Program Overview

Counseling MEd, Clinical Mental Health Emphasis

Overview

The Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program of the Department of Education Sciences and Professional Programs prepares professional counselors, including mental health, career, addictions, couples/family, and child and adolescent counselors, to serve the mental health needs of culturally diverse individuals, groups, couples, and families in need.

Mission

The program's outreach extends to schools, colleges and universities, community-based organizations, business and industry, as well as independent practice. The program strives to develop a culturally diverse student population and to draw students from local, regional, national, and international locations.

Purpose

The M.Ed. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program prepares clinical mental health counselors for positions in community colleges, universities, employment agencies, vocational rehabilitation agencies, probation and parole work, juvenile detention, alcoholism and drug abuse clinics, career planning and placement centers, community mental health agencies, family and children services, and various federally funded public service projects.

Admission

In addition to meeting the general admission requirements of the Graduate School, applicants to the M.Ed. must complete the program supplemental application, have two completed references on file, have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0, and upon admission will take CNS ED 6010, Theories of Counseling, in their first semester. Admissions will be conducted twice a year. The deadlines for application are March 1 for the fall semester and October 1 for the spring semester.

Degree Requirements

The clinical mental health counseling emphasis prepares professionals for work in community settings, universities, and businesses. Graduates are eligible for the Missouri Licensed Professional Counselor and National Certified Counselor credentials.

Core Curriculum (CNS ED)

• CNS ED 6010: Theories of Counseling (3)
• CNS ED 6020: Ethical and Professional Issues in Counseling (3)
• CNS ED 6030: Foundations for Multicultural Counseling (3)
• CNS ED 6040: Group Procedures in Counseling (3)
• CNS ED 6050: Assessment in Counseling (3)
• CNS ED 6060: Helping-Relationship Skills (3)
• CNS ED 6070: Psychopathology and Diagnosis (3)
• CNS ED 6300: Foundations of Clinical Mental Health Counseling (3)
• CNS ED 6370: Clinical Mental Health Counseling Practicum I (3)
• CNS ED 6380: Clinical Mental Health Counseling Internship (6)
• CNS ED 6400: Career Counseling and Development (3)
• CNS ED 6500: Introduction to Systems in Counseling (3)
• CNS ED 6700: Introduction to Addiction Counseling (3)
• One course from the advanced multicultural cognate (3)
  • CNS ED 6810: Integrating Religion and Spirituality in Counseling
  • CNS ED 6820: Counseling Women Across the Lifespan
  • CNS ED 6830: Counseling Black Clients
  • CNS ED 6840: Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity in Counseling
  • CNS ED 6850: Social Class and Poverty in Counseling
  • CNS ED 6860: Human Sexuality in Counseling
• Psychological Foundations and Human Development
  • ED PSY 6210: Life-Span: Individual and Family Development (3)
• Educational Research and Evaluation Methods
  • ED REM 6710: Educational Research Methods and Design (3)
• Electives and Area of Specialization (9) Electives and coursework in an area of specialization should be selected in consultation with the adviser. Areas of specialization are not required but may be chosen. They include career counseling, addictions/substance abuse counseling, child and adolescent counseling, couples and family counseling, and others.
• Comprehensive Examination (Capstone Experience) (1)

Learning Outcomes

The Master of Education in Counseling programs prepare professionals to work in educational settings - elementary, middle, or high schools - as school counselors or in clinical settings - clinics, community mental health centers, or private practice - as clinical mental health counselors. Counselors have professional preparation in the theory and practice of counseling, treatment planning, and career development.

The candidate learning outcomes of the school and clinical mental health counseling programs are to:

• Demonstrate awareness and behavior consistent with an understanding and appreciation of diversity issues.
• Apply helping relationship skills to establish therapeutic alliances and to achieve counseling goals with clients in diverse counseling settings.
• Utilize counseling ethical standards to guide professional practice and ethical decision-making.
• Assess client status and goals within relevant treatment contexts (e.g., school, clinic, community) and identify interventions based on research and best practice.
• Identify and apply appropriate theories to conceptualize client cases and inform counseling practice to achieve therapeutic goals.
• Articulate the ways in which mental health and career needs intersect for clients across the lifespan.
• Use developmentally appropriate trauma-informed approaches to address the needs of clients and systems.