Counseling
Listen. Advocate. Become a Counselor!
Helping someone when they are in the midst of a mental health crisis or a major life change is the job of a licensed counselor. Whether you want to help young children learn to handle their emotions, adults dealing with a challenging relationship, or families struggling with grief, the School of Education and Human Sciences has several programs to fit your career aspirations.
Earning your counseling credentials from an accredited institution ensures you receive top-notch training from a program that recognizes the importance of professional standards and quality training techniques. The MA in Counseling program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) and meets the academic and field experience requirements established by the Alabama Board of Examiners in Counseling (ABEC) for licensure as a professional counselor (LPC). The Marriage, Couples, and Family Counseling concentration also meets the academic requirements established by the Alabama Board of Examiners in Marriage and Family Therapy for licensure as a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT). Upon completion of this program, graduates will be prepared to begin the licensure process to become licensed counselors who provide professional counseling services to individuals, families, and groups to treat mental, behavioral, and emotional problems and disorders
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Available Degrees and Certificates
The School of Education and Human Sciences offers a Master of Arts (MA) in Counseling and two graduate certificates in the areas of Clinical Mental Health and Marriage, Couples and Families.
More information about admission criteria is available on the Apply page.
The Clinical Mental Health (CMH) concentration usually requires eight or nine semesters or about three years (including summers) to complete. It consists of coursework, supervised field experiences, and counseling internships. This concentration helps prepare students with the knowledge and skills necessary to serve a broad range of clients in a multicultural society, interact effectively with colleagues and referral resources, and conduct themselves according to accepted professional, ethical, and legal guidelines.
Note: Students in this concentration can add the Graduate Certificate in Marriage, Couples, and Family Counseling.
The Marriage, Couples, and Family (MCF) concentration usually requires eight or nine semesters or about three years (including summers) to complete. It consists of coursework, supervised field experiences, and counseling internships. This concentration helps prepare students with the knowledge and skills necessary to serve couples and families in a multicultural society, interact effectively with colleagues and referral resources, and conduct themselves according to accepted professional, ethical, and legal guidelines.
Note: Students in this concentration can add the Graduate Certificate in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.
This 15-hour certificate is designed to increase the range and depth of the services offered by marriage, couples, and family counselors and school counselors. It is open to current UAB counseling graduate students concentrating in marriage, couples, and family counseling or school counseling and to practitioners with an MA in marriage, couples, and family counseling who wish to advance their careers. Students take five 3-hour courses in diagnosis, substance abuse, and advanced counseling techniques, among other subjects. Candidates either not enrolled in the UAB MA in Counseling program or who do not already hold a graduate-level degree in counseling or a closely related field are not eligible to apply.
This 15-hour certificate is designed to increase the range and depth of clinical mental health services. The certificate is open to current UAB counseling graduate students concentrating in clinical mental health and practitioners with an MA in clinical mental health or school counseling who wish to advance their careers. Candidates either not enrolled in the UAB MA in Counseling program or who do not already hold a graduate-level degree in counseling or a closely related field are not eligible to apply.
Talk with a Recruiter
Learn about specific program details, admissions requirements, scholarships, and more!
Curriculum
2024 Counseling Program Overview for Q&A Session
Dr. Dayna Watson, Assistant Professor and Graduate Program Director for the UAB Counseling program, gives you a detailed explanation of the program.Mission, Vision, and Values
The School of Education and Human Sciences’ goal for its counseling programs is simple: create an academically rigorous, student-centered, and supportive environment to help move students toward acquiring the knowledge and skills needed for entering the profession as effective mental health and/or family counselors. Our vision is to produce competent and effective professional counselors.
We promote the movement of individuals toward:
- Self-Awareness: We promote and encourage reflective teaching, practice, and research. Professional Relationships. We model caring, supportive, and stimulating relationships for our students that inspire their intellectual curiosity, ethical conduct, and professional excellence.
- Excellence: We practice continuous improvement and innovation through our evidenced-based services, teaching, and research.
- Access and Opportunity: We value individual differences and promote an environment that values wide-ranging experiences and perspectives.
- Student-centered Training: We train counselors to support clients' development from adolescence through adulthood.
- Client-centered Care: We train students to provide effective, sensitive, and collaborative care uniquely tailored to clients' needs.
- Collaborative Engagement: We engage with our campus and community partners to support and develop new opportunities for the underserved in Alabama.
- Objective 1: Promote self-reflection and lifelong professional development.
- Objective 2: Train students to engage in effective clinical practice, leadership, and advocacy in a diverse, multicultural, and global society.
Why choose the UAB Counseling Graduate Programs?
CACREP Accredited
The Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) provides recognition that the content and quality of a program has been evaluated and meets the highest standards set by the profession. Both the Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Marriage, Couples, and Families Counseling concentrations are CACREP-accredited.
On-Site Counseling Clinic
The UAB Community Counseling Clinic opens a new website provides individual and group counseling services to residents of Jefferson County. The clinic is also a training site for graduate counseling students fulfilling practicum and internship clinical requirements. We use state-of-the-art recording equipment for video counseling sessions — a practice that allows clinic supervisors not only to monitor and review sessions but also to provide essential feedback to trainees.
Simple Admissions Process
People
Staff
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Graduate Recruiter Mary Frances Lembke
Faculty
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Associate Professor Shannon McCarthy PhD -
Program DirectorAssociate Professor Dayna Watson PhD -
Visiting Assistant Professor Andrea Whitten PhD, LPC-S -
Assistant Professor Director, Community Counseling Clinic Yusen Zhai PhD