Expressive Arts Therapy

Specialty Program

Add the healing power of creative expression and exploration to your practice with the Expressive Arts Therapy Specialty. This experiential program includes modalities such as:

• Visual arts
• Movement-based creative expression
• Sound/music
• Creative writing
• Nature-based practice

About the Program

A unique, 12-credit specialty that can be added to the CACREP-accredited Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Marriage, Couples, and Family Counseling, and Co-Occurring Disorders and Addiction Counseling concentrations.

Field Experience

Hands-on learning opportunities include a supervised internship (200 hours of which integrates expressive arts).
Graduate Certificate in Co-Occurring Disorders and Addiction Counseling

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate

Graduate Certificate in Co-Occurring Disorders and Addiction Counseling

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate

About the Program

This 23-30 credit certificate requires successful completion of a combination of required courses and internship components.

Internship Required

Four credits of internship are required, but an additional credit may be necessary to complete a total of 880 hours of field experience.

M.A. Counseling Program

Master of Arts in Counseling

The mission of our CACREP-accredited counseling program is to prepare mental health professionals to provide ethical and competent counseling for the real-world needs of a diverse global community.

About the Program

Guided by a diverse faculty, Adler Graduate School’s counseling program is designed to meet the needs of adult learners and offers courses online, on campus, or in a hybrid format. Some online courses are synchronous, other asynchronous.

Specialty Areas

Adler Graduate School’s counseling program is offered in three specialty areas with specific requirements aimed at preparing professionals to meet specific client needs. Students will choose one of the specialty areas below to guide their program of study.
Course Catalog

Master of Arts in Counseling, Art Therapy

Master of Arts in Counseling

The mission of The Adler Graduate School's Art Therapy Program is to educate students on the fundamental knowledge that artmaking in therapy is healing and life-enhancing. Guided by Adlerian principles, graduates develop an ethical professional identity and service orientation that will inform and enrich a diverse community through the practice of art therapy.

About the Program

This 67/70-65/68 credit master’s program features foundational, theoretical, and counseling courses alongside specialized art therapy training, experiential learning, and hands-on creative opportunities. Two Tracks. Students choose whether to pursue a Marriage and Family Therapy track (65 credits) or a Clinical Mental Health Counseling track (68 credits) alongside their art therapy training.

Field Experience Required

The required 700 hours of fieldwork includes 100 hours of supervised practicum and 600 hours of clinical- or community-based internship. A minimum of 350 internship hours are spent providing direct art therapy services, and students receive one hour of on-site supervision for every 10 hours of client contact.

Master of Arts in Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Master of Arts in Counseling

Become a licensed clinical mental health professional and foster holistic wellness in diverse populations through this CACREP-accredited counseling program concentration.

About the Program

This 60-credit master’s program includes a combination of courses, internship, and electronic portfolio creating a flexible path to becoming a licensed mental health counselor.

Internship Required

Complete 700 hours of field experience, including 100 hours of practicum and 600 hours of clinical internship under the supervision of a licensed mental health professional.

Master of Arts in Counseling, Co-Occurring Disorders and Addiction Counseling

Master of Arts in Counseling

Learn to address addiction, substance use disorders, and common co-occurring mental health conditions through the lens of Adlerian Psychology with this CACREP-accredited counseling program concentration.

About the Program

This 64-73 credit master’s program includes a combination of required coursework, internship, and electronic portfolio that provides a flexible path to becoming a licensed mental health counselor.

Internship Required

Complete 880 hours of fieldwork, including 100 hours of practicum and at least 600 hours of clinical internship under the supervision of a licensed mental health professional.

Master of Arts in Counseling, Marriage, Couples, and Family Counseling

Master of Arts in Counseling

Become a licensed marriage and family therapist and help couples and families of all ages and backgrounds overcome relational challenges through this CACREP-accredited counseling program concentration.

About the Program

This 60-credit master’s program includes a combination of required courses, internship, and electronic portfolio that create a flexible path to becoming a licensed mental health counselor.

Internship Required

Complete 700 hours of field work experience that includes 100 hours of practicum and 600 hours of clinical internship under the supervision of a licensed mental health professional.
Post-Master’s Certificate in Art Therapy

Post-Master's Certificate

Post-Master’s Certificate in Art Therapy

Post-Master's Certificate

The mission of The Adler Graduate School's Art Therapy Program is to educate students on the fundamental knowledge that artmaking in therapy is healing and life-enhancing. Guided by Adlerian principles, graduates develop an ethical professional identity and service orientation that will inform and enrich a diverse community through the practice of art therapy.

About the Program

The Post-Master’s Certificate in Art Therapy combines the expressive use of art media and psychotherapeutic concepts to encourage the enhancement of your professional identity and build skills to provide service to diverse communities and support social justice and societal change. The 37-credit post-master’s certificate program provides you the required art therapy content courses and experiential learning that is infused with hands-on creative opportunities in all of the art therapy courses. The certificate will prepare you with the academic and field experiences to pursue Registration and Board Certification from the Art Therapy Credentials Board (ATCB) after completion of post-certificate experience and supervision

Field Experience Required

The field experience provides you with supportive and integrative clinical or community based learning opportunities. It includes 100 hours of supervised practicum and 600 hours of supervised internship. 350 of the hours must be in providing direct art therapy services. On-site supervision of one hour for every 10 hours of client contact is required.
Post-Master’s Certificate in Counseling

Post-Master's Certificate

Post-Master’s Certificate in Counseling

Post-Master's Certificate

Post-Master’s Certificate in Counseling

About the Program

This 21-27 credit certificate fulfills the requirements needed to become a licensed clinical mental health professional through personalized program plans based on past professional, educational, and clinical experiences.

Expanded Fieldwork

Gain additional field experience and internship hours to help meet state licensure requirements.
Post-Master’s Certificate in Expressive Arts Therapy

Post-Master's Certificate

Post-Master’s Certificate in Expressive Arts Therapy

Post-Master's Certificate

Broaden your scope of practice with the healing power of creative expression and exploration. This 12–18 credit online certificate explores expressive modalities such as:
• Visual arts
• Movement-based creative expression
• Sound/music
• Creative writing
• Nature-based practice.

About the Program

This post-master’s certificate will help you build on your professional experience and add the healing power of creative expression and exploration to your work. Discover how the expressive arts can be integrated into your current clinical, educational, and community work.

Field Experience

Hands-on learning opportunities include 200 hours of supervised expressive arts fieldwork.