Clinical Counseling (M.A.)
Clinical Counseling M.A.
The department offers a 60-credit master's-level degree in Clinical Counseling with two specializations, Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling (CRHBC) or Holistic Clinical Mental Health Counseling (HCMHC), which both meet the academic requirements to apply for Mental Health Counseling licensure in most states. Students should check the state licensure boards where they are interested in applying. CRHBC students are also eligible to apply for a Certification in Rehabilitation Counseling.
Consistent with the mission of Salve Regina University, the M.A. in Clinical Counseling Program is committed to offering a professional program that encourages students to seek wisdom through study and service and to promote universal justice. Our program embodies the five Critical Concerns of the University, which include training counselors to work against racism, promote non-violence, support immigration, seek justice for those who identify as women, and consider how the protection of our earth impacts mental health. The program works to be justice-centered and anti-racist, and we see the value of all human beings through our community-based clinical work and client advocacy.
Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling Specialization
Salve has been teaching Rehabilitation Counseling students since 2004. Students who graduate specializing in Rehabilitation Counseling are eligible to sit for the Certified Rehabilitation Counseling exam. It is the only disability specialist certification globally, with 15,000 certified counselors worldwide. It is a highly desired certification by employers all over the country. The Commission on Rehabilitation Counseling (CRCC) sets the standards of practice for quality rehabilitation counseling services through its internationally recognized certification program.
The objective of the Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling Specialization is to prepare quality rehabilitation counselors for various settings in Rhode Island and throughout the United States by:
- Provide Clinical Rehabilitation Counselors-in-training with an education that stems from a perspective steeped in the eight core areas of the Council for the Association of Counseling and Related Education Programs, specifically the Clinical Rehabilitation and in the American Counseling Association Code of Ethics.
- Instill a strong sense of professional counseling identity in students. Help students gain an appreciation of the rich knowledge base in counselor education.
- Develop student expertise in the skills of counseling.
- Develop personal and professional dispositions that demonstrate appropriate reflective analysis and effective behavior.
- Provide students with the knowledge base needed to sit for the LMHC licensing exam.
- Present a holistic paradigm with which to understand our world, our clients, our work, and ourselves.
- Help students understand and respond to diverse cultures and views in a socially just and equitable manner.
- Follow the Salve Regina Mission to work toward a just and harmonious world.
By completing the 60-credit M.A. in Clinical Counseling program specializing in Clinical Rehabilitation graduates can become eligible for licensure as mental health counselors in the State of Rhode Island and other states. Students must look at individual state licensure laws for the most current qualifications. With the appropriate supervision, CRHBC students can also apply to become Certified Rehabilitation Counselors (CRC).
A Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) designation indicates a higher level of specialized education and training in counseling individuals with co-occurring disabilities and mental health/substance use issues. As a CRC, counselors are required to participate in continuing education of 100 hours every five years to maintain certification and keep current in the field. Graduates of this program who have met these academic standards and have passed the certification exam become CRCs.
To prepare clinically skilled, knowledgeable, and committed rehabilitation counseling professionals, rehabilitation counselors draw on knowledge from several fields, including counseling, psychology, neuropsychology, medicine, psychiatry, sociology, social work, education, and law. The program emphasizes the successful functioning of the whole person, not just dealing with a diagnosis or disability. Students develop the ability to serve persons with a wide array of disability-related and/or mental health problems impacting the individual, the family, and society. They receive their training and work in various clinical settings to develop their clinical and cultural competencies and better understand the influences of multicultural factors.
The CRBHC Specialization offers a curriculum that aligns with the eight (8) core areas of CACREP (2024) accreditation in addition to the Clinical Rehabilitation specialization. Students receive training in professional counseling skills, theories, systems perspectives, professional orientation, psycho-social aspects of disabilities, clinical assessments, appraisal and diagnosis, and trauma-informed counseling. Students complete a 100-hour in-the-field clinical practicum and two 300-hour in-the-field clinical internships.
Holistic Clinical Mental Health Counseling Specialization
The Salve Regina University Holistic Counseling program was established in 1987 and was one of the first programs of its kind. Currently, the M.A. in Clinical Counseling specializing in Holistic Clinical Mental Health Counseling works with students from a holistic, justice-centered, and developmental perspective and prepares students to sit for the licensure exam for Licensed Mental Health Counselors.
The objective of the Holistic Clinical Mental Health Counseling Specialization is to prepare quality counselors for various settings in Rhode Island and throughout the United States through:
- Provide Clinical Mental Health Counselors-in-training with an education that stems from a holistic perspective, steeped in the eight core areas of the Council for the Association of Counseling and Related Education Programs and in the American Counseling Association Code of Ethics.
