Resiliency
Graduate

Resiliency in the Helping Professions

This program has broad professional applicability and is targeted to increase professional effectiveness for School Counselors, Educators, Social Workers, Mental Health Counselors, Rehabilitation Counselors, and Patient Advocates.

TestLea Christo, MSW, LICSW Coordinator

Resiliency is the our ability to negotiate difficult challenges. Learn how to build resiliency skills and dive deeply into how to help people thrive!

Now more than ever, difficulties seem to overwhelm our capacity to cope for far too many of us. Learn the science shown to help people understand and tolerate the inevitable stress and suffering that impacts us all. Appreciate how stressors impact our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors and how to work with them more effectively. Cultivate practices that promote post traumatic growth personally and professionally. Join us in making meaningful difference in our own lives and the lives of people we work with, both colleagues and clients.

Graduate Virtual Information Sessions



Resiliency in the Helping Professions Program Contact

Stephanie E. Plotkin Murin, M.Ed.

Assistant Director of Graduate Admissions
508-767-7105 Admissions House - Room 203

Lea F. Christo, MSW, LICSW, BCPA

Associate Professor of Practice, Human Services & Rehab Studies, School of Graduate Studies, School Counseling Program; Coordinator of Resiliency in Helping Professions Program
508-767-7503 Kennedy Hall - Room 107 B

Sabine Prizio

Administrative Assistant to Graduate Programs
508-767-7297 Kennedy Hall - Room 169

Program Curriculum

    • Identify the factors of resilience and supporting research from advances in positive psychology.
    • Understand the neuroscience of traumatic experience, recovery and resilience.
    • Implement skill building practices that support resilience through social emotional learning interventions.
    • Promote post traumatic growth.
    • Practice resonant leadership to foster resilience capacity across systems.
    • Implement skill building practices to support personal resilience against empathetic distress and burnout.
  • RES 800 The Theoretical Foundations of Resiliency Building Interventions
    RES 810 Mindfulness-Based Interventions
    RES 820 The Practice of Self Compassion in Resiliency
    RES 830 Positive Psychology: A Strengths-Based Approach to Resiliency
    RES 840 Building Resilience After Traumatic Experiences
    RES 850 Resonant Leadership and Supervision
    RES 860 Teaching Adolescent Students Mindful Self-Compassion
  • What can I expect to learn in this program?
    At the end of the program, students will:

    1. Identify the factors of resilience and supporting research from advances in positive psychology.
    2. Understand the neuroscience of traumatic experience, recovery and resilience.
    3. Implement skill building practices that support resilience through social emotional learning interventions.
    4. Implement skill building practices to support personal resilience against empathetic distress and burnout.
    5. Promote post traumatic growth.
    6. Practice resonant leadership to foster resilience capacity across systems.

    What are the professional backgrounds of people who have enjoyed this program?
    This program is designed to support professionals engaged in a wide variety of helping professions. Most of our students are educators including school counselors, teachers, and administrators; physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech/language pathologists and applied behavior analysts working with elementary and secondary education students. Clinical social workers, rehabilitation counselors and psychotherapists are also welcome.

    How many credits is the Resiliency in the Helping Professions program?
    The Resiliency in the Helping Professions program is an 18-credit program. The six (3 credit) courses earn students either a Certificate of Graduate Studies (C.G.S.) for those holding a Bachelor’s degree, or a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies (C.A.G.S.) for students holding a Master’s degree.

    What if I need more than 18 credits for a C.A.G.S.?
    Students interested in earning a 30-credit C.A.G.S. to meet the requirements of some school districts are invited to apply to the C.A.G.S. in School Counseling Program (SCP). All the courses in the Resiliency in the Helping Professions program are available to students matriculating through the SCP C.A.G.S. Those students may also take courses electively from programs that include  Special Ops: Service Members, Veterans, and their Families (SMVF), Transition Specialist C.A.G.S. (with Endorsement) and Special Education Autism Spectrum Disorders C.A.G.S. (with Endorsement Option).

    Do check with your school district administrators and colleagues about specific contractual stipulations, if any, needed to meet their C.A.G.S. requirements/expectations.

    Are courses held online or on campus? What time and how often do courses meet?
    Because many of our students work full time in public schools, we have designed course formats that are sensitive to those constraints by offering courses that meet occasionally over the weekend or in mid-summer. The unique formats for courses follow below, generally with some coursework in the classroom (virtual, as needed) and some coursework exclusively online.

    Fall Semester

    FORMAT

    Spring Semester

    FORMAT

    Summer Semester

    FORMAT

    RES 800: The Theoretical Foundations of Resiliency Building Interventions

    Hybrid

    Meets 4 Saturdays from 9-2:00 periodically throughout the semester; typically once/month September-December on the same weekend as RES 840

    RES 810: Mindfulness-Based Interventions

    Hybrid

    Meets 4 Saturdays 9-1:00 periodically throughout the semester; typically once/month end of January – April or beginning of May (not over public school vacation weeks).

