Clinical Mental Health Counseling, M.A.

The CMHC program at NEIU delivers a comprehensive academic curriculum and supervised clinical experiences that integrate the standards of CACREP. Students will demonstrate understanding of foundational knowledge, contextual dimensions, and competence in clinical mental health counseling practice with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds who seek counseling for a wide array of clinical issues. The NEIU CMHC program emphasizes social justice, advocacy and structural competence, particularly to affect systemic change and promote diversity, equity and inclusion.

Students in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program will demonstrate the following knowledge bases and skill sets in preparation for their future work as Clinical Mental Health Counselors: 

1. Possess knowledge of CACREP core content areas of professional counseling orientation and ethical practice; social and cultural diversity; human growth and development; career development; counseling and helping relationships; group counseling assessment and testing; and research and program evaluation. 
2. Conduct their behavior in accordance with the principles and standards of the American Counseling Association’s code of ethics and decision-making models, while demonstrating professional dispositions defined by the program as characteristic of exemplary Clinical Mental Health Counselors.
3. Possess knowledge of and practice sensitivity towards cultural diversity issues. Students will identify strategies to address institutional and social barriers that impact clients’ mental and emotional well-being across the lifespan.
4. Integrate knowledge of lifespan development and neurobiological theories into all stages of clinical practice, including assessment, diagnosis, case conceptualization, treatment planning, and implementation of treatment strategies.
5. Address clinical case studies and their clinical work with knowledge and understanding of individual and group counseling theories that are underpinned by multicultural awareness in clinical practice.
6. Perform various types of formal and informal assessment pertaining to client diagnosis, treatment, and measurement of clinical indicators regarding client progress. Students will critically review the psychometric properties of formal assessment instruments with awareness of their practical implications and limitations.
7. Apply evidence-based treatment strategies and interventions that are informed by research and aligned with clinical mental health counselor professional identity.
8. Develop competence to work with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds and practices who present to counseling with a wide array of clinical issues.

Foundation Counseling Courses
COUN 401 Professional Orientation & Legal/Ethical Practices (3 cr)
COUN 402 Developmental Counseling (3 cr)
COUN 403 Theories of Counseling (3 cr)
COUN 404 Assessment & Evaluation in Counseling (3 cr)
COUN 405 Individual Counseling Skills (3 cr)
COUN 406 Group Counseling (3 cr)
COUN 408 Research Seminar (3 cr)
COUN 409 Career Development (3 cr)
COUN 415 Children & Youth in School & Family Systems (3 cr)
COUN 420 Introduction to Family Counseling (3 cr)
COUN 425 Diagnosis & Treatment of Addictive Disorders (3 cr)
COUN 427 Diagnostic Systems for Counseling (3 cr)
COUN 430 Social & Cultural Diversity in Counseling (3 cr)

Clinical Mental Health Counseling Courses
COUN 407 Advanced Clinical Mental Health Counseling (3 cr)
COUN 429 Psychopharmacology (3 cr)
COUN 438 Trauma & Crisis Counseling (3 cr)
COUN 439 Case Conceptualization & Treatment Planning (3 cr)

Advanced Clinicals
COUN 444 Practicum: Group Supervision in Clinical Mental Health Counseling** (3 cr)
COUN 464 Internship I: Clinical Mental Health Counseling** (3 cr)
COUN 474 Internship II: Clinical Mental Health Counseling** (3 cr)

Practicum and Internship consists of 700 hours of documented field-related experience, of which 280 hours of face-to-face counseling is required. COUN 444 Practicum: Group Supervision in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is a 100-hour, field-based experience requiring a minimum of 40 hours of direct contact with clients. COUN 464 Internship I:Clinical Mental Health Counseling and COUN 474 Internship II: Clinical Mental Health Counseling together consist of a 600-hour, field-based experience requiring a minimum of 240 hours of clinical contact with clients. Practicum is taken in the fall semester. Internship I is taken in the spring semester, and Internship II is taken in the summer semester.

All Counselor Education students are required to pass a comprehensive departmental proficiency examination (DPE) prior to graduation. This exam is offered annually in February, June and October. To be eligible to take the DPE, CMHC students must have completed: COUN 401, COUN 402, COUN 403, COUN 404, COUN 405, COUN 406, COUN 407, COUN 408, COUN 409, COUN 427, COUN 430

Use the CMHC program planning guide to outline your proposed plan of study.