CACREP Accredited

The MA in Counseling with an Emphasis in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is accredited by The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), and offered at our campus locations in Columbia and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and online for students in the following states:

Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia and Washington

Clinical Mental Health Counseling is the primary emphasis pursued by our students. This program is designed to support the development of students as competent counselors for a career in this growing profession. The program is 60 credit hours and includes a 15-month clinical experience where students gain hands-on training working with actual clients in a variety of mental health settings.

Our online program combines counselor education with technology to provide a robust learning experience for students from the comfort of their homes. The curriculum is delivered in nine-week terms with weekly synchronous or asynchronous course meetings, making our program accessible to counselors in training across the United States. All synchronous classes meet virtually once a week from 5:30–9:30 p.m. CST.

In addition to these nine-week courses, students have the option to participate in one week-long residency for skills-intensive courses; to facilitate proper planning, details are provided sixth months in advance. During this intensive, students work to develop and practice skills needed for both individual and group counseling. It is possible to complete the program without a residency as this same coursework is available in the regular synchronous online format.

Counseling Licensing Requirements

Counselor licensing requirements vary by state. The Counseling curriculum is designed to satisfy the educational requirements for licensure in the states where we offer the Counseling program. It is the student’s responsibility to educate themselves on the licensure or certification requirements of the state where they wish to pursue licensure or certification.

Please note that state licensure and certification requirements are reviewed from time to time. The Department of Professional Counseling is committed to ensuring that students have the curricular and academic preparation to make them eligible to apply for initial licensure or certification. The department may therefore revise curriculum from time to time in order to keep abreast of changes in licensure and certification requirements where possible.

Licensure by State:

Webster’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree prepares students for licensure in these 15 states. We know that life happens, and students may end up moving to a different state while in the program or after graduation. Most states require a similar core curriculum with differing additional requirements. For details on individual state licensure (LPC and LMHC) or certification requirements, consult counseling.org/knowledge-center/licensure-requirements.

Each student enrolled in the Online Counseling Program is assigned a faculty advisor. Advisors are full-time faculty and have knowledge of licensing requirements in various states. Students must work with their academic advisor to ensure that their program plan fulfills all education requirements for licensure in their respective state.

Professional Counseling Faculty: South Carolina and Online

Alexanderia Smith

Alexanderia Smith, PhD, LPC

Associate Department Chair, Counseling Coordinator-South Carolina Program, Professional Counseling

Alexanderia Smith received her PhD in Counselor Education from the University of South Carolina in Columbia in 2007, her MEd in Guidance and Counseling with an Emphasis in Community Counseling from the University of Georgia in 2001, and her BA in Psychology and Criminal Justice from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 1999.

Smith is a nationally certified counselor, a licensed professional counselor and a licensed addictions counselor for the state of South Carolina. She is also a certified addictions counselor. She has experience working in addictions, as well as with survivors of sexual trauma. Smith has presented at both local and national conferences. She is also published in edited books and scholarly journals. Her research interests include womanism and innovative counseling teaching strategies.

Download Alexanderia Smith's CV (PDF)

George, R., and Smith, A. (2020). Nightmare on Black Magic Street: The reality of staying woke. In Matias, C.E. (Ed.), "Surviving Becky(s): Pedagogies for deconstructing whiteness and gender." Lanham, MD: Lexington Books.

Smith, A., and George, R. (2019). Black girl glare. In Culbreth, D., Jung, J., & Murti, L. (Eds.), "Our voices our stories: An anthology of writings advancing, celebrating, embracing and empowering girls and women of color." Jersey City, NJ: Complexity Publishing, Inc.

George, R., and Smith, A. (2019). How I got over: Tales of triumph and truth from black women educators. In Jefferies, R. (Ed.), "Queen Mothers: Articulating the spirit of black women teacher leaders." Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing Inc.

Colistra, A., and Smith, A. (2017). Patterns of Loss and Grief in Treating Alcohol Use Disorders: An Integration of 12 Steps and Stages of Grief Approaches. Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly 35 (2), 179-182.

Smith, A.T. (2015). Career choice influences: The self-efficacy profiles of counseling students. VISTAS 2015.