- Instill a strong sense of professional counseling identity in students. Help students gain an appreciation of the rich knowledge base in counselor education.
- Develop student expertise in the skills of counseling.
- Develop personal and professional dispositions that demonstrate appropriate reflective analysis and effective behavior.
- Provide students with the knowledge base needed to sit for the LMHC licensing exam.
- Present a holistic paradigm with which to understand our world, our clients, our work, and ourselves.
- Help students understand and respond to diverse cultures and views in a socially just and equitable manner.
- Follow the Salve Regina Mission to work toward a just and harmonious world.
By completing the 60-credit M.A. in Clinical Counseling program specializing in Holistic Clinical Mental Health Counseling, graduates can become eligible for licensure as mental health counselors in the State of Rhode Island and other states. Students must look at individual state licensure laws for the most current qualification requirements.
Holistic Mental Health Counselors draw on knowledge from the mental health counseling field, neuroscience, holistic, multicultural studies, gender studies, queer studies, psychology, social work, anti-racist pedagogy, transformative learning, and experiential learning theories. The program trains students to be clinically skilled, knowledgeable mental health counselors focusing on understanding a whole person/whole system perspective. We ask students to integrate self-awareness around issues of intersectionality, privilege, and oppression in all counseling courses to help students understand their impact on clients and the larger system. Students receive training and work in various clinical settings, incrementally increasing their ability to serve individuals, groups, and larger systems. Students are trained to better understand clients and their various systems with respect to multicultural factors, including, but not limited to, ethnicity, race, nationality, religion, sexual and affectional orientation, gender, disability, socioeconomic status, and body size.
The Holistic Counseling Specialization offers a curriculum that aligns with the eight (8) core areas of CACREP (2024) accreditation in addition to the Mental Health Counseling specialization. Students receive training in professional counseling skills, theories, systems perspectives, professional orientation, holistic foundations, mind/body integration, clinical assessments, appraisal and diagnosis, and trauma-informed counseling. Students complete a 100-hour in-the-field clinical practicum and two 300-hour in-the-field clinical internships.
Requirements for the 60-credit Master of Arts in Clinical Counseling – Specialization in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling
(19 courses/60 credits)
This specialization is designed for students who are interested in pursuing a 60-credit master's degree that can lead to certification as a Rehabilitation Counselor and licensure as a mental health counselor with a specialization in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling. Graduates of this Program may be qualified to provide mental health services in federal programs serving veterans and have the capability to obtain clinical mental health professional licensure in other states. Currently, graduates of this Program meet licensure requirements in many states throughout the country.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| COU-500 | Professional Orientation and Ethics | 3 |
| COU-501 | Human Growth and Development | 3 |
| COU-502 | Cultural Equity in Counseling | 3 |
| COU-503 | Theories of Counseling | 3 |
| COU-505 | Trauma Informed Counseling | 3 |
| COU-506 | Research Methods | 3 |
| COU-513 | Working with Intimate Relationships in Counseling | 3 |
| COU-515 | Diagnosis and Treatment Planning | 3 |
| COU-518 | Assessment and Appraisal | 3 |
| COU-526 | Group Process | 3 |
| COU-527 | Career Counseling | 3 |
| COU-535 | Substance Use in Counseling | 3 |
| COU-541 | Capstone: Integrating Meaning Through Action and Advocacy | 3 |
| RHB-504 | Motivational Interviewing | 3 |
| RHB-536 | CBT and DBT Skills | 3 |
| RHB-540 | Medical and Psychosocial Aspects of Chronic Illness and Disability | 3 |
| RHB-550 | Foundations of Rehabilitation Counseling | 3 |
| Total Credits | 51 | |
Clinical Requirements (3 courses/ 9 credits)
Students in the Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling specialization will complete three clinical fieldwork courses. Students will receive 700 hours of clinical training in rehabilitation and mental health settings after completing the three clinical courses. In addition, they will receive 45 hours of clinical supervision in the community and 120 hours of clinical supervision in the classroom. Ethical practices, multicultural competencies, principles and models of bio-psychosocial case conceptualization, and rehabilitation/mental health treatment planning are emphasized through a holistic/whole-person approach to rehabilitation and mental health counseling.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| RHB-522 | Practicum and Seminar | 3 |
| RHB-570 | Internship I and Seminar | 3 |
| RHB-571 | Internship II & Seminar | 3 |
| Total Credits | 9 | |
Certified Rehabilitation Counselor
Students who graduate specializing in Rehabilitation Counseling are eligible to sit for the Certifed Rehabilitation Counseling exam. It is the only disability specialist certification worldwide. It is highly desirable to employers for quality rehabilitation counseling services. A Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) designation indicates a higher level of specialized education and training in counseling individuals with co-occurring disabilities and mental health/substance use issues.
