Adventure-based Counseling
Why this program?
The Graduate Certificate in Adventure-Based Counseling is designed for learners who have already attained a masters degree in a field of mental health practice and who wish to specialize in adventure-based intervention. Additionally, this 15-credit hour certificate can be taken concurrently with the 60 credit hours required for the Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.
What can you do with this certificate program?
This is one of the very few academic programs with the program objective to incorporate the experience of experiential learning and adventure in modalities designed to heal clients and facilitate their personal exploration. Graduates will possess competencies in both conventional counseling and adventure therapy, including in residential and community-based settings. You will develop critical thinking skills and theoretical knowledge necessary to facilitate counseling that integrates clinical adventure-based interventions, including ethical considerations, cultural relevance, risk mitigation, clinical applications, and current research;
What will this program look like?
The Adventure-based Counseling Certificate program is designed to enhance your learning and future practice through such courses as: Foundations of Experiential Counseling, Experiential Counseling Intensive, Treatment Applications in Ecotherapy, Ethics and Risk Mitigation in Ecotherapy, and Assessment, Evaluation and Research for Nature-based Counseling.
Key Program Information
Number of Credits
15
Cost Per Credit
$830
Spring 2026 Completed Application Deadlines
MS Counseling; EdS Experiential Counseling; and Counseling Certifications
Priority Deadline – October 1
Extended Deadline – November 1 (if space is available)
Fall 2026 Completed Application Deadlines
MS Counseling, EdS and Certifications
Priority Deadline – May 1
Extended Deadline – June 15 (if space is available)
All other graduate programs
Priority Deadline – June 1
Regular Deadline – August 1
Spring 2026 Orientation
MS Counseling, EdS Experiential Counseling and Counseling Certifications
Required:
Virtual all-day New Student Orientation: Wednesday, January 7
Virtual 3-day Colloquium; January 8 – 10
Admissions & Apply
- To develop skills and knowledge necessary to facilitate the experience of adventure-based and outdoor modalities to provide culturally relevant mental health healing as well as to facilitate well-being. This includes an understanding of the history of the field, foundational theory, treatment applications and interventions, risk management, assessment, and evaluation;
- To develop critical thinking skills and theoretical knowledge necessary to facilitate counseling that integrates clinical adventure-based interventions, including ethical considerations, cultural relevance, risk mitigation, clinical applications, and current research;
- To develop competencies in adventure-based counseling practice applicable in a range of placement settings (i.e., educational, clinical, private practice, school-based, residential treatment, community-based, hospital, etc.), environmental settings (i.e., back-country, front-country, urban), clinical modalities (i.e., individual, group, family, couples), and clinical populations (i.e., various diagnoses).
For further details about the Master of Science in Counseling Program, please read through the current Student Handbook
- The Master of Science in Counseling is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counselor and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
- Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association. The Higher Learning Commission has approved Prescott College to offer all of its degree titles via distance education.
Click to view program requirements and academic program information in the Course Catalog.
Are you interested in being part of our community?
One thing we all have in common is our passion – passion for helping others, passion for the environment, passion for social justice and a passion for a different kind of learning experience.