Contact the Department of Educational Psychology
Meet the Counseling Program faculty at the Information Open House Click for Dates and Details
Interview Days-CMHC Flagstaff, Phoenix, & TucsonClick for Dates and Details
Student Handbook & Access to Personal Counseling
CACREP Student Handbook Access to Personal CounselingNAU CACREP Annual Reports
- 2021 - 2022 Program Evaluation Report
- 2020 - 2021 Annual Report to CACREP
- 2020 - 2021 Program Evaluation Report
- 2019 - 2020 Annual Report to CACREP
- 2019 - 2020 Program Evaluation Plan
Join our graduate program
Practicum and Internship Manuals and Forms for Masters Candidates
Practicum and Internship Manuals and Forms for Masters CandidatesFinancial Info
Future students
Visit the College of Education's future students page to get helpful links for both undergraduate and graduate students.Want to see how the program helped students find success in their goals and aspirations? Here's a small taste!
After finding new home at NAU, cohort of mental health counseling students graduates
Programs of study
For a complete listing of all programs of study, please visit the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies Programs of Study page.Professional Licensure
This program was intentionally designed to lead to licensure or certification in the state of Arizona. For information regarding how the curricular requirements for this degree program align to licensure or certification requirements in other states, see https://nau.edu/compliance-and-authorization/professional-licensure-by-state/.
NAU Program Statement of Inclusion
We align with the American Counseling Association's (ACA) commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belongingness. As a program and a profession, we respect, honor, and support the uniqueness of individuals across varying multicultural identities, which include but are not limited to sexual and affectional orientation, gender identity and expression, age, race, color, ethnicity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, military affiliation, religion or spiritual beliefs, ability, language, national origin, ancestry, and political views. Our counseling program welcomes students and faculty with diverse backgrounds and life experiences to ensure the representation of varying perspectives, worldviews, and ideas. We strive to build inclusive learning spaces in which all students feel their voice is valued and recognized as an asset to the classroom. These beliefs reflect the core values of the counseling profession and echo the sentiment: “Everyone counts, everyone has an opportunity, and everyone welcomed.” GRE®️ revised General Test – Applicants with a cumulative GPA of less than 3.0 are required to submit official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test scores on the aptitude portion (verbal and quantitative) of the GRE taken within the past six years. Applicants with a cumulative GPA higher than 3.0 have the option to submit GRE scores, if desired. GRE scores must be received by the application deadline for admission.Program Description Accordion Closed
This 60-hour highly experiential CACREP-accredited program prepares you to become a successful applied counseling practitioner to work with clients of all ages in a variety of behavioral health settings. This program offered in its entirely at the Mountain Campus in Flagstaff, at the North Valley campus in Phoenix and in Tucson.
As a student in the MA Clinical Mental Health Counseling program, you’ll take courses, do fieldwork, and participate in practica and internships that will prepare you to be a culturally sensitive/responsive, ethical, and evidence-based counseling practitioner.Our Mission and Program Objectives Accordion Closed
The mission of the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) accredited masters programs is to prepare professional counselors who meet national standards of the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) as well as state counseling licensure or certification in their specialty area. Our programs are designed to be comprehensive in nature and to focus on the development of evidence-based counseling practice in a variety of settings and with clients from culturally diverse backgrounds.
Program and Student Learning Objectives for School Counseling and Clinical Mental Health Counseling Programs
Programmatic Objectives:
- Our Clinical Mental Health and School Counseling Programs regularly gather and “reflect input from all persons involved in the conduct of the program, including counselor education program faculty, current and former students, and personnel in cooperating agencies.”
- We seek to recruit and retain students who represent the diverse population of the Southwestern U.S.
- Become familiar with the requirements for being a professional counselor, including the relevant research and literature pertinent to the discipline.
- Become familiar with and knowledgeable about the nature and needs of individuals at all developmental levels.
- Develop a thorough understanding of knowledge and competencies related to issues and trends in a multicultural and pluralistic society, and to effectively demonstrate multicultural counseling competencies.
- Demonstrate effective counseling skills.
- Become familiar with studies in group dynamics and to development and related life factors, and to demonstrate effective career counseling skills.
- Understand major theories of career development and related life factors, and to demonstrate effective career counseling skills.
- Develop an understanding of assessment processes, and to demonstrate skills in individual and group approaches to assessment and evaluation.
