Clinical Mental Health Counseling

 

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Department Chairperson: Dr. Virginia Gonsman

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The purpose of the Master of Science (M.S.) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) Program is to facilitate intentional and quality academic learning, conceptualizations and skills, personal and professional development and dispositions, as well as lifelong learning for graduate CMHC students to, ultimately, promote counselor competence and client wellness for diverse individuals in various clinical settings, organizations, and cultural contexts (CACREP, 2024; 2.A.1., A.3.). The CMHC Program purposefully considers feedback from stakeholders who contribute to delivery of the Program, College faculty, in general, and counselor education faculty, in particular, current students, alumni, community partners, and so forth (CACREP, 2024; 2.A.2.). Additionally, the CMHC Program is aligned with, but not limited to, current CACREP Standards, AMHCA Standards, ACA Ethical and Professional Standards, Mount Aloysius College’s Mission, and Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) (CACREP, 2024; 2.A.2.). The MAC CMHC Program Mission is published on the Program website (CACREP, 2024; 2.A.4.).

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Objectives:

MAC CMHC Program Objectives reflect essential knowledge and skills that promote counselor competence with diverse individuals in various settings and cultural contexts (CACREP, 2024; 2.B.1.).Upon completion of the MAC CMHC Program, a graduate will achieve the ten measurable Program Objectives enumerated and described below, as evidenced by aggregate student outcome data across multiple points in the Program curriculum, with aggregate data reported for Program assessment and stakeholder input (CACREP, 2024; 2.B.2., CACREP, 2024; 2.B.3.). Details about the benchmarks across multiple points in time are indicated in the CMHC Program Curriculum Map. The MAC CMHC Program Objectives are published on the Program website (CACREP, 2024; 2.B.4.).

Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:

1. PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING ORIENTATION AND ETHICAL PRACTICE - Integrate foundational knowledge, skills, and dispositions of effective clinical mental health counseling, as defined in ethically, legally, and culturally sustaining standards of practice and the extant professional counseling literature (CACREP, 2024; 3.A.)
2. SOCIAL AND CULTURAL IDENTITIES AND EXPERIENCE - Synthesize reflection, research, and cultural experiences to enhance intentional multicultural and social advocacy awareness and competencies to effectively counsel diverse and/or marginalized individuals (CACREP, 2024; 3.B.)
3. LIFESPAN DEVELOPMENT - Analyze and examine scholarly concepts and interventions that integrate lifespan development (e.g., neurological, biological, psychological, social, moral, cultural, etc.) and wellness models for individuals and families in diverse systems and contexts (CACREP, 2024; 3.C.)
4. CAREER DEVELOPMENT - Evaluate career theories, interventions, and the interdependent factors of career development, mental health, and individuals in marginalized cultural contexts (CACREP, 2024; 3.D.)
5. COUNSELING PRACTICE AND RELATIONSHIPS - Practice and integrate evidenced-based case conceptualizations, prevention and intervention skills, and personal and professional dispositions that are consistent with effective clinical mental health counseling, as defined in ethically, legally, and culturally sustaining standards of practice and the extant professional counseling literature (CACREP, 2024; 3.E.)
6. GROUP COUNSELING AND GROUP WORK - Explore and experience best practices of group counseling and group work theories and dynamics to promote knowledge, personal and professional growth, as well as ethical, legal, and cultural responsiveness (CACREP, 2024; 3.F.)
7. ASSESSMENT AND DIAGNOSTIC PROCESSES - Demonstrate an advanced understanding of assessment, diagnostic processes, statistical concepts, and research critiques using an ethical, legal, and diversity competent framework (CACREP, 2024; 3.G.)
8. RESEARCH AND PROGRAM EVALUATION - Evaluate scholarly research and its implications in counseling and program evaluation using existing research recommendations as well as ethical, legal, and cultural competencies and standards (CACREP, 2024; 3.H.)
9. CLINICAL MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING (CMHC) SPECIALIZATION - Develop advanced and specialized knowledge, skills, and dispositions of effective clinical mental health counseling, as defined in ethically, legally, and culturally sustaining standards of practice and the extant professional counseling literature (CACREP, 2024; 5.C.)
10. PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE - Practice and synthesize evidenced-based case conceptualizations, prevention and intervention skills, and personal and professional dispositions that are consistent with ethical, legal, and diversity competent clinical mental health counseling standards of practice and the extant professional counseling literature during Practicum and Internship fieldwork and class experiences (CACREP, 2024; Section 4)

Admission Requirements for Clinical Mental Health Counseling Graduate Applicants

To apply for the Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program at Mount Aloysius College, applicants must submit the following information to the office of Undergraduate and Graduate Admissions:

1.    Mount Aloysius College Graduate Admission Application with a non-refundable application fee

2.     Official transcript issued to Mount Aloysius College from every institution, regardless of whether or not a degree was earned. An official transcript is one that is sent or carried to the College in an envelope sealed by the granting university. Students with an overall grade point average below 3.2 on a 4.0 scale may be required to take the GRE or GMAT exam to be determined by the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program applicant reviewer(s).

3.    Statement of Purpose that includes the following:

o a brief description of the applicant’s background, training, and experience;

o professional career/goal statements of the applicant and reasons for seeking admission to this program;

o a description of the areas which the applicant considers to be personal and professional strengths and areas in which

the applicant wishes to develop greater strengths and abilities; and

o other personal information the applicant wishes to share.

4.  Two letters of recommendation that verify professional experience, academic ability, volunteer experience, and aptitude for the proposed career path

5.    Resume/Curriculum Vitae

6.     After all the aforementioned materials are received and reviewed, then an applicant might be offered, and must successfully complete, a virtual interview with the Counseling Program Coordinator or a designee as a condition of admission. Fulfillment of this condition will be noted in the applicant’s admissions file.

7.     GPA of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale [“Provisional Acceptance” might be offered to an applicant with a GPA of less than 3.2, if other admission requirements are exceptional and if approved by the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program applicant reviewer(s). For more information, refer to Graduate Admissions Policies, in general, and Graduate School Provisional Admission Policies, in particular.]

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•    Applicants to the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program must show evidence of successful completion of a course in undergraduate or graduate statistics. Specifically, if students do not have a “C” or greater on their transcripts for an undergraduate or graduate course in statistics, then students must enroll in an undergraduate course in statistics during their first or second semester of graduate studies at Mount Aloysius College (e.g. Undergraduate Statistics Course: MATH 220).

•    Applicants whose native language is not English are required to take a TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE Academic exam. For the TOEFL iBT, the required minimum score is 53; For the TOEFL Essentials, the required minimum score is 5.5. For the IELTS, the required minimum score is 5.5, and the PTE Academic minimum score is 42. If the applicant has a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally-accredited U.S. college or university, the TOEFL requirement is waived.

•    A condition of acceptance into the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program is that the graduate Clinical Mental Health Counseling student must enroll in the course, COUN 501: Professional Orientation & Ethics [“…beginning of 1st term enrollment… new student orientation for all program delivery types…” (CACREP, 2024, p. 3)] and being an online student.