How one Concordia learner is discerning vocation through faith, compassion and community.
For many adult learners in CUW’s professional counseling program, the decision to pursue counseling is more than a career choice. It is a calling. For Rachel Morton ’11, ’16, pursuing a degree in professional counseling was not simply about professional advancement. It was about responding faithfully to a call that had been taking shape for years.
Currently serving as assistant worship director at St. John’s Lutheran Church in West Bend, Wisconsin, Morton has long walked alongside people in moments of joy, struggle and spiritual reflection. Over time, that work revealed something deeper stirring within her.
“I decided to pursue a degree in counseling because I have a drive to help people live whole, abundant lives right where they are,” she said. “Some people just need someone to walk with them.”
Led by God
With a path shaped by prayer, discernment and trusted community, Morton began to sense God’s gentle nudges.
“It started to feel more like shoving,” she said, smiling. “I spent a lot of time in prayer and talking with mentors and close friends. Their response was always, ‘It’s about time.’ That felt like confirmation.”
What began as a growing sense of calling soon became a clear next step, rooted in faith, service and vocation. Her decision to pursue graduate studies at Concordia felt both familiar and grounded.
“I chose Concordia for graduate studies for pretty much the same reason I did for my undergraduate work,” she explained. “Something about the community here, especially within the program, just felt right.”
That sense of belonging is a defining part of the counseling experience at CUW. Learners consistently point to strong faculty relationships, peer support and a shared commitment to faith-informed practice.
A way of being
At the heart of Morton’s formation as a counselor is Concordia’s emphasis on compassion — not as a concept, but as a lived practice.
“Concordia is preparing me to embody who I am,” she said. “I care about people physically and mentally, but I also care about them spiritually.”
She traces her understanding of compassion directly to Scripture.
“When Jesus healed people, Scripture says He was moved with compassion,” Morton reflected. “I’ve always thought of compassion as empathy in action. That’s something Concordia does well — preparing us to live that out.”
This integrated approach equips learners to serve clients holistically, honoring each person’s story, dignity and humanity.
It’s a puzzle
Balancing graduate school with professional and ministry responsibilities requires flexibility — something Morton values deeply in CUW’s counseling program.
“A day in the life looks different from week to week,” she said. “I loved my in-person courses and wish all of them could be that way, but when you’re working while going through school, that’s not always possible.”
The program’s online components allow learners to remain engaged academically while meeting the realities of work, ministry and family life.
“It’s about making it all fit,” Morton added. “I’m very grateful for the flexibility the program offers.”
Walking with others
Through rigorous coursework, faith-centered formation and a supportive learning environment, CUW’s professional counseling program is preparing Morton to step confidently into service-driven work.
For her, the journey is about more than earning a degree. It is about answering God’s call to walk alongside others with compassion, wisdom and hope.
For more information on counseling, read “Finding meaning in the counseling profession: From inspiration to vocation.”
Want in?
Concordia University Wisconsin is a Lutheran higher education community committed to helping students develop in mind, body and spirit for service to Christ in the Church and the world. Learn more about CUW’s professional counseling pathways, explore program options, or connect with an admissions counselor to discern whether this next step is right for you. Whether you are beginning to explore counseling or ready to move forward, Concordia is here to walk with you.