Graduate Catalog
Ecopsychology in Counseling
Ecopsychology recognizes a synergy between human mental health and well-being, and the health and integrity of the natural environment. It focuses on the subjective and therapeutic aspects of people’s environmental beliefs and experiences, emotional responses to environmental issues, and the promotion of health-related sustainability and conservation behaviors—at multiple scales from personal to societal.
The Ecopsychology in Counseling Certificate at the Lewis & Clark Graduate School of Education and Counseling provides an opportunity for students to explore ecopsychology while preparing them to become professional counselors or educators in a nationally respected graduate program, with access to the educational resources available in Portland, Oregon, a center for ecological living and sustainability innovation.
The course of study includes an orientation to the theoretical and empirical foundations of ecopsychology, skills courses focusing on ecotherapy and wilderness and adventure therapy, and special topics courses focusing on areas such as child development and environmental advocacy. Students also complete a capstone project that may include a master’s thesis, a supervised practicum, independent study, or a special series of electives.
Ecopsychology in Counseling Certificate
The Ecopsychology in Counseling Certificate program is a 10-credit sequence that includes four required courses and an independent capstone project. Applications are due in the fall, and new students begin spring semester. Courses are offered during spring, summer and fall semesters and may be completed in one calendar year. Courses include online and in-person activities, with weekend or summer week intensive formats, so that the program can be completed in a low-residency format.
There are three pathways to enrollment in the Certificate:
- Good standing in one of the Counseling Psychology or Education Programs at Lewis & Clark, for example: Professional Mental Health Counseling, Professional Mental Health Counseling—Addictions, School Psychology, or Marriage, Couple, and Family Therapy.
- Being an alumni of the graduate school or a master’s level graduate with comparable prerequisites from an accredited program
- Good standing in a comparable MA-level counseling or other degree program at another institution.
Professional Licensing and Certification
By situating the Ecopsychology in Counseling Certificate in the context of Lewis & Clark’s accredited Department of Counseling Psychology programs, students have the opportunity to add a 10-credit certificate to their degree program, and upon graduation be prepared for additional supervised practice and the option to seek licensure or certification as a professional counselor or marriage and family therapist in Oregon and most states.
Certificate Requirements
A minimum of 10 semester hours, including:
Required Courses
| CPSY 528 | Introduction to Ecopsychology in Counseling | 3 |
| CPSY 596 | Wilderness and Adventure Therapy Intensive | 2 |
| CPSY 597 | Ecotherapy | 2 |
| CPSY 598 | Topics in Applied Ecopsychology | 1 |
Students must also complete a capstone project worth 2 semester hours. Students work with an advisor to identify either elective courses to meet the capstone requirement or choose from the following:
| CPSY 544 | Practicum | 2 |
| or CPSY 595 | Master's Thesis Research | |
| or CPSY 599 | Independent Study | |
Courses
CPSY 528 Introduction to Ecopsychology in Counseling
Content: Ecopsychology recognizes a connection between
mental health and the natural environment and
explores ways in which psychological knowledge and
practices can contribute to the solution of
environmental problems. This course provides an
introduction to ecopsychology practices in
counseling and a survey of related research
findings in environmental and conservation
psychology on topics such as the health benefits
of natural settings, the development of
environmental identities, and promotion of
conservation behaviors. Students will be guided
toward self-reflection regarding their own
environmental identity, their motivations for
integrating environmental approaches into
counseling, and ways to integrate ecopsychology
into their existing theory and practice base.
Prerequisites: CPSY 502, CPSY 503, CPSY 507, or CPSY 569 or consent of
program coordinator.
Corequisites: CPSY 504 or CPSY 534, CPSY 506, CPSY 508, CPSY 513 or CPSY
550.
Credits: 3 semester hours.
CPSY 596 Wilderness and Adventure Therapy Intensive
Content: This course explores the application of mental
health and substance abuse treatment in outdoor
settings and discusses therapeutic uses of outdoor
challenge activities for recreation, personal
growth and reflection, and to enhance counseling &
psychotherapy. We will examine research on the
benefits of green spaces and outdoor experiences
on stress reduction, restoration of attention,
enhanced self concept, cognitive development,
treatment of emotional and substance abuse
disorders, and promotion of personal meaning. Key
areas of focus will be on cultural and
socio-economic diversity in terms of attitudes
toward and access to wilderness-like settings or
outdoor adventure, and on practices of of outdoor
safety, low impact camping, and group
facilitation. The course meets one day on campus
and four days of overnight camping in a local
state park. Experience with wilderness or
adventure therapy is not required though some
comfort with tent camping and hiking is
encouraged. All equipment is provided.
Prerequisites: CPSY 528.
Credits: 2 semester hours.
CPSY 597 Ecotherapy
Content: This course will provide resources and techniques
for mental health providers to utilize
nature-based activities and metaphors in their
therapeutic work, address concerns about
environmental issues they may encounter during the
course of counseling, and to harness individuals'
values about ecology or sustainability to foster
therapeutic goals. This application course builds
on the material covered in Introduction to
Ecopsychology in Counseling. Topics such as
addressing grief and despair about environmental
issues, using contacts with restorative natural
settings to promote counseling goals, and working
with diversity in an ecotherapy context will be
explored using didactic presentations,
role-playing, outdoor activities, video
presentations, and guest speakers.
Prerequisites: CPSY 528.
Credits: 2 semester hours.
CPSY 598 Topics in Applied Ecopsychology
Content: This course provides opportunities to explore the
roles of a counselors and therapists as advocates,
consultants, or researchers in the field of
ecopsychology. Topic varies from semester to
semester.
Prerequisites: CPSY 528.
Credits: 1 semester hour.