The specialization in clinical rehabilitation counseling prepares students to perform vital roles for clients with mental health issues and co-occurring disabilities. We draw on fields such as counseling, psychology, medicine, psychiatry, sociology, social work, education and law to prepare clinically skilled, knowledgeable and committed rehabilitation counseling professionals. Our program emphasizes the successful functioning of the whole person within a variety of systems, not just a person dealing with a diagnosis or disability.

Students develop the ability to serve people with a wide array of disability-related and/or mental health problems impacting the individual, the family and society. They receive their training and work in a variety of clinical settings to develop competencies and cultural humility to better understand the influences of factors such as culture and bias.

Students who complete the specialization in clinical rehabilitation counseling are eligible to sit for the national examination to become a certified rehabilitation counselor. This designation indicates a higher level of specialized education and training in counseling individuals with co-occurring disabilities and mental health/substance use issues. Certified rehabilitation counselors are required to complete 100 continuing education hours every five years to maintain certification.

Course Requirements

19 courses | 60 credits

Required courses:

• COU500: Professional Orientation and Ethics
• COU501: Human Growth and Development
• COU502: Cultural Equity in Counseling
• COU503: Theories of Counseling
• COU505: Trauma Informed Counseling
• COU506: Research Methods
• COU513: Working With Intimate Relationships in Counseling
• COU515: Diagnosis and Treatment Planning
• COU518: Assessment and Appraisal
• COU526: Group Process
• COU527: Career Counseling
• COU535: Substance Use in Counseling
• COU541: Capstone: Integrated Meaning Through Action and Advocacy
• RHB505: Motivational Interviewing
• RHB538: CBT and DBT Skills
• RHB540: Medical and Psychosocial Aspects of Chronic Illness and Disability
• RHB550: Foundations of Rehabilitation Counseling

Clinical requirements:

• RHB522: Practicum and Seminar
• RHB570: Internship I and Seminar
• RHB571: Internship II and Seminar

These courses include 600 hours of clinical training in rehabilitation and mental health settings, 45 hours of clinical supervision in the community and more than 100 hours of clinical supervision in the classroom. Clinical training emphasizes ethical practices, multicultural and social justice competencies, principles and models of biopsychosocial case conceptualization, and rehabilitation and mental health treatment planning.

State Licensing Requirements and Certification

Following completion of the master's degree in clinical counseling with a specialization in clinical rehabilitation counseling, students can apply to become a licensed clinical mental health counselor-associate (LMHC-A). At the second tier of licensure (LMHC), students complete 2,000 hours of supervised clinical internship with an on-site supervisor who meets licensure standards, and are required to take the licensure exam. No University supervision is required past the 60-credit degree. Licensed mental health counselors must obtain continuing education after graduation; required hours vary based on state regulations.

Students who complete the specialization in clinical rehabilitation counseling are eligible to sit for the national examination to become a certified rehabilitation counselor (CRC). This designation indicates a higher level of specialized education and training in counseling individuals with co-occurring disabilities and mental health/substance use issues. CRCs are required to complete 100 continuing education hours every five years to maintain certification.

We recommend that students research the specific requirements for licensed mental health counselors in the state where they intend to practice. Licensing laws and regulations vary across states and can change from year to year. Salve Regina is not responsible for knowing the requirements of states other than Rhode Island. It is the student's responsibility to know the licensure requirements in the state where they intend to practice.