Graduate Counseling Curriculum and Course Information
The Graduate Counseling Program is a 60 semester hour CACREP-accredited Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. The curriculum meets educational requirements for professional licensure in accordance with the regulations of the Virginia Board of Counseling and many other licensing jurisdictions in the United States.
Curriculum Focus
Our curriculum includes study in the areas of professional identity and ethics, counseling theories, group counseling, counseling techniques, psychopathology, assessment and evaluation, career development, human growth and development, multicultural counseling, counseling research and program evaluation, addictions counseling, crisis counseling, counseling children and adolescents, marriage and family counseling, and supervised clinical work in practicum and internship settings.
Our curriculum uniquely offers courses in advanced psychopathology and advanced multicultural counseling, as well as training in supervision and consultation. Common elective course offerings include courses in the neurobiology of trauma and mindfulness in psychotherapy.
To graduate, the student will have met all course requirements with a minimum GPA of 3.00, obtained satisfactory internship references, met program assessment criteria for competency, and obtained the formal approval of the faculty for graduation.
Curriculum Details
Full-time students should be able to complete the program in three years. We recommend that students follow the three year curriculum plan, although an intensive two year curriculum plan is also available.
Course Schedules
Course Descriptions
COUN 507 Professional Identity, Function & Ethics 3SH
This course addresses counselor professional identity formation, ethical and legal
issues related to the practice of professional counseling, and components of sound
ethical decision making. Students will explore development of their own personal counselor
identity formation. Within this course students will be introduced to the counseling
profession and given opportunity to examine current ethical and legal issues related
to the practice of professional counseling. The course will provide students with
an overview of the historical development of counseling as a profession, discussion
of counselor licensure, and an overview of major professional organizations, specialties
and credentialing options available to mental health professionals. Discussion of
professional mental health codes of ethics relevant to counselors will assist students
to explore and articulate the process of ethical decision making within the context
of professional counseling.
Syllabus (PDF)
COUN 508 Counseling Techniques 3SH
An intensive practical experience in the arts of forming a counseling relationship.
Personal feedback on interpersonal interactions and supervision of videotaped interviewing
are used to help the student attain competency in the wise use of techniques in the
counseling encounter and the counseling relationship.
Syllabus (PDF)
COUN 509 Supervision and Consultation 3SH
This course provides an exploration of the theory and practice of counseling supervision
and consultation, including models, techniques, process, case conceptualization, ethical
issues, multicultural competency, and legal considerations. The format of this course
will combine lecture, class discussion, and experiential activities. The course will
only be offered to advanced students, those students who have completed a counseling
practicum and are currently enrolled in counseling internship, and will be paired
with COUN 508 Counseling Techniques, which is offered to beginning students, to facilitate
and experiential learning process between the two classes. Students will also use
their internship placement site as an opportunity to experience supervision and consultation.
Syllabus (PDF)
COUN 517 Human Growth and Developmental 3SH
This course provides an advanced overview of current research and theory on life-span
human development, and will enhance students’ understanding of significant developmental
changes that occur over the life span. Emphasis will be placed on standard physical,
cognitive, emotional, and social development as well as on issues such as diversity
and socialization in relation to perceptions of human development. Professional, clinical,
legal, and ethical issues will also be addressed.
Syllabus (PDF)
COUN 518 Integrated Counseling Process 3SH
This course provides an overview of various approaches to working with clients emphasizing
emotion theory and the role of empathic attunement in healing. Class sessions and
readings will explore the interpersonal therapy process and demonstrate various ways
to implement experiential techniques in therapy. Students will work to further define
their theory and use this to apply a variety of counseling approaches and techniques.
Each student will construct a research paper that integrates their theoretical approach
with techniques, interventions and applicable counseling approaches. Class sessions
will emphasize experiential exercises, technique based role-plays and skill enhancement
group praxis. Students are encouraged to take risks and develop their personal style
in applying experiential methods in treatment.
Syllabus (PDF)
COUN 527 Psychopathology 3SH
This course will provide an overview of psychopathology and treatment planning with
an emphasis on children and adolescents. An interactive, developmental perspective
for conceptualizing psychopathology as well as resilience will be employed. In particular,
the influence of development, neurobiological mechanisms, and contextual features
on the emergence, exacerbation, and alleviation of psychopathology will be discussed.
