Emory & Henry College launches new Master of Science in Addiction Counseling Program
Emory & Henry College School of Health Sciences is launching a new Master of Science in Addiction Counseling Program in the fall of 2023. The online program is a 60-credit, 24-month program, consisting of six consecutive semesters. The master’s degree program prepares addiction counselors for a rewarding profession that emphasizes the prevention of emotional and mental health concerns, early intervention when problems are identified, and client empowerment. The program will be housed in the Department of Clinical Mental Health Counseling alongside the 60-credit Clinical Mental Health Counseling master’s degree.
“From the first semester, students will be engaged in experiential learning that comes to life in our hybrid courses,” says Dr. Stephanie Rutledge, founding department chair. Rutledge has extensive experience in counselor education and program accreditation. She has been a site visitor for the Council of Accreditation for Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) for 15 years and served as department chair in a large graduate program in New Jersey prior to founding the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Department at Emory & Henry.
“I believe that students will be thoughtfully engaged by our flexible online coursework,” adds Rutledge. “In addition, the program will include three weeks of clinical work in addiction counseling with an emphasis on evidence-based practices.”
The mission of the Addiction Counseling Program is to graduate competent entry-level addiction counselors who play an active role in enhancing community wellness. Graduates will be prepared to apply to become a resident in counseling, which will provide graduates with a full range of career opportunities in a variety of settings including community mental health agencies, substance abuse treatment programs, colleges, hospitals, residential treatment programs, employee assistance programs, and social service agencies.
In the 2023 State of Mental Health report, Virginia was ranked 39th regarding the ratio of mental health patients to mental health professionals, coming in at 480:1 and 34th in regard to access to care. In particular, the area surrounding Emory & Henry College is classified as a High Needs Mental Health Professional Shortage Area by the Health Resources and Services Administration. The need for mental health professionals in southwest Virginia is highlighted by the divide between qualified clinical mental health counselors in the region and the high demand for services. Graduates of this program would be poised to meet this need in the region.
The Addiction Counseling program has been developed and implemented with a conscious and deliberate recognition that rural communities – communities in which most program participants will likely serve – face unique challenges and possess unique strengths with which to face those challenges. The program at Emory & Henry is ideally suited to meet the needs of this region by providing excellent training for qualified addiction counselors.
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Emory & Henry College School of Health Sciences is launching a new Master of Science in Addiction Counseling Program in the fall of 2023. The master’s degree program prepares addiction counselors for a rewarding profession.
Dr. Stephanie Rutledge