Master of Arts (M.A.) - Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program
Dr. H. Ty Leonard, Program Coordinator
The Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). The Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is currently accredited under the 2009 standards.
Mission
The mission of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program is to prepare students for licensure and certification as knowledgeable and ethical professional counselors to meet the increasing demand for mental health services in a complex society with a diverse population by offering a curriculum that combines theory and concepts with skills development and meets the requirements as set forth by the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors and the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs.
CMHC Goals
CMHC Goal 1: Prepare clinical mental health counselors to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse and changing society.
CMHC Goal 2: Prepare qualified clinical mental health counselors who are proficient in written and verbal communications.
CMHC Goal 3: Prepare professional mental health counselors to practice effectively in collaborative and interdisciplinary environments.
CMHC Goal 4: Promote the development of counselor professional identity and an understanding of professional ethical standards and the appropriate legal statues.
CMHC Goal 5: Provide Clinical Mental Health program students with the academic and practical experiences that satisfy the program accreditation standards set forth by the Counsel for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs (CACREP) and satisfy the licensure requirements of the State of Texas’s Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors.
A Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) renders professional counseling services to individuals, couples, families, groups, organizations, corporations, institutions, government agencies, or the general public for compensation. He or she assists one or more clients through the therapeutic relationship, using a combination of mental health and human development principles, methods, and techniques, including the use of psychotherapy, to achieve the mental, emotional, physical, social, moral, educational, spiritual, or career-related development and adjustment of the client throughout the client’s life. The Licensed Professional Counselor is a trained and experienced expert who holds a valid license issued under the Texas Licensed Professional Counselor Act, Title 71, Art. 4512g.
A National Board Certified Counselor (NBCC) is one who has advanced knowledge of mental health, psychological, or human development principles and can apply these through cognitive, affective, behavioral or systemic intervention strategies to address wellness, personal growth, or career development, as well as pathology. This national certification requires that a person who has completed the 48 hour program and has met the requirements for the general practice of professional counseling take and pass a national certification examination.
Course Requirements 60 Hours
Core Counseling Courses (36 hours)
Clinical Mental Health Counseling Specialized Courses (12 hours)
| CNSL 6305 | Addictions Counseling and Psychopharmacology | 3 |
| CNSL 6330 | Trauma and Crisis Counseling with Individuals and Families | 3 |
| CNSL 6355 | Advanced Psychopathology & Treatment Planning | 3 |
| CNSL 6370 | Legal & Ethical Issues in Clinical Mental Health Counseling | 3 |
Elective (3 credits from any of the following or other counseling courses with approval)
Clinical Instruction (9 hours)
Comprehensive Examination (0 hours)
Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE). The policies and procedures for the administration and scoring of the comprehensive examination for each specialization are available through the Director of the Graduate Counseling Program.
Clinical Mental Health Counseling Degree Plan
This section identifies how the UMHB Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program meets the 10 academic content areas required in Rule §681.83 and §681.84 Academic Course Content of Title 22, Texas Administrative Code, Part 30, Chapter 681, effective June 1, 2012 for meeting the course requirements for licensure as a professional counselor in the State of Texas:
Human Growth and Development
Abnormal Human Behavior
| CNSL 6305 | Addictions Counseling and Psychopharmacology | 3 |
| CNSL 6315 | Abnormal Human Behavior | 3 |
| CNSL 6355 | Advanced Psychopathology & Treatment Planning | 3 |
Appraisal or Assessment Techniques
Counseling Theory
Counseling Methods or Techniques
Counseling Individuals
| CNSL 6316 | Applied Counseling Techniques in Individual & Family Counseling | 3 |
| CNSL 6394 | Pre-Practicum | 3 |
Theory and Types of Groups
Research
Lifestyle and Career Development
| CNSL 6302 | Career Development and Information Sources | 3 |
Social and Cultural and Family Issues
| CNSL 6318 | Marriage and Family Theories in Counseling | 3 |
| CNSL 6330 | Trauma and Crisis Counseling with Individuals and Families | 3 |
| CNSL 6351 | Diversity Issues | 3 |
Professional Orientation & Ethics
| CNSL 6308 | Professional Orientation & Ethics | 3 |
| CNSL 6353 | Consultation, Prevention, & Supervision | 3 |
| CNSL 6370 | Legal & Ethical Issues in Clinical Mental Health Counseling | 3 |
Elective (3 credits from any of the following)
Practicum (Internship)
In addition to completing all degree requirements, students who want to become Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC) in Texas must, after graduation, complete a 3000 clock hour internship approved by the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors. Prior to beginning this internship, graduates must apply to take the National Counselor Exam and apply to the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors for a temporary license. Graduates must also take and pass the Jurisprudence Exam administered by the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors.