Discover our mental health counseling concentrations in Addictions Counseling and Trauma Studies. These specialized areas of study are designed to equip you with the right skills for a rewarding career in counseling and complement your master's degree in Mental Health Counseling (in the U.S.1), Mental Health Counseling (in Puerto Rico) or School Adjustment & Mental Health Counseling (in MA).
1 Students should refer to their state's licensure requirements.
The Addictions Counseling master's concentration will equip you to develop the knowledge and skills for effective counseling, treatment, education and prevention.
Program Highlights
Graduates will complete the coursework and field experience required for licensed alcohol and drug counselor (LADC) certification.
Addictions Counseling Careers
Addictions counseling professionals help people through public health agencies, youth services, residential treatment programs, hospitals, outpatient substance abuse programs and homeless shelters.
$76,980
Median annual pay for substance abuse, behavioral disorder and mental health counselors**
388,200
Number of substance abuse, behavioral disorder and mental health counselor jobs**
**Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/substance-abuse-behavioral-disorder-and-mental-health-counselors.htm (visited December 21, 2023).
Course List
Choose three of the following courses to complete the Addictions Counseling concentration:
- Addiction Disorders
- Family Treatment of Substance Use Disorders
- Alcohol and Drugs in Society
- Psychopharmacology in Addictions and Mental Health Counseling
The master's concentration in Trauma Studies is built on a commitment to educating compassionate, ethical and effective trauma specialists. The program emphasizes the role of trauma specialists in implementing trauma-informed care across disciplines and utilizing community resources. This training in crisis intervention, trauma treatment and prevention.
Program Highlights
Students will gain knowledge of crisis, trauma, post-traumatic stress reactions, trauma-specific interventions and disaster mental health in multi-cultural settings. They can apply the learned skills in trauma assessment, counseling and treatment to effectively respond to immediate and long-term needs of survivors, including war veterans, survivors of child abuse, first responders, immigrants and refugees, as well as victims of crime, disasters, domestic violence, sex trafficking and torture.
Trauma-Focused Careers
Graduates will qualify to work in crisis response teams, provide trauma-informed care in community mental health, addiction treatment and rehabilitation programs in school settings and provide support for veterans, survivors of gender-based violence and refugees.
$79,180
Median annual pay for emergency management directors*
11,800
Number of emergency management jobs*
*Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Emergency Management Directors, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/emergency-management-directors.htm (visited December 21, 2023).
Course List
The Trauma Studies concentration includes the following courses:
- Post Traumatic Stress Reactions
- Clinical Interventions for Combat Stress and Trauma
- Trauma Interventions in Schools
- Trauma Specific Interventions