program and faculty of her choice.
Growing up, Ayala saw the way family members would struggle to navigate language barriers during medical appointments. “I thought if I became a doctor, I could help Latinx families with treatment.”
Now, taking on an academic doctoral degree, she comes to UNLV to fill that same gap in the mental health field.
It’s no coincidence that the program emphasizes multicultural and social justice competency, nor is it just a checkbox in the curriculum — it’s woven into every course and discussion. Dahl-Jacinto believes that understanding these concepts deeply is key to becoming an effective counselor.
“I don't think you can be a good counselor without infusing multicultural and social justice advocacy into all of your work,” she says. “For the students, their own work with self-awareness and cultural humility is essential so they are prepared to work with a diverse group of students, clients, and supervisors.”
Ayala adds, “I will create representation for Latinx counselors. Students in generalized programs don't always receive the training needed to work with Latinx populations. When I become an educator, I’ll be able to provide that through my supervision and mentorship of other Latinx counselors.”
A Holistic Approach to Shape the Future
While addressing the mental health workforce pipeline is key, this program is not solely about producing more counselors. The coursework is set up to prepare students for a wide range of professional roles. With a rigorous research base and practical training components, Heather and her colleagues are teaching and mentoring the next generation of the workforce who will eventually teach other aspiring clinicians.
“They're learning how to be leaders and advocates in the field, while receiving hands-on training, like mentoring our current master’s students,” shared Dahl-Jacinto.
Within such an intentionally multidisciplinary program, Ayala and her cohort will be equipped with the skills to lead in academia at other R1 institutions, clinical agency settings, and beyond.
The Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision is expanding access to education and shaping the future of counseling in Nevada and the west. As we grapple with a mental health crisis, this opportunity is a critical step toward building a stronger, more resilient workforce.
