Claudio Andrés Cáceres Araya joins Gillings community as embedded counselor
August 22, 2024
Claudio Andrés Cáceres Araya
Claudio Andrés Cáceres Araya, MSW, LCSW, provides therapy services to students at the Gillings School of Global Public Health as part of UNC’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) Embedded Counselor Program. He started in the role on August 5.
Cáceres was born and raised in Santiago, Chile, and moved to the United States in 2009. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, he has worked with diverse communities and organizations in both countries. He has practiced clinical social work since 2014, including working with the University of North Carolina-Greensboro Counseling and Psychological Services for several years.
In addition to his experience working as a therapist with university students, Cáceres earned his Master of Social Work from the UNC School of Social Work in 2013, which provided him with a firsthand perspective of being a student at UNC-Chapel Hill.
Cáceres is excited for his new position as an embedded counselor because he will be highly accessible for Gillings students, both in terms of proximity and availability, and he will be able to understand and focus on the specific needs and concerns of Gillings students.
Students can make appointments with Cáceres by reaching out to him via email (caceresa@unc.edu), with the choice of remote or in-person appointments depending on individual preference. He is a generalist counselor, which allows him to work with students on a wide range of issues, and he offers services in both Spanish and English. Furthermore, Cáceres can work with students in an ongoing capacity or can refer students to other therapists, depending on each student’s needs.
“It’s an honor to be a counselor at UNC,” Cáceres says. “I can help out students just like people helped me in the past. Everyone is welcome to come to me — this is ultimately a safe space for all students. I’m eager to get to know people here at Gillings so that we can work together as a team.”
Outside of his work, Cáceres enjoys soccer, outdoor activities, and playing with his kids and pets.
Students can get to know Cáceres better at an upcoming Meet the Counselor session on Friday, Sept. 13, from noon to 1 p.m. in 133 Rosenau Hall.
Scroll to the “Counseling” section on the Gillings School’s Student Resources webpage to learn more about the embedded counseling program.
Contact the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health communications team at sphcomm@unc.edu.