- Become familiar with research, statistics, and program evaluation as they apply to the practice of counseling.
- Develop a clear sense of professional identity in counseling, which includes professional ethics, legal responsibilities, professional preparation standards, participating in professional organizations, and obtaining necessary credentials.
- Acquire knowledge about counseling supervision, and to experience peer, site supervisor and faculty supervision that allow students to integrate and apply the knowledge and skills that they have acquired to practice.
- Experience continuous course-related and overall program-related feedback to enhance their professional development as they become professional counselors.
- Acquire knowledge and skills related to the ways that counselors use a variety of technologies designed to assist students, clients, and the systems they work within.
- Acquire knowledge related to the professional identity, roles, and functions of professional counselors.
- Practice ongoing assessment of one's own skills, strengths, weaknesses, professional and personal development as related to counseling professional identity, counseling ethics, and the principles of ethics of client autonomy, non-maleficence, beneficence, justice, and fidelity.
Accreditation Information Accordion Closed
The MA Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at Northern Arizona University is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Initially accredited by CACREP in November 1998, our program’s current accreditation runs through October 2030. Students who wish to pursue licensure as a professional counselor have options to do so in a CACREP-accredited program or unaccredited program. If you wish to become better educated about these differences, we strongly encourage you to visit the FOR STUDENTS tab at http://www.cacrep.org. 2023-2024 Program Statistics:
- Number of graduates in the past year: 37
- Completion Rate: 88%
- Licensure or certification examination pass rate: 89%
- Job placement rate of students/graduates: 95%
How will this degree prepare students for the real world? What about licensure? Accordion Closed
This program meets the Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC) coursework requirements of the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners and for national counselor certification of the National Board for Certified Counselors. LAC’s in Arizona most frequently evolve to become Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC’s), who are eligible to work independently.Successful completion of this degree gives you the potential to transfer your licensure to other states, depending on their licensure requirements.The vast majority of our graduates go on to become thriving licensed professional counselors who speak highly about their training experience at NAU.
What is the benefit of a face-to-face Counseling program over an online program? Accordion Closed
We strongly believe that counselors are best trained and mentored via frequent live, face-to-face interactions with faculty who are leaders in the field of clinical mental health counseling, and via face-to-face structured quasi-counseling interactions with peers. Our courses are highly engaging and experiential. Students are required to demonstrate a wide range of counseling skills (e.g. assessing clients, developing a strong therapeutic alliance, responding to cultural dynamics in the counseling process, collaborating with clients about realistic goals, implementing treatment plans and collaborative evidence-based interventions, adjusting clinical work based on client feedback).We believe experiential engagement is the best way to foster development of such skills. Although we do offer a few online or hybrid courses in the program, the vast majority of coursework involves classroom formats that are conducive to not only cutting-edge knowledge competency development, but skill-competency development as well.
GRE Information Accordion Closed
GRE ONLY if your undergraduate GPA was less than 3.0GRE Statement, effective August 2017: If you have a cumulative GPA of 3.0* or higher, you are NOT required to submit official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test scores for the MA Clinical Mental Health Counseling or the MEd Counseling-School Counseling programs. If you have a cumulative GPA of less than 3.0, you are required to submit official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test scores on the aptitude portion (verbal and quantitative) of the GRE taken within the past six years. Scores, if applicable, must be received by application deadline for admission consideration.
Application and Due Dates Accordion Closed
How do I apply, and when is the application due?
The entire application process is a one-stop process. Once you click on APPLY NOW, in above right margin, all elements of the application are handled within that link!The primary application items we will evaluate include:
- The graduate school application
- GPA
- Application essay questions
- Three professional/academic recommendation forms
- Interview
- GRE General Test (ONLY if your undergraduate GPA was less than 3.0)
Application deadlines for Educational Psychology (EPS) programs
Program | Site | Application deadlines | Semester next cohort begins |
---|---|---|---|
PhD Combined Counseling/School Psychology | Flagstaff | December 1 (all applications) November 15 (for those wishing to be considered for the Presidential Fellowship) | Fall 2025 |
EdS School Psychology | Flagstaff | January 1, 2025 | Fall 2025 |
EdS School Psychology | North Valley (Phoenix) | January 1, 2025 | Fall 2025 |
MA Clinical Mental Health Counseling | Flagstaff | January 1, 2025 | Fall 2025 |
MA Clinical Mental Health Counseling | North Valley (Phoenix) | February 15, 2025 | Fall 2025 |
MA Clinical Mental Health Counseling | Tucson | February 15, 2025 | Fall 2025 |
MA Clinical Mental Health Counseling | Yuma | April 1, 2025 | Fall 2025 |
MEd Counseling - School Counseling | Flagstaff | January 1, 2025 | Fall 2025 |
MEd Counseling - School Counseling | North Valley (Phoenix) | February 15, 2025 | Fall 2025 |
MEd Counseling - School Counseling | Tucson | February 15, 2025 | Fall 2025 |
MEd Counseling-Student Affairs | Flagstaff | January 1, 2025 (priority deadline) Extended Deadline of April 1, 2025 | Fall 2025 |
M.Ed. Human Relations | Online & All Campuses | Rolling Admission | |
Applied Human Behavior | Online; Glendale Community College, Mesa Community College, South Mountain Community College | Rolling Admission |
Please note:
- Completed application files are reviewed and admission decisions are made once each year.
