Current Student Information

EDCD Courses

• EDCD 525: Advanced Human Growth and Development (3)
• EDCD 601: Introduction to Research in Counseling (3)
• EDCD 602: Foundations in Counseling (3)
• EDCD 603: Counseling Theories and Practice (3)
• EDCD 604: Assessment and Appraisal in Counseling (3)
• EDCD 606: Counseling Children and Adolescents (3)
• EDCD 608: Group Processes and Analyses (4)
• EDCD 609: Clinical Mental Health Counseling (3)
• EDCD 610: Career and Educational Counseling (3)
• EDCD 611: Introduction to Ethical and Legal Issues in School Counseling (3)
• EDCD 613: Introduction to School Counseling (3)
• EDCD 615: School-Based Mental Health (3)
• EDCD 619: Trauma and Crisis Counseling (3)
• EDCD 621: School, Family, and Community Collaboration (2)
• EDCD 626: Principles and Practices of School Counseling (3)
• EDCD 628: Counseling and Social Justice (3)
• EDCD 652: Introduction to Substance Abuse Counseling (3)
• EDCD 654: Counseling and Ethics in Community Agencies (3)
• EDCD 656: Diagnosis and Treatment Planning for Mental Health Professionals (3)
• EDCD 658: Couples and Family Counseling (3)
• EDCD 660: Multicultural Counseling (3)
• EDCD 750: Practicum in Mental Health Counseling (3)
• EDCD 751: Practicum in School Counseling (3)
• EDCD 755: Practicum in Counseling (3)
• EDCD 791: Internship in Counseling (3)
• EDCD 792: Internship in Mental Health Counseling I (3)
• EDCD 793: Internship in Mental Health Counseling II (3)
• EDCD 794: Internship in School Counseling I (3)
• EDCD 795: Internship in School Counseling II (3)
• EDCD 797: Advanced Topics in Education (1 - 6)
• EDCD 894: Advanced Family and Systems Counseling (3)
• EDCD 895: Emerging Issues in Counseling and Development (3)
• EDCD 896: Advanced Multicultural Counseling (3)
• EDCD 897: Advanced Group Counseling (3)
• EDCD 898: Grant Writing and Publishing (3)
• EDCD 899: The Theory and Practice of Counseling Supervision (4)
• EDCD 900: Leadership and Advocacy in the Counseling Profession (4)
• EDCD 990: Advanced Internship in Counseling Leadership (3)
• EDCD 991: Advanced Internship in Counseling (6)
• EDCD 992: Advanced Internship in Social Justice (3)

• Professional Dispositions

Faculty

Staff

Professional Performance Criteria

The American Counseling Association code of ethics requires counselors and counselor trainees to maintain standards of professional competence and possess good moral character. Therefore, the Counseling Program requires these Professional Dispositions.

APA Guidelines

All students taking Counseling courses are expected to use APA style described in detail in the Publications Manual of the American Psychological Association, (6th Ed., 2010) for all written work. Students are expected to purchase this book.

Attendance Policy

Two or more unexcused absences may result in no credit for the courses that are 3 credits or more. For 2 credit courses, one or more unexcused absences may result in no credit for the course. For 1 credit courses, no unexcused absences are permitted.

Readmission Policy

Admitted students who do not attend classes for two consecutive semesters (excluding the summer term) are automatically dropped from degree-seeking status. These students must apply for readmission to the program in order to return to degree-seeking status. To apply for readmission, students must:

1. Submit a statement describing (a) reasons for seeking readmission, and (b) current professional goals and activities.
2. Submit a minimum of three letters from professional references who can address your readmission to the Counseling program.
3. Submit a current transcript
4. Complete a Graduate Re-enrollment Form.
5. Observe the regular GSE admission deadlines.

Students requesting readmission may then be invited to an admission interview. Readmission is granted only upon Counseling full-time faculty's evaluation of the applicant's qualifications, interview, and past program participation.

Non-Degree

The non-degree extended study option is available for individuals who have missed the deadline for submitting a complete graduate application and desire to begin taking courses, or are interested in learning more about the field of counseling. Courses that may be taken as a non-degree student are EDCD 602: Foundations of Counseling and EDCD 525: Advanced Human Growth and Development. After admission into the program, both courses may be transferred into the master's program.

