Southwest is proud to announce the hire of Dr. Gustavo Bárcenas 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 Southwest. Bárcenas is the sixth member of the rapidly growing faculty in Southwest’s 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.
“I am honored and excited to join the faculty at the Seminary of the Southwest and I am looking forward to contributing in meaningful ways to the mission of this community,” said Dr. Bárcenas.
Dr. Bárcenas completed his undergraduate and master’s 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. Bárcenas 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.
“The counseling program at Seminary of the Southwest is becoming nationally recognized, and Dr Bárcenas’ hire will make our program even more attractive,” said Dr. Scott Bader-Saye, Academic Dean. “His background in play therapy and counseling with Latinx families will complement and extend the expertise of our current faculty. Having watched Dr. Bárcenas 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. Bárcenas has also served as an adjunct professor at the University of North Texas.
“Dr. Bárcenas brings a wealth of experience in clinical practice to his role as a counselor educator,” said Dr. Gena St. David, Director of the Loise Henderson Wessendorff Center for Christian Ministry and Vocation and Associate Professor of Counselor Education. “Students 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. Bárcenas to the faculty.”
