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Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling Emphasis

The Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling (60 credits) emphasis in the Counselor Education (M.Ed.) Master’s Program at Penn State has a dual accreditation from the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Professions (CACREP) in both Clinical Rehabilitation and Clinical Mental Health Counseling. This emphasis prepares professionals to work with people with chronic illness, mental health and/or other disabling conditions (sensory disability, traumatic brain injury, amputation, substance abuse, developmental disability, physical disability) in a variety of government agencies (e.g., state vocational rehabilitation, Veterans Administration, state corrections facilities) as well as a range of community settings (e.g., non-profit rehabilitation agencies, hospital settings, substance abuse clinics, corrections re-entry programs, nursing homes and services for individuals with developmental disabilities.

As one of the earliest rehabilitation counseling programs which started in 1958, Penn State has a distinguished history of producing a well-trained workforce serving people with disabilities. We have consistently been ranked as one of the top programs in the nation and, according to the most recent survey by U.S. News & World Report, our program is ranked 6th nationally with 5 faculty members with expertise in rehabilitation who have won national awards for their teaching, research and service to the profession.

Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling

  • Provide didactic and clinical experiences that prepare students to implement a wide range of interventions to improve the functional, psychological, social and vocational outcomes for people with chronic illness, mental health and/or other disabling conditions (sensory disability, traumatic brain injury, amputation, substance abuse, developmental disability, physical disability).
  • Prepare students for the following certifications: Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, Certified Addictions Counselor, National Certification as a Professional Counselor and/or to become a Licensed Professional Counselor
  • Provide students with the opportunity to specialize in a range of counseling settings (e.g., non-profit rehabilitation, state-federal vocational rehabilitation, veterans rehabilitation, bureau of blindness and visual services, psychiatric rehabilitation, private-for-profit rehabilitation, substance abuse/addictions, hospital, private practice, mental health clinics, nursing homes/gerontology, university disability services, and rehabilitation in correctional settings – prison, community re-entry programs).
  • Prepare counselors to develop effective advocacy skills and provide preventative and developmental strategies to address barriers in the physical and social environment that can limit the civil and human rights of their clients.

 

  • Holistic development of individuals with chronic illness, mental health and/or other disabling conditions with a primary focus on empowering individuals to select and implement life goals that are congruent with individual values, beliefs, and lifestyles.
  • Understanding the medical aspects of living with a range of chronic illness and disability, and the inter-relationship between physical and mental health that can influence case conceptualization, counseling goals, and selected interventions.
  • Client assessment, planning, and service delivery that includes synthesis of all major areas of client information; rehabilitation plan development; knowledge of service delivery; identification of community resources; and vocational assessment.
  • Exploring psychological, social, and cultural factors that can impact client outcomes and development of multicultural clinical and advocacy skills needed to improved outcomes.
  • Incorporating counseling theory, skills and techniques into experiential learning modes including role-play and genuine counseling situations through a supervised practicum at the Herr Clinic and supervised internship in a counseling setting related to the student's primary interest area.

 

Both the Rehabilitation Counseling emphasis and the Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling emphasis within Penn State University’s Counselor Education program are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Professions (CACREP http://www.cacrep.org) through October 31,2023.

We admit a cohort of 8 to 10 rehabilitation graduate students per year who begin the program each fall semester. Typically, students complete the program in a two-year period. For the past two-years [2017-2019] our student retention rate has been 100%. During this period, 9 of 10 students in the 2019 cohort graduated within the expected 2-year period (one is completing the program this year) and 7 of the 8 students in the 2018 cohort graduated within the expected 2-year period (one is completing the program this fall).

The typical cost for tuition and fees are $19,662 for the fall and spring semesters and $9,795 for the summer session (PA residents), $27,529 for the fall and spring semesters and $13,695 for the summer session (nonresident and international students).

Penn State has received a Long-term Training Grant Award from the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) to support master’s level training of persons interested in working as state vocational rehabilitation counselors. Once accepted into the program, eligible students (i.e., US citizens or permanent residents) can apply to become an RSA Scholar to help fund graduate school. More details will be available once the grant is fully processed. These funds can significantly reduce the cost of pursuing our program while also providing entrance into the job market following completion of the internship.

