Master of Science and Master of Arts Degree in Counseling with a concentration in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Courses and Credit Hours The list of courses and credit hours needed for the M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is attached. The courses and credit hour requirements reflect those necessary to meet the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) accreditation standards, certification standards, and the latest in Clinical Mental Health program development. CACREP is the accrediting arm of the American Counseling Association (ACA), the world's largest association for professional counselors. The Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program at the University of Nebraska at Omaha is currently accredited under the CACREP 2001 standards as a Community Counseling program through March 31, 2016. The CACREP 2009 standards combine the Community Counseling and Mental Health Counseling standards into standards for Clinical Mental Health Counseling programs. The UNO Counseling Department will apply to continue accreditation for this program as a Clinical Mental Health Counseling program when it comes up for reaccreditation in 2016, per CACREP guidelines. Objective of the Program The Clinical Mental Health Concentration is designed to prepare you to work with clients across a spectrum of mental and emotional disorders, as well as to promote mental health and wellness. You may work with clients individually, in couples, families, or in group settings. Clinical Mental Health Counselors are knowledgeable in the principles and practices of diagnosis, treatment, referral and prevention and often work in interdisciplinary teams with other health professionals (e.g., psychiatrists, social workers, MDs). Employment opportunities may include private practice, community-based mental health centers, hospitals and other treatment centers (CACREP, 2012). Specific Prerequisites For: Counseling Practicum (8220), Internship I (8250), and Internship II (8260) Applications to take COUN 8220-Counseling Practicum must be filed at least one semester prior to enrollment in COUN 8220. Eligibility to enroll in COUN 8220-Counseling Practicum occurs only after a student has completed 18-20 hours including 8020, 8030, 8306, 8316, 8406, 8040, 8610, 8230, and ALL prerequisites for these courses. A grade of B or higher in COUN 8030-Counseling Practices, is necessary in order to enroll in COUN 8220, COUN 8250 and COUN 8260. COUN 8220,COUN 8250 and COUN 8260 are taken consecutively. Any requests for exemptions from these prerequisites must be addressed in writing to the Department of Counseling Graduate Program Committee.
Requirements for Counseling Practicum, Internship I, Internship II a. Counseling Practicum-COUN 8220 - The Community Counseling Clinic (located in Roskens Hall 107) serves clients from the community and UNO students. Students will serve these clients during open clinic hours weekdays and Saturday mornings. Clients are scheduled according to clients needs and individual students availability. Students meet with their university supervisor in two-hour weekly class sessions and individually as arranged. Students are critiqued or briefed during class sessions. Counseling sessions are recorded and reviewed by the student and supervisor. One hundred clock hours, which includes 40 direct client contact hours, are required. Students are responsible for keeping accurate and complete records of every session, signed by their supervisor, to be maintained in the department s client files for a period of five years. Students must submit a complete record of practicum hours with their supervisor at the end of every semester. b. Internship I-COUN 8250 - Meets on campus in a seminar setting once each week for one and a half hours. Counseling topics are presented and discussed every other week. Individual critique sessions are conducted bi-monthly with each student by the university instructor and weekly with the site supervisor. Audio and/or video recordings with each counseling session are made at the internship site. The instructor and student critique a minimum of 7 recorded sessions over the semester. Students are required to complete 300 supervised hours. During this time, they are expected to have a minimum of 8 counseling hours with clients each week of which at least 4 hours are not in groups. Seminar topics include discussion of diagnostic procedures utilizing DSM, psycho-pharmacology, ethical procedures as well as contemporary issues facing counselors. One hundred and thirty (130) direct client contact hours are required. c. Internship II-COUN 8260 - Meets as a seminar weekly on campus. Students present recordings of their counseling sessions to the instructor every other week and will do the same with the site supervisor every other week. Topics discussed during the seminar reflect contemporary counseling practices, special groups students are working with, families, couples, and special subjects. As in Internship I-COUN 8250, all counseling sessions are recorded and the student's written notes maintained in client folders. Students are required to complete 300 supervised hours and have a minimum of 8 counseling hours with clients each week. Of the 300 hours, a minimum of (130) direct client contact hours are required for Internship II. Activity involvement is devoted to core presentations, in-service training, psychiatric/psychological consultation, special projects assigned by the agency supervisor and directed readings and/or research assigned by the agency supervisor.
