Students who graduate with a Master of Science in Counseling under the Clinical Mental Health Counseling track may call themselves Clinical Mental Health Counselors. They will develop a social justice paradigm as they receive training in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental and emotional disorders. Students will possess the knowledge and skills to perform individual, group, and marriage and family counseling. Students will learn to work with clients of various ages (children, adolescents, adults, and older adults) and cultural backgrounds. Clinical Mental Health Counselors are qualified to treat a variety of clients. Some of the more typical cases include the following:
- Normal life stressors and developmental challenges
- Trauma
- Mood disorders
- Anxiety disorder
- Substance use disorders
- Adjustment disorders
- Dual diagnoses
- Personality disorders
- Marital and family problems
- Domestic violence and anger management
- Eating disorders
During a student’s training, they will study many types of theoretical orientations and treatment approaches. Students will learn how to conceptualize their clients using the many dimensions that make up a person, such as the following:
- Biological underpinnings of behavior
- Psychological, using personality theory
- Interpersonal, such as family and friends
- Socio-cultural-historical perspective
Last, all of the training students receive will center on a solid research foundation. Students will train under the science-practitioner model, meaning that all interventions provided to a client by a student will be based on a theory of personality and supported by research.
Students completing the Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree will complete 48 hours of required counseling course work culminating in three semesters of clinical training. In addition, students complete 12 hours of electives. Students pursuing this degree have the luxury to choose from any of our electives, allowing them to tailor their course of study to their specific clinical interests.
Clinical Mental Health Counseling Curriculum
The Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree requires 60 hours of coursework and culminates in 740 clinical hours of experience with clients, with a minimum of 280 hours working directly with clients.
Upon completion of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree, graduates are eligible to become Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC).