Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MCMH), MS

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Program Overview:

This entry level 60-hour Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree prepares candidates in advanced knowledge and skills to become leaders and practitioners in the field of professional counseling/psychotherapy. Practice is given in utilizing current counseling principles in real-world settings through practicum and internship experiences. Candidates are equipped with strategies including cognitive, affective, behavioral or systematic interventions that address wellness, personal growth, crisis and mental health including pathology. This program will provide candidates with competencies (as defined by CACREP and ACA) designed to positively impact a variety of people across the lifespan.

This program provides training in clinical counseling emphasizing advanced work in the current DSM, psychopharmacology, addictions counseling, individual and group counseling, including families. The program includes classroom and field experiences that develop competency in advanced counseling/psychotherapy practice.

This degree can lead to professional credentialing as a Licensed Professional Counselor and Clinical Mental Health Counselor, and prepares for professional counseling practice in a variety of settings including but not limited to school based mental health, community, clinical mental health, private practice and ministry.

Students who complete the program are eligible to take the National Counselor Examination (NCE) offered by the National Board for Certified counselors (NBCC) in order to qualify for National Certified counselor status. They are also eligible to become members of the American Counseling Association (ACA) and the American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA).

Degree Requirements and Curriculum: 60 Hours

To earn this Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree, a student must successfully complete the following: (1) core coursework, (2) written comprehensive exams, and (3) an oral interview. This 60-hour Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree meets the core requirements for counseling as defined by CACREP.

CACREP Core: 39 Hours

These courses are required for all three CACREP entry level specialty areas.

COUN 6000 - Practical Use of the DSM Credit Hours: 3
COUN 6010 - Counseling Theories Credit Hours: 3
COUN 6020 - Techniques of Counseling Credit Hours: 3
COUN 6030 - Legal and Ethical Issues in Counseling Credit Hours: 3
COUN 6040 - The Counseling Professional: Identity, Organization, & Orientation Credit Hours: 3
COUN 6050 - Career Counseling Credit Hours: 3
COUN 6060 - Individual and Group Assessment Credit Hours: 3
COUN 6070 - Crisis, Abuse, & Trauma Counseling Credit Hours: 3
COUN 6080 - Advanced Human Growth & Development Credit Hours: 3
COUN 6100 - Group Counseling Credit Hours: 3
COUN 6110 - Multicultural Counseling Credit Hours: 3
COUN 6270 - Practicum: Marriage, Family, and Mental Health Counseling Credit Hours: 3
or COUN 6470 - Practicum: Clinical Mental Health Counseling Credit Hours: 3
or COUN 6670 - Practicum: Professional School Counseling Credit Hours: 3
COUN 6520 - Research Methods Credit Hours: 3

Program Requirements: 18 Hours

COUN 6120 - Addictions Counseling Credit Hours: 3
COUN 6130 - Human Sexuality and Sex Counseling Credit Hours: 3
COUN 6140 - Family and Relationship Credit Hours: 3
COUN 6460 - Clinical Mental Health Counseling & Practice Credit Hours: 3
COUN 6480 - Internship: Clinical Mental Health Counseling Credit Hours: 3
COUN 6481 - Internship: Clinical Mental Health Counseling Credit Hours: 3

Electives: 3 Hours

Electives chosen for this degree may not apply toward the Ed.S. degree.

COUN 6560 - Alternative and Experiential Counseling Credit Hours: 3
COUN 6570 - Introduction to Equine Assisted Counseling Credit Hours: 3
COUN 6580 - Introduction to Play Therapy: Counseling Children & Adolescents Credit Hours: 3
COUN 6590 - Advanced Play Therapy Credit Hours: 3
COUN 6601 - Professional School Counseling I Credit Hours: 3
COUN 6750 - Psychopharmacology Credit Hours: 3
COUN 6900 - Specialized Studies in Professional Counseling Credit Hours: 1-3
COUN 6901 - Technology Assisted & Distance Counseling Credit Hours: 1
COUN 7880 - Supervision of Counseling Credit Hours: 3
Other with approval of the program director.

Notes:

Requests for degree may be submitted prior to a student’s final semester but must be submitted no later than the first week of the final term. The graduation fee must be paid before graduation. To be licensed in the state of Arkansas, students must take 1 credit hour of COUN 6901 Technology Assisted & Distance Counseling to fulfill this licensing requirement.

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