Master of Arts/Ed. Specialist in Mental Health Counseling

Mental health counseling is a professional counseling specialty which involves the application of principles of psychotherapy, human development, learning theory, group dynamics and the assessment of mental illness and dysfunctional behavior. Mental health counseling includes the practice of prevention, early intervention, and treatment of mental and emotional disorders for individuals, families, and/or groups and consultation and education for community groups interested in promoting healthy lifestyles in the community.

The mental health counseling program is designed to provide graduate level preparation for students who seek advanced educational experiences and clinical training leading to certification and/or licensure for professional positions in the mental health counseling field. The MA/Ed.S degree is a tethered, combined degree. A student cannot finish one degree without the other. Therefore, in order to obtain either degree the student must complete the entire graduate program. Students holding a counseling master’s degree from a graduate program from within or outside Gardner-Webb University will not be able to pursue the Ed.S. portion of the degree by augmenting their course work with additional courses from the Gardner-Webb University Mental Health Counseling program.

We request that all application materials being sent to the Graduate Admissions Office for persons interested in the School Counseling or Mental Health Counseling Program (Boiling Springs Campus) to begin Fall 2012 be postmarked no later than Wednesday, February 1, 2012.

Coordinator: Dr. Shannon Warden