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The basic belief of the USM Counselor Education program is that every human changes and grows throughout life. From time to time, individuals need help in this struggle for positive growth. Counseling and guidance services provide professional helpers who can facilitate growth and development effectively. In addition to teaching counseling skills, the program promotes students' personal growth by encouraging them to develop attitudes, values, and beliefs that will enhance and facilitate the helping process. Specifically, the counselor education program is designed to foster:
- Knowledge of human development and behavior.
- An understanding of the history, philosophy, and practice of the specialty area.
- An understanding of theories and techniques related to individual and group counseling.
- Knowledge of career development theory and techniques and skills in the development of information services.
- Knowledge of psychological measurement and evaluation and its application.
- An understanding of the means used for obtaining and applying information from appropriate research sources.
- An integration of academic and applied knowledge into a personal model of professional practice.
- An awareness of individual strengths, weaknesses, and biases, especially in relation to clients, colleagues, and family.
- A sensitivity to the unique perspectives of people living and working in a pluralistic society.
- A commitment to ethical practice in counseling.
- A professional identity within the counseling profession.
USM's Counseling program maintains the highest professional standards through program accreditation and licensing, as well as through professional development and involvement with national and state organizations. The Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling specialties hold accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs (CACREP). The Rehabilitation Counseling program holds accreditation from the Council on Rehabilitation Education (CORE).
To assist students in their own growth and development, the Counselor Education program offers a Certificate program, a Master's degree, and a Certificate of Advanced Study-a continuum of professional development to foster life-long learning.
