Welcome to Idaho State University: Department of Counseling!

We proudly offer a comprehensive range of academic programs tailored to aspiring counselors. We offer MCOUN and PhD degrees along with an EdS for licensed professional counselors, as well as an Animal Assisted Interventions Certificate Program. Within the MCOUN degree, we provide 5 counseling specialty practice options: Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling, Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling, School Counseling, and Student Affairs Counseling.

In addition to our master's program, we also provide opportunities for advanced study and specialization. For our PhD program, students can pursue a doctorate in Counselor Education and Counseling. PhD students select one of our five counseling practice specialty areas to hone their identity as counselor educators. Students can also have an Animal Assisted Intervention Certificate or an Education Specialist degree in counseling (Ed.S.).

We take pride in our commitment to excellence in professional preparation, and four of our programs are accredited by the Council for Accreditation and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) our newest counseling specialty practice area, CRC, will be going up for initial accreditation in the coming year. CACREP sets the standard for quality in counseling, ensuring that our programs meet rigorous standards and prepare students to excel in their future careers.

At Idaho State University, we believe in the transformative power of counseling and are dedicated to preparing professionals who can provide services consistent with the ideal of optimal human development. We pride ourselves on a relational-oriented program dedicated to facilitating lifelong learning as a member of the counseling profession or seeking advanced training to enhance your skills, we're here to support you every step of the way.

Welcome to a community that fosters growth, learning, and compassionate care. We look forward to guiding you toward a fulfilling career in counseling.

Warm regards,

MCOUN Faculty and Staff

CACREP has conferred accreditation to the following program specialties in the Department of Counseling at Idaho State University:

Counselor Education and Counseling (Ph.D.)

Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling (MCOUN)

Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MCOUN)

School Counseling (MCOUN)

Student Affairs Counseling (MCOUN)

CACREP has conferred accreditation to the following program specialties in the Department of Counseling at Idaho State University within the coming year:

Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling (MCOUN)

ISU Department of Counseling Mission Statement and Objectives

The mission of the Master of Counseling (M.COUN.) program faculty is to nurture the next generation of highly skilled and ethically-minded counseling professionals. Department of Counseling faculty believe that providing comprehensive education grounded in evidence-based practices and a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, prepares students to excel in counseling practice, research, advocacy, and leadership within the counseling profession. The Master of Counseling degree is designed to be the strong foundation upon which graduates enter a lifetime career in the counseling profession. 

Objectives

The counseling program offers five specialty practice areas to meet students’ learning and professional career goals: Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling; Clinical Mental Health Counseling; Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling; School Counseling; and Student Affairs Counseling. Students will experience a variety of learning opportunities through rigorous coursework, hands-on experiences, and supportive mentorship. We strive to empower our students to make meaningful and healthy contributions to the well-being of individuals, families, and communities while upholding the highest standards of professionalism and ethical conduct. The clinical nature of this program allows students to graduate with confidence in their abilities to meet future client needs and state licensure requirements as professional counselors. 

In addition, graduates from the School Counseling specialization meet the requirements for the Idaho School Counselor Pupil Service Staff Certificate, while graduates from the Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling specialization meet the requirements to apply for the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification.

Objectives for all students within the counseling program align with the CACREP core areas and seek to maintain each of the following for all graduates. 

1. Develop a strong sense of professional counseling identity and ethical practice.
2. Facilitate student exploration of meaning and practice of culturally competent counseling and exploration of personal biases, privileges, and identities. 
3. Prepare students to conceptualize clients from a developmental perspective and consider how this may impact client experiences throughout the lifespan.
4. Prepare students to work with clients in any stage of career development and life-work balance.
5. Provide students with a foundational knowledge of counseling skills and building relationships.
6. Prepare students to engage with group counseling facilitation and systems approaches. 
7. Prepare students to administer a variety of assessments and provide ethical and culturally competent diagnoses in alignment with the DSM. 
8. Prepare students to analyze existing counseling research and encourage student understanding of the importance of research in advancing the counseling profession. 
9. Prepare students to provide current best practices in trauma-informed counseling, including effective risk assessment/prevention skills and crisis response.