Clinical Mental Health Counseling (M.A.)

Looks at the survey of research throughout the entire lifespan including findings in the areas of physical, emotional, cognitive, and interpersonal growth and development.

This course is designed to provide an understanding of patterns of abnormal behavior including anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, and personality disorders. This course covers the domains of psychopathology as it is represented in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

An overview of counseling strategies useful with varied populations. Counseling skills helpful with clients of different racial, economic, religious, and sexual orientations will also be examined.

Emphasizes the development, understanding, and application of ethical standards in the theory and practice of counseling and psychotherapy. The Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice of the American Counseling Association (ACA) and the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) will be studied along with other professional standards of practice and credentialing. There will also be a focus on state rules and regulations and licensure requirements for LPC-MHSPs and LMFTs.

Designed to give an introduction to research strategies with an emphasis on counseling and psychological problems. Emphasis will be on the development of a proposal for a major research project or thesis.

An overview of test construction, selection, and application will be the focus of this course. Legal and ethical administration of tests for ability, intelligence, attitudes, values and personality will also be examined. Experience in taking and administering sample instruments will be provided.

An examination of the current trends in career development and life choices. The students will develop a knowledge base concerning career theories, techniques, and assessments for exploring the interests, aptitudes, and values of clients in order to assist them in making reasoned career and lifestyle decisions. The course will also focus on the student's personal career choice in the mental health field, career options, professional opportunities and identity development including a culminating paper on the student's preferred model of therapy. Characteristics that lead to success in the field, the developmental journey of a counselor, and self care are topics covered in this course.

A study of counseling paradigms with a special emphasis on the beginning stage of therapy is the focus of this course. Counseling techniques and cognitive, affective, and behavioral interventions will be shared, evaluated, demonstrated, and practiced both in the classroom and in a practicum setting. Students will be expected to initiate a practicum experience that will continue into the next course, CSL 5483 Techniques and Interventions II. All totaled the practicum will total 100 hours with 40 of the 100 hours being in direct client contact (group therapy, co-therapy, client intakes, individual therapy, etc.).

Designed to prepare, equip, and direct the student in his/her practicum experience and assist in the internship placement process. This course will simulate the skills needed to have a successful practicum and internship experience. With emphasis on role-play and other practical activities, students will demonstrate entry level counseling skills as well as the operational skills required for functioning within an agency setting. As a course marking the consummation of academic and classroom training and the transition to actual practice, each student will demonstrate initial competency in a chosen counseling model consistent with the goals and purposes of this program. By the end of this course the student will have completed a 100 hour practicum of which 40 of the 100 hours will have been in direct client contact (group therapy, co-therapy, client intakes, individual therapy, etc.).

Integration and study of the traditional and currently developing theories of counseling and psychotherapy and their application.

Provides an in-depth examination of the spectrum of psychological, biological, and social factors associated with exposure to traumatic stress (childhood sexual abuse, domestic violence, combat exposure, natural and man-made disasters). The course includes a comprehensive review of the etiology, assessment, and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Includes topics on historical, medical, psychological, and family dynamics of the treatment process for chemical dependency. An understanding of the many classes of drugs and their effects on the dependent person will be developed.

This course will focus on the treatment of child and adolescent mental and emotional disorders. The course will also provide specific treatment interventions and knowledge of referral sources. The course will also focus on the dynamics of family and community systems including life cycle changes, divorce, community networks, and school systems.

Provides an overview and discussion of the effective treatments of various psychological disorders. A focus will be placed on treatment planning and evaluating outcomes in therapy.

This course will provide a theory-informed overview of client crisis intervention. The course will focus on the impact of various crisis situations, assessment, and interventions. Students will learn to assess for crisis, disaster, and other trauma-causing events in a developmentally appropriate manner. Crisis-specific ethical concerns will be addressed.

Provides practical supervised experience in beginning counseling skills. It includes the development of relationship building and exploratory (fact-finding) skills as well as skills in intervention and treatment planning in a mental health/community agency setting. Students will spend a minimum of 200 hours on site under appropriate supervision of which 80 of the 200 hours must be in direct client contact (internship fee). Under certain circumstances practicum may be extended.*

As a continuation of Internship in Counseling I, the course provides practical supervised experience in a mental health or community agency. It includes the development of relationship building and exploratory (fact-finding) skills as well as skills in intervention and treatment planning. Students will spend a minimum of 200 hours on site under appropriate supervision of which 80 of the 200 hours must be in direct client contact (internship fee). Under certain circumstances internship may be extended.*As a continuation of Internship in Counseling I, the course provides practical supervised experience in a mental health or community agency. It includes the development of relationship building and exploratory (fact-finding) skills as well as skills in intervention and treatment planning. Students will spend a minimum of 200 hours on site under appropriate supervision of which 80 of the 200 hours must be in direct client contact. (internship fee). Under certain circumstances internship may be extended.*

As a continuation of Internship in Counseling I and II, the course provides practical supervised experience in a mental health or community agency. It includes the development of relationship building and exploratory (fact-finding) skills as well as skills in intervention and treatment planning. Students will spend a minimum of 200 hours on site under appropriate supervision of which 80 of the 200 hours must be in direct client contact (internship fee). Under certain circumstances internship may be extended.*