Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MS

Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Master of Science (M.S.) Degree

Director: Rebecca A. Willow, Ed.D.

INTRODUCTION

Gannon University offers the Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. The M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is a 60 credit-hour program accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).

The program is designed to prepare individuals for careers in a variety of professional counseling settings such as outpatient mental health, human service agencies, college and university counseling, and residential treatment. The curriculum includes a blend of counselor training experiences designed to provide the skills and knowledge necessary to become a professional counselor. The program prepares graduates to pursue National Counselor Certification (NCC) and licensure as a Professional Counselor (LPC).

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of Gannon University’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program is to educate and train students to become professional counselors who are committed to the wellness of individuals, families, groups, and the greater community. The philosophy of the program focuses on the development of the competencies required of professional counselors. The program objectives are (a) enhancing students’ knowledge of counseling theory and concepts; (b) developing strategies to facilitate human growth and development over the lifespan; (c) providing skills and training requisite of generalist entry-level counseling practitioners; (d) developing multicultural competencies; (e) promoting the development of sound legal and ethical decision-making skills; and (f) preparing individuals for national certification and professional licensure. Although students typically are drawn from the regional area, applicants with diverse backgrounds and from outside the region are encouraged to apply. Students are guided to embody and contribute to the spirit of diversity to which the program and profession are committed.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

Learning outcomes are statements of knowledge, skills and abilities an individual student possesses and can demonstrate upon completion of a program of study. Students graduating from the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program at Gannon University are expected to achieve the following learning outcomes: 1. Demonstrate understanding of the ethical, legal and professional spheres of counselor roles, responsibilities, and identity. 2. Demonstrate understanding of the complexities of social and cultural contexts for individuals and their implications for relationships. 3. Demonstrate understanding of human development across the lifespan and its significance for counseling relationships and strategies. 4. Demonstrate understanding of career development appropriate to diverse needs and life experiences. 5. Demonstrate counselor characteristics, behaviors, interviewing, and counseling skills that influence the helping relationship. 6. Demonstrate understanding of the dynamics, strategies, and conditions associated with group work effectiveness 7. Demonstrate competent use of assessment and diagnosis of mental and emotional disorders and conditions. 8. Demonstrate competent use of research methods, needs assessment, and program evaluation skills important to the counseling profession. 9. Demonstrate case conceptualization, diagnosis, and treatment planning skills within the context of clinical mental health counseling. 10. Demonstrate self-awareness and self-development through engagement in active learning and reflectivity.

DIVERSITY STATEMENT

The Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program establishes and supports an environment that values the diverse and unique nature of human experiences and backgrounds. We enrich our personal and professional lives by exemplifying Gannon University’s call to demonstrate professional respect for the dignity of every person.

PROGRAM ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Students must have a bachelor’s degree from an approved institution. A complete application for admissions includes: a resume, three letters of recommendation from appropriate professionals, an essay, and participation in an admissions interview. To be admitted into the program, applicants must have a minimum grade point average of 2.8 in undergraduate coursework. Students must also have Pennsylvania Child Abuse History clearance and the Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check (ACT 33 and ACT 34 clearances) dated within a year of application. Formal admittance to the program is required before enrolling in courses. Program director approval may be given for students to transfer up to 12 semester hours of credits earned at a CACREP accredited program. Program director approval may be given for students to transfer up to six semester hours of credits earned at a non-CACREP accredited institution, subject to Gannon University Graduate program policy.

International applicants must provide evidence of successful achievement on the TOEFL of 95 and/or 7.0 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Examination subscores will also be considered as important to overall applicant qualification. A 500-word writing sample in English and evidence of successful completion of an undergraduate course taught in English in the United States or Canada are required.

Undergraduate Course Work

Students enter the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program from a variety of undergraduate backgrounds. Course work in human services, psychology, statistics, and human development is helpful. Several courses in psychology are recommended.

ACCREDITATION

The Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). CACREP is the professional accrediting body for counselor education and promotes the professional competence of counseling and related practitioners through preparation standards, excellence in program development, and accreditation of professional preparation programs. For further information on accreditation, contact: CACREP, 1001 North Fairfax Street, Suite 510, Alexandria, VA 22314. Phone: (703) 535-5990. Website: www.cacrep.org.

