Acadia University School of Education

Master of Education (Counselling)

Program Mission

The Counselling Program at Acadia University is dedicated to the preparation of leaders of the counselling profession through the pursuit of disciplined inquiry, the understanding of and respect for human diversity, and the development, use and evaluation of effective counselling practices. Counselling is a helping profession devoted to the prevention, remediation and amelioration of emotional, cognitive, behavioural, and interpersonal difficulties, and the enhancement of human potential and quality of life. These aims are sought by integrating theory and practice, and with the awareness and skills to work with diverse populations from individual, social, and organizational perspectives.

Acadia’s Master of Education in Counselling Program provides an accredited and quality based foundational program preparing professionals for a variety of work settings.

Goal

The goal of the program is to educate professionals about the orientation and priorities of counsellor education; namely the personal, the academic and the professional.

The Personal

(Who we are)

Counselling involves the person of the counsellor, the person of the client and the process between them. Acadia’s program recognizes the value of self-knowledge and self-awareness. The identity, authenticity and integrity of the person of the counsellor are important dimensions in the practice of counselling and thus in a counsellor education program. Students are encouraged to address on a regular basis important philosophical questions about who they are and what motivates their lives. Personal reflection can be done through journaling, shared discussion groups, class check-ins and professional counselling or accompaniment.

The Academic

(What we need to know and why)

Counsellors need academic knowledge about the foundations of counselling and current issues and research facing practitioners. It is important to know how different theories of counselling view the nature of people and how the social, emotional, cognitive, and internal and external processes affect how they live their lives. An important part of academic knowledge is the knowledge of human development and the understanding of the personal and career issues facing people at various stages in their lives.

The Professional

(How we practise)

The professional dimension includes the practical aspects of counselling including the pre-practicum skills and interventions and the application of these skills and interventions in an applied supervised setting. The professional dimension will also include knowledge of legal and ethical issues related to counselling along with involvement in various professional associations. A professional counsellor values on-going continued professional development to maintain high standards of practice.

Objectives

The principal objectives of the program are:

1. to integrate the three dimensions of counselling such that students will develop an attitude to learning that involves an appreciation for the personal, the academic and the professional dimensions of counselling

2. to understand and respond appropriately to the counselling needs of others

3. to appreciate the need and commitment for ongoing professional development as counsellors

Throughout the program students will demonstrate their understanding and knowledge of:

the profession of counselling, its history, philosophy and professional associations
ethical and legal issues
interviewing and counselling skills and intervention
group process
diversitycareer
development
assessment and research methods

The mission, goals, orientation, priorities and objectives are reviewed annually by the Advisory Committee for the Counselling Program.