Counseling MEd, Clinical Mental Health Emphasis
Mission
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. 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. Additionally, graduates are employed in career development, and business and industry positions, especially in training and personnel areas. Others have moved into roles calling for research and evaluation skills. The program is designed to fulfill entry-level program standards of preparation. It also is intended to enable program graduates to apply for the Missouri License for Professional Counselors.
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.
Since it is the objective of the counseling faculty to identify students with low potential for competent practice as early as possible and to initiate the necessary procedures for dealing with such students, faculty of the counseling program reserve the right to review students at any stage of their coursework. A U (Unsatisfactory) in any clinical course or any grade less than a B- in these core counseling courses will automatically trigger a review process by the Counseling Review Board.
| Theories of Counseling | ||
| Ethical and Professional Issues in Counseling | ||
| Helping-Relationship Skills | ||
| School Counseling Practicum | ||
| School Counseling Field Experience | ||
| Clinical Mental Health Counseling Practicum I | ||
| Clinical Mental Health Counseling Field Experience |
The Counseling Review Board process, however initiated, may result in the termination of the student’s degree program or other required or recommended remedies to address deficiencies judged by the Counseling Review Board as related to the skills that are essential to the development of competent and ethical practices as a professional counselor.
Students admitted to the M.Ed. degree programs in counseling as “restricted graduate students” (see the “graduate study” rules in this Bulletin) must attain a 3.0 GPA in the 12 hours of course work at UMSL. Restricted students must include the following courses in the first 12 hours of coursework: CNS ED 6010: Theories of Counseling and CNS ED 6020: Ethical and Professional Issues in Counseling. A student on restricted status earning any grade less than a B- in either of these courses but still maintaining a 3.0 GPA, will be allowed to repeat the course one time and must earn a grade of B- or better to be fully admitted.
Master of Education: Emphasis in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
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 | Individual Inventory | 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 Field Experience | 6 |
| CNS ED 6400 | Career Information and Development | 3 |
| CNS ED 6500 | Introduction to Systems Theory for Couples and Family Counseling | 3 |
| CNS ED 6700 | Introduction to Addictive Behaviors and Addiction Counseling | 3 |
| One course from the advanced multicultural cognate which includes: | 3 | |
| Integrating Religion and Spirituality in Counseling | ||
| Counseling Women Toward Empowerment | ||
| Counseling African American Clients | ||
| Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity in Counseling | ||
| Social Class and Poverty Issues in Counseling | ||
| Human Sexuality in Counseling | ||
| Psychological Foundations and Human Development | ||
| The following course is required: | ||
| ED PSY 6210 | Life-Span: Individual and Family Development | 3 |
| Educational Research and Evaluation Methods | ||
| The following course is required: | ||
| 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 | ||
| Total Hours | 60 | |
- 1
Please consult with the Department office for requirements and dates of this examination.
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.