M.A. in C.H.D. - Clinical Mental Health Counseling

In accordance with the CACREP accreditation standards for Clinical Mental Health Counseling, the Counseling and Human Development program with Clinical Mental Health specialization consists of 20 courses totaling 60 semester hours. Course work is divided into three areas:

• FOUNDATIONS (3 courses) that must be taken early in the program and are prerequisites to higher level courses;
• AREA OF CONCENTRATION (15 courses) that are sequenced to build a strong mental health skill base;
• ELECTIVES (2 courses) that allow students to pursue further course work in an area of interest (for the clinical mental health emphasis all electives must be in "clinical" areas).

Prerequisites are specified within the course descriptions listed in this catalog. "Practice oriented" courses included in the curriculum are: CHD 790 Practicum, CHD 796I Internship in Clinical Mental Health Counseling I and CHD 796II Internship in Clinical Mental Health Counseling II. The Practicum course is designed to provide students with counseling experience under the supervision of the Practicum instructor and the individual clinical mental health supervisor. This experience is necessary to enhance counseling competencies in practitioners. Practicum requires 100 hours of work, of which 40 hours must involve direct client service (Note: Students pursuing both Clinical Mental Health and School Counseling specialties are required to obtain 120 hours of work, of which 40 hours must involve direct client/student service).  Students must obtain Professional Liability Protection prior to starting the Practicum class.

Clinical mental health internship is served in an "out placement" setting. Examples of  settings include the University Counseling Services, community clinical mental health agencies, hospitals, family services, substance abuse agencies, crisis centers, private practice, and others. Requirements for Clinical Mental Health Counseling students include a total of 600 hours of internship with at least 240 hours of direct client service. The 240 hours of direct client service contact must include a range of activities such as individual, couple, family and group counseling as well as diagnostic assessment, diagnosis to mental and emotional disorders, and treatment planning. The hours must be distributed among a broad range of clinical activities.