Program Overview

Clinical Mental Health & Addictions Counseling Program

The CACREP-accredited M.Ed. in Counseling - Clinical Mental Health & Addictions Concentration at William & Mary prepares graduates to work in public or private human service agencies and in private counseling practice. Through a balanced focus on wellness and psychopathology, the program offers students a solid foundation in counseling theory, counseling strategies, and a concentration in addictions counseling.

Program Description

The program is designed for people who wish to become licensed clinical mental health counselors and licensed or certified addictions counselors. Previous counseling experience is not required. The program requires a bachelor's degree and typically takes two full-time academic years to complete, with part-time options available.

Requirements

Graduate students in the Clinical Mental Health & Addictions Concentration complete a total of 60 semester hours of classroom and clinical course work. The program is organized into groups of required foundation courses, basic counseling courses, and specialized courses that enable a student to concentrate in addictions counseling.

Field Experiences

Clinical experiences are an integral part of students' preparation, and practice in a clinical setting is integrated throughout the program. In the first year, students have their first client contact through a closely supervised practicum. In the second year, two internships provide intensive and diverse clinical experiences in community agency settings.

Licensure

The program of studies for all of the M.Ed. degrees in Counseling at William & Mary includes all the required areas of classroom and clinical instruction needed for licensure as a Professional Counselor in Virginia and most other states. The program also meets the coursework and clinical instruction requirements for licensure in Virginia as a Substance Abuse Treatment Practitioner.

Program Details

• Designed for: People who wish to become licensed clinical mental health counselors and licensed or certified addictions counselors
• Prerequisite: Bachelor's degree
• Course requirements: 60 credit hours typically completed over two full-time academic years
• Entry term: Fall
• Format: Face-to-face courses on W&M campus
• Fieldwork: 150-hour practicum and two 300-hour internships

Program Coordinator

Robert Martinez, Associate Professor

Program Fast Facts

• The program is CACREP-accredited
• The program requires 60 semester hours of classroom and clinical course work
• The program is designed to prepare graduates for licensure as a Professional Counselor in Virginia and most other states
• The program also meets the coursework and clinical instruction requirements for licensure in Virginia as a Substance Abuse Treatment Practitioner