About the Profession

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As a student in our program, you are prepared to serve clients who want to improve their wellbeing and achieve their goals. After completing our program, graduates feel confident and motivated to assist clients to enjoy a fulfilling life. Counseling can be a rewarding profession that supports individuals' aspirations while enhancing wellbeing.

Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling (CRC)

Clinical rehabilitation counseling (CRC) is a profession that support individuals with psychiatric, developmental, cognitive, emotional, or physical disabilities to achieve their maximum level of independence, integration, and participation in the community and the world of work in accordance with each individual's personal goals, career aspirations, and perception of quality of life. Certified rehabilitation counselors (CRCs) are employed in a variety of rehabilitation service agencies, transition programs, and advocacy agencies. Students in the program receive training to work with individuals across disability groups, including developmental, psychiatric, physical, and substance-related disabilities.

Training focus 

In addition to foundational counseling coursework, clinical rehabilitation counselors receive specialized to consider the medical, psychosocial, spiritual, family, and environmental impact of disability on the individual's ability to function in the environment of their choice. Special courses in medical and psychosocial aspects of disability, employment, and advanced clinical practices prepare rehabilitation counselors to evaluate and identify individual client needs, develop services, and apply interventions that include adapting the environment and providing needed supports which assist individuals to achieve their optimal functional capacity.

Employment opportunities:

Clinical Rehabilitation counselors work in a number of settings including:

• Private practice, as licensed professional clinical counselors (LPCC)
• Community mental health clinics, substance dependence treatment, and advocacy programs
• Private rehabilitation agencies and insurance-based programs
• Public rehabilitation agencies, e.g. state vocational rehabilitation or community rehabilitation providers
• Correctional facilities and re-entry programs 
• Schools and transition programs
• Hospitals and medical rehabilitation settings
• Examples of employment of recent graduates include:
  • Supported employment in a comprehensive facility
  • Traumatic Brain Injury program
  • Substance abuse treatment facility
  • Public community mental health facility

Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC)

Clinical Mental Health Counseling is a profession that focuses on providing counseling services to individuals experiencing mental, emotional, or behavioral challenges. Counselors support clients in managing life stressors, developing coping strategies, and promoting mental health and wellness. Graduates are trained to work with diverse populations across a wide range of community-based mental health settings.

Training focus 

In addition to foundational counseling coursework,  mental health counselors receive training in treatment planning, system approaches, professional practices that support their preparation as clinicians. As a mental health counselor, you are prepared to work with diverse communities promoting wellness and applying reflective thinking. Concentration courses in treatment planning and interventions, systems and community-based approaches, and counseling practices equips graduates for clinical work with individuals, families and groups. 

Employment opportunities for mental health counselors:

Clinical Mental Health Counselors work in a number of settings including:

• Private practice, as licensed professional clinical counselors (LPCC)
• Community mental health clinics
• Substance treatment programs (residential & outpatient)
• Educational and school-based settings
• Government agencies and funded programs
• Nonprofit and public community mental health facility
• Government agencies and funded program