CURRICULUM

I. Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Core Courses

1. Foundations of Professional Counseling Sequence (12 credits)

GCOU 605 Group Dynamics 3

GCOU 608 Human Development Over the Life Span 3

GCOU 627 Professional Counseling 3

GCOU 648 Counseling Strategies and Techniques 3

2. Counseling Core I Sequence (12 credits)

GCOU 603 Research Methodology 3

GCOU 610 Counseling and Personality Theories 3

GCOU 613 Appraisal in Counseling 3

GCOU 625 Multicultural Issues in Counseling 3 3. Counseling Core II Sequence (15 credits)

GCOU 612 Family Systems 3

GCOU 622 Career Development and Counseling 3

GCOU 631 Diagnosis and Treatment Planning 3

GCOU 642 Child and Adolescent Counseling 3

GCOU 690 Seminar in Counseling 3 (GCOU 690 and 691 must be completed after the Counseling Core II sequence and prior to or concurrent with enrolling in GCOU 651)

GCOU 691 Counselor Preparation 0 4. Advanced Core Sequence (12 credits)

GCOU 649 Mental Health Counseling

GCOU 660 Counseling and Spirituality

GCOU 667 Crisis and Disaster Counseling

GCOU 668 Addictions Counseling

5. Supervised Counseling Experience (9 credits)

GCOU 650 Supervised Practicum

GCOU 651 Supervised Internship

II. Comprehensive Examination

Each candidate will be required to pass a comprehensive examination during GCOU 691 Counselor Preparation.

SPECIAL FEATURES

Clearances

Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program applicants must present an acceptable Pennsylvania Child Abuse History clearance and an acceptable Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check (ACT 33 and ACT 34 clearances). Clearances must be dated within a year of application. Applicants with documented criminal or abuse records will be evaluated on an individual basis for acceptance in the program.

Licensure

Professional counselors are licensed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Professional Counselors. The overall goal of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program is to provide academic preparation for graduates to become Licensed Professional Counselors. There are additional postgraduate clinical supervision requirements in order to attain licensure. For further information on licensure, contact: State Board of Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Professional Counselors, P. O. Box 2649, Harrisburg, PA 17105-2649 Phone: (717) 783-1389.

National Certification

The National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) administers the National Counselor Examination (NCE). Gannon University sponsors the GSA-NCC program for students. Graduates of CACREP accredited programs receive their NCC soon after graduation from the program. The NCE is also used for LPC licensure in Pennsylvania. Graduates are encouraged to pursue both national certification and licensure. For further information on NBCC, contact: NBCC 33 Terrace Way, Greensboro, NC 27403. Phone: (336) 547-0607. Website: www.nbcc.org.

Post-Graduate Coursework

Individuals who have completed a Master’s degree in counseling may take courses in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program in order to meet the requirements for licensure. All post-graduate students must apply to the Office of Graduate Admissions and be approved by the program director.

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

GCOU 603 Research Methodology

3 credits This course provides an understanding of principles and methods of counseling research and program evaluation including quantitative and qualitative analysis. Students will learn to critically evaluate counseling research, literature, consider ethical issues relevant to counseling research, and identify how research and program evaluation can improve counseling effectiveness. It is strongly recommended that students have taken an undergraduate statistics course.

GCOU 605 Group Dynamics

3 credits This course provides an understanding of group counseling, group dynamics, types of groups, and group leadership. Students will experience integrative learning by participating in a developmental process group. Guidelines for group treatment, ethics, and diversity will be discussed.

GCOU 608 Human Development Over the Life Span

3 credits This course provides an understanding of human growth and development over the life span including theoretical approaches and issues relevant to human services. It emphasizes physiological, cognitive, social, emotional, personality, spiritual, and moral development from conception to death. Legal and ethical issues related to human development, as well as diversity issues, will be reviewed in relation to human services.

GCOU 610 Counseling and Personality Theories

3 credits This course provides an overview of the major theories in counseling and psychotherapy. The theoretical and historical backgrounds will be reviewed along with current practices. The strengths, limitations, and appropriate use of major counseling theories will be reviewed. This course will help students consider their own evolving theoretical orientation applicable to professional counseling settings and diverse client populations.

GCOU 612 Family Systems

3 credits This course provides an understanding of family systems theory and several major approaches to family therapy. Couples therapy and parent training will also be reviewed. Students will gain an understanding for assessing, conceptualizing, and intervening with families.

GCOU 613 Appraisal in Counseling

3 credits This course provides an understanding of individual and group approaches to assessment and evaluation in professional counseling. Emphasis is placed on all aspects of clinical assessment including risk assessment, personality assessment, assessing achievement, intelligence assessment, and career testing. Students will have the opportunity to administer selected assessment instruments.

GCOU 622 Career Development and Counseling

3 credits This course provides an introduction to the theoretical bases of career development and individual career decision making. It incorporates career assessment instruments and techniques for evaluating individuals relevant to career development, planning and placement. Emphasis is placed on understanding career, educational and labor market information, technology in career counseling, legal and ethical standards, multicultural and gender bias as well as an appreciation for career trends across the life-span.

