Counseling Department

The GCC Counseling Faculty are teaching faculty and also providers of non-clinical services. For more information about our services, visit the Counseling Services website.

The Counseling Department provides courses under the CPD (Career and Personal Development), BHS (Behavioral Health Sciences) course prefixes, and offers Certifications and Industry Training for First Responders and Health Care providers.

Career and Personal Development (CPD) courses are taught by Master’s level and advanced degree counselors who have vast experience in human behavior, career development, student development, and a broad range of social issues and dynamics.

Our courses include:

CPD150 Strategies for College Success (3 credits)

Focus on increasing student success through college orientation and personal growth, study skills development, and educational and career planning. Prerequisites: None.

Improve your chances for success in college
Understand how to create the thoughts and shape the behaviors that help you to excel personally, academically, and career-wise
Increase focus and motivation
Learn about yourself and about the world of work…make an informed career decision.

CPD150AC Educational and Career Planning (1 credit)

Emphasis on increasing student success through educational and career planning. Prerequisites: None.

Learn about yourself and about the world of work…make an informed career decision.

CPD160 Introduction to Multiculturalism (3 credits)

Examination of the multiple cultures and subcultures within the contemporary United States. Personal exploration of awareness and appreciation of multiculturalism. Activities for experiencing diverse cultural perspectives. Critical thinking skills for recognizing, analyzing, and mediating cultural and psychological factors impacting conflict and accord between diverse cultures through written and oral discourse. Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in ENG101 or ENG107, or permission of Instructor. General Education Designations: C, L

Learn important intercultural skills that you can use to be successful in your personal life and in your career
Expand your knowledge about the world and people around you

CPD180 Human Resilience: Cognitive, Emotional and Behavioral Applications (3 Credits)

Exploration of human resilience and well-being within the context of personal, academic, and career life. Focus on enhancing quality of life and improving academic performance and career success through awareness of behavior, cognition, and emotion as well as the practice of self-regulation. Topics include mindfulness, positive psychology, motivation, effective thinking, applied neuroscience, mental and emotional health, and self-care. Prerequisites: None. General Education Designation: SB

Approved by Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board for police and correctional officer training.

Students can earn Certified Psychological and Emotional Resilience Professional (C-PERP) certification by passing the final exam.

Build resilience and well-being to improve your:

Academic performance
Career success
Quality of life

For more information about Career and Personal Development courses, please contact any of our Counseling Faculty listed in the “Faculty and Staff” link in the left margin.

Behavioral Sciences is designed to provide students with a comprehensive study of human behavior and prepare them to assist, as part of a clinical team, in the care of individuals and families dealing with mental illness, addictions and substance use, trauma, developmental disabilities, comorbid medical conditions, and challenging behaviors. The Behavioral Health Sciences curriculum provides a strong foundation for students who plan to pursue advanced degrees in mental health, social services, or a related field.

A Behavioral Health Sciences degree and certificate provides students with the knowledge and skills to work in the field while they continue higher-level education. Our transfer partnerships with state and private universities allow BHS students to transfer 67-90 credits towards a bachelor’s degree in:

Behavioral Health Sciences
Counseling
Human Services
Psychology
Sociology
Social work
Substance abuse counseling, or
Technical Education.

The BHS program offers the following certifications and degree:

CCL in Basic Behavioral Health Sciences
CCL in Advanced Behavioral Health Sciences
AAS in Behavioral Sciences

Industry certifications offered in the BHS program include:

BHS 150 = Mental Health First Aid (National Council for Behavioral Health)
BHS 155 = Certified Psychological and Emotional Resilience Professional (International Trauma Institute)
BHS 155 = Approved Distance Learning (13.5 CEU hours) by The Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board (AzPOST.gov)
BHS 175 = Certified Trauma Support Specialist (Trauma Institute International)
BHS 190 = Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (Crisis Prevention Institute)
BHS 205 = Registered Behavior Technician (Behavior Analyst Certification Board) - in process
BHS 230 = Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (LivingWorks)
BHS 230 = safeTALK (Living Works)
BHS 235 = Psychological First Aid (The National Child Traumatic Stress Network)

Upon completion of an associate’s or bachelor's degree, students may pursue a career as a(n):

ABA Therapist
ACT Specialist
Behavior Coach
Behavior Analyst
Behavioral Health Technician
Behavior Management Specialist
Birth to five Mental Health Specialist
Child Development Specialist
Care Manager/Case manager
Case Aid
Child Care Worker/Child Welfare
Crisis Specialist
Crisis Transition Navigator
Crisis Hotline
Direct Care Staff
Family Advocate
Family Support Partner
High Needs Case Management
Human Services Worker
Independent Living Specialist
Mental Health Intake Specialist
Mental Health Provider
Parent Aid
Parent Support Partner
Peer Support Specialist
Psychiatric Aide/Attendant/Technician
Psychological Stress Evaluator
Psychosocial Rehabilitation Specialist
Recovery Support Specialist
Rehabilitation Specialist
Respite Care Worker
Social Service Aid
Social Work
Substance Abuse Counselor
Youth Advocate
Youth Mentor
Victims’ Advocate

Glendale Community College trains First Responders and Health Care providers by offering classes that teach psychological and emotional resiliency to offset the occupational hazards of traumatic stress, burnout, and compassion fatigue. Our courses enhance career survivability by improving well-being and life satisfaction.