    RES 820: The Practice of Self Compassion in Resiliency

    Typically runs for 1 week in July as an “intensive” experiential course -synchronous Zoom sessions if not on campus

    Monday-Thursday

    9:00 – 3:00

    RES 840: Building Resilience After Traumatic Experiences

    Hybrid

    Meets 4 Sundays from  9-noon periodically throughout the semester, typically once/month September-December on the same weekend as RES 800

    RES 850: Resonant Leadership and Supervision

    Asynchronously online for traditional 14 week semester

    RES 830: Positive Psychology: A Strengths-Based Approach to Resiliency

    Asynchronously online over summer session II as an accelerated semester over 6.5 weeks

    (Generally early July to first week(s) in August)

    What is the cost of the program?
    You can find current cost per credit and fee information on our website at s1auviv.wpengine.com/gradfinaid.

    Do you have both full-time and part-time options?
    Students can take our program part-time only. Generally, two courses are offered every semester (fall, spring, summer) for students to enroll in one or both at a time.

    What is the average length of time to complete the program?
    Our program can be completed in one year by taking two courses each semester, or over two years by taking one course at a time.  All courses must be completed within 7 years after being accepted in the program.

    How many classes do students take per semester who plan to access financial aid?
    In order to be eligible for Federal Financial Aid in the form of student loans, students must be enrolled in at least 6 graduate credits (2 graduate courses) per semester.

    What are the start terms for the program?
    With rolling admissions for this program, students may begin courses the semester of their choice. Furthermore, they can enroll in courses as a non-matriculating student to get a feel for whether this program is a good fit for them or to simply get started while they complete the application process. Please note that financial aid requires students to access their assistance only after being formally accepted into a program and there is a maximum number of two courses that can be taken as a non-matriculating student.

    What are the deadlines to apply?
    Application deadlines will vary by program and can be found on the upper left column on the main program page.

    Do applicants need to take the GMAT/GRE to apply to a graduate program?
    We do not require the GRE/GMAT. Our applications are reviewed more holistically focusing on an applicant’s transcript, letters of recommendation and personal statement.

    Do you offer financial aid to graduate students?
    Federal Financial Aid is offered in the form of unsubsidized student loans. Student’s must be accepted in a program of study and enrolled in a minimum of two courses per semester to be eligible.

    What are the GPA/application requirements?
    A 3.0 GPA is required. However along with the official transcript, all application materials are considered including three professional letters of recommendation, personal statement and resume. Applicants are encouraged to schedule an advising appointment with the program director for mutual discussion while applying.

    How long does it take to receive a decision after applying?
    Typically applicants will be notified within a couple of weeks after application completion (including the submission of all materials). This is an approximate time and may vary.

Faculty

Lea F. Christo, MSW, LICSW, BCPA
Program Director Associate Professor of Practice, Human Services & Rehab Studies School of Graduate Studies School Counseling Program; Coordinator of Resiliency in Helping Professions Program
Karen Bluth
Lecturer, Resiliency Graduate Program
Keith Lahikinen, Psy.D.
Lecturer, Resiliency Graduate Program
Mary Ann Reilly Mariani, Ph.D
Lecturer, Resiliency Graduate Program

Graduate Admission Events and Ways to Connect With Us

We invite you to learn more about our graduate programs - either through a visit to campus, attending an information session or by scheduling a phone or virtual conversation with an admissions team member or one of our program directors.


Admissions Requirements

Prerequisites:

  • B.A. or B.S. (with a 3.0 overall GPA) for admission in the Resiliency in the Helping Professions: Certificate of Graduate Study
  • M.A. or M.S. for admission in Resiliency in the Helping Professions: Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study

Application Requirements:

  • Graduate Application
  • Two Letters of Recommendation (one letter waived for AU Alumni)
  • Official Transcript(s)
  • Personal Statement
  • Current Resume
  • TOEFL or IELTS for applicants whose native language is not English
Tuition & Financial Aid


Graduate Research Symposium

Assumption University Graduate School Annual Symposium showcases research, innovative projects, successful case study, and creative work of graduate students and recent alums from every graduate program. We offer all graduate students in every program an opportunity to present their excellent work on diverse topics.

Veterans at Assumption

Assumption University recognizes that servicemen and women have demonstrated great courage and made tremendous sacrifices in service to our nation and its people. The University has introduced a number of programs and services to assist veterans during the application process and while veterans are attending Assumption. We also have a lounge designated only for our veteran students. Assumption University is committed to maintaining recognition as a Military Friendly institution.  We strive to eliminate barriers to success for our Service Members, Veterans, and their qualified dependents.

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