Comprehensive Examinations Comprehensive examinations must be successfully completed as a condition for graduation. Eligibility to sit for the exam is given after a student completes all core courses and is currently enrolled in COUN 8250-Internship I. Comps consists of in-house written comprehensive questions covering all major areas; and, the Counseling Preparation Comprehensive Exam (CPCE), a national standardized test. The CPCE is scheduled early in the fall and spring semesters. Dates will be announced/posted for students to sign up. Students will be mailed CPCE results as soon as possible in order to assist students who are preparing for the national boards. Students who graduate from a CACREP program are permitted to take the National Counselor Exam (NCE), administered nationally every April and October by the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC). This exam is administered on the UNO campus for UNO graduates. The format and topic areas of the CPCE and NCE are identical. M.A. Degree with a Concentration in Community Counseling The Master of Arts Degree with Community Counseling Concentration is designed for those students who wish to do additional research and complete a thesis based on their research. Students who plan to pursue doctoral/specialist degree(s) are strongly encouraged to pursue the M.A. Degree. Most doctoral granting universities require evidence of scholarly activity and writings prior to granting admission into their programs. Course work is identical to that undertaken by students pursuing the M.S. Degree except M.A. Degree course work requires an additional 6 credit hours for thesis credit. They will have, on average, a 54-57 hour program. Students should contact their advisors regarding their proposed topic and university procedures and requirements to complete a thesis several semesters prior to anticipated graduation. M.A. students are not required to complete the comprehensive exam or to take the CPCE. CACREP (2012). Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, http://www.cacrep.org/index.cfm/for-students
CLINICAL MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING CONCENTRATION EFFECTIVE SPRING 2013 Core Courses Credits Prerequisites Introduction to Research (TED 8010) 3 Introduction to Counseling (COUN 8020) 1 Human Development, Psychosocial Intervention (COUN 8110) 3 Counseling Practices (COUN 8030) 3 COUN 8020 *Professional & Ethical Issues for 3 ATP (Admission to Program) Counselors (COUN 8040) Counseling Theories (COUN 8200) 3 ATP Career Development & Lifestyle 3 COUN 8020 (COUN 8226) Appraisal Techniques (COUN 8230) 3 TED 8010, COUN 8020 Group Techniques in Counseling 1 Permission (COUN 8270) Group Theory and Practice (COUN 8370) 2 Counseling Techniques I (COUN 8306) 1 COUN 8200 Counseling Techniques II (COUN 8316) 1 COUN 8200 Counseling Techniques III (COUN 8406) 1 COUN 8200 Counseling Multi-Cultural & Diverse 3 COUN 8200, 8030 Populations (COUN 8520) Subtotal 31
Professional Specialization Credits Prerequisites Counseling and Consulting for Special 2 ATP, COUN 8020, 8200 Concerns (COUN 8500) Marriage and Family Counseling 3 ATP (COUN 8610) Diagnostic and Clinical Treatment 3 ATP, 8200 Planning (COUN 8920) Crisis Intervention (COUN 8280) 3 ATP Treatment Issues in Chemical 3 ATP or permission Dependency (COUN 8516) Medical and Psychosocial Aspects 3 ATP or permission of Alcohol/Drug Use (COUN 8686) and Addiction Assessment and Case Management 3 ATP or permission in Substance Abuse (COUN 8696) Clinical Mental Health Practicum 3 Permission (COUN 8220) Clinical Mental Health Internship 3 COUN 8220 (COUN 8250) Clinical Mental Health Internship 3 COUN 8250 (COUN 8260) Subtotal 29 *Abnormal Psychology (PSYC 8446) 3 Total 60 66* NOTE: 1) A course (graduate or undergraduate) in Abnormal Psychology is required for licensure but is not officially part of the degree program. 2) Other courses may be required as determined by students' needs. 3) Comprehensive examination requirements remain unchanged. *4) MA Thesis option requires 6 additional hours of thesis course work COUN 8990, totaling 66 hours for the MA degree option.