Clinical Mental Health Counseling Courses
Focuses on the counseling professional identity to include the various roles and settings
of clinical mental health counselors. The profession of mental health counseling
will be examined from both a historical standpoint and in light of current trends.
Professional codes of ethics as well as professional organizations, accreditation,
credentialing, and licensing will be discussed. Self-care and its impact on the professional
counselor will be emphasized.
Synchronous Requirement: Yes
CMHC610 Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy (3.0 sh)
Introduces students to theories and models of counseling and psychotherapy that are consistent with current professional practice and standards. The implications of various theories for conceptualizing client problems and generating intervention techniques will be highlighted. The course focuses upon counseling strategies whose efficacy is supported by empirical evidence.
Offered: Every fall
Synchronous Requirement: No
CMHC615 Assessment and Testing in Mental Health Counseling (3.0 sh)
Designed to provide an overview of the assessment procedures and tools used by clinical mental health counselors. Students will learn to select, administer, and interpret tests of cognitive ability, achievement, aptitude, memory, personality, and mental and behavioral functioning. Additionally, students will learn to assess suicidality, lethality, and mental status. Emphasis will be placed on integrating the findings of various instruments and communicating the results via oral or written reports.
Offered: Every spring
Synchronous Requirement: Yes
CMHC620 Lifespan Development: Implications for Counseling (3.0 sh)
An examination of human development theories across the lifespan. Emphasis will be placed on the importance of understanding developmental norms in conceptualizing the needs of clients and challenges they may be facing. Additionally, the course will cover biological, neurological, physiological, environmental, and cultural factors that impact human development.
CMHC625 Skills and Techniques in Mental Health Counseling (3.0 sh)
Designed to focus on interpersonal and counseling skills that characterize successful counseling interactions within and across various theoretical models. Evidence-based counseling interventions will be emphasized. The importance of various components of counseling such as goal-setting, developing a treatment plan, dealing with resistance, referral, and termination will also be covered.
CMHC630 Research and Evaluation (3.0 sh)
Designed to provide students with the skills and knowledge needed to critically evaluate research articles as well as the practice of clinical mental health counseling. The course will focus on research methods, statistical analyses, and ethical and multicultural guidelines for conducting research and developing measurable outcomes to evaluate counseling services. Theories, models, and strategies for consultation will be explored.
CMHC635 Multicultural Counseling (3.0 sh)
Examines the importance of cultural context in the process of counseling. Emphasis is placed on developing cultural self-awareness as a foundation for becoming a culturally competent and responsive professional. Lives of students and clients will be examined as they relate to racism, discriminations, sexism, power, privilege, and oppression. Culturally sensitive counseling techniques and therapeutic interventions will be discussed in depth.
CMHC640 Career Development and Counseling (3.0 sh)
Reviews career development theories and decision-making models. Students will learn to identify and utilize appropriate assessment and counseling strategies. Career and educational planning across the lifespan will be emphasized.
Explores theories, etiology, assessment, diagnosis, prevention and intervention of addictions and addictive behaviors. Discussion of co-occurring disorders as well as neurobiological and medical issues will be emphasized. Students will learn various assessments and empirically supported therapeutic treatment strategies for working with addictions. Neurological, behavioral, psychological, physical, and social effects on the user and significant others will be discussed.
Focuses on diagnostic classification using the DSM-5 and ICD-11 in order to understand the etiology, symptoms, and clinical presentation of various mental disorders to facilitate differential diagnosis and treatment. Basic classes and uses of commonly prescribed psychopharmacological medications will be discussed. Emphasis will be placed on the importance of differential diagnosis in developing a treatment plan and selecting appropriate interventions.
Explores technology-assisted mental health services. Students will examine the ethical and legal implications of telemental health, crisis and risk management strategies, and best practices to ethically and legally engage in telemental health and stay current on this rapidly emerging modality.
Provides opportunities to practice advanced interventions and directly apply those skills while maintaining a technology-assisted therapeutic relationship. Experiences include completing an intake, applying diverse therapeutic interventions, writing case notes and a treatment plan, and termination/referral. Direct supervision and feedback will enhance the students' abilities to become effective counselors.