Rebecca George

Rebecca George, PhD, LPC

Instructor, Director of Assessment, Clinical Coordinator-Columbia and Myrtle Beach, Professional Counseling

Rebecca George joined Webster University as an adjunct counseling faculty member for the Columbia Metropolitan Campus in 2007. She became a core full-time faculty in 2015. George earned an MS in Rehabilitation Counseling from South Carolina State University in 2000, and earned her PhD in Counselor Education from the University of South Carolina in 2007. She is a nationally certified counselor, a licensed professional counselor, as well as an approved clinical supervisor counselor. She has also worked as the Director of Family Life Intervention Program at Carolina Children’s Home and taught Special Education in Columbia, South Carolina.

Download Rebecca George's CV (PDF)

Smith, A., and George, R. (2019). Black girl glare. In Culbreth, D., Jung, J., & Murti, L. (Eds.), "Our voices our stories: An anthology of writings advancing, celebrating, embracing and empowering girls and women of color." Jersey City, NJ: Complexity Publishing, Inc.

George, R., and Smith, A. (In Press). Nightmare on Black Magic Street: The reality of staying woke. In Matias, C. E. (Ed.), "Surviving Becky(s): Pedagogies of whiteness and Gender."

O’Brien, D. and George, R. (2019) Narrative Family Therapy. In Gold, J. (Ed.). "Intervening for Stepfamily Success: One Care, Multiple
Perspectives." Alexandria, VA: ACA

George, R. &. Smith, A., (March 20, 2019, Aired). In BlogTalk Radio “Our Voices Our Stories Mini Series,” Episode 3: On Being Our Sisters’ Keeper.

George, R. and Smith, A. T. (In Press.). How I got over”…tales of triumph and truth from Black women educators. In Jeffries, R. "Queen Mothers: Articulating the Spirit of Black Women Teacher-Leaders," IAP. In Press.

Claire Martin

Claire Martin, PhD, LPC, NCC, ACS, BC-TMH

Assistant Professor, Clinical Coordinator-Online, Professional Counseling

Claire Martin is an assistant professor in the Counseling Department at Webster University. She holds a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision from the University of Missouri-St. Louis, an MEd in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Missouri-St. Louis, and an MA in Psychology from the City University of New York-Hunter College. Martin is committed to developing counselors’ competencies in multiculturalism and trauma-informed practices. Her scholarly activities focus on the intersectionality between oppression, discriminatory policies and practices, and the development of psychological trauma in marginalized populations.

In 2019, she received the Counseling Fellowship in Social Justice Award, and in 2020, the E. Desmond Lee Urban Education Scholarship from the University of Missouri-St. Louis; both are awarded based on scholarly interests and advocacy that reflect a commitment to social justice in counseling and urban education. Martin has presented nationally and internationally on Black women’s experiences.

Martin is also a nationally board-certified and licensed professional counselor (LPC) in the state of Missouri with extensive clinical experience with complex trauma. She is certified in eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) and trauma-focused cognitive behavior therapy (TF-CBT) and uses these modalities in her practice to help individuals heal from trauma. She also provides culturally competent and trauma-informed clinical supervision to counselors-in-training seeking state licensure.

Martin is co-investigator for the Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training grant that was awarded to Webster's Department of Professional Counseling by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2021-2025).

Download Claire Martin's CV (PDF)

Edwin, M., Pulse, H., Alhiyari, N., Salvatierra, D., Martin, C., Gaglio, R. (Submitted April 2022). The Impact of Academic Aspirations and Career Uncertainty on Students’ College Outcomes. "Journal of College Access."

Poynton, T., Martin, C., Alhiyari, N., Gaglio, R., Chang, E., Cables, E., Salvatierra, D. (in progress). "The Impact of Early High School Students’ College-Going Attitudes on Aspiration Development, College Applications, and College Enrollment."

Morris, J. E., Lewis-Harris, J., Martin, C., Martin, T. R., Negrón, L. (in progress). "A Case Study of Black School Closings in St. Louis: History, Trauma, and Community Advocacy and Voices."