State Licensing Requirements
Based on the State of RI Licensure requirements as of February 2023, RI has a two-tiered licensure system. After completing the 60-credit hours for the master's degree in Clinical Counseling with a specialization in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling, students can apply to take the exam to become a Clinical Mental Health Counselor-Associate. At the second tier of licensure, students complete 2,000 hours of supervised clinical internship by an on-site clinical supervisor who meets the supervisory standards of the Board of Licensure for the state where they intend to practice. No university clinical supervision is required past the 60-credit degree.
It is recommended that students research the specific requirements for a licensed mental health counselor in the state where they intend to practice. Licensing laws and regulations vary across states and can change yearly; specific requirements may also differ. Consequently, the University is not responsible for knowing the requirements of states other than Rhode Island. It is the student's responsibility to know the licensing requirements in the state in which they intend to practice.
Rehabilitation Program Requirements
Students in the 60-credit MA in Clinical Counseling with a specialization in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling are required to engage in all learning activities in ways that are consistent with the current ethical and professional standards of rehabilitation and mental health counselors as published by the CRCC, the American Counseling Association (ACA), and the Program's required disposition standards. Inconsistencies with these standards, as determined by the program director or program faculty, can serve as a basis for dismissal from the Program. The student handbook will provide more detailed information for students.
Requirements for the 60-credit Master of Arts in Clinical Counseling – Specialization in Holistic Clinical Mental Health Counseling
(19 courses/60 credits)
This specialization is designed for students who are interested in pursuing a 60-credit master's degree that can lead to licensure as a mental health counselor with a specialization in Holistic Clinical Mental Health Counseling upon completion of all academic and licensure requirements. Currently, graduates of this Program meet licensure requirements in many states throughout the country.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| COU-500 | Professional Orientation and Ethics | 3 |
| COU-501 | Human Growth and Development | 3 |
| COU-502 | Cultural Equity in Counseling | 3 |
| COU-503 | Theories of Counseling | 3 |
| HLC-504 | Holistic Foundations | 3 |
| COU-505 | Trauma Informed Counseling | 3 |
| COU-506 | Research Methods | 3 |
| HLC-505 | Interpersonal Helping Skills | 3 |
| HLC-507 | The Body Mind Connection | 3 |
| COU-513 | Working with Intimate Relationships in Counseling | 3 |
| COU-515 | Diagnosis and Treatment Planning | 3 |
| COU-518 | Assessment and Appraisal | 3 |
| COU-526 | Group Process | 3 |
| COU-527 | Career Counseling | 3 |
| COU-535 | Substance Use in Counseling | 3 |
| COU-541 | Capstone: Integrating Meaning Through Action and Advocacy | 3 |
| Total Credits | 48 | |
Electives (1 course/3 credits)
Students should speak with their advisor about elective options. Based on advisor approval, students can take electives in other areas within the CLEA department. Approved electives include the following:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HLC-542 | Spirituality and Religion in Counseling | 3 |
| HLC-550 | Advanced Helping Skills | 3 |
| HLC-575 | Healing and Transformation | 2 |
| HLC-578 | Body and Personal Myth: A Jungian Perspective | 3 |
| HLC-579 | Grief Counseling | 2 |
| HLC-581 | Special Topics | 1-3 |
| HLC-587 | Gender and Human Sexuality in Counseling | 3 |
| HLC-588 | Working With Young People | 3 |
| HLC-514 | Foundations of Expressive Arts & Creative Arts As Transformation | 3 |
| RHB-504 | Motivational Interviewing | 3 |
| RHB-536 | CBT and DBT Skills | 3 |
| RHB-550 | Foundations of Rehabilitation Counseling | 3 |
| RHB-603 | Psychopharmacology Mental Health | 3 |
Clinical Requirements (3 courses/ 9 credits)
Students in the Holistic Clinical Mental Health Counseling specialization will complete three courses of clinical fieldwork. Students will have earned 700 hours of clinical training in mental health settings after completing the three clinical courses. In addition, they will receive 45 hours of clinical supervision in the community and 135 hours of clinical supervision in the classroom. Ethical practices, multicultural competencies, principles and models of bio-psychosocial case conceptualization, and mental health treatment planning are emphasized through a systemic approach to viewing holistic mental health counseling.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HLC-551 | Practicum in Counseling | 3 |
| HLC-590 | Internship and Seminar I | 3 |
| HLC-591 | Internship and Seminar II | 3 |
| Total Credits | 9 | |
State Licensing Requirements
Based on the State of RI Licensure requirements as of February 2023, RI has a two-tiered licensure system. After completing the 60-credit hours for the master's degree in Clinical Counseling with a specialization in Holistic Clinical Mental Health Counseling, students can apply to take the exam to become a Clinical Mental Health Counselor-Associate. At the second tier of licensure, students complete 2,000 hours of supervised clinical internship by an on-site clinical supervisor who meets the supervisory standards of the Board of Licensure for the state where they intend to practice. No university clinical supervision is required past the 60-credit degree.
