Counseling Center Earns Key Accreditation
October 11, 2024 9:00 AM
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at Oberlin College and Conservatory has earned accreditation by the International Accreditation of Counseling Services (IACS), the primary body for benchmarking professional counseling services on college and university campuses.
Some 200 institutions worldwide are IACS accredited, primarily in the United States. Accreditation most commonly is attained by large colleges and universities; Oberlin is the only small college among nine Ohio-based institutions that have earned the IACS seal of approval.
CAPS is administered by the Office of Student Health and Wellbeing, part of the Division of Student Affairs. It provides short-term therapy, psychiatry, group programming, consultation, and community referrals, with options for in-person and virtual settings. All CAPS services are free to Oberlin students.
CAPS was thoroughly evaluated by IACS over a period of nine months, a process that included extensive documentation, a comprehensive site visit, and multiple peer reviews in five areas: relationships within the campus community, counseling and clinical services, ethical standards, personnel, and resources and infrastructure.
IACS accreditation is also dependent upon evidence of continuing professional development and demonstration of excellence of counseling performance. Oberlin is required to submit annual reports to ensure ongoing compliance with IACS standards.
“IACS accreditation serves as independent confirmation that we provide a comprehensive range of services to our students and that our staff are fully qualified to provide those services,” says psychologist John Harshbarger, director of CAPS.
“Ensuring this standard of care is vital for all that we do within the Office of Student Health and Wellbeing and across Student Affairs, as well as our campus more broadly.”
Student Health and Wellbeing supports students by functioning within the framework of the “Eight Dimensions of Wellness,” fostering a culture of care through attention to physical, emotional, social, intellectual, environmental, spiritual, occupational, and financial aspects of wellness. Learn more on the Student Health and Wellbeing website.