Penn State has received a Long-term Training Grant Award from the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) to support master’s level training of persons interested in working as rehabilitation counselors in the state vocational rehabilitation (VR) system or other non-profit settings serving VR client referrals. Once accepted into the program, students can apply to become an RSA Scholar to help fund graduate school. This scholarship provides $22,500 for the first year of graduate school. Students can also apply for a paid internship with the PA Office of Vocational Rehabilitation in their last semester. These funds can significantly reduce the cost of pursuing our program while also providing immediate job placement following completion of the internship. International students are not eligible for this funding and cannot gain employment within the state vocational rehabilitation services system.

Students are also eligible to apply for funds from the Ralph and Pat Pacinelli Endowment.

 

Curriculum Guide and Course Schedule

The rehabilitation counseling emphasis is a two-year program with a fall semester start date. Students are required to complete 51-credits, including a one semester off-campus internship under the supervision of the university Internship Coordinator (CRC) and an agency supervisor (CRC). Students who wish to pursue licensure as a professional counselor in PA will need to take a total of 60 credits, including a course on diagnosis (CNED 532).

Fall Semester (15 credits)
CN ED 500 (3) Introduction to Counseling & Development
CN ED 501 (3) Counseling: Theory & Method
CN ED 506 (3) Individual Counseling Procedures
CN ED 509 (3) Introduction to Rehabilitation Counseling
CN ED 404 (3) Group Procedures in Guidance & Counseling

Spring Semester (12 credits)
CN ED 525 (3) Applied Tests in Counseling (Assessment) or Elective
CN ED 595A (3) Practicum in Rehabilitation Counseling
CN ED 505 (3) Foundations in Career Development/Job Placement
RHS 403 (3) Medical Information for Counselors or Elective

Fall Semester (15 credits)
CN ED 507 (3) Multicultural Counseling
CN ED 526 (3) Research in Counseling
CN ED 560 (3) Psychosocial Aspects of Disability
Elective (3) Outside of CnEd major
Elective (3) or Medical Information for Counselors

Spring Semester (9 credits)
CN ED 595G (6) Internship in Rehabilitation Counseling
CN ED 596 (3) Individual Studies (Master's Paper)

The psychiatric rehabilitation option is designed for students who would like to focus primarily on working with individuals with mental illness in community mental health settings, psychiatric rehabilitation programs, and within the state vocational rehabilitation program. This option requires the regular program content and two additional courses, RHS 401 (Community Mental Health Practice and Services) and PSYCH 470 (Abnormal Psychology) as part of the elective coursework.

Students who elect this option will also be required to do an internship serving clients with mental illness/psychiatric disability, as well as complete a related master's paper. Students who complete the 60 credit option are eligible to become licensed professional counselors in addition to their certified rehabilitation counselor credential. This option is ideal for students who anticipate working with individuals who may have a combination of mental health and physical disability (e.g., veterans, adults with significant mental illness, others with long-term disability or chronic illness).

Students who took the elective courses as an undergraduate and achieved a grade of "B" or better may have this course requirement waived.

The addictions rehabilitation option is designed for students who would like to focus primarily on working with individuals with addiction disorders or as drug and alcohol specialists within the state vocational rehabilitation program. This option requires the regular program curriculum with two addictions courses included as part of the electives: Foundations of Addictions Counseling and an additional course related to addictions/substance abuse (CnEd 840, CnEd 420). Students who complete the 60 credit option are eligible to become licensed professional counselors in addition to their certified rehabilitation counselor credential. This option is ideal for students who anticipate working with individuals who may have a combination of addictions and other health concerns (e.g., veterans, adults with significant mental illness, others with long-term disability or chronic illness).

Students who elect this option will also be required to do an internship working with clients with substance abuse disorders, as well as complete a related master's paper.

Students who took the Foundations to Addictions Counseling course as an undergraduate and achieved a grade of “B” or better may have this course requirement waived.