Students who graduate with a Master of Science in Counseling, under the Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC), may call themselves Clinical Mental Health Counselors. They will have 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 also have the knowledge and skills to perform multicultural counseling and work with clients of various ages (children, adolescents, adults, and older adults). 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
• Mood disorders (e.g. Major Depressive Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, Cyclothymia)
• Anxiety disorder (e.g. General Anxiety Disorder, Social Phobia, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder)
• Chemical dependency and substance abuse disorders
• Adjustment disorders
• Dual diagnoses
• Personality disorders
• Conduct disorders
• Marital and family problems
• Domestic violence and anger management
• Eating disorders
During a student’s training in the CMHC program, they will study many types of theoretical orientations and treatment modalities. 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 be required to complete 51 hours of general counseling course work culminating in three semesters of clinical training. In addition, students complete 9 hours of electives. Student pursuing this degree have the luxury to choose from any of our electives options, allowing them to choose a more general or a more focused course of study.
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).