Brown, E. C., Freedle, A., Hurless, N. L., Miller, R. D., Martin, C., & Paul, Z. A. (2022). Preparing teacher candidates for trauma-informed practices. "Urban Education," 57(4), 662-685. https://doi.org/10.1177/0042085920974084

Martin, C., Cables, E., & Kashubeck-West, S. (in progress). "Predictors of attitudes toward trauma-informed care among mental health professionals working with immigrant and refugee clients."

Miller, R. D., Paul, Z. A., Brown, E. C., Coker, A. D., Martin, C., Hurless, N. L., Cables, E. R., Freedle, A., Hussmann, M., & Abernathy, M. M. "Women and the practice of self-censorship." Manuscript submitted for publication (April, 2022).

Coker, A.D., Martin, C., Culver, J., & Johnson, C. (2018). Black women’s academic and leadership development in higher education: An autoethnographic inquiry. "REVISTA PERIFERIA," 10 (2), 44-66. DOI: 10.12957/periferia.2018.33714.

Office Browning Hall, ISB 417
Phone: 314-246-2314
Email: clairemartin@webster.edu

Julie LaCubbert

Julie LaCubbert, PhD

Visiting Instructor, Professional Counseling

Julie LaCubbert currently holds a PhD in Counselor Education from the University of South Carolina CACREP-accredited program in 2012. She is a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) in the state of South Carolina, as well as a licensed marriage and family therapy supervisor. Her current research is in the area of multicultural family therapy; during her doctoral program she explored racial and social class differences of counseling family and family therapist, in regards to working alliance. Currently, she is practicing as a marriage and family therapist in a private practice setting.

LaCubbert has been published in the "The SAGE Encyclopedia of Marriage, Family, and Couples Counseling," having contributed three submissions including supervision, approved supervisor in MFT, positive and negative feedback, and attachment and romantic love. Her previous scholarly work focused on social class from the perspective of a marriage and family therapist. LaCubbert's chapter entitled Social Class and the Family Structure/Family Counseling appears in the textbook "Social Class and the Helping Professions" (Routledge Press, 2012). Other research interests include the areas of marriage and family therapy and the impact of internet infidelity, an area frequently encountered with couples in her private practice. As part of her practice, LaCubbert is supervising new marriage and family interns who are post-graduation but pre-licensure. She wants to evaluate the efficacy of supervision techniques from the perspective of both new interns and clients counseled by these interns. Her ultimate goal is the creation of the most conducive environment for individuals, couples and families to receive therapy.

LaCubbert is an AAMFT-approved supervisor and has been privately supervising newly graduated students in an individual and group setting. She is committed to the development of licensed professionals in our field which can only be accomplished with the active involvement of practicing supervisors.

DOWNLOAD JULIE LACUBBERT'S CV (PDF)

Martin, J. M. (2016). Coming out, coming home: An interview of Michael LaSala, PhD. The Family Journal, 24, 304-311.

Martin, J. M. (2016). Supervision, Approved Supervisor in MFT in "The SAGE Encyclopedia of Marriage, Family, and Couples Counseling."

Martin, J. M. (2016). Positive and Negative Feedback in "The SAGE Encyclopedia of Marriage, Family, and Couples Counseling."

Martin, J. M. (2016). Attachment and Romantic Love in "The SAGE Encyclopedia of Marriage, Family, and Couples Counseling."

Martin, J. M. (2015). The flying boy achieves emotional intelligence: An interview with John Lee. The Family Journal, 23, 90-96.

Roman Petrocelli

Roman Petrocelli, PhD, LPC, ACS

Visiting Instructor, Professional Counseling

Roman Petrocelli holds a PhD in Counseling and Supervision from Kean University, New Jersey.

Petrocelli is an advocate and ally for mental health and addiction services for underrepresented groups, served as a member-at-large for the New Jersey Counseling Association, and currently serves on the board of a New Jersey-based nonprofit organization that helps long-term recovery with peer support and sober housing. He teaches core counseling courses, Internship, Social and Cultural Perspectives and Group Counseling.

