51³ÉÈËÁÔÆæ

August 22, 2025

This fall, 51³ÉÈËÁÔÆæ welcomes three visiting faculty members to teach the inaugural cohort of the Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) program: Deborah Armstrong, Robert Descoteaux, and Steven James.

Bennington’s MA in CMHC is a 60-credit, low-residency program designed to prepare learners for licensure in as little as 2.5 years. Each term begins with a ten-day on-campus residency; the inaugural one was held in summer 2025. 

The on-campus residencies foster intensive learning and meaningful connections with faculty and peers. Between residencies, students continue their studies remotely through dynamic online coursework, live discussions, and individualized faculty advising, blending hands-on support with flexible, independent learning.

Meet the Visiting Faculty Members

Deborah Armstrong specializes in Play, Expressive Arts, and Experiential Practices in therapy. Armstrong currently serves on the working Board of Directors for the Global Association for Interpersonal Neurobiology (Mindgains), where she also represents the Inner Development Goals Group (Inner Development Goals – Inner Growth for Outer Change). She is most proud of her devotion to growing herself well and how that finds its way to landscapes outside of herself.

Armstrong is a Past-President of the California and South Carolina Association for Play Therapy. She has also served on the Board of Directors for the International Association for the Study of Dreams and was Coordinator of the Expressive Arts Therapy Concentration at Goddard College until its closure in 2024.

In Bennington’s MA in CMHC program, Armstrong is teaching Ethics and Professional Issues, Counseling Theories and Techniques, Human Growth and Development, and Multicultural Counseling.

Robert Descoteaux is a behavioral health leader, advocate, and clinical counselor with a strong commitment to community mental health. He holds a Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) from Tulane University with a focus on leadership, advocacy, and equity; a Master’s in Policy, Planning, and Management from the Muskie School of Public Service at the University of Southern Maine; and a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Goddard College.

With over two decades of experience in behavioral health, Descoteaux has worked with youth and adults across inpatient, residential, and community settings. His clinical background includes extensive work with individuals living with serious and persistent mental illness (SPMI), substance use disorders, and the impacts of trauma. His research and policy interests include behavioral health access, the overutilization of emergency services for psychiatric crisis intervention, health equity, and the social drivers of health affecting mental health and substance use disorders.

In Bennington’s MA in CMHC program, Descoteaux is teaching  Human Growth and Development, Counseling Ethics and Professional Issues, Multicultural Counseling, Counseling Theories and Techniques, Psychopathology, and Group Counseling.

Steven James has spent over 30 years in psychology and clinical mental health counseling, with a focus on Gestalt therapy, LGBTQ+ issues, multicultural counseling, and social justice. He has earned degrees in philosophy and psychology from Dartmouth College and his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the Union Institute. At Goddard College, where James served as faculty, department co-chair, and Chief Academic Officer, he taught graduate courses in Gestalt Therapy, Cultural Competency, Psychopathology, Advanced Psychotherapy, and Professional Ethics. James's clinical work spans individual, couples, family, and group therapy with diverse populations, especially sexual minority youth and families. He has earned Distinguished Service Awards from two APA Divisions and served as President of both Division 44 (LGBTQ+ Psychology) and Division 45 (Ethnic Minority Psychology).

James has served as a Trustee of the American Psychological Foundation and delivered a number of invited addresses in a wide variety of professional settings, including the Casey Foundation, Yale, Harvard, and the British Psychological Society. His service spirit shows through Peace Corps work in West Africa, volunteer tax preparation with AARP, and a variety of community nonprofit leadership roles. He also enjoys films, gardening, and cooking. 

In Bennington’s MA in CMHC program, James is teaching Ethics in Counseling, Human Development, Multicultural Counseling, AI for Counselors as Scholars and Clinicians, and a course on the counselor's relationship to death and dying.

What excites you the most about Bennington's MA in CMHC program?

Armstrong: How our students can lean into their interests and passions while accompanied by faculty in dialogue, collaboration, and expertise from a range of landscapes in the discipline. This combination provides inspiration and allows them to explore their own unique growing tensions personally and professionally.

Descoteaux: Bennington's CMHC program addresses a critical need in our communities by preparing passionate and dedicated mental health professionals. Our students have shown remarkable enthusiasm for this work and have cultivated a strong sense of community within our low-residency model.

James: I'm most excited about Bennington carrying forward the mantle of learning-centered progressive education in counseling psychology. And while I believe this kind of model is the future of higher education, there are currently far too few opportunities for people who want both a vibrant career and to make the world a better place. 

What was your favorite experience from the first on-campus residency of the MA in CMHC program?

Armstrong: I was personally thrilled by the excitement and conversation at the dreamwork salon. Although dreamwork in our discipline was strong early in our history as a discipline, in some ways, it has fallen to the wayside. Here, though, the curiosity and excitement about the topic was palpable! 

Descoteaux: The most rewarding aspect of residency for me has been witnessing our students actively engage with faculty, course material, and one another through diverse learning methodologies, including world café discussions, dyadic exercises, and other collaborative approaches.  

James: My favorite experience during residency was seeing how important the arts are at Bennington. People don't often appreciate the art it takes to bring forward the science of psychology and transform it to interactions that can change people's lives. I hope our program can be part of Bennington's rich tradition. 

Interested in pursuing your MA in CMHC? For more information or to schedule a consultation with an admissions advisor, please contact macmhc@bennington.edu