Why Get a Graduate Certificate in Nature-based Counseling?

The Graduate Certificate in Nature-based Counseling is a five course, 15 credit-hour program with a program objective to integrate ecological perspectives within the concepts and practices of mental health counseling.

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What Can You Do With a Certificate in Nature-based Counseling?

Students interested in ecotherapy, deep ecology, earth-based traditional healing practices, non US-centric nature healing practices, ritual and rites of passage, mindfulness, horticultural, or nature-based settings. Graduates possess competencies in both conventional counseling and nature-based counseling.

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What will this program look like?

• You’ll develop basic skills and knowledge necessary to incorporate culturally relevant nature-based modalities into mental health settings, from healing to well-being. This includes a general understanding of the history of the field, foundational theory, broad treatment applications, and ethical practices.
• To develop critical thinking skills and knowledge necessary to facilitate as a practitioner in counseling that integrates nature-based interventions, including ethical considerations, cultural relevance, risk mitigation, evaluation, and integration of current research.
• To possess competencies in nature-based counseling to be employable in a range of mental health settings.

Why a Master’s Certificate in Expressive Arts Therapy?

Art therapy is an integrative mental health and human services profession that enriches the lives of individuals, families, and communities through active art-making, creative process, applied psychological theory, and human experience within a psychotherapeutic relationship. (AATA 2021).

Expressive arts therapy involves the intermodal use of visual art, music, movement, poetry, and performance, in therapy and healing. Students have the option of preparing to pursue registration as an Art Therapist (ATR) through the Art Therapy Credentials Board or registration as an Expressive Arts Therapist (REAT) through the International Expressive Arts Therapy Association.

The 91ÇÑ×Ó model provides a flexible design that meets the course requirements for eventual art therapy and expressive arts therapy registration. Coursework includes a supervised practicum and internship, attendance at an Expressive Arts Therapy Summer Institute Residency, and a capstone project.

The Graduate Certificate in Expressive Arts Therapy builds critical knowledge, skills and affective behaviors required for professional expressive arts or art therapy practice. Students completing the Certificate will possess knowledge of history, theory, practice, media intervention techniques, and research applications grounded in ethical, socially responsible and culturally sensitive perspectives.

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What can you do with a Certificate in Expressive Arts Therapy?

The Expressive Arts Therapy Program provides an inclusive, individualized experience for those seeking more knowledge in the use of the creative arts in mental health. We have developed engaging interactive experiences with peers and faculty that can be delivered in an online model that allows people to integrate their learning and educational objectives into their personal lives in a way that makes their goals achievable without compromising quality.

This is a unique post masters certificate that can be combined with a master’s in a mental health profession to provide a path toward a credential in either art therapy or expressive arts therapy. Our asynchronous online model opens the door to many individuals who do not have access to an in-person program to achieve their professional career aspirations.

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What will this program look like?

The Expressive Arts Therapy Certificate program is designed to enhance your learning and future practice. This program may be taken concurrently by students who have been accepted into the Master of Science in Counseling, or by those individuals who have already attained a master’s degree in a field of mental health practice.

The program follows the Standards and Guidelines for the Accreditation of Educational Programs in Art Therapy Adopted by the American Art Therapy Association, the Accreditation Council for Art Therapy Education and the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.

Graduates meet the Art Therapy Credentials Board (www.atcb.org) requirements to pursue art therapy registration. In addition, graduates can also qualify to pursue registration as an expressive arts therapist through the International Expressive Arts Therapy Association (www.ieata.org).

Students can seek art therapy licensure in some states and must verify that their degree program covers the necessary requirements of the licensing board in their state.

Why a Graduate Certificate in Adventure-Based Counseling?

The Graduate Certificate in Adventure-Based Counseling is designed for learners who have already attained a masters degree in a field of mental health practice and who wish to specialize in adventure-based intervention. Additionally, this 15-credit hour certificate can be taken concurrently with the 60 credit hours required for the Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.

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What can you do with a certificate in Adventure-Based Counseling?

This is one of the very few academic programs with the program objective to incorporate the experience of experiential learning and adventure in modalities designed to heal clients and facilitate their personal exploration. Graduates will possess competencies in both conventional counseling and adventure therapy, including in residential and community-based settings. You will develop critical thinking skills and theoretical knowledge necessary to facilitate counseling that integrates clinical adventure-based interventions, including ethical considerations, cultural relevance, risk mitigation, clinical applications, and current research;

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What will this program look like?

The Adventure-based Counseling Certificate program is designed to enhance your learning and future practice through such courses as: Foundations of Experiential Counseling, Experiential Counseling Intensive, Treatment Applications in Ecotherapy, Ethics and Risk Mitigation in Ecotherapy, and Assessment, Evaluation and Research for Nature-based Counseling.