Counseling: Specialization in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, (M.A.)

Program Mission

The Master of Arts in Counseling: Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation  of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). This program trains skilled and socially responsible counselors who are culturally competent and socially aware to meet the needs of diverse communities. It prepares students with knowledge in theories and methods of clinical mental health counseling. As a diverse community of learners, faculty, students, and the community work collaboratively to eradicate social inequities and enhance the well-being of individuals, groups, couples, and families across the life span. We are dedicated to social justice advocacy through exemplary instruction, clinical work, community engagement, leadership, and scholarship. Graduates of the program are prepared to work in a wide variety of mental health positions within diverse clinical settings, including but not limited to, community mental health agencies, private practice, employee assistance programs, hospitals, and government organizations.

Program Overview

The M.A. in Counseling: CMHC program consists of:

• A comprehensive theoretical curriculum (counseling and Adlerian foundations) and supervised field experiences of 62 credit hours. These may be completed in two years as a full-time student or three to four years on a part-time (evening/weekend/online) basis through the on-ground modality.
• The online modality requires three years to complete the program.
• The clinical field experience is conducted through a supervised practicum (100 hours) and internship (600 hours). Through our vast network of community partners, students are able to complete their practical training in a variety of settings.
• A Social Justice Practicum (SJP), a 200-hour social responsibility immersion experience created to develop in graduates an identity as social justice advocates and agents of social change.
• A CMHC Comprehensive Examination.

Program Learning Objectives

1. Professional Orientation and Ethical Practice: Describe and apply all aspects of professional practice, including history, roles, professional organizations, ethical and legal standards, counselor credentials, and advocacy processes.
2. Social and Cultural Diversity: Develop self-awareness and multicultural counseling competencies. Apply theory and research on cultural factors impacting counseling relationships in a multicultural and diverse society and the role of social justice and advocacy to the practice of counseling.
3. Human Growth and Development: Apply models of individual, couple, and family development in the practice of counseling with emphasis on cultural diversity across the life span.
4. Career Development: Demonstrate knowledge and apply career development and decision-making models and strategies with multicultural and diverse populations.
5. Helping Relationships: Demonstrate knowledge of theories and skills to provide ethical counseling, consultation, and crisis intervention services.
6. Group Work: Participate in, facilitate, and lead experiential group and apply group work principles and theories, methods, and skills to the practice of counseling.
7. Assessment: Demonstrate knowledge of principles of testing and measurement, including statistical concepts, and apply them to individual and group assessment and evaluation.
8. Research and Program Evaluation: Describe and recognize the importance of research- and statistical-based methods, statistical needs assessment, and program evaluation to inform evidence-based practice of counseling.
9. Adlerian foundations and Principles: Apply principles of Adlerian Theory such as purposiveness of behavior, the indivisible self, goal directed behavior, and the role of social interest in counseling and treatment planning with the goals to improve well-being of individuals, couples, groups, families, and a diverse society.
10. Social Justice and Social Responsibility: Reflect on personal values and assumptions (privileges, disadvantages, etc.)  about the nature and causes of  social problems (social injustices such as poverty, racism, abuse) and gain experience and skills to advocate for systemic change through engagement and leadership in multidisciplinary, diverse community-based organizations.
11. Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Demonstrate knowledge, skills, and practices to address a variety of issues within the clinical mental health counseling context including prevention, diagnosis, assessment, intervention, research, diversity and advocacy roles

Modalities

The CMHC program can be completed in one of two modalities: on-campus and online.

ON-Campus Modality

In this modality, most classes are offered in a traditional classroom format; however, to meet the needs of students with different life demands, classes are also available in weekend, evening, online, and blended (partially online) formats.

Online Modality

The online modality is designed for students who want to complete the program in a distance-learning format. All courses will be delivered online using the university’s learning management system in either an eight-week or a 16-week cycle.

This modality utilizes multi-media and contemporary technology to facilitate student learning. We aim to build a supportive learning community for students coming from diverse geographic regions and backgrounds.

All online courses have synchronous components which require students to attend videoconferencing classes at a predetermined time. In addition to online engagement, four courses require a five-day residency week attendance with face-to-face interaction and experiential learning during the first semester of the first and second years.

These courses include:

• COUN 534 - Counseling Skills  (first-year residency)
• COUN 535B - Diagnosis Maladaptive Behavior  (first-year residency)
• COUN 540 - Group Counseling  (second-year residency)
• CMHC 617 - Treatment Planning and Intervention  (second-year residency)

Licensure

The program curriculum is designed to meet the current requirement for the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) credential in Illinois. With additional post-master’s supervised experience, graduates may apply for the Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) credential in Illinois.

