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The Professional Counseling Program offers intensive studies that stress skill training and clinical preparation for licensure as a professional counselor.  It has three majors: Professional Counseling, Addictions Counseling, and Industrial/Organizational Psychology—Counseling and Consulting.  The Professional Counseling major prepares students to receive generalist training in the professional counseling field, whereas the other two majors provide specialization in Addictions and I/O Psychology.

The Professional Counseling Program offers post-Master’s certificate programs for those individuals who need additional credits for licensure.  Each major (Professional Counseling, Addictions Counseling, and I/O-Counseling and Consulting) has its own certificate program. 

Who are Professional Counselors and What Do They Do?

Although the specific title differs by state, licensed professional counselors (LPCs) are master’s-level clinicians who provide mental health, psychological, or human development principles to address wellness, personal growth, career development, and mental or emotional health issues.  Education and training is oriented toward the adoption of a client-centered, rather than illness-centered, approach. 

LPCs work with individuals or groups in the assessment and treatment of psychological disorders.  Other activities of counselors include consultation, prevention, and research.  LPCs make up a large percentage of the workforce employed in mental health agencies and organizations, and their work is covered by managed care organizations and health plans.  Many LPCs have a private practice.

What is the Program?

The Professional Counseling (PC) Program at La Salle places an emphasis on the integration of theory and practice. It is a 48 credit hour program which is normally completed in three years part-time or two years full-time. It prepares students for licensure as Professional Counselors in Pennsylvania and most other states, and/or to be certified by the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC). Upon graduation from the program, students are eligible to take the national exam for this certification at La Salle or another site approved by NBCC. La Salle’s Professional Counseling program is also excellent preparation for those students planning to pursue doctoral studies in clinical or counseling psychology.

How does the Program Progress?

The PC program progresses from a knowledge base of core courses in counseling theory and psychology to a sequence of skills courses in assessment and intervention.  The experience culminates with clinical practice in a one-semester Practicum which is followed by a 12-month Internship. 

What are the Degree Requirements?

1. 48 credit hours
2. Written and oral comprehensive examinations
3. 700 hours of supervised field experience:
   • A one-semester Practicum of at least 100 hours (approximately 6-7 hours/week)
• A calendar year of at least 600 hours of Internship (approximately 12-16 hours/week), 300 of which have to be direct-client contact

*No thesis required

Why study Professional Counseling at La Salle?

La Salle has been training counselors and therapists since 1979. Its faculty is highly qualified and posses a wide range of disciplinary expertise. Its resources are extensive, including:

• Connelly Library – a state-of-the art library with extensive holdings in counseling and psychology.
• An Assessment Laboratory that contains a wide variety of testing materials and resources
• A Counseling Laboratory containing videotaping equipment
• Affiliations with many nationally recognized agencies and clinics in the Philadelphia area, which is especially rich in its mental health resources.  Sites include:
• Aldie Counseling Center (Doylestown, PA)
• Arcadia University Counseling Center (Glenside, PA)
• Behavioral Health Center for Older Adults (Langhorne, PA)
• Catholic Charities (Camden & Trenton, NJ)
• Center for Families & Relationships (Philadelphia, PA)
• Eagleville Hospital (Eagleville, PA)
• Drexel University Counseling Center (Philadelphia, PA)
• Intercommunity Action (Philadelphia, PA)
• Lenape Valley Foundation (Doylestown & Bristol, PA)
• Northern Home (Philadelphia, PA)
• NHS Human Services (Philadelphia & Lansdale, PA)
• Today, Inc. (Middletown Twp, PA)

The thoroughness of La Salle’s training is widely recognized in the Philadelphia area and sets its graduates apart.

Location

A noteworthy feature of La Salle's Professional Counseling Program is that it is offered in its entirety at three campuses:

• Main Campus, in Philadelphia (20th Street & Olney Avenue)
• Bucks County in Newtown, PA
• Montgomery County in Plymouth Meeting, PA

Students can choose to take classes at any of these campuses.

Admission Requirements

Students are accepted into the program three times a year to begin their studies in the Fall, Spring or Summer semester.

To be eligible, students must present:

• Evidence of completion of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution of higher education with a minimum of 15 hours in psychology, counseling or Marriage
  and Family Studies and a GPA of 3.0. Be sure to submit all transcripts of academic institutions attended, particularly if credits were transferred.

• Three letters of recommendation. This should include a college professor who can assess your academic qualifications and abilities as well as a supervisor (if you are in or have worked in the field), who can assess your professional qualifications, abilities and motivation for enrolling in this program.

• Acceptable scores in the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Millers Analogies Test (MAT). Arrangements to take the MAT may be made with the Counseling Center of La Salle University. Information on GRE scheduling is also available from the Counseling Center. (Note: This requirement is waived if you already possess a Masters Degree, in any field. It may be waived if you have a cumulative G.P.A. of 3.5 or higher.)

• The Application for Admission, accompanied by the stipulated application fee payable to La Salle University. This fee is waived for online applications.

• Work experience (paid or volunteer) in an area related to one of the program’s Clinical Counseling Psychology majors.

• A Personal Statement:
  You have made the decision to apply to La Salle’s masters program. This is a professional program designed to train you to become a mental health clinician and/or a human resources professional.
  In your statement, please include what professionalism means to you with regard to you becoming a mental health clinician and/or a human resources professional. In addition, please include some information about yourself, your intentions concerning your academic and career paths, why you choose the La Salle master’s program, your expectations of the program, what you will contribute to the program, and what you believe you will eventually contribute to the mental health field.
  Evidence of the ability to meet the qualifications, both academic and professional, required for field placement in the profession. These are described in the Student Handbook.
  Deadlines for submission of completed applications are as follows:

  • For entry into the Spring semester: no later than December 15
  • For entry into the Summer semester: no later than April 15
  • For entry into the Fall semester: no later than July 15

Life experience is valued and therefore some preference will be given applicants who present relevant work experience, either paid or volunteer.

Full-Time Program
Complete M.A. and licensure requirements (60 credits) in two years - Scholarships available

Donna A. Tonrey, Psy.D., LMFT
Director
Graduate Clinical Counseling Psychology
1900 West Olney Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19141 USA
Phone (215) 951-1767
Fax (215) 991-3585
e-mail: psyma@lasalle.edu

John J. Rooney, Ph.D.
Director
Professional Counseling Program
1900 West Olney Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19141 USA
Phone (215) 951-1767
Fax (215) 991-3585
e-mail: psyma@lasalle.edu