- It is your responsibility to ensure that your application file is complete. Incomplete files will not be reviewed.
- In Flagstaff, many students apply for graduate assistantships (GA roles). If a student secures a GA role during grad school, they typically earn a full-tuition waiver in exchange for working 20 hours per week. For additional information, please visit the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies webpage.
Program Costs Accordion Closed
Tuition costs are updated routinely by the university and posted here. University fees for technology, health, recreation, etc. vary by campus. Program fees are established by the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR). A program fee has been approved for this program. See program fee details. Program fees are subject to change and updated July 1 for the next academic year.
Programs of Study, Course Sequences and Syllabi Accordion Closed
What classes do I need to take - and in what order?
- The MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is a 60-credit hour program that most students pursue on a full-time basis. The vast majority of students who complete the program do so in about 2 years, although the program can take a bit longer for those who take fewer than 15 credits per term.
- Some of your courses may have prerequisites you must meet before enrolling. Find more information in the academic catalog.
Syllabi:
Professional Code of Ethics and Licensure Guidelines Accordion Closed
Students in this Master's program should follow the professional code of ethics and certification/licensure guidelines established by the following organizations: National Board for Certified Counselors American Counseling Association Board of Behavioral Health Examiners - State of Arizona Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs
Counseling Program CACREP Core Faculty
Flagstaff Accordion Closed
Dr. Shane Haberstroh, Professor, Program Coordinator for the Flagstaff Clinical Mental Health Counseling & School Counseling Programs
Email: Shane.Haberstroh@nau.edu
Phone: 928-523-0051
Dr. Pit Kolodinsky, Professor
Dr. Timothy Thomason, Professor Emeritus
Email: Timothy.Thomason@nau.edu
Phoenix (North Valley) Accordion Closed
Dr. Nandini Ramakrishna, Assistant Clinical Professor, Program Coordinator for the N. Valley Clinical Mental Health Counseling & School Counseling Programs
Email: Nandini.Ramakrishna@nau.edu
Phone: 602-776-4687
* North Valley Campus Practicum and Internship Co-Coordinator
Dr. Amy Biang, Assistant Clinical Professor
Email: Amy.Biang@nau.edu
Phone: 602-776-4695
* CACREP Accreditation Coordinator
Professor Evan Engle-Newman, Assistant Clinical Professor
Email: Evan.Engle-Newman@nau.edu
Phone: 602-776-4694
Dr. Chad Snyder Assistant Clinical Professor
Email: Chad.Snyder@nau.edu
Phone: 602-776-4607
Tucson Accordion Closed
Dr. Saumya Arora, Associate Clinical Professor, Program Coordinator for the Tucson Clinical Mental Health Counseling & School Counseling Programs
Email: Saumya.Arora@nau.edu
Phone: 520-879-7931
* Tucson campus Practicum and Internship Co-Coordinator
Yuma Accordion Closed
Dr. Ryan Cheung, Assistant Clinical Professor, Program Coordinator for the Yuma Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program
Email: Ryan.Cheung@nau.edu
Phone: 928-523-4314
Additional Full-time Program Faculty Accordion Closed
Dr. Jeff Strain, Assistant Professor
Phone: 928-523-4048
Email: Jeff.Strain@nau.edu
Dr. Strain BioDr. Melanie Whetstine, Assistant Teaching Professor
Phone: 928-523-4879
Email: Melanie.Whetstine@nau.edu
Dr. Whetstine Bio