School Counseling (M.A.)
Faculty
Dr. Brigid Noonan, Dean of the School of Nursing and Health Professions (Interim Program Chair)
Dr. Deneen Robin, Assistant Professor and Director of Clinical Training
Dr. Cynthia Greer, Associate Professor of Counseling
Dr. Luane Oprea, Associate Professor of Counseling
Dr. Rosanna Sanchez-John, Assistant Professor of Counseling
Dr. Lenese Stephens, Assistant Professor of Counseling
Description
The School Counseling degree results in a Master of Arts degree (M.A.) in School Counseling. This 60-credit School Counseling program prepares individuals for careers as counselors in elementary and secondary schools. The School Counseling program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), and meets state certification requirements of the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia. Students seeking school counselor certification in other states should consult the appropriate certification offices in those jurisdictions.
The School Counseling program consists of required courses, laboratory and field experiences, and a comprehensive exam. Students’ programs are planned in consultation with their faculty advisor; prior experiences and professional goals are considered. Learning experiences emphasize the integration of theoretical knowledge with professional practice in a supervised setting. Attention is given to understanding ethical, multicultural, socioeconomic, and developmental issues.
Graduates from Trinity’s school counseling degree program are qualified to provide individual and group counseling; implement assessment and consultation services; and develop, direct, and evaluate data-driven comprehensive counseling services. School counselors understand the impact adverse childhood experiences have on students’ academic achievement and social/emotional development. The program integrates pedagogical approaches and activities that prepare graduates for trauma-informed practices in school counseling.
Degree Requirements (60 credits)
Required Orientation
COUN 607 Orientation: Tools for Graduate SchoolOrientation to the graduate program in counseling at Trinity Washington University. Topics include the program?s mission, handbooks, and policies; an overview of the counseling professions and professional dispositions; the counseling curriculum, clinical sequence preparation, and APA writing style; cultural and social justice issues in diverse communities; and counseling employment opportunities and careers.
Required Foundational Courses (51 credits)
COUN 510 Human Grwth & Dev Across LifeSurveys the physical, cognitive, emotional, and social factors in human development from conception to death and the contextual factors influencing each, broadening understanding of human growth and development across the lifespan. Theoretical, practical, and research perspectives will be examined as they apply to the profession of counseling.
3 Credits
Prerequisites: None
COUN 535 Introduction to CounselingThis course is designed as one of the initial courses for those candidates with a concentration in Clinical Mental Health Counseling or in School Counseling. The primary purpose of the course is for candidates to gain an overview of the counseling profession by conducting an in-depth examination of mental health/professional counseling as a helping profession. This examination will occur through readings, class discussion, and experiential activities. In the course candidates will examine: historical, philosophical and social/political influences on contemporary mental health/professional counseling practice and the future of mental health/professional counseling a s a helping profession; professional organizations to which profession al counselors belong, the settings in which they practice, and the roles of mental health/professional counselors in those settings; credentialing and licensing for mental health/professional counseling practice; and knowledge bases critical to mental health counseling including evidence-based practice.
3 credits
COUN 538 Career and Lifestyle DevelopmentExamines theories of career development through the life span. Topics include: employment trends, career exploration and decision making, lifestyle planning, placement and career counseling programs, clients at different developmental levels in a variety of settings, and strategies that address the needs of a culturally diverse population. Students obtain hands-on experience with computer-based and other career assessment tools and sources of occupational and educational information.
3 credits
COUN 540 Principles and Theories of CounselingExamines the history, philosophy, practices, and principles of the counseling profession, including the professional roles and functions and the application to various settings, populations, and problems. Topics include current issues and trends, advocacy, ethical and legal standards, professional organizations, credentialing, and technological advances in counseling. The course reviews the major affective, cognitive, and behavioral theories of counseling and psychotherapy, including historical foundations and applications. Current models of counseling are reviewed and students begin to develop a personal model of counseling. A grade of B or higher is required to advance.
3 credits
COUN 544 Principles and Techniques of AssessmentExamines purposes, concepts, procedures, and techniques of educational, vocational, and psychological assessment. Emphasis is on the integration of assessment information into the counseling and placement processes, ethical and legal considerations, and use of tests with special needs and culturally diverse populations. Basic principles of measurement, statistical concepts, and practice in selection, administration, scoring, and interpretation of tests are examined and evaluated for application, population, and cultural competence.