Petrocelli is also a licensed professional counselor (LPC-CT, NJ) and an approved clinical supervisor (ACS). He has 14-plus years of clinical experience, and his counseling background comprises advanced trauma and substance use treatment methods. His research interests include professional peer supervision and consultation groups, integrating supervision models to engage diverse counselor populations, counselor wellness and using expressive arts/“edutainment,” including short educational films. His film on substance use awareness, “Boys of Bate” was awarded the 2017 Impact Award at the New Jersey Film Festival.

 

Office Browning Hall, ISB
Phone:
Email:

Muthoni Musangali

Muthoni Musangali, PhD, LPC-MO, BC-TMH

Department Chair and Professor, Professional Counseling

Muthoni Musangali is professor and chair of the department of Professional Counseling at Webster University. She earned her PhD in Counselor Education from the University of Central Florida (2006). She holds an MA in Counseling from Heidelberg College and a BEd (Arts) from Kenyatta University, Kenya. Musangali is a member of the American Counseling Association (ACA), the Association for Counselor Educators and Supervisors (ACES), North Central ACES and the Association for Assessment in Counseling (AACE). She is a board-certified telemental health counselor and a Missouri Licensed Professional Counselor. Musangali is the principal investigator for the Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training grant that was awarded to Webster's Department of Professional Counseling by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2021-2025).

Musangali's publications include a co-authored chapter in ACA's "Handbook on International Counseling" (2013), as well as an article in the Journal of Counseling and Development on the development of counseling in Kenya.

Download Muthoni Musangali's CV (PDF)

Fuenfhausen, K., Young, S., Cashwell, C. and Musangali, M. (September 2016). History and Evolution of Clinical Mental Health Counseling. In J. S. Young & C. S. Cashwell (Eds.), Clinical mental health counseling: elements of effective practice. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE.

Musangali, M., Daire, A. and DeLorenzi, D. (2016). The Impact of Caregiver Coping Strategies and Patient Level of Functioning on Perception of Caregiver Burden among Caregivers of Persons Living with HIV and AIDS in Kenya. Journal of HIV/AIDS and Social Services. DOI: 10.1080/15381501.2014.912176.

Okech, J.A. and Kimemia, M. (2013). Professional Counseling in Kenya. In T. Hohensil, N. Amundson, & S. Niles (Eds.), Handbook of international counseling (pp. 31-39). Fairfax, VA: American Counseling Association.

Okech, J.A. and Kimemia, M. (2012). Professional Counseling in Kenya: History, Current Status, and Future Trends. Journal of Counseling and Development, 90, 1, 107-112, DOI: 10.1111/j.1556-6676.2012.00015.x.

Kimemia, M., Asner-Self, K., and Daire, A. (2011). An exploratory factor analysis of the Brief COPE with a sample of Kenyan caregivers. International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling. DOI: 10.1007/s10447-011-9122-8

Office Browning Hall, ISB 402
Phone: 314-246-8278
Email: muthoni08@webster.edu

South Carolina/Online Unit Resources and Information

South Carolina Advisory Board

  • Ayanna McNeil, Previous Student
  • Danielle Coons, Current Student
  • Chaddrick Middleton, Site Supervisor
  • Dr. Angelica Greiner, Adjunct Faculty
  • Alexandria Smith, State Counseling Coordinator
  • Dr. Jennifer Smith, Current Adjunct Faculty Member
  • Rickia Jessup, Current Student

Outcomes for graduates of the MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at the combined South Carolina campuses of Charleston (campus now closed), Columbia and Myrtle Beach:

Graduates in Academic Year 2022-2023 26
Pass Rate on NCE in 2022 100%
Completion Rate (3 yr) Percentage of students who graduated within 2.5 years of starting the program 50%
Completion Rate (4 yr) Percentage of students who graduated within 3.5 years of starting the program 61%
Job Placement Rate 52%

Percentage of graduates who are working full-time, part-time or are continuing their education.

Outcomes Survey Data

Field Experience

All clinical documentation is completed in Tevera Management System. Students can view various forms such as Weekly Hour logs, Agreement to Supervise, Site Supervisor evaluation form and Professional Skills Evaluation.