CMHC students are eligible to take the National Counselor Examination (NCE) on campus during the last semester of the program before graduation as a part of the application process to earn the National Certified Counselor (NCC) credential. Upon degree completion, students can submit their NCE scores to the Illinois State Board toward the fulfillment of state LPC requirements.

Many states accept CACREP accredited programs as preliminary requirements for entry level counselor licensure, thus graduates of this CMHC program, both on-ground and online modality are eligible for the application of licensure in these states.

Students are advised that licensure criteria change frequently and that some states may require courses and/or training beyond those currently required by the program. It is the responsibility of the students to find out the licensure requirements of the state where they want to reside and practice. Students need to work with their advisor to adjust their curriculum according to specific state requirements.

Minimum Admission Requirements

Applicants to this program are required to have:

• A baccalaureate degree earned from a college or university regionally accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or an equivalent degree from an international college or university.
• A minimum grade point average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale for undergraduate and graduate coursework. Exceptions may be made for applicants who demonstrate improved academic performance or academic ability in other ways.

Approved applicants will be invited for a personal interview as the final step in the application process.

Graduation Requirements

1. Satisfactory completion of all required courses and seminars
2. Satisfactory completion of a minimum of 100 hours of practicum and 600 hours of internship
3. Satisfactory completion of Social Justice Practicum I & II (On-ground Modality) or Social Justice Practicum I, II, III, & IV (Online Modality)
4. A cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher and no more than two grades or six credit hours of C
5. Passing grade on the CMHC Comprehensive Examination
6. Submission of completed Graduation Application and full payment of all outstanding tuition and fees
7. Faculty approval for graduation and recommendation to the Board of Trustees for the conferral of the Master of Arts in Counseling: Specialization in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Professional Practice and Field Training

Social Justice Practicum (SJP)

The Social Justice Practicum (SJP) is a non-clinical and non-disciplinespecific experiential practicum. Students gain the knowledge, skills, and perspectives to utilize collective power and social justice strategies to build a more equitable society.

The SJP is designed to help students learn how to work alongside the community as agents of social change and serves as the catalyst for students to realize and understand their own strengths and responsibility to contribute to social equity.

The SJP unites our academic institution and larger communities, which is an anchor of student learning at Adler University. Upon completing the SJP, students gain, maintain, and strengthen connections to communities by developing critical problem solving skills necessary to be socially  responsible practitioners.

All students must complete the SJP before advancing on to any clinical or discipline-specific training, regardless of the program in which they are enrolled. SJP requirements include: (1) completion of a minimum of 200 hours at an approved SJP site; (2) attendance at a monthly, campus-based Civic and Community Action workshop; and (3) a formal SJP presentation at the Annual Social Justice Symposium. Students must also receive a grade of “Pass” for the midterm and final evaluation to receive credit for completing the SJP.

The SJP may not be waived and life credit is not admissible to meet this requirement.

Clinical Mental Health Practicum and Internship

Professional practice is a key element of the training of a student to become a professional counselor. During field training, students are provided with opportunities to apply theory, develop counseling skills, and formulate treatment goals and strategies with actual clients under supervision both from the site and Adler University.

CMHC field training is composed of two phases that typically both take place at the same site within students’ chosen community. Practicum is the first phase of clinical field training in mental health settings as a counselor trainee. In this phase, students are to complete a minimum of 100 hours of fieldwork, consisting of 40 hours of direct client service contact, which must include both individual and group counseling experiences. Internship is the second phase of field training, which consists of a minimum of 600 hours of fieldwork, consisting of 240 direct client hours of various services, including, but not limited to, individual and group counseling, assessment, and intake.

The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) defines practicum as supervised clinical experience in which the student develops basic counseling skills and integrates professional knowledge. The practicum is completed prior to internship. Internship is a supervised capstone clinical experience in which the student refines and enhances basic counseling or student development knowledge and skills, and integrates and authenticates professional knowledge and skills appropriate to his or her program and initial postgraduate professional placement.

For both online and on-ground, the Directors of Clinical Training will assist students with the application process prior to the actual field placement. Adler University has a pool of approved training sites in various mental health settings and service themes. Details of the requirements and application process for the CMHC practicum and internship can be found in the CMHC Practicum and Internship Training Manual. You may obtain a copy of this manual from the Adler Connect portal at connect.adler.edu or from the program Faculty Advisor and Program Director.

CMHC Comprehensive Examination

The CMHC Comprehensive Examination evaluates eight core areas which represent the foundational knowledge required by all entry level counselor education graduates. They are: Professional counseling orientation and ethical practice; social and cultural diversity; career development,  counseling and helping relationships; group counseling and group work; assessment and testing; and research and program evaluation.