It is recommended that students research the specific requirements for a licensed mental health counselor in the state where they intend to practice. Licensing laws and regulations vary across states and can change yearly; specific requirements may also differ. Consequently, the University is not responsible for knowing the requirements of states other than Rhode Island. It is the student's responsibility to know the licensing requirements for the state in which they intend to practice.
Holistic Clinical Mental Health Counseling Specialization Requirements
Students in the 60-credit MA in Clinical Counseling with a specialization in Holistic Clinical Mental Health Counseling are required to engage in all learning activities in ways that are consistent with the current ethical and professional standards of mental health counselors as published by the American Counseling Association (ACA) and the Program's required disposition standards. Inconsistencies with these standards, as determined by the program director or program faculty, can serve as a basis for dismissal from the Program. The student handbook will provide more detailed information for students.
Degree Plan for Clinical Counseling – Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling Specialization (M.A.)
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| COU-503 | Theories of Counseling | 3 |
| COU-505 | Trauma Informed Counseling | 3 |
| RHB-550 | Foundations of Rehabilitation Counseling | 3 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| COU-500 | Professional Orientation and Ethics | 3 |
| COU-501 | Human Growth and Development | 3 |
| COU-502 | Cultural Equity in Counseling | 3 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Summer | ||
| COU-513 | Working with Intimate Relationships in Counseling | 3 |
| RHB-504 | Motivational Interviewing | 3 |
| RHB-540 | Medical and Psychosocial Aspects of Chronic Illness and Disability | 3 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| COU-515 | Diagnosis and Treatment Planning | 3 |
| COU-526 | Group Process | 3 |
| COU-527 | Career Counseling | 3 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| COU-518 | Assessment and Appraisal | 3 |
| COU-535 | Substance Use in Counseling | 3 |
| COU-506 | Research Methods | 3 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Summer | ||
| RHB-522 | Practicum and Seminar | 3 |
| RHB-536 | CBT and DBT Skills | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| COU-541 | Capstone: Integrating Meaning Through Action and Advocacy | 3 |
| RHB-570 | Internship I and Seminar | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| RHB-571 | Internship II & Seminar | 3 |
| Credits | 3 | |
| Total Credits | 60 | |
Degree Plan for Clinical Counseling – Holistic Clinical Mental Health Counseling Specialization (M.A.)
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| COU-500 | Professional Orientation and Ethics | 3 |
| COU-501 | Human Growth and Development | 3 |
| COU-502 | Cultural Equity in Counseling | 3 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| COU-503 | Theories of Counseling | 3 |
| HLC-504 | Holistic Foundations | 3 |
| HLC-505 | Interpersonal Helping Skills | 3 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Summer | ||
| COU-527 | Career Counseling | 3 |
| HLC-581 | Special Topics | 1-3 |
| Credits | 4-6 | |
| Fall | ||
| COU-513 | Working with Intimate Relationships in Counseling | 3 |
| COU-518 | Assessment and Appraisal | 3 |
| HLC-507 | The Body Mind Connection | 3 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| COU-505 | Trauma Informed Counseling | 3 |
| COU-515 | Diagnosis and Treatment Planning | 3 |
| COU-526 | Group Process | 3 |
| Credits | 9 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Summer | ||
| HLC-551 | Practicum in Counseling | 3 |
| COU-506 | Research Methods | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Fall | ||
| COU-535 | Substance Use in Counseling | 3 |
| HLC-590 | Internship and Seminar I | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| COU-541 | Capstone: Integrating Meaning Through Action and Advocacy | 3 |
| HLC-591 | Internship and Seminar II | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Total Credits | 58-60 | |