Contemporary diagnostic and treatment issues will be critically reviewed.
Syllabus (PDF)
COUN 528 Practicum 3SH
The practicum experience is designed to give beginning students in counseling the
opportunity to put into practice the skills and knowledge that they are developing
throughout their counseling program. Prerequisites: COUN 507, COUN 508.
Syllabus (PDF)
COUN 530 Advanced Psychopathology 2SH
Advanced psychopathology works to build skills in integrating theory with diagnosis
and intervention planning by looking at treatment of key diagnostic categories through
a number of theoretical lenses, emphasizing evidence-based practices but also providing
support for alternative approaches.
Syllabus (PDF)
COUN 536 Counseling Research and Program Evaluation 3SH
This course will offer an overview of the research methods used in counseling and
program evaluation. Students will gain experience with literature databases, research
ethics, research methodologies, basic statistics and statistical software such as
SPSS, and communicating research findings, and proposing research to an Institutional
Review Board.
Syllabus (PDF)
COUN 547 Counseling Theories 3SH
This course is designed to provide students with an overview of central theories of
counseling and psychotherapy. Key counseling theory concepts are introduced through
readings, lecture, videos and small group exercises. Students will become familiar
with the central tenets of each theory and engage in practical application and skill
development exercises. Co-requisite: COUN 507.
Syllabus (PDF)
COUN 557 Assessment and Evaluation Procedures 3SH
This course provides an overview of various approaches to assessment and procedures
for evaluation. Special emphasis is given to counseling decision-making, and treatment
planning. Theoretical and applied material will be integrated in order to provide
the student with an understanding of the context of assessment and evaluation. Emphasis
will be placed on equipping students to understand technical terms in professional
journals, test manuals, and test reports.
Syllabus (PDF)
COUN 567 Group Counseling 3SH
The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the theory and practice of
group counseling. The course will provide information about and training in establishing,
leading, and evaluating counseling groups of various types. Within this course students
will explore different theoretical approaches to counseling groups, basic principles
of group dynamics which include leadership tasks, group developmental stages, and
member roles. Consideration will be given to ethical, legal, and professional issues
as well as special needs such as multiculturalism, life-span development concerns,
and the therapist’s personal leadership style.
Syllabus (PDF)
COUN 587 Crisis Counseling 2SH
This course is designed to introduce students to basic crisis intervention strategies.
The course
addresses fundamental crisis intervention theory and offers practical applications
in various crisis
situations. Students will explore various assessment, intervention and crisis treatment
issues.
Special emphasis will be placed on the impact of trauma on the individual, family
and
community. Students will engage in crisis intervention role-plays and practice applying
specific
interventions in crisis scenarios. Each student will engage in researching and compiling
a
comprehensive community resource guide for the local community.
Syllabus (PDF)
COUN 607 Multicultural Counseling 3SH
Multiculturalism is both an intellectual movement and an ethical imperative within
the counseling and psychology fields. This course provides an introduction to multicultural
knowledge, skills and awareness that will support your work with clients. Through
activities, discussion, reading and media, you will be exposed to both the theoretical
movements in multiculturalism, develop skills for working with clients who differ
from you. You will also explore your own values, beliefs and cultural identity and
make connections to how these aspects of your personhood influence your relationship
and intervention with clients.
Syllabus (PDF)
COUN610 Advanced Multicultural Counseling 2SH
Multiculturalism is both an intellectual movement and an ethical imperative within
the professional fields of counseling and psychology. This course provides advanced
multicultural knowledge, skills and awareness that will support your work with clients.
Through activities, discussion, reading and media, you will be exposed to the theoretical
movements in multiculturalism and develop skills for working with clients who differ
from you. You will also explore your own values, beliefs and cultural identity and
make connections to how these aspects of your personhood influence your relationship
and intervention with clients.
Syllabus (PDF)
COUN 617 Counseling Children and Adolescents 2SH
Children and adolescents have very distinct needs, their own ways of communicating
and of understanding and navigating the world. This two credit course provides an
introduction to counseling theories, interventions and assessments appropriate for
children and adolescents. An emphasis will be placed on the principles and practice
of play therapy. Course participants will also identify special populations and issues
for further exploration.
