Claudio Andrés Cáceres Araya joins as an embedded counselor, enhancing well-being with student-focused therapy services.
The Gillings School is excited to welcome Claudio Andrés Cáceres Araya, MSW, LCSW, who provides therapy services to students at the Gillings School as part of UNC’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) Embedded Counselor Program.
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.
It’s an honor to be a counselor at UNC. 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.
Cáceres is excited for his new position as an embedded counselor because he is highly accessible for Gillings students, both in terms of proximity and availability, and he is 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.
Learn more about the embedded counselor program.