3 credits
Prerequisites: COUN 540 and COUN 560
COUN 547 Counseling and the Group ProcessReviews theories, research, and techniques of group counseling and psychotherapy involving both didactic and experiential learning modes. Application of theory to practice in school, work, mental health, and other counseling settings with varied client populations is stressed. Laboratory sessions provide opportunities for group participation and co-leading under faculty supervision. A grade of B or higher is required to advance.
3 credits
Prerequisites: COUN 540 and COUN 560
COUN 550 Multicultural CounselingExplores practical and theoretical issues of counseling individuals, couples, groups, and families from diverse cultural backgrounds. Emphasis is on development of attitudes, values, and skills which promote effective interpersonal relations and counseling across cultures. Consideration is given to the impact of historical, social, and political forces on the behavior of the individual.
3 credits
COUN 553 Alcohol and Substance AbuseExamines various approaches to treating alcohol and substance abuse, factors which increase susceptibility, models of therapeutic intervening, referral sources, and educational and preventative strategies.
3 credits
Prerequisite: COUN 540 and COUN 560
COUN 555 Counseling Children and AdolescentsExamines the theories and methods of counseling interventions with children and adolescents, with emphasis on systems theories and the impact of family, school, and community. Topics include analyzing and remediating classroom-related problems, recognizing serious disorders in early stages, consulting with professional staff and families, play therapy, parent education strategies, and community referral.
3 credits
Prerequisites: COUN 540 and COUN 560
COUN 557 Introduction to Family TherapyExplores research and techniques of family systems theory as a framework for understanding family dynamics and the methods of intervention in family therapy.
3 credits
Prerequisites: COUN 540 and COUN 560
COUN 560 Techniques of CounselingProvides an introduction to specific counseling skills used by the various counseling models across the major theoretical orientations, including crisis intervention. Emphasized will be the skills and techniques that a counselor uses to establish, maintain, and terminate therapeutic relationships. Student self-awareness, values, and personal/social development are examined. Practice is gained through role-play and video/audio taping. A grade of B or higher is required to advance.
3 credits
Prerequisites: COUN 535 and COUN 540
COUN 561 Principles and Practices of School CounselingExamines the philosophy, history, principles, practices, and current trends of school counseling and educational systems. Topics include the role and functions of school counselors; organizing, administering, and evaluating data-driven programs; advocacy; outreach; prevention and intervention; guidance approaches; consultation; technological competence; and and the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) Mindsets and Behaviors Standards for Student Success.
3 credits
Prerequisite: COUN 540 and COUN 560
COUN 570 Diagnosis and Treatment in CounselingExamines theoretical and cultural perspectives, research, etiology, diagnosis, treatment, referral process and presentation of types of maladjustments, and mental health disorders. Topics include assessment using current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) diagnostic categories, implementation of appropriate therapeutic strategies, psychopharmacological medications, strategies for promotion of optimal mental health, and situational and systemic factors affecting behavior. Treatment Planning includes development of wellness treatment models and culturally relevant interventions.
3 credits
Prerequisites: COUN 540 and COUN 560
COUN 604 Expressive Arts in CounselingThis course examines the theoretical foundation of expressive therapies and their application in the counseling of individuals and groups. Students will be introduced to the study and practice of working with art, dreams, journaling, music, movement, poetry, bibliotherapy, psychodrama, and play as counseling approaches. This course provides both didactic and experimental learning.
3 credits
Prerequisites: COUN 540 and COUN 560
COUN 605 Ethical, Legal, and Professional IssuesExamines ethical and legal issues in counseling. Codes of ethics, confidentiality, and legal considerations are explored. Emphasis is on professional orientation, responsibility, and ethical decision-making. Professional credentialing and current professional issues are also studied. A grade of B or higher is required to advance.