Prepares students to use multiculturally and ethically appropriate interventions to apply various treatment modalities for individuals with alcohol and other drug related barriers. Treatment planning, substance-related disorder assessment, case documentation, and case management strategies will be emphasized.
Introduces family and couples therapy from a systemic perspective. Current evidence-based models commonly used in counseling families and couples will be emphasized. Approaches to assessment and treatment planning as well as ethical, legal and professional issues will be covered.
CMHC662 Child and Adolescent Counseling (3.0 sh)
An introduction to child and adolescent counseling. Common disorders and issues for this population will be analyzed. Focus will be on integration of parents/guardians and other interagency personnel who are directly involved with working with children and adolescents. Ethical and legal considerations for counselors will be emphasized.
CMHC664 Creative Therapies for Children and Adolescents (3.0 sh)
Provides students with the history of play therapy as well as an overview of creative therapeutic techniques such as art therapy, drama therapy, dance/movement therapy, music therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and other types of interventions designed to engage children and adolescents in the therapy process. Ethical, legal, and multicultural considerations of creative therapies will be explored.
CMHC665 Group Counseling (3.0 sh)
Provides didactic and experiential training in group counseling. Critical aspects of group processes and dynamics, including group formation, group stages, cohesion, norms, decision-making, and leading/co-leading will be emphasized. Students are introduced to and practice the skills required to lead counseling groups. Students participate in a processing group for a minimum of ten hours.
CMHC670 Trauma and Crisis Counseling (3.0 sh)
CMHC675 Issues Facing Military Veterans (3.0 sh)
Assesses military culture and stages of military deployment(s) including impacts on the service member, spouse, and children. Resiliency will be emphasized while also discussing psychological issues facing veterans including dual diagnosis, suicide, moral injury, and disabilities. Considerations for counselors working with military veterans will be explored.
Assesses the post-deployment stage and issues facing military veterans and their families during reintegration and recovery will be emphasized. Stories highlighting consequences of service will be examined. Students will analyze empirically supported counseling theories, techniques, and interventions for veterans and their families. Issues facing military veterans and families once discharged will be discussed alongside counselor competence, treatment and prevention strategies, and advocacy processes. Implications of vicarious trauma will be discussed, highlighting individual and organizational strategies to mitigate the potential for counselors to develop vicarious trauma when working with this population.
Provides students with an in-depth understanding and application of ethical, legal, and professional issues for counselors. Current professional issues within the field will provide a framework with which to thoroughly review the American Counseling Association (ACA) Code of Ethics. Emphasis is placed on the wellness model and self-care issues as related to ethical decision making and advocacy efforts for both the profession and the client.
Introduces students to the work experience of a professional clinical mental health counselor. Students will complete practicums in settings that reflect their career interests under the supervision of an on-site supervisor and a faculty member. The total practicum experience must yield 100 on-site clock hours to meet CACREP accreditation, of which at least 40 will be spent providing direct clinical service. Students will receive at least one hour of weekly individual supervision from the on-site supervisor, and 1.5 hours of group supervision per week from program faculty.
An on-site internship in a setting that reflects the student’s career interests. Students will gain clinical experience working directly and indirectly with clients. Students receive one hour of weekly individual site supervision and 1.5 hours of group supervision from the program faculty.
A 300 on-site clock hour internship in a setting that reflects their career interests (120 hours providing direct clinical service, including leading groups). Students receive one hour of weekly individual site supervision and 1.5 hours of group supervision from the program faculty. Students are encouraged to work in two different sites throughout the experience to reflect the comprehensive work experience of a professional clinical mental health counselor.
A 300 on-site clock hour internship in a setting that reflects their career interests (120 hours providing direct clinical service, including leading groups). Students receive one hour of weekly individual site supervision and 1.5 hours of group supervision from the program faculty. Students are encouraged to work in two different sites throughout the experience to reflect the comprehensive work experience of a professional clinical mental health counselor.