Syllabus (PDF)
COUN 627 Marriage and Family Counseling 3SH
This course provides an overview of marital and family counseling from a systems perspective.
A survey of the predominant systems theories essential in working with couples and
families will be presented. Special emphasis is given to evidence based treatments
and the current research on attachment theory and the role of attachment in couple
and family distress. Students will become familiar with attachment issues, working
from an emotion focused perspective and gain proficiency in assessment and intervention.
Students will engage in learning exercises and role-plays in order to facilitate application
of course content. Each student will construct a personal family genogram and engage
in analyzing their family using a systems approach and use case conceptualization
and treatment planning from various theories.
Syllabus (PDF)
COUN 637 Career Development 3SH
Students will be introduced to career development recognizing the importance and uniqueness
of various facets of career counseling. Emphasis is given to developmental considerations
and the role of testing, educational and career development program planning and implementation.
Technology-based career development applications and strategies will be explored.
The interrelationships among and between work, family and other life role factors
will be considered with a special emphasis on gender, diversity and working with specific
populations. Legal and ethical issues will be discussed as well as issues of personal
faith and values.
Syllabus (PDF)
COUN 677 Independent Studies
This refers to studies of specific issues or areas not covered by any of the standard
offerings. These studies may be requested by the student or suggested by an instructor.
Approval by the instructor and the director is required. Methodology may involve assigned
readings, written reports or any other methods the supervising instructor chooses.
A student should have credit for three courses and must qualify academically for independent
study in the judgment of the director before approval is granted. A limited number
of hours in independent study will be applied toward a degree.
COUN 688 Summer Internship 2SH
The elective summer internship experience is designed to give advanced students in
counseling the opportunity to put into practice the skills and knowledge they have
developed throughout their counseling program. Students will meet weekly for twelve
weeks to review cases, discussing areas of growth and present specific theory, intervention
and technique questions. The student may select an internship site from a variety
of supervised field experiences in mental health related settings.
688 Syllabus (PDF)
COUN 689/690 Internship 3SH
The internship experience is designed to give advanced students in counseling the
opportunity to put into practice the skills and knowledge they have developed throughout
their counseling program. Students will meet weekly to review cases, discussing areas
of growth and present specific theory, intervention and technique questions. The student
may select an internship site from a variety of supervised field experiences in mental
health related settings. Minimum of 600 counseling hours. Prerequisite: Admission
to Internship.
689 Syllabus (PDF)
690 Syllabus (PDF)
COUN 697 Addictions Counseling 3SH
This course is designed to help the student understand the personal, social, emotional,
physiological, and environmental factors related to addictions, with the main emphasis
on chemical addictions. Student will be exposed to the varied aspects and challenges
involved in the evaluations, diagnosis and treatment process of addiction, as well
as, the specific qualities and efforts of the main mood altering drugs. This course
will also look at the many professional, ethical, and legal issues unique to the field
of addictions counseling.
Syllabus (PDF)
COUN 698 Mindfulness & Psychotherapy 1SH
This course will provide a foundation for the use of mindfulness, meditation and mindful
self-compassion and their applications in therapy. The course will be built on three
primary pillars: personal practice of mindfulness and meditation, an understanding
of the applications and populations with which one can use mindfulness and meditation
in therapy, and skill-building through enactments and role play. Students participating
in this course can expect to gain a breadth of mindfulness, meditation and self-compassion
practices for use in therapy as well as exposure to the theory and research that supports
these practices.
Syllabus (PDF)
COUN699 Section A Topics: Neurobiology of Trauma 1SH
This course will provide a foundational understanding of the neurobiology of the human
stress response and will explore neuroscience as it applies to psychosocial stress,
resilience, and the cultivation of well-being. Various heuristics of the brain and
central nervous system will be presented. The course will present the frame of Interpersonal
Neurobiology as an integrative method of applying neurobiological principles in the
field.
Syllabus (PDF)
COUN699 Section B Topics: Psychodynamic Psychotherapy 1SH
This course provides a practical introduction to the theory and core skills of interpersonal-relational
psychodynamic psychotherapy. Special attention will be given to the role of case formulation
and intervention strategies to foster the skill of being deliberate in practice. At
the end of the course, students can expect to have an introductory working knowledge
of core concepts in interpersonal-relational psychodynamic theory and requisite techniques.
Syllabus (PDF)