Program and Multiple Faculty Recognitions

• Two DVDs were produced by Alexander Street Press in 2012 on the C&D program’s unique training (Training Social Justice Counselors: Walking the Talk) and the C&D faculty’s innovative outreach program, Counselors Without Borders (Counselors Without Borders: Making Change for a Better World).
• Drs. Rita Chi-Ying Chung and Fred Bemak were included as 2 of 5 people in the American Counseling Association Introductory Film, entitled Giving Back to the Community, for the American Counseling Association’s Annual Conference in 2011.
• Chi Sigma Iota Outstanding Chapter Award for Exemplary Chapter Webpage, 2006

Dr. Fred Bemak

• President-Elect, 2013-2014, American Counseling Association Counselors for Social Justice Division
• Kitty Cole Human Rights Award, 2013, American Counseling Association National Award
• Fulbright Senior Scholar, 2012, Department of Educational Sciences, Anadolu University, Eskisehir, Turkey
• Professional Advancement, 2012, Association for Specialists in Group Work Award
• Taiwanese Research Visiting Scholar, 2011, Awarded position to study school counseling in Taiwan through the Taiwan Ministry of Education
• Gilbert and Kathleen Wrenn Award for a Humanitarian and Caring Person, 2011, American Counseling Association National Award
• Courtland Lee Social Justice Award, 2011, Southern Association for Counselor Education and Supervision
• American Psychological Association Fellow, 2009
• Association for Specialists in Group Work (A Division of the American Counseling Association) Fellow, 2006
• O'Hana Award for Social Justice Work 2004, Counselors for Social Justice (CSJ), a Division of the American Counseling Association.
• Fulbright Scholar, 1994-1995
• Kellogg Foundation Fellowship in International Development and Leadership, 1988-1990

Dr. Rita Chi-Ying Chung

• President of Counselors for Social Justice (Division of the American Counseling Association) 2015-2016
• 2015 American Counseling Association (ACA) Fellow.
• 2014 American Psychological Association (APA) Fellow, Division 45 (Society for the Psychological Study of Culture, Ethnicity and Race).
• 2014 Social Psychology Network Action Teaching Award, Honorable Mention.
• 2013 American Psychological Association (APA) Fellow, Division 52 (International Psychology).
• Commonwealth of Virginia Outstanding Faculty Award, 2013, State Council of Higher Education for Virginia
• Commendation Award for work on Human Rights and Social Justice, 2013, Commonwealth of Virginia General Assembly
• Gilbert and Kathleen Wrenn Award for a Humanitarian and Caring Person, 2013, American Counseling Association National Award
• Kitty Cole Human Rights Award, 2012, American Counseling Association National Award
• Professional Advancement Award, 2012, Association for Specialists in Group Work
• Courtland Lee Social Justice Award, 2011, Southern Association for Counselor Education and Supervision
• Kitty Cole Human Rights Award, 2011, Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development
• Invited to speak about Child Trafficking at United Nations, 2008, United Nations, New York
• Association for Specialists in Group Work (ASGW) Fellow 2008, ASGW a Division of the American Counseling Association
• O'hana Honors Award for Social Justice Work 2004, Counselors for Social Justice (CSJ), a Division of the American Counseling Association.

Dr. Stephanie F. Dailey

• Chair-elect & Trustee, American Counseling Association Foundation, 2017-2021
• ACA Liaison, American Red Cross Disaster Mental Health Partners, 2009-current
• Chair, 2018-2019 Crisis, Disaster, & Trauma Counseling ACA Presidential Task Force
• Chair, 2017-2018 Crisis Preparedness & Trauma Counseling ACA Presidential Task Force
• Co-chair, 2016-2017 Increasing Diversity within ACA Leadership ACA Presidential Task Force
• President, Association for Spiritual, Ethical, and Religious Values in Counseling, 2015-2016
• President, Maryland Counseling Association, 2014-2015
• Co-chair, ACA Ethics Committee, 2014-2016
• ASERVIC Executive Board Member, 2011 – 2014
• Commissioner, Arlington County Emergency Preparedness Advisory Commission, 2010-2013
• 2017 Excellence in Teaching Award (Argosy University)
• 2016 Maryland Counseling Association President’s Award for Advocacy & Equality

