Contact Information

Advanced Studies in Counseling
Post-Master's Graduate Certificate
focused on Drug and Alcohol Counseling

A 12-credit post-master's certificate offered by the Department of Counseling at Dixon University Center in Harrisburg

Designed to meet the professional development needs of School, Community & Mental Health Counselors

Background

• The Professional Counselor Licensure Bill requires counselors in the field to have 60 graduate credits. Most Counselor Education/Counseling graduate programs require only 48 credits
• School Counselors in the public schools in Pennsylvania must fulfill the ACT 48 professional development requirements, which can be satisfied with the completion of 6 graduate credits every five years
• Licensed Professional Counselors and National Certified Counselors must complete professional development requirements every 5 years

Program Description

• Developed by the faculty in the Department of Counseling to meet the ongoing continuing education needs of Community, Mental Health, and College and School Counselors
• Courses in the program were designed to be flexible in order to accommodate the demanding schedules as well as geographic locations of counselors and mental health practitioners
• The program is scheduled to be offered at the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg
• To earn a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Counseling, students must have a Master's in Counseling or an allied Mental Health field and complete the following four courses with at least a 3.00 GPA
• The successful completion of each course will be denoted on the student's official Shippensburg University graduate transcript

UPDATED:Course Descriptions and Schedule of Courses

• CNS532 Advanced Drug and Alcohol Counseling (3 crs)
  Day/Dates: September 3 - October 29, 2009 (Thursdays, 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.)
  Location: Dixon University Center, Harrisburg, PA 
  Instructor: Ford Brooks, Ed.D., LPC, CAC
  Description: This course is designed for professionals who desire to expand their knowledge, awareness and skill in working with this challenging population. The course will address the treatment of the chemically dependent client in a variety of settings (outpatient, school, college and inpatient). Special attention is given to spirituality in the continuum of recovery and provides dual diagnosis treatment strategies. The class will also address adult and adolescent clients, giving attention to early intervention and intervention methods. 
• CNS517 Clinical Approaches for Clients w/Co-Occurring Disorders (3 crs)
  Day/Dates: February 11 - April 8, 2010 (Thursdays, 6 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.) 
  Location: Dixon University Center, Harrisburg, PA   
  Instructor:  Todd K. Whitman, Ph.D., NCC, LPC, ACS
  Description: This coures exposes students to the diagnostic categories found in the DSM-IV-TR, specifically the clinical implications for a diagnosis of substance abuse/dependence and a co-occuring disorder. The complication clinical issues of personality disorders in relation to multiple Axis one diagnosis are also discussed and treatment approaches based on current literature are provided. This course will help practitioners learn to more effectively differentially diagnose substance abuse/addiction from chemically induced disorders and other psychiatric disorders.
• CNS513 Group Counseling with Alcohol and Drug Clients (3 crs)
  Day/Dates: May 6 - June 24, 2010 (Thursdays, 6 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.)
  Location: Dixon University Center, Harrisburg, PA
  Instructor: Bill McHenry, Ph.D., NCC, LPC
  Description: This course focuses on the theory and application of group therapy as it relates to the treatment of substance abuse and addiction. The course examines the dynamics of group development and process and integrates that with addiction recovery models. Throughout the course, students will be active participants in their own group process, thus allowing an understanding from an experiential viewpoint. Role playing and specific intervention techniques are explored and practiced.
• CNS514 Relapse Prevention & Recovery Process for Alcohol & Drug Clients (3 crs)
  Day/Dates: July 8 - August 26, 2010 (Thursdays, 6 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.)  
  Location: Dixon University Center, Harrisburg, PA 
  Instructor: Ford Brooks, Ed.D., LPC, CAC
  Description: This course is designed to educate counselors on the process of recovery from alcohol and drug addiction and methods in preventing relapse. A developmental perspective is presented along with a variety of support group philosophies and perspectives; from cognitive restructuring to spritiuality. Clinical interventions and developmental approaches will aid counselors in their work with this most important population. Significant to this course is the presentation of a comprehensive model of relapse prevention.

Admission Requirements

• Applicants must have earned a Master's in Counseling or an allied Mental Health field
• Applicants are required to complete an application and have official graduate college transcripts documenting the earned Master's in Counseling or allied Mental Health field
• Students may register for any of the proposed courses without earning the Certificate so long as the minimum educational requirements are met for each course
• Community, Mental Health, School and College Counselors who meet the minimum educational requirements register online for the course(s) of their choosing
• Each course is limited to 25 students
• Please note that applications must be submitted no later than the completion of 6 credits of the above coursework in order to be eligible for the Certificate of Advanced Studies in Counseling
• Students may register for any of the proposed courses without earning the Certificate so long as the minimum admissions requirements are met

Registration

• Community, Mental Health, School and College Counselors who meet the minimum educational requirements register online for the course(s) of their choosing
• Each course is limited to 25 students
• Please note that applications must be submitted no later than the completion of 6 credits of the above coursework in order to be eligible for the Certificate of Advanced Studies in Counseling
• Students may register for any of the proposed courses without earning the Certificate so long as the minimum admissions requirements are met

Cancellation Policy

Shippensburg University reserves the right to cancel any courses due to insufficient enrollment or other unforeseen circumstances.