Wingspan, Spring 2025
According to a 2024 report from the Maryland Health Care Commission, Maryland will need more than 32,000 behavioral health professionals by 2028. You may picture a behavioral health professional as a psychologist seeing patients in an office, but a meaningful career that supports mental health doesn’t have to require a doctorate or years of additional (and expensive) education. Students at AACC are finding ways to support mental health across disciplines, sometimes in fields that may surprise you.
Art isn’t always about creating – it can be about healing. Art therapy offers students a creative outlet to express emotions, reduce stress and improve mental well-being. Through art, students learn to connect with themselves in ways that traditional methods can’t always achieve.
Casey Duley, an AACC alumna, is a great example of how the power of art can transform lives. After studying studio arts at AACC, Duley is pursuing art therapy at Notre Dame, combining her passion for art with a desire to help others heal.
AACC faculty members are taking innovative steps to integrate art into mental health support. Assistant Professor Amy Carattini and Visual Arts Program Navigator Laura Pasquini are leading a Mental Health Month project where students will create emotional color landscapes inspired by Shan Shui art. This project gives students a creative outlet to process complex emotions.
For students who need to practice self-care, AACC’s ceramics, drawing, painting and sculpture courses provide a chance to relax, channel creative energy and find calm in the process of making.
By offering these diverse opportunities, AACC gives space for students to connect with their own well-being and explore how art can support mental health.
Life can feel overwhelming, but what if you had someone in your corner, asking the right questions to help move you forward? At AACC, our Engagement Coaching program is doing just that! Training students to empower people to navigate challenges, build confidence and create meaningful change in their lives.
What makes AACC’s program unique is not only its approach but also its recognition. It is accredited by the International Coaching Federation (ICF), the gold standard in the coaching industry. In fact, AACC is the only two-year college in the country offering this ICF-accredited coaching program. This distinction ensures students receive the highest quality coaching education and training available, preparing them to make a real impact in their communities.
Unlike therapy, coaching isn’t about diagnosing problems or digging into and processing the past. It’s a supportive approach that helps individuals find their own solutions and identify how they want to make progress. “It takes a team to be a human,” said Jen Lara, lead coach and professor for the program. Coaching isn’t a replacement for therapy or counseling – it can work alongside those resources to provide additional support.
Coaching isn’t only about tackling challenges. It also celebrates wins, progress and transformation. Whether it’s changing careers, launching a business or someone strengthening their relationships, these victories highlight the program’s impact.
Students don’t just learn to coach others; they experience coaching themselves. “The best coaches get coached,” Lara shared. By being on the receiving end, students gain self-awareness and insight into their own growth, which makes them better at helping others.
Whether it’s helping someone navigate a big life decision or simply being there to listen, our students are building stronger communities, one conversation at a time.
AACC's Psychology program is one of the college’s most popular, reflecting a growing awareness of and interest in mental health. Julie Grignon, chair of the Psychology department, says students want to understand more about themselves in a diverse society. They also want to make a positive impact in their community.
Psychology courses equip students with skills to help address mental health challenges. They learn psychological principles to improve their lives and the lives of others. Even students who don’t plan to pursue a degree in psychology can benefit from the program’s courses by learning skills that can be used across various careers.
The department contributes to initiatives to improve mental health on campus and in the community. Collaborating with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, it has hosted Mental Health First Aid Training and participated in suicide awareness walks. Guest speakers from psychology and mental health fields, along with partnerships with local organizations, inspire students by showcasing career paths and highlighting internships and community volunteering opportunities.
The number of people struggling with addiction has created a public health crisis that has gripped the nation in recent years. In the United States, 40.3 million people 12 or older had a substance use disorder in the past year. More than four out of five Americans who need treatment for drug use do not receive it.
While the stigmas against those with addictions has decreased in recent years, many Americans feel uncomfortable discussing their issues and seeking help. AACC offers an associate degree and certificate program in addiction counseling, which prepare students to combat this epidemic on the front lines.
AACC students completing the Addiction Counseling associate degree program are eligible to sit through the Maryland CSC-AD, the credentialing process to become an alcohol and drug counselor. Professor Sara Meinsler teaches a number of addiction counseling courses and is also the program’s field placement coordinator.
“After doing their first internship, these agencies are hiring students even before they've gotten their degree,” Meinsler said. “They're able to train these students and work with them, and then they can hire them when they're finished their time.”
Personal counseling services at AACC are vital in addressing students’ mental health needs. Over the last decade, demand for counseling services has soared, with a 98% increase in appointments. Diane Hallila, the department’s coordinator, says counseling gives students a sense of identity and support, guiding them toward successful outcomes.
“Counseling can guide students toward improving relationships, enhancing life’s opportunities and developing a positive outlook toward themselves and their future,” Hallila said.
To keep up with this growing demand, AACC’s counselors receive ongoing education and work with campus departments and community organizations to provide personalized, long-term care for each student. Counselors offer one-on-one sessions, both in person and online, to help students deal with common challenges like stress, loneliness, depression, anxiety and grief.
Additionally, the counseling team hosts regular workshops for students, faculty and staff on topics like stress management, test anxiety, mindfulness and healthy relationships. These initiatives aim to raise awareness about mental health in the community.
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