Trends over the past decade have substantially broadened the practice and responsibilities of the professional counselor, increasing employment opportunities in mental health agencies, businesses, hospitals and private practices. Additional trends include the advent of licensure and certification for counselors and a growing emphasis on accountability in the provision of therapeutic services. Coupled with these trends is an increasing diversity among those seeking direct mental health services in terms of age, ethnicity, cultural background, lifestyle, and socioeconomic status. With an exceedingly diverse consumer base, counselors face an increasingly challenging array of issues such as chemical dependency, child and elder abuse, juvenile delinquency, divorce, physical disability and terminal illness. The counselor of today, as well as of the future, must be a knowledgeable and skilled practitioner who can draw upon a wide range of approaches to meet the multifaceted needs of clients in achieving optimal mental health.

The Master of Science degree in Mental Health Counseling provides graduate students with the concepts and beginning clinical competencies required to effectively facilitate and manage the process of intrapersonal and interpersonal change. Students are equipped to assist others through a helping relationship in achieving optimal mental health through personal and social adjustment, development, and prevention. The program is designed to provide training for those who intend to serve, or are currently serving the community as counselors in public, private and human service settings.

The Mental Health Counseling curriculum offers the graduate student foundation and specialization courses designed to enhance theoretical knowledge and counseling skills, as well as personal and professional development. Coursework emphasizes the exploration of social, professional, and personal issues and values as they influence the provision of mental health services. Throughout the program, students are expected to demonstrate practical application of their knowledge and development through projects, papers, presentations, and fieldwork.

Mental Health Counseling students may include a specialization in child/adolescent studies. This will include three courses focusing on the theory and practice of counseling minors, plus a capstone internship in an appropriate community setting. Incoming students will take a writing assessment and pending the outcome may be required to complete a graduate writing seminar to improve writing skills.

Mental Health Counseling students may obtain a Specialization Certificate in Child and Adolescent Studies. The requirements for this certificate include three courses focusing on the theory and practice of counseling minors and field experience in an appropriate community setting. A specialization certificate will be awarded to students who make appropriate admissions application and maintain 3.0 G.P.A.

ACADEMIC PROGRAM

The academic program emphasizes the integration of theoretical knowledge and counseling skills with the student’s personal and professional development. In addition, courses are designed to encourage the development of each student’s unique approach to counseling with clients from diverse backgrounds in varied work settings.

While the development of the Mental Health Counseling curriculum is guided by both state and national credentialing requirements, matriculating and prospective students are encouraged to direct questions regarding licensure to the Florida Department of Health. Students may be required to take a writing seminar to improve their skills in this area, and became involved in their own personal counseling.

MS in Mental Health Counseling Course Requirements (60)

Foundation Courses (24 credits)

CPS 503 Applied Research Methods
CPS 720 Life Span Psychology
CPS 730 Theories of Personality
CPS 735 Group Therapies
CPS 736 Legal and Ethical Issues in Counseling
CPS 745 Abnormal Psychology
CPS 746 Human Sexuality Counseling
CPS 747 Individual Assessment and Treatment Planning

Specialization (27 credits)

CPS 733 Introduction to Counseling
CPS 744 Substance Abuse and the Family
CPS 749 Intermediate Counseling
CPS 750 Introduction to Community Consultation
EDU 663 Occupational and Educational Principles of Guidance

or

CPS 751 Vocational and Career Counseling
CPS 760 Multicultural Counseling
CPS 790 Field Experience I
CPS 791 Field Experience II
CPS 795 Field Experience III

Electives (9 credits)

CPS 734 Therapeutic Issues of Infancy and Childhood
CPS 737 Therapeutic Issues of Adolescence
CPS 739 Therapeutic Issues of Aging
CPS 740 Introduction to Family Therapy and Evaluation
CPS 741 Transitions in Family Life
CPS 742 Intermediate Family Therapy
CPS 743 Theory and Practice of Counseling Couples
CPS 752 Selected Topics in Psychotherapy
CPS 789 Directed Readings

 For more information, please contact Dr. Lawrence Rubin at lrubin@stu.edu or call (305) 628-6585.