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.

CNS ED 6010	Theories of Counseling
CNS ED 6020	Ethical and Professional Issues in Counseling
CNS ED 6060	Helping-Relationship Skills
CNS ED 6270	School Counseling Practicum
CNS ED 6280	School Counseling Field Experience
CNS ED 6370	Clinical Mental Health Counseling Practicum I
CNS ED 6380	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
CNS ED 6810	Integrating Religion and Spirituality in Counseling
CNS ED 6820	Counseling Women Toward Empowerment
CNS ED 6830	Counseling African American Clients
CNS ED 6840	Counseling Sexual and Gender Minorities
CNS ED 6850	Social Class and Poverty Issues In Counseling
CNS ED 6860	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

Please consult with the Department office for requirements and dates of this examination.

Pending Faculty Senate C&I approval.

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:

Be prepared to function effectively and ethically as counselors in a variety of professional settings which includes school, community, and clinical mental health settings.

Be self-aware and sensitive to their clients as people who exist in the context of different cultures and races and people who are potentially at risk.
Be able to flexibly and skillfully construct and apply theory and techniques to fit the changing needs of clients both individually and in groups, within school, community, and/or clinical mental health settings.
Be proficient with the understanding and human relations skills necessary to consult as part of a team effort, within a school, community, and/or mental health setting.
Be prepared to help individuals meet developmental concerns and needs both individually and in a variety of developmental group programs, within a school, community, or clinical mental health setting.
Be knowledgeable about career development and the use of appraisal instruments and test interpretation and their impact on individual planning.
Be knowledgeable about research methods and research literature.
Value developing professional expertise as a lifelong process.