In this course you will be introduced to professional, clinical mental health counseling with respect to the multiple roles and functions counselors serve in their respective communities, specialty areas, and the multidisciplinary health care system. You will be provided with introductory knowledge about the counseling profession including credentialing, professional organizations, standards, and accreditation. In this course you will also be provided with an orientation to the University and to the essential skills needed to pursue a Master of Science degree in clinical mental health counseling. Graduate-level skills, such as goal building, time management, academic integrity, effective use of the University Library, the use of APA form and style in professional communication, and critical thinking skills will be introduced.

In this course you will focus on ethical and legal issues as they relate to practice of clinical mental health counseling. You will be introduced to the ethical standards of the American Counseling Association and learn to apply the Code of Ethics in various counseling situations with diverse populations. In this course you will also explore the importance of counseling supervision and maintaining professional dispositions. Emphasis will be placed on the evolving role of counselors in relation to scope and practice and the increase of technology in the profession.

In this course you will study the theories of individuals across the lifespan. Specifically, the students will learn of the myriad of factors that affect human development, including: biological, neurological, and physiological factors. Focus will also be placed on the systemic and environmental factors that affect human development. Emphasis will be placed on ethically and culturally sensitive approaches to enhance wellness and resilience. The unique impact of crisis and trauma on human development will be investigated.

In this course you will be introduced to the multicultural counseling competencies. You will also learn about the models and theories foundational to multicultural counseling. Specific multicultural populations will be explored with attention focused on multicultural evidenced based treatments. You will be challenged to confront personal biases and obstacles to multicultural orientation.

In this course you will learn about the foundational theories and models of counseling and psychotherapy. You will also learn about the importance of the person of the counselor and multicultural competence. Additionally, you will learn how to apply these foundational theories to different cases through your reading and study. You will be introduced to conceptualizing clients from a systems perspective. Finally, you will also begin developing an integrative personal model of counseling.

In this course you will develop basic counseling skills essential to creating a therapeutic working alliance with clients. Evidenced-based counseling strategies for prevention and intervention will be introduced. Initial skill development for clinical interviews and case conceptualization will be explored. Additionally, you will understand the core characteristics of an effective counselor. In this course you will also explore the impact of technology on counseling techniques.

In this course you will be introduced to a foundational aspect of professional counseling: career counseling. You will explore the theories and models of career development. You will develop an understanding of the interconnectedness of work, mental health, and other life roles. This course will also provide you with the opportunity to recognize areas of advocacy with diverse clients in career and educational development. Developing strategies to address career needs in an ethically and culturally relevant manner will also be an area of focus.

In this course you will focus on the importance of research in the counseling profession. You will also understand how to critique counseling literature to help inform practice. Additionally, you will explore the use of ethically and culturally relevant strategies for conducting research and program evaluation. You will be able to understand the qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods used in research and program evaluation. The focus will also be on identifying evidence-based counseling practices and conducting needs assessments.

In this course you will focus on understanding the theoretical foundations of group counseling and group work. You will explore the dynamics of group process, including the stages of group development. You will continue to develop the personal and professional characteristics of a counselor, particularly those essential to the group leader. This course will introduce you to the components of groups in various setting and explore ethically and culturally relevant strategies for designing and facilitating groups.

In this course you will focus on the historical perspective of assessment and testing in counseling. You will learn basic concepts of testing for both group and individuals. You will also learn to apply statistical principles in the selection of testing and assessments. In this course you will also explore the importance of using ethically and culturally relevant strategies for administering and interpreting assessments and tests. Emphasis will be placed on the use of assessments and tests in various domains.

This course will introduce you to the classifications of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) and the International Classifications of Diseases. You will learn the process of diagnosing, the structure of the DSM, and concepts related to differential diagnoses. You will also learn about the scope and practice of counselors in the diagnostic process.

This course will challenge you to synthesize the concepts of clinical assessment, diagnosis, and treatment. You will learn how these concepts work together to inform evidence-based treatment. You will utilize case conceptualization models to develop treatment plans. You will also explore various forms of documentation for clinical mental health counseling.

In this course you will learn strategies for crisis intervention and trauma-informed care. You will also explore psychological first aid and community-based strategies for crisis and trauma counseling. This course will discuss abuse, crisis, disasters, and trauma and their effect on diverse populations. This course will also focus on the impact of abuse, crisis, and trauma on individuals with mental health diagnoses.

In this course you will be required to complete supervised counseling practicum experiences for a minimum of 100 clock hours in your community. You will complete at least 40 clock hours of direct service with actual clients that contributes to the development of counseling skills. You will have weekly synchronous supervision with a counseling faculty member for two hours a week for 12 weeks. You will have opportunities to use theory and counseling skills in a community setting while working with diverse clients and to practice interviews and documentation in clinical practice.

After successful completion of a clinical mental health practicum, you will continue your supervised counseling experience. In this course you will earn at least 300 clock hours of supervised counseling internship with clients in a clinical mental health setting. You will complete at least 120 clock hours of direct service with actual clients. You will have weekly synchronous supervision with a counseling faculty member for two hours a week for 12 weeks. You will have opportunities to use biopsychosocial history and assessments as you manage a caseload. You will practice advocacy and interface with the legal system on behalf of clients.

In this course you will explore the history and development of addictions counseling. You will also learn about the theories and models of addictions counseling. Neurobiological and medical foundation in relation to the ethology of addictions will be explored. You will also be introduced to motivational interviewing as a foundational treatment for addictions counseling. This course will help you to develop a foundational knowledge about process and behavioral addictions and understand common co-occurring disorders.

After successful completion of the first internship experience, you will continue your supervised counseling experience. In this course you will earn at least 300 clock hours of supervised counseling internship with clients in a clinical mental health setting. You will complete at least 120 clock hours of direct service with actual clients. You will have weekly synchronous supervision with a counseling faculty member for two hours a week for 12 weeks. You will have opportunities to use biopsychosocial history and assessment as you conceptualize cases and implement evidence-based techniques. You will practice termination skills when closing cases.