Counseling and Development

Program Description

Welcome to the George Mason University Counseling and Development Program. The Counseling and Development Program offers a Doctoral Program, Master's Degree Programs in Community Agency Counseling, and School Counseling as well as Post-Master's Licensure Programs for aspiring Licensed Professional Counselors and School Counselors. The Counseling and Development Program is housed within the Graduate School of Education and has faculty from leadership positions in communities and schools.

Mission Statement

The Counseling and Development Program is committed to preparing counselors who promote the social, psychological, physical, and spiritual health of individuals, families, communities, and organizations in order to contribute to the advancement of global well being. The program strives for national and international excellence in implementing a counseling perspective which provides a foundation in basic counseling skills and focuses on social justice, multiculturalism, international, advocacy and leadership. It is our belief that a global perspective on development across the life span, and an understanding and appreciation of multiculturalism, diversity, and social justice are integral to the preparation of professional counselors, requiring that professional counselors are prepared to assume leadership roles, be proactive change agents and become advocates for social, economic and political justice. The program is committed to accomplish this mission by working through interdisciplinary teams as well as promote the interconnectedness of teaching, research, service and professional practice. Through this mission faculty will facilitate a continued tradition of international, national and regional leadership through the development of collaborative partnerships and projects, research, publications, presentations, consultation, and training.

News and Announcements

Dr. Rita Chi-Ying Chung Receives Kitty Cole Human Rights Award

Dr. Rita Chi-Ying Chung was recipient of the Kitty Cole Human Rights Award from the Association of Multicultural Counseling and Development (AMCD).

Faculty and Student Participation in the 2011 American Counseling Association’s Conference in New Orleans, LA

New Orleans Giving Back to the Community Service Project

Students from GMU participated in the project: Porche Leonard, Jenifer Rutter, Amie Charlery, Casey Quigley, Sarah Bednar, Lorraine Engel and Meg Breeden.

On Thursday, March 24, 2011 a group of seven Mason counseling students participated in the New Orleans Giving Back to the Community Service Project. Giving Back to the Community is held annually at ACA. In collaboration with Operation Nehemiah, ACA participants had the opportunity to work on the Historic Holt Cemetery Rebuilding Project organized by Dr. Michael D’Andrea. Over 120 ACA participants worked at Holt Cemetery moving debris from Hurricane Katrina, building coping for grave sites, finding unmarked graves and eliminating the tall weeds or extremely overgrown grass.

Bemak Receives Fulbright Specialists Award

Fred Bemak.

Mason professor Fred Bemak was selected for a Fulbright Specialists project in the United Kingdom from March 3 to 17.

Bemak, who is also the director of the Diversity Research and Action Center, was invited by the Department of Counselling and Psychotherapy in the School of Health in Social Science, which is based in the Medical School at the University of Edinburgh in Edinburgh, Scotland.