CLINICAL MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING
The Clinical Mental Health Concentration is designed for students desiring to become licensed professional counselors and work with individuals, families and groups to address issues such as depression, anxiety, addictions, career development, discrimination, relationship problems and grief.
Students are prepared for the profession through training in core courses such as counseling theory, group dynamics, counseling skills, multi-cultural counseling, consultative services and clinical counseling orientation. They also select elective courses focusing on an area of specialization, such as marriage and family counseling or drug and alcohol counseling. Students are provided with the opportunity to develop their counseling skills within the community setting through the practicum and internship experiences.
The Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program was designed by our faculty in accord with the licensure requirements of the State of Pennsylvania and is recognized by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). The coursework is based on the standards and recommendations of: CACREP, Ethical Standards for Community Counselors developed by ACA, NCC examination requirements, and licensure requirements for community counselors as outlined by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Questions about this program, please contact Dr. Terence Yee, Clinical Mental Health Program Director.
Please note: Students who enroll in this degree may decide to pursue licensure/certification, the requirements for which vary by location. For more information on educational requirements, please review the professional licensure/certification disclosures.
PROGRAM DETAILS
Program Requirements
A total of 60 credits are required for the degree for students in the Clinical Mental Health concentration. Students may take up to six years to complete the program. Students are expected to complete the core program and comprehensive examination, as well as demonstrate proficiency in counseling skills during a one-semester practicum and a two-semester Internship.
A thesis is not required, but may be done in lieu of six credits of elective study. Students opting to complete a Master's Thesis must also have completed and defended it prior to graduation.
Prospective Students interested in reviewing course syllabi are directed to contact the Department of Education and Counseling.
Core Program Courses
Level I (15 credits)
- CHR 8605 Laboratory in Counseling Skills
- CHR 8655 Laboratory in Group Dynamics
- CHR 8687 Counseling Theory and Practice
- CHR 8688 Clinical Mental Health Counseling Orientation
- CHR 8883 Ethics and Professional Orientation in Counseling
- Level II (33 credits)
- CHR 8880 Psychopathology
- CHR 8840 Community Resources and Crisis Intervention
- CHR 8855 Assessment and Appraisal
- CHR 8685 Lifestyle & Career Development
- CHR 8884 Human Growth and Development
- CHR 8860 Counseling Diverse Populations
- CHR 8604 Research and Evaluation
- CHR 8682 Practicum in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
- CHR 8844 Family Systems Theory
- CHR 8874 Prevention Theory and Practice
- CHR 8873 Substance Abuse
Level II Electives (6 credits)
Select two Electives (3 credits each), or select one Elective (3 credits) and 3 Workshops (1 credit each).
- CHR 8686 Group Counseling: Theory and Practice
- CHR 8683 Consultation Processes
- CHR 8710 Childhood: Play & Practice
- CHR 8661 Preventative Methods in Couples Therapy
- CHR 8845 Family Interventions
- CHR 8862 Couples Counseling
- CHR 8876 Adolescent Substance Abuse
Level III (6 credits)
- CHR 8850 Internship I in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
- CHR 8851 Internship II in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
The culminating field experiences of the Counseling Program are the 100- hour Practicum and the 600- hour Internship experiences. Below are overviews of the classes and experiences. More detailed information regarding expectations and hours can be found in the Practicum Handbook and Internship Handbook.
Practicum Overview
- One class over one semester
- Three credit hours
- 100 hours over the semester
The Practicum is designed to give students familiarity with the counseling process and conceptualize cases. Students will be helped to find their own placement for Practicum, and must work under the supervision of a certified school counselor or clinical mental health practitioner.
Internship Overview
- Two classes (Internship I and II) over two semesters
- Six credit hours total
- 600 hours over two semesters
The Internship is designed to provide the counselor trainee with the opportunity to work directly with clients individually, and in small groups. Students will integrate theoretical knowledge with the realities of practice. It is important that counselor trainees have a broad range of experiences, including clerical tasks which are associated with counseling.
School Counseling students must work in an approved school under the supervision of a certified school counselor. Clinical Mental Health Counseling students are required to work in an approved agency which corresponds to their area of interest. Scheduling is to be developed by the sponsoring agency/school personnel and the counselor trainee with the approval of their professor.
Comprehensive examinations are required for all students in degree programs, with the exception of those who have written a thesis. Please note, the comprehensive exam is an exit exam for the master's in counseling program, taken by both school and mental health counseling students. This is a different test than the National Counseling Exam (NCE), which students take as part of the process in applying for state licensure (e.g., to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC).
The format of this comprehensive exam is the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE), which is distributed through the Center for Credentialing & Education, Inc. The purpose of the CPCE is to assess counseling students’ knowledge of counseling information viewed as important by counselor preparation programs.
The Department of Education and Counseling encourages all students enrolled in its master's programs to write a thesis as the culminating exercise of their program of studies. A thesis can serve in lieu of presenting a digital exit portfolio for our graduate education programs. Students who are considering doctoral studies at some future point in time are especially encouraged to write a thesis.
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT
Annie Baker '17 MS in Counseling, LPC, NCC, Licensed Professional Counselor
I think Villanova prepared me for going into the counseling field more than I could have imagined! Learning and grasping theoretical orientations, understanding group dynamics, seeing the impact of diversity, introducing psychopathology and family systems, and having opportunities to practice and develop interpersonal counseling skills are only a few of the examples of how Villanova has paved the way for my current practice. The relationships developed with professors and the flexibility provided to meet the needs of each student allowed me to complete the program in a way that made sense for my life. After working in an intensive day treatment and outpatient eating disorder program, and receiving supervision for licensure, I am now accepting clients in my own private practice. Villanova provided me the opportunity to increase my awareness about myself and simultaneously develop the foundational skills needed to develop authentic therapeutic relationships and foster an environment that promotes healing for my clients.