3 credits
Prerequisite: COUN 540 and COUN 560
COUN 606 Trauma & Crisis Intervention in CounselingThis course is designed to introduce candidates to the impact of crises, disasters and other trauma causing events on individuals, families, and communities. Candidates will have opportunities for both theory and skill development by examining crisis and trauma counseling, including crisis theory; multidisciplinary responses to crises, emergencies, or disasters; cognitive, affective, behavioral, and neurological effects associated with trauma; brief, intermediate and long-term approaches; assessment strategies for clients in crisis and principles of intervention for individuals with mental or emotional disorders during times of crisis, emergency, or natural, man-made, and technological disasters. Topics such as Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), Trauma-informed, and Trauma-responsive will be addressed in the course. Finally, candidates will review issues affecting counselors working with trauma populations and self-care strategies to prevent compassion fatigue.
Formerly titled as Loss and Bereavement Counseling
COUN 608 Research in CounselingExamines qualitative and quantitative research methodologies for candidates in the Clinical Mental Health and School Counseling programs, under current CACREP standards. Candidates will understand the importance of research in advancing the counseling profession and will learn to read, analyze and interpret evidence-based counseling/mental health research. Topics include characteristics of a research study, development of outcome measures for counseling programs, principles of program evaluation and accountability, statistical methods used in counseling/mental health research, and more. This course is trauma informed and writing intensive: candidates will gain knowledge of current trauma-informed research and, in developing a research topic, will improve their writing and research skills. *3 credits *Counseling students only
Field Experience (9 credits, 700 hours total)
COUN 633 Practicum in School CounselingPracticum is the first course of three in the clinical sequence leading to a School Counseling Master's degree. Candidates begin to accrue 100 direct and indirect hours towards the overall goal of 700 direct and indirect hours in counseling students and groups of students in elementary, middle, and secondary schools for school counseling experience. Emphasis is placed on development and increasing interpersonal and professional effectiveness, application of appropriate evidence-based counseling theory/techniques, observation, consultation, ethical and legal issues, and the performance of the duties of a professional school counselor in line with CACREP and ASCA standards. On-site, classroom, individual, and group supervised hours are required. Off-site supervised individual and group hours are accrued at a site chosen in concert with the Director of Clinical Training and consistent with the student's chosen field and professional interests. Students must take and pass the Praxis II for School Counselors during Practicum to graduate from the program. A grade of B or higher in the Clinical Sequence of School Counseling is required to advance.
3 credits
Prerequisites: Completion of core courses.
Application must be made one semester prior to enrollment.
COUN 646 Internship in School Counseling IInternship I is the second course of three in the clinical sequence leading to a School Counseling Master's degree. Candidates continue to accrue 300 direct and indirect hours towards the overall goal of 700 direct and indirect hours in counseling students and groups of students in elementary, middle, and secondary schools for school counseling experience. Emphasis is placed on the next stage of development skills in school counseling in the areas of effectiveness, integration, and application of theory/techniques and interventions, observation, consultation, ethical and legal issues, and performance of the duties of a professional school counselor in line with CACREP and ASCA standards. On-site, classroom, individual, and group supervised hours are required. Off-site supervised individual and group hours are accrued at a site chosen in concert with the Director of Clinical Training and consistent with the student's chosen field and professional interests. A grade of B or higher is required to advance.
3 credits
Prerequisites: Completion of core courses and COUN 633. Application must be made one semester prior to enrollment.
COUN 648 Internship in School Counseling IIInternship II is the third course of three in the clinical sequence leading to a School Counseling Master's degree. Candidates continue to accrue 300 direct and indirect hours towards the overall goal of 700 direct and indirect hours in counseling students and groups of students in elementary, middle, and secondary schools for school counseling experience. Emphasis is placed on the next stage of developmental skills in school counseling in the areas of effectiveness, integration, and application of theory/techniques and interventions, observation, consultation, ethical and legal issues, and performance of the duties of a professional school counselor in line with CACREP and ASCA standards. On-site, classroom, individual, and group supervised hours are required. Off-site supervised individual and group hours are accrued at a site chosen in concert with the Director of Clinical Training and consistent with the student's chosen field and professional interests. A grade of B or higher is required to advance.
3 credits
Prerequisites: Completion of core courses and COUN 646. Application must be made one semester prior to enrollment.