GCOU 625 Multi-Cultural Issues in Counseling

3 credits This course provides an overview of the theories of multicultural counseling and development. Issues related to social and cultural diversity will be examined as well as guidelines for developing multicultural competencies. An experiential focus is designed to increase sensitivity in counseling.

GCOU 627 Professional Counseling

3 credits This course provides an introduction to the field of professional counseling. Multiple aspects of counselor professional identity and the specific role of clinical mental health counselors will be explored. Counselor roles, legal and ethical standards, organizational affiliations, and credentialing will be reviewed. Counselor preparation and training as well as professional development will be explored.

GCOU 631 Diagnosis and Treatment Planning

3 credits This course provides an understanding of diagnosis according to the DSM and the practice of treatment planning. Emphasis is placed on differential diagnosis, the etiologies of mental and emotional disorders, as well as the cultural, contextual, and ethical issues related to the development of a diagnosis and treatment plan. Students will demonstrate diagnostic and treatment planning skills.

GCOU 642 Child and Adolescent Counseling

3 credits This course provides specialized knowledge and skills training in counseling children and adolescents. Students will learn to assess behavior and incorporate developmentally, culturally, ethnically, legally, and gender appropriate strategies and techniques to meet the needs of counseling children and adolescents. Students will examine various theoretical, behavioral, and play therapy techniques for counseling children and adolescents. Special emphasis will be placed on the diagnosis of mental and emotional disorders related to children and adolescents according to the current edition of the DSM.

GCOU 648 Counseling Strategies and Techniques

3 credits This course provides training in the core counseling skills essential for the counseling relationship and effective treatment outcomes. Students receive supervised training through modeling, live observation, skill rehearsal, and video recording in the counselor training facilities.

GCOU 649 Mental Health Counseling

3 credits This course will provide instruction and skills training in mental health strategies and techniques. Students will develop competencies in diagnosis and integrative treatment approaches for selected psychological conditions and behavior problems. Emphasis is placed on establishing a therapeutic relationship, case conceptualization, evidence-based treatment, and legal and ethical practice.

GCOU 650 Supervised Practicum

3 credits Practicum provides preparation for internship through highly structured and supervised counseling practice. Students will demonstrate the basic competencies required of professional counselors, performing direct and indirect counseling services under supervision. 100 hours of counseling practice including individual on-site supervision and on-campus group supervision are required.

GCOU 651 Supervised Internship

6 credits Internship provides 600 hours of supervised counseling experience in an appropriate mental health counseling setting. Students will perform direct and indirect counseling services under supervision. Emphasis is placed on counselor identity development, legal and ethical practice, and demonstration of multicultural and counseling competencies and case conceptualization. Students will receive individual on-site supervision and weekly on-campus group supervision.

GCOU 660 Counseling and Spirituality

3 credits This course will focus on understanding how spirituality is naturally integrated into the practice of professional counseling. Spirituality, spiritual issues, spiritual diversity, and ethical concerns will be examined. Critical topics, such as illness, death and dying, suicide, and trauma will be explored. Students will review guidelines and competencies for integrating spirituality into the counseling relationship.

GCOU 667 Crisis and Disaster Counseling

3 credits This course provides a comprehensive overview of how crises, disasters, and trauma-causing events impact the practice of professional counseling. Students will develop competencies relating to the assessment and counseling of persons experiencing trauma, crises, and/or disasters. Emphasis is placed on differentiating between normal and pathological functioning as well as understanding crises and disaster coordination, emergency response, and interdisciplinary engagement.

GCOU 668 Addictions Counseling

3 credits This course will examine addictions and addictive behaviors including strategies for prevention, intervention, and treatment. Course topics include the etiology, assessment and treatment of addictions, substance abuse, and co-occurring disorders. Treatment strategies such as harm reduction and motivational interviewing will be examined.

GCOU 680-682 Special Topics in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

3-6 credits Special courses developed from study interests in various aspects of clinical mental health counseling including supervised clinical experiences.

GCOU 688 Directed Studies

1-3 credits A directed study provides the advanced counseling student the opportunity to pursue knowledge and training in areas of interest within the counseling profession. The student will demonstrate a thorough investigation and understanding of the selected topic.

GCOU 690 Seminar in Counseling

3 credits This seminar reviews counselor preparation for certification and licensure. Legal and ethical standards of practice and consultation in professional counseling will be emphasized and reviewed. Current professional issues will be explored as a capstone program experience.

GCOU 691 Counselor Preparation – Comprehensive Examination

0 credits Students will be required to pass a comprehensive exam. This exam should be taken the same semester as GCOU 690.