University of Mary’s Photina Center Receives State Approval for In-Person Counseling Education in Phoenix
New state approval opens enrollment for CACREP-accredited graduate counseling program, with scholarships covering up to 40% of tuition
BISMARCK, ND — The University of Mary has received approval from the Arizona State Board for Private Postsecondary Education (AZPPSE) to offer in-person coursework for its nationally accredited Master of Science in Counseling program at the Photina Center for Catholic Counseling in downtown Phoenix, marking a significant milestone in the university’s mission to prepare professionally qualified, faith-filled counselors to serve the Church and communities throughout the American Southwest.
The approval allows the university to move forward with its blended graduate counseling program, combining online instruction with in-person coursework in Phoenix. Applications are now being accepted from qualified prospective students nationwide. Scholarships covering up to 40% of tuition are available to eligible students, making the opportunity for professionally accredited, Catholic counseling education more affordable.
Developed in partnership with the Diocese of Phoenix, the Photina Center brings together rigorous clinical preparation and a distinctly Catholic understanding of the human person, responding to the growing need for well-formed mental health professionals who recognize the relationship between psychological well-being, human dignity, and spiritual life.
The University of Mary’s Master of Science in Counseling is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), including the program offered at the Photina Center in Phoenix. Students may pursue concentrations in Clinical Mental Health Counseling or School Counseling, preparing them for professional service in educational, clinical, and community settings.
Bringing Catholic Counseling Education to the Southwest
The Photina Center began offering educational opportunities at the university’s Phoenix campus in Fall 2026, including coursework for its Catholic Anthropology Certificate. With the recent state approval, the university can now offer in-person graduate counseling coursework at the center, expanding opportunities for students seeking professional preparation within a Catholic educational environment.
Scott Lefor, who has helped guide the university’s educational initiatives in Phoenix, says the approval advances a vision that extends beyond earning a graduate degree.
“From our founding, the University of Mary has focused on developing well-prepared, faith-filled professionals in service of the Church. Our Master of Science (MS) in Counseling program has earned a strong reputation for forming competent, qualified mental health professionals, and we’re proud to be accredited through the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), the gold-standard in accreditation for this sort of program,” Lefor said.
The blended format is designed to accommodate working professionals and other students balancing academic, personal, and professional responsibilities. With year-round enrollment, students can complete the master’s program in approximately two years.
Dr. Christina Jurekovic, chair of the university’s Graduate Counseling Program, says the approval represents an important step toward making the university’s distinctive approach to counselor education more accessible.
“This approval allows us to bring together the professional standards of a nationally accredited counseling program and the richness of Catholic teaching in a way that directly serves students in the Phoenix area,” Jurekovic said. “Our goal is to prepare counselors who are clinically competent, deeply attentive to the dignity of every person, and equipped to respond to the complex mental health needs of the individuals and communities they will serve.”
A Growing Center for Catholic Mental Health Education
Named for Saint Photina, the Samaritan woman whose encounter with Christ at the well is recounted in the Gospel of John, the center reflects the university’s commitment to education that recognizes the dignity and wholeness of the human person.
In addition to its master’s degree program, the Photina Center offers the Catholic Anthropology Certificate, which explores the Catholic understanding of the human person and its implications for mental health care and ministry. The center also seeks to foster collaboration among students, alumni, faculty, counselors, and other professionals committed to strengthening mental health services throughout the region.
That mission will be further advanced through the inaugural Catholic Counseling & Mental Health Ministry Summit, scheduled for February 22–23, 2027, in Phoenix. The gathering will bring together professionals and ministry leaders to explore approaches to mental health care informed by Catholic teaching, including whole-person care and suicide prevention.
“The University of Mary is proud to serve the Church. We hope that the Photina Center will grow into a community of scholars here, bringing together current students, alumni, faculty, and well-formed mental health professionals who are able to build on so many of the strong mental health foundations already present in the Valley,” Lefor said.
Applications Open for 2027
Prospective students may apply now for the Photina Center’s blended Master of Science in Counseling program. The application deadline for spring 2027 enrollment is December 4, 2026. Additional application deadlines are April 5, 2027, for summer enrollment and August 17, 2027, for fall enrollment.
For more information about the Photina Center for Catholic Counseling, its graduate programs, and application opportunities, visit online.umary.edu/Photina.
