Counselor Education

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Counselor Education Mission Statement

 

The mission of the Counselor Education program is to provide high quality training and curricular experiences to masters-level graduate students in counseling, leading to eligibility for certification and licensure as professional counselors. We endeavor to train academically-grounded and clinically-skilled generalist counselors who are competent to work with diverse clients and settings, with special emphasis on issues that emerge in an urban environment. Along with a common core curriculum that supports generalist counselor preparation, the Counselor Education program honors and supports learning associated with four specialty areas: (a) Community Counseling, (b) Couples, Marriage and Family Counseling, (c) Rehabilitation Counseling, and (d) School Counseling. We strive to support our students as they become critical thinkers, innovative practitioners, and leaders in the counseling profession and in their particular specializations. The Counselor Education mission statement operates in conjunction with the following Guiding Principles of the Graduate School of Education.

 

Guiding Principles 

  1. We create and sustain educational environments that serve all students and address diverse needs.
  2. We encourage and model exemplary programs and practices across the life span.
  3. We build our programs on the human and cultural richness of the University’surban setting.
  4. We develop collaborative efforts that foster our mission.
  5. We challenge assumptions about our practice and accept the risks inherent in following our convictions.
  6. We develop our programs to promote social justice, especially for groups thathave been historically disenfranchised.
  7. We strive to understand the relationships among culture, curriculum, and practice, and the long-term implications for ecological sustainability.
  8. We model thoughtful inquiry as a basis for sound decision-making.

 

The Counselor Education program at Portland State University is a C.A.C.R.E.P., C.O.R.E. and T.S.P.C. accredited Masters level program. The Masters program in counselor education is endorsed by the Oregon Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists. The program offers a balance between academic excellence and direct clinical experience; students engage in standard field and cutting edge coursework. Prior to internship, students immersed in practicum gain professional supervised practice in our Community Counseling Clinic.