Program Overview

Program Overview

The Master of Arts in Counseling: Specialization in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) program prepares socially responsible clinicians to provide culturally relevant therapeutic services in a wide range of clinical settings. Our distinctive practitioner-focused program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP), which recognizes programs that meet or exceed the highest standards for counselor preparation.

Program Objectives

The CMHC program is designed to meet the following learning objectives:

• Program Objective 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.
• Program Objective 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.
• Program Objective 3: Human Growth and Development
  • Apply models of individual, couples, and family development in the practice of counseling with emphasis on cultural diversity across the lifespan.
• Program Objective 4: Career Development
  • Demonstrate knowledge and apply career development and decision-making models and strategies with multicultural and diverse populations.
• Program Objective 5: Helping Relationships
  • Demonstrate knowledge of theories and skills to provide ethical counseling, consultation, crisis intervention services.
• Program Objective 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.
• Program Objective 7: Assessment
  • Demonstrate knowledge of principles of testing and measurement, including statistical concepts, and apply them to individual and group assessment and evaluation.
• Program Objective 8: Research and Program Evaluation
  • Describe and recognize the importance of research and statistical-based methods, statistical, needs assessment, program evaluation to inform evidence-based practice of counseling.
• Program Objective 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.
• Program Objective 10: Social Justice/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.
• Program Objective 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.

Curriculum

The Master of Arts in Counseling: Specialization in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is a 62-credit hour program that requires the successful completion of counseling training and courses from those listed below.

Core Clinical Mental Health Counseling Courses

In alignment with CACREP standards, the CMHC program offers core coursework in the following 8 areas: Professional Orientation and Ethics, Social and Cultural Diversity, Human Growth and Development, Career Development, Group work, Counseling Relationships, Research, and Assessment. Students are required to take:

• COUN 518 - Adlerian Theory and Counseling (3 cr.)
• CMHC 538 - Professional Functions of Clinical Mental Health Counselors (3 cr.)
• COUN 532 - Professional, Legal, and Ethical Issues (3 cr.)
• COUN 533 - Counseling Theories (3 cr.)
• COUN 534 - Counseling Skills (3 cr.)
• COUN 535 - Diagnosis Maladaptive Behavior (3 cr.)
• COUN 536 - Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling (3 cr.)
• COUN 540 - Group Counseling (3 cr.)
• CMHC 617 - Treatment Planning and Intervention (3 cr.)
• COUN 618 - Couples and Family Counseling (3 cr.)
• COUN 622 - Human Growth & Development (3 cr.)
• COUN 625 - Research & Program Evaluation (3 cr.)
• COUN 626 - Appraisal and Assessment (3 cr.)
• COUN 629 - Career Development Theories & Interventions (3 cr.)
• COUN 630 - Addiction Counseling (3 cr.)
• CMHC 615 - Crisis Intervention and Trauma Counseling (3 cr.)

Field Training and Seminars

All students enrolled in the CMHC program must complete a 200-hour community-based social justice practicum experience. Students also complete a 100-hour clinical practicum experience and a 600-hour clinical internship located at an external site.

Comprehensive Exam

CMHC 995 - CMHC Comprehensive Exam (0 cr.)

Electives (Three Credit Hours)

The Department of Counseling and Integrated Programs offers a variety of elective courses to their program students. CMHC students are required to take one elective that is three credit hours.

Admissions Requirements

Admissions requirements:

• A baccalaureate degree earned from a regionally accredited college or university or an equivalent degree from an international college or university.
• A recommended GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale for undergraduate and graduate coursework. Exceptions may be made for applicants who demonstrate outstanding 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.

Applicants are required to submit the following items to be considered for admission:

• Application and application fee
• Statement of Intent (2-3 pages, double-spaced) answering the following questions:
  • Why are you interested in your chosen field and program?
  • Why is Adler University’s program a good fit for you?
  • Adler University mission is based on social justice. Share your perspective of social justice.
  • What are your career goals and interests?
• Resume or Curriculum Vitae
• Official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate schools attended (U.S and Canada)
• Two letters of recommendation
  • These should be from someone who can specifically speak to your academic and professional abilities

Tuition & Fees

Tuition for Adler University’s programs is charged each term according to the number of registered academic credits. The number of credits a student will register for varies by academic program and by term.

Faculty

• Karyna S. Strickland, Ph.D. Program Director & Assistant Professor, M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling (On-Ground)
• Jennifer Bonino, Ph.D. Program Director & Assistant Professor, M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling (Online)
• Tiffany Stoner-Harris, Ph.D. Clinical Training Director & Assistant Professor, M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling (On-Ground)
• Lauren B. Melamed, Ph.D. Clinical Training Director & Associate Professor, M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling (Online)
• Sandra Kakacek, Ed.D. Associate Professor, M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling (Online)
• Monica F. Boyd-Layne, Ph.D. Associate Professor, M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling (On-Ground)
• Kesha S. Burch, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling (On-Ground)
• Mtisunge E. Kapalamula, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling (On-Ground)
• Vincent Marasco, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling (On-Ground)
• Reylla Santos, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling (On-Ground)
• Shawn Wunderlich Ph.D. Assistant Professor, M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling (Online)