Counseling: Clinical Mental Health Counseling - MS

During your time here, you will be required to complete nine credit hours of supervised clinical experience in counseling, as well as theoretical and applied training in a variety of course areas, such as:

• Philosophy and practice
• Life span development
• Career theories
• Development
• Appraisal
• Social and cultural foundations
• Research and evaluation
• Counseling techniques
• Ethical, legal and professional issues

To qualify for graduation in our counseling program, you will be required to complete:

• A thesis (six credits) or thesis project (three credits)
• 100-hour practicum
• 600-hour internship
• 60 semester credit hours 

Upon graduating, many of our alumni find work in educational, judicial, mental health and drug treatment facilities, as well as in governmental and corporate positions across the District. Our graduates successfully pass state licensure board exams, certification exams or go on to complete advanced training or doctoral programs.

Program of Study

Explore our student organizations and activities and contact us to learn more about joining one or more today!

• The Graduate Counseling Club was established to organize activities designed to enhance the professional identity of students as professional counselors, including Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC) post-graduate exam preparation, career planning and leadership opportunities.
• Chi Sigma Iota, an international honor society for qualified graduate students, professional counselors and counselor educators, serves to promote opportunities for scholarship, research, professional development, leadership, advocacy and excellence in counseling. 
• By joining the American Counseling Association (ACA) and the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), you'll have the chance to explore professional development and leadership opportunities as a professional counselor.

Contact our faculty and mentors today about pursuing available internships at area schools, mental health clinics and treatment facilities or exploring potential research projects!

During your time in the program, you will learn the following objectives in these fundamental areas:

Professional Orientation & Identity

• Understand the professional role of a counselor and diverse work environments.
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the organization and administration of counseling in schools, as well as community-based agencies and organizations.
• Demonstrate familiarity with professional organizations and their ethical standards. 
• Compare and contrast the role of counselors to other helping professionals.

Social & Cultural Competence

• Understand the multicultural paradigm and the needs of a linguistically, racially and ethnically diverse urban community. 
• Effectively engage systems to cause change, embracing the authenticity of micro-cultures in urban settings.
• Demonstrate knowledge of counseling models and the ability to use counseling skills that are effective when working with culturally diverse clients.

Human Growth & Life Span Development

• Demonstrate knowledge of theories of development across the life span and integrate that knowledge in the application of counseling in schools and in agencies.
• Understand culturally relevant assessments of normalcy and pathology across domains.

Career Development & Career Counseling

• Demonstrate knowledge of career theories and career counseling models.
• Demonstrate ability to use assessment tools, technology and career development resources.
• Demonstrate knowledge of laws supporting and protecting individuals with disabilities in the workplace.

Helping Relationships

• Develop a personal style of counseling through self-assessments, personal reflections, professional and personal growth activities and application of theory into practice.
• Demonstrate effective counseling skills, cross-cultural counseling competencies and the ability to work with diverse populations.
• Understand the importance of self-care, life-long learning in maintaining knowledge of effective practices, continuous skill development and affiliation with professional associations.
• Provide direct services to clients in the specialized area of interest.

Group Work

• Demonstrate knowledge of group work, types of groups and theories of group counseling. (During your time in the program, you will get experience participating in a group and leading a group session.)

Assessment

• Understand appraisal techniques for counseling, measurement principles and statistical concepts.
• Demonstrate knowledge of various standardized and non-standardized assessment methods.
• Select, administer and interpret tests and write assessment reports.

Research & Program Evaluation

• Conceptualize a research project, conduct a research study and integrate technology into research practices. (You must complete the course research and evaluation within your first year of the program.)
• Utilize technologies, such as computer-based assessments, internet blackboard discussions and online research of scholarly publications.
• Demonstrate knowledge of ethical concerns in research and principles of program evaluations.

Career Operations

• Identify and have in-depth knowledge in a specialized area of interest and population, including familiarity with professional organizations, ethical standards and membership benefits.

You will also learn to:

• Demonstrate knowledge of the history and development of clinical mental health counseling.
• Demonstrate knowledge of principles, models and documentation formats of bio-psychosocial case conceptualization and treatment planning.
• Demonstrate knowledge of neurobiological and medical foundation and etiology of addiction and co-occurring disorders.
• Use psychological tests and assessments specific to clinical and mental health counseling.
• Understand the roles and settings of clinical mental health counselors.
• Demonstrate knowledge of etiology, nomenclature, treatment, referral and prevention of mental and emotional disorders.
• Understand mental health service delivery modalities with the continuum of care, such as inpatient, outpatient, partial treatment, aftercare and mental health counseling service networks.
• Use the diagnostic process, including differential diagnosis process and the use of current diagnostic classification systems, such as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) and the International Classification of Diseases (ICD).
• Demonstrate knowledge of classifications, indications and contraindications of commonly prescribed psychopharmacological medications for appropriate medical referral and consultation.

Our program is proud to have achieved a graduation and employment rate of 100-percent in recent years. With the combination of your knowledge as a counseling professional and our variety of academic resources, we're looking forward to you joining a long tradition of accomplished counseling graduates. 

Upon completing their degree, many of our alumni found employment in private practice, as well as with organizations such as:

• Department of Veterans Affairs
• D.C. Public Schools
• Maryland Department of Vocational Rehabilitation
• Washington, D.C. Office of Disability Services
• Community mental health agencies

Note: Visit the Office of Career Services page for assistance with your job search. Contact us today for additional questions.