51视频 is proud to announce the hire of Dr. Gustavo B谩rcenas as the newest faculty member of the Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program in the Loise Henderson Wessendorff Center for Christian Ministry and Vocation at 51视频. B谩rcenas is the sixth member of the rapidly growing faculty in 51视频鈥檚 Counseling degree program that is meeting the expanding mental health care needs in diverse communities. He will begin in this role at the start of the Fall 2023 semester.
鈥淚 am honored and excited to join the faculty at the 51视频 and I am looking forward to contributing in meaningful ways to the mission of this community,鈥� said Dr. B谩rcenas.
Dr. B谩rcenas completed his undergraduate and master鈥檚 degree in Psychology at the Autonomous University of the State of Mexico. He earned his doctoral degree in Counseling from the University of North Texas in 2017. He is a Bilingual Licensed Professional Counselor and a Registered Play Therapist. Dr. B谩rcenas served as the Offsite Clinical Program Manager at Jewish Family Service of Greater Dallas where he worked to bridge the gap in mental health disparities by promoting affordable and culturally responsive care to historically underserved communities.聽
“The counseling program at 51视频 is becoming nationally recognized, and Dr B谩rcenas’ hire will make our program even more attractive,鈥� said Dr. Scott Bader-Saye, Academic Dean. 鈥淗is background in play therapy and counseling with Latinx families will complement and extend the expertise of our current faculty. Having watched Dr. B谩rcenas teach, I am confident our students are going to find his classes enriching and engaging.”
His clinical and research interests mainly include utilizing play therapy with diverse populations, specially Latinx children and their families, Spanish-speaking clients, and immigrants. Dr. B谩rcenas has also served as an adjunct professor at the University of North Texas.
“Dr. B谩rcenas brings a wealth of experience in clinical practice to his role as a counselor educator,鈥� said Dr. Gena St. David, Director of the Loise Henderson Wessendorff Center for Christian Ministry and Vocation and Associate Professor of Counselor Education. 鈥淪tudents will learn much from his expertise with children and trauma treatment, and his commitment to social justice and spiritual integration in counseling practice. We feel fortunate to be welcoming Dr. B谩rcenas to the faculty.”