Emphasis: Acceptance and Mindfulness informed Therapies

This emphasis area prepares students to use acceptance and mindfulness approaches in clinical practice. The therapies explored in this emphasis area include Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and other third-wave behavioral treatments. Due to its strong research backing, ACT will be the primary therapy taught in this emphasis. The three developmental aims of this emphasis area are to develop the person-of-the-counselor through embodied mindful practice, develop the knowledge of the counselor through the depth of theoretical understanding, and develop the skills of the counselor through clinical application. Upon completion of this emphasis area, a student will be prepared to address the broad spectrum of clinical presentations across the lifespan using these contextual, process, and behaviorally based approaches to counseling.