School of Counseling

School of Counseling

Welcome to Marymount University’s School of Counseling. I am excited that you are seeking a potential career in the field of counseling. Our School has four separate areas of counseling specialties depending on the setting and populations you want to serve in your career, including an online program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Clinical Mental Health Counseling (with a concentration in Pastoral Clinical Mental Health Counseling), with the first cohort of online students starting in Fall 2022. For information on our programs, reach out to our Graduate Admissions Team at gadmissi@marymount.edu

All of our counseling programs are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation for Counseling Related Educational Programs (CACREP) until 2025. Our school counseling program is also accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

  • M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (60 credits)
  • M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, with a concentration in Pastoral Clinical Mental Health Counseling (60 credits)*
  • ONLINE M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (60 credits)
  • ONLINE M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, with a concentration in Pastoral Clinical Mental Health Counseling (60 credits)*

*The School of Counseling offers a master’s degree in the CACREP-accredited specialty area in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. As part of that program students may complete an emphasis in Pastoral Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Content in the emphasis area (pastoral) does not fall under the scope of CACREP-accreditation and is not reviewed by CACREP.  

  • M.A. School Counseling (60 credits): The School Counseling program is no longer accepting applications as of Fall 2021
  • M.A./M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling/Forensic and Legal Psychology (75 credits): Students are admitted to each program separately per the processes outlined for each of the separate programs and are awarded two separate master’s degrees. Students must take all of the required CMHC classes as outlined in the CMHC program of study. Only the CMHC program is accredited by CACREP. M.A./M.A. students may not be admitted to the online program for CMHC
  • Online Ph.D. Counselor Education and Supervision: Program Starting Fall 2024 (108 credits, 48 credits may be transferred in from a CACREP or counseling program): The Ph.D. program will seek CACREP accreditation after the first cohort of students begin in fall 2024

The American Counseling Association Counseling has defined counseling as “a professional relationship that empowers diverse individuals, families, and groups to accomplish mental health, wellness, education, and career goals”. Counselors work with clients and students across the lifespan who may be experiencing developmental, situational, and/or existential issues with mental health symptoms requiring best practice treatment options.  All programs provide the academic requirements and clinical preparation required at the M.A. level for the Licensed Professional Counselor credential.

Students have been drawn to Marymount University’s programs for strong connections with faculty (during and after graduation); current faculty clinical experiences integrated into the classroom; strong service and scholarship opportunities; diverse elective courses; strong multicultural awareness and ethical practices across the curriculum; and optional short-term (9-day) study abroad classes (Italy, Switzerland, Northern Ireland, Greece, Germany, Hungary) to learn about comparative mental health systems and diversity across cultures.

We are excited to share the School of Counseling,  Community Mental Health Counseling Training-Clinic will begin taking clients in January 2023. This FREE clinic will provide training options for MA students under faculty supervision while serving the medically underserved populations and rural areas of the Commonwealth of Virginia. You can access the tabs on the landing page for more information.

We are excited you are interested in the counseling programs at Marymount University. Let us help you towards your career goals where you can make a difference in the lives of so many individuals and families.

Lisa R. Jackson-Cherry, Ph.D., LCPC, NCC, ACS, PCE

News and Announcements

$1.2 million grant will prepare MU Counseling students to serve vulnerable populations. Read more

​Counseling students transition to telehealth while providing mental health services during COVID-19. Read more

CE599C Internship in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Students advocate for the Mental Health Access Improvement Act (H.R.945). Read more

School of Counseling

Click the Link for the 2023 School of Counseling Student Handbook

 

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