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
  • 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
  • SJP 513 - Social Justice Practicum I (On-ground Modality) (1 cr.)
  • SJP 514 - Social Justice Practicum II (On-ground Modality) (1 cr.)
  • SJP - 515 Social Justice Practicum I (Online Modality) (0.5 cr.)
  • SJP - 516 Social Justice Practicum II (Online Modality) (0.5 cr.)
  • SJP - 517 Social Justice Practicum III (Online Modality) (0.5 cr.)
  • SJP - 518 Social Justice Practicum IV (Online Modality) (0.5 cr.)
  • CMHC 600 - CMHC Practicum & Seminar (3 cr.)
  • CMHC 601 - CMHC Internship & Seminar I (3 cr.)
  • CMHC 602 - CMHC Internship & Seminar II (3 cr.)
• Comprehensive Exam
  • CMHC 995 - CMHC Comprehensive Exam (0 cr.)
• Electives (Three Credit Hours)
  • Examples of the electives offered by the Department include:
    • COUN 550 - Preparation for Applied Thesis (1 cr.)
    • COUN 551 - M. A. Thesis I (1 cr.)
    • COUN 552 - M. A. Thesis II (1 cr.)
    • COUN-620 - Child & Adolescent Counseling (3 cr.)
    • COUN 722 - Counseling Older Adults and Families (3 cr.)
    • COUN 640 - Counseling and Human Sexuality (3 cr.)
    • COUN 661 - Animal Assisted Therapy (3 cr.)
    • COUN 688 - Mind, Body, and Meditative Practices in Counseling (3 cr.)
    • CSUC 889 - Bio-Psycho-Social-Spiritual Aspects of Addictions (3 cr.)
    • CSUC 990 - Advanced Addictions Treatment (3 cr.)
    • COUN 752 - Advanced Adlerian Theory and Practice (3 cr.)
    • COUN 750 - Psychopharmacology in Counseling (3 cr.)
    • COUN 660 - Introduction to Play Therapy (3 cr.)

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)
  • Please have official transcripts sent directly to the Office of Admissions
  • Unofficial transcripts may be accepted for any schools in which a degree was not received
  • International transcripts must be evaluated by a transcript evaluation service
• 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)