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Gerocounseling Concentration | Graduate Degree Program

Gerocounseling Concentration

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Ottawa University’s Master’s in Counseling with a Gerocounseling concentration focuses on understanding how to serve the needs of a growing population of older adults. Course topics include:

  • Perspectives on Aging
  • Counseling Adults
  • Adult Therapy
  • Wellness Counseling

As a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), you will be able to examine specific strategies and understand, assess and counsel adults in late adulthood; examine health promotion models, preventive management techniques, and models and techniques for behavior change; and examine stress and illness, personality and disease, high-risk populations and behaviors, and gender and cultural issues.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau (2007), the population of people 65 and older is projected to increase by 200% by 2025. As the population of older adults continues to grow, the demand for competent mental health professionals to provide treatment interventions to this population will also grow. Earning a Master’s in Counseling with a concentration in Gerocounseling can increase your marketability for employment as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC).

For curriculum and course descriptions please download a program overview.

Gerocounseling is offered at the following locations.

  • Kansas City (Overland Park, Kansas)
  • Brookfield, Wisconsin
  • Online

Gerocounseling Concentration Courses

Perspectives on Aging | PYC 7392 (3 Credits)
This course, through the use of the final two stages of Erickson's developmental model, facilitates the development of a framework which is utilized to assess the experiences and needs of the older adult and their families. 

Expressive Arts Therapies | PYC 8132 (3 Credits)
Examines theories, techniques and applications of play, art, music, dance and other expressive therapeutic approaches. Prerequisite: Minimum of 15 semester credit hours of graduate counseling coursework.

Counseling Adult II: Late Adulthood | PYC 8372 (3 Credits)
Specific strategies will be studied for understanding, assessing and counseling adults in late adulthood. Emphasis placed on social, emotional and physical stressors specific to this adult developmental stage and related transitions, as well as on understanding the individual within a systems context.

Well Counseling: Risk, Prevention and Modification | PYC 8452 (3 Credits) 
Course examines health promotion models, preventive management techniques, and models and techniques for behavior change. Comprehensive inquiry focusing on psychological processes, and individual behaviors and lifestyles which affect a person's physical, emotional and social health. Topics include stress and illness, personality and disease, high-risk populations and behaviors, and gender and cultural issues.

Advanced Special Topics: Counseling | PYC 8552 (3 Credits)
Advanced elective graduate topics in the field of Counseling.

Full Degree Catalog

University Accreditation

Ottawa University, as a whole, is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Specific degree programs within our institution have also been accredited by relevant bodies within the field:

We are proudly recognized for our commitment to student excellence by the following designations:

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