Cook Counseling Center earns accreditation; director appointed to accrediting board
Virginia Tech’s Thomas E. Cook Counseling Center has received notification of its accreditation from the International Association of Counseling Services. The accreditation signifies that the counseling center adheres to the highest standards of professional counseling.
The yearlong accreditation process includes assessment of organizational structure, staff training, ethical guidelines, and licensing requirements. It also involves review of application materials and a comprehensive visit to the facility.
“One of the many benefits of professional accreditation is assuring that a full range of counseling services is being provided. Accreditation attests to the high quality of services,” said Charles Beale, annual review officer for the International Association of Counseling Services.
Cook Counseling Center provides individual counseling and group counseling for enrolled undergraduate and graduate students. The center also offers psychiatric services, sport psychology, eating disorder programs, and academic support services. Outreach and consultation are provided for Virginia Tech faculty, staff, and student organizations.
Christopher Flynn, director of Cook Counseling Center, was recently elected to the 14-member International Association of Counseling Services board. Qualified professionals from universities across the country comprise the accrediting board.
As a board member, Flynn will have the opportunity to evaluate new programs developed and tested throughout the United States and abroad.
“Reviewing applications from other counseling centers will allow me to adapt great ideas and practices for our use,” Flynn said. “Each review will require a significant amount of time and effort. The toughest part will be finding the time and energy to do a consistently good job of reviewing compliance with the standards.”
Flynn is a member of the American Psychological Association; the Association for University and College Counseling Center Directors; and the American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors, and Therapists. He received a bachelor's degree from Clark University; a master's degree from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County; and a Ph.D. from the University of Miami.
Written by Reid Jason Griffler of Gaithersburg, Md., a senior double majoring in communication in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences and psychology in the College of Science
