CTS Alumnus Rev. Dwight Holland, a 2006 graduate of the Master of Arts in Psychotherapy and Faith program, was featured in a recent Indianapolis Star article about how Black churches are working to meet the mental health needs in their communities.
The story profiles Holland’s journey in ministry and how, over time, he became increasingly aware of the need for training in mental health counseling in order to best serve his congregation and larger community. This was especially important because, as he explains, mental health had been stigmatized in his community.
In the early 2000s, Holland decided to pursue a degree in counseling from CTS to continue this work and soon “became part of a movement to reduce the stigmatization of mental illness within Black churches across Central Indiana.”
Holland explained that the church is an important site for this work, given its historic role as an anchor in so many Black communities. “This is another opportunity to build on that tradition,” he said. “The pastor is a good ambassador to assist and bring mental health awareness to their church.”
Holland now serves as agency leader with Family and Community Partners, LLC, and as a consultant to churches and community organizations. In 2021, CTS awarded him with an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree for his service to the church and the community.
Read the Indianapolis Star story here.
Learn more about CTS’s counseling programs here.