Dr. Rachael D. Goodman

• Coordinator, Counselors Without Borders, 2013, outreach to Pine Ridge Indian Reservation
• Editorial Board Member, 2011-2014, Journal of Mental Health Counseling (JMHC)
• Pre-Conference Service Day Coordinator, 2013, Counselors for Social Justice (CSJ)
• Emerging Leaders Fellow, 2010, Southern Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (SACES)
• Outstanding Research Award, 2009, Chi Sigma Iota (CSI) International
• Dr. Daya & Mrs. Usha K. Sandhu Multicultural Counseling/Diversity Student Research Award, 2009, Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development (AMCD)
• President, Florida Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development, 2009-2010

Dr. Shekila Melchior

• Virginia Alliance for School Counseling President Elect, 2020 - 2021
• Emerging Leader for the Association of Counselor Education & Supervision, 2017
• Editorial Board Member for the Journal of Adolescent and Family Health, 2017 – 2019
• Social Justice Work Group: ACES School Counselor Interest Network, 2018 - current
• Counselors for Social Justice, Advocacy Committee Chair 2018 – 2019
• ACA School Counseling Taskforce, 2017 – 2018
• ACA Immigration Taskforce, 2017 – 2018
• Graduate Student Commencement Speaker at Virginia Tech, 2017
• Outstanding Doctoral Graduate Student – College of Liberal Arts & Sciences at Virginia Tech, 2017
• Edward Bouchet Honor Society, 2017
• National Board of Certified Counselors Doctoral Minority Fellow, 2015

Dr. Sam Steen

• Associate Editor, Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 2016-present
• Professional Advancement Award, Association for Specialists in Group Work (A Division of the American Counseling Association), 2019
• Counselors for Social Justice, Newsletter Co-Editor, 2019-present
• Fellow, Association for Specialists in Group Work, 2018
• Presidential Award, Association for Specialists in Group Work, 2011
• Best Group Research Article of the Year, Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 2009
• Holmes Scholar, American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, 2003-2007

Tori Stone, PhD, LPC

• Chairperson of the Northern Virginia School Counseling Leadership Team
• Virginia School Counselor Association Board of Directors 2018-2019
• Human Rights and Social Justice Committee Member, Virginia School Counselor Association 2010 – 2013.
• Above and Beyond Award, Prince William County, VA, Student Services, 2012.
• Coordinator, American School Counselor Association Recognized ASCA Model School Counseling Program (Re-RAMP) application, Bull Run Middle School, Prince William County, VA., 2011.
• Coordinator, American School Counselor Association Recognized ASCA Model School Counseling Program (RAMP) application, Bull Run Middle School, Prince William County, VA., 2008.
• Middle School Vice President, Virginia School Counselor Association, 2006 – 2007
• Secretary, Virginia School Counselor Association, 2004 – 2005
• Middle School Counselor of the Year, Virginia School Counselor Association, 2002.

Dr. Regine M. Talleyrand

• Editorial Board Member, 2012-present, Journal for Social Action in Counseling and Psychology

Counseling Student Recognition:

The Counseling faculty are proud to announce that Mirella Saldaña has been selected as Virginia School Counselor Association’s (VSCA) Graduate Student of Year!

Mirella demonstrates excellence in scholarship as well as a commitment to our program mission of social justice, advocacy, multiculturalism, and leadership. She works as a program coordinator in the Early Identification program, helping first generation college students to find academic success at Mason. Mirella is a passionate advocate for recent immigrant students and volunteers her time working with the Mason DREAMers program to promote a more inclusive educational climate for undocumented students. She also has facilitated focus groups with undocumented students in Fairfax County in an effort to identify their mental health needs. Mirella will be honored at the upcoming VSCA conference October 11-13 in Hampton, Virginia. Please join us in wishing her congratulations!