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Counseling Degrees

DEPARTMENT MISSION STATEMENT:

The faculty of the Counselor Education Program is dedicated to educating and training counselor education professionals to function in culturally diverse settings. Lenoir-Rhyne University is located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and has a large urban population; yet, we also serve suburban and rural communities. From this unique vantage point, we recognize the need to address the economic, educational, and social inequalities that prevail in our community. The program acknowledges a commitment both to the students who will pursue preparation as professional counselors and to the larger public served by our graduates, for whom we all share a responsibility. It is due to this commitment that the faculty holds high standards in the process of training professional counselors. As a result, we expect our students to develop a commitment of service to others, and to the pursuit of excellence in the counseling profession.

The programs are designed to provide a challenging, yet supportive environment that promotes professional orientation, development of a counseling identity, practice, commitment to inquiry, and self-awareness. Graduate education in the Counselor Education program is designed to help students realize their potential as practicing counselors and administrators, engage in professional relationships, and develop a set of meaningful professional values. To this end, the program reflects current knowledge from lay and professional groups concerning current and projected counseling and human development needs of a pluralistic society. Cultural considerations are emphasized so that the experiences provided will be rewarding and useful in today's ever-changing society.

The faculty is dedicated to the recruitment, retention, education, and training of diverse counseling professionals. The faculty select, encourage, and retain students in the counselor education specialties who exhibit the potential to become competent counselors and administrators. In order to prepare competent practitioners, the faculty, through a program of planned educational experiences, attempts to assist our students in becoming knowledgeable, ethical, collegial and self-actualizing agents of change. The Counselor Education Program is based on the model that effective counselors must be more than technicians. Rather, they must be professionals who are aware of their personal values, beliefs, and biases, as well as possess vast knowledge and skills related to the profession of counseling. They must be able to analyze, synthesize, and apply their knowledge and skills, utilize research for professional judgments, and assess the effectiveness of their work in order to function as competent, ethical, reflective, practitioner-scientists. The Counselor Education Program seeks to develop such professionals through active learning experiences, course work that covers a variety of content areas, and integrated field experiences that provide counseling services to a wide range of clients/students. Multicultural and diversity issues are integrated throughout the program.

Upon receiving the Master of Arts degree in counseling, students will meet course work requirements for eligibility to take the examination to become a National Board Certified Counselor (NCC) and Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of North Carolina. Students satisfactorily completing the School Counseling program requirements and receiving a passing score on the PRAXIS specialty examination will be eligible for licensure as a school counselor in North Carolina. To apply, click here.

The master's degree is offered in two areas:

Additionally, an Advanced Certificate in Counseling from a Christian Pespective is offered.

The Counseling Graduate Program:

Highlights of the Counseling Program at Lenoir-Rhyne

Strong emphasis on clinical training and application:

  • All faculty members have extensive experience as Licensed Professional Counselors in clinical practice in agencies, private practices, and/or schools
  • All faculty members are Licensed Professional Counselors

Clinical Partnership sites:

  • Public schools provide specialized experiences with children
  • Residential care and assisted living facility provide specialized opportunities in counseling across the life span
  • Rape Crisis Center provides opportunities for group counseling with individuals recovering from the trauma of violence.
  • Various unique clinical community sites
  • Strong emphasis within the counseling program on faculty serving as mentors to students. therefore, faculty are accessible to students.
  • Faculty assist students in the development of a professional portfolio for use in program assessment as well as for licensure and future employment.
  • Diversity in student population provides unique opportunities for peer teaching and learning.

Areas of Specialized Training

  • Counseling military service members and families
  • Counseling victims of violence and trauma
  • Counseling children
  • Counseling couples and families
  • Substance abuse counseling

 

Counseling

 

Everything you need to apply for admission is right here.