Counseling Specialities

Addiction Counseling – Addiction Counseling programs prepare graduates to work with persons and families affected by alcohol, drugs, gambling, sexual and other addictive disorders (e.g., food-related).  These programs focus on models of treatment, prevention, recovery, and relapse prevention of addiction, along with the appropriate application of appropriate interventions.  Graduates of Addiction Counseling programs may choose to work in private practice or may work in a variety of community agencies offering counseling services for substance abuse.

Career Counseling – Career Counseling programs prepare graduates to help persons wanting to make career decisions and explore the intersection of their education, skills, interests, and personality to determine and plan for possible career paths.  Career counselors often make use of inventories and other assessment tools to assist persons in making decisions.  Career counselors may work in a variety of settings from private practice, to career resource centers or employee assistance programs associated with specific industries or organizations.

Clinical Mental Health Counseling – Clinical Mental Health Counseling programs prepare graduates to work with clients across a spectrum of mental and emotional disorders, as well as to promote mental health and wellness.  Clients may be seen individually, in couples, families, or group settings. Clinical Mental Health Counselors are knowledgeable in the principles and practices of diagnosis, treatment, referral and prevention and often work in interdisciplinary teams with other health professionals (e.g., psychiatrists, social workers, MDs).  Employment opportunities may include private practice, community-based mental health centers, hospitals and other treatment centers.

Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling – Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling programs prepare graduates to help persons with cognitive, physical, sensory, psychiatric, and other disabilities work through a variety of mental health issues and provide treatment of mental disorders, including co-occurring disorders. They are knowledgeable in the principles and practices of clinical counseling including assessment, diagnosis, treatment, referral, and prevention. Clinical rehabilitation counselors may work in a variety of settings including private practice, community-based mental health facilities, substance treatment facilities, schools, hospitals and/or other treatment centers.

Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling – Graduates of Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling programs have been prepared to work with individuals, couples and families from a family systems perspective across a variety of mental and emotional disorders, relationship issues, or communication issues. They also work in a variety of settings including inpatient facilities, community mental health centers, private practice offices, and social service agencies.

Rehabilitation Counseling – Rehabilitation Counseling programs prepares graduates to work collaboratively with individuals with disabilities, their support systems, and their environments to achieve their personal, social, psychological, and vocational goals. Graduates are prepared to maximize levels of independence, integration and participation of all individuals with disabilities through the use of counseling, technology, advocacy, support, and the development and application of services that eliminate barriers to their clients’ development. Rehabilitation counselors may work in a variety of settings including rehabilitation facilities, hospitals, universities, schools, and/or government agencies.

School Counseling – School Counseling programs prepare graduates to work with students ranging from kindergarten through high school. School counselors are prepared to promote the academic, career, and personal/social development of all K-12 students through understanding how to design and implement comprehensive school guidance and counseling programs that include time for individual counseling, group counseling, classroom guidance, family and teacher consultations within the school setting. School counselors work with in both private and public school systems at the elementary, middle, and high school levels.

College Counseling and Student Affairs – College Counseling and Student Affairs programs prepare students to assume a variety of positions in higher education and student affairs offices after graduation. Such positions might include working at a college’s or university’s housing and residential life office, assisting with management activities at a student union, offering student leadership activities and orientation sessions, or providing counseling, career services, and multicultural support services. Students acquire a strong professional counseling knowledge base including: history of the profession, philosophy, ethics, theory and assessment, while simultaneously learning about the culture of higher education, its organizational dynamics, and administrative structure to enable them to provide leadership in student development issues and policy-making in student affairs.

Counselor Education and Supervision – Doctoral degree programs in Counselor Education and Supervision are intended to prepare graduates to work as counselor educators, supervisors, researchers, and practitioners in academic and clinical settings. A doctorate in counselor education and supervision includes CACREP foundational curricular standards and CACREP professional practice standards (which are the same standards that are obtained in a CACREP accredited masters degree program). Doctoral students are required to complete internships that total a minimum of 600 hours which include supervised experiences in counseling.