CLINICAL MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING

Our  60-credit-hour Master of Arts in Education-Clinical Mental Health Counseling Degree is tailored for professionals seeking a clinical mental health counseling career and obtaining a Nebraska provisional license as a mental health practitioner (PLMHP). Licensure applicants must also pass the National Counselor Examination (NCE).

The Department of Health & Human Services/Division of Public Health/Licensure Unit approves our CSC CACREP accredited Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree program. Please see the Counselor Education Student Handbook for more detailed information.  

Graduate Counselor Education Department Mission

Our mission is to prepare highly effective counselors equipped with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to serve a diverse, multicultural, and global society with marginalized populations. The faculty, current and former students, and community partners provide input to achieve our mission through the following objectives.

Clinical Mental Health Counseling Master's Program Objectives

  1. Foster the development of a strong professional counselor identity following the ethical guidelines outlined in the ACA and ASCA Codes of Ethics.
  2. Prepare culturally competent counselors to serve a diverse, multicultural, and global society with marginalized populations.
  3. Prepare counselors to apply human developmental theory to inform interventions across the lifespan.
  4. Produce counselors with a nuanced understanding of career development to conceptualize the intricate interplay between work, mental well-being, and other life roles.
  5. Prepare counselors who employ theoretically grounded counseling interventions to establish theory-based client outcomes.
  6. Prepare counselors who employ group dynamics and application of group theory in group counseling practice.
  7. Prepare counselors who employ ethical and culturally responsive assessment practices, strategies, and interventions in counseling practice.
  8. Prepare counselors who critically evaluate and utilize research methods in professional counseling.
  9. Produce Clinical Mental Health Counselors adept at diagnosis, mental health case conceptualization, and treatment planning.

ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS

  • Complete application
  • Earned baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution
  • Official transcripts from the college/university that issued the bachelor's degree
  • Official transcripts from any institutions attended after receiving a bachelor's degree (if applicable)
  • Admission essay
  • View the New Student Orientation video

The 4-year course rotation can be found on the Counseling Course Information page

PROGRAM OF STUDY ⸺ 60 Credit Hours Total

  Courses:  

COUN 501 or

EDCI 631

TOPICS: COUNSELING RESEARCH AND PROGRAM EVALUATION

RESEARCH DESIGN AND DATA ANALYSIS*

 3
COUN 520 PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY, SOCIAL AND MEDICAL ISSUES IN ADDICTIONS 3
COUN 523 DIAGNOSES AND THE DSM* 3
COUN 531 COUNSELING AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS* 3
COUN 532 TREATMENT ISSUES IN ADDICTIONS 3
COUN 533 COUNSELING ETHICS AND PROFESSIONAL IDENTITY* 3
COUN 534 FUNDAMENTALS OF ASSESSMENT 3
COUN 535 MULTICULTURAL COUNSELING 3
COUN 541 COUNSELING THEORIES* 3
COUN 545 ESSENTIALS OF ADDICTION COUNSELING AND CASE MANAGEMENT 3
COUN 601 PRACTICUM-CLINICAL MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING* 3
COUN 629 CHILD AND ADOLESCENT COUNSELING 3
COUN 630 CRISIS COUNSELING 3
COUN 631 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES OF MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING* 3
COUN 632 CAREER AND LIFESTYLE DEVELOPMENT 3
COUN 634 GROUP COUNSELING* 3
COUN 636 COUPLE AND FAMILY COUNSELING 3
COUN 637 ADVANCED HUMAN DEVELOPMENT 3
COUN 640 INTERNSHIP IN COUNSELING* 6
  Total Credits 60
  Students should complete EDCI 631 RESEARCH DESIGN AND DATA ANALYSIS within the first 12-credit hours of the program.  
  CMHC students must complete COUN 601 & 640 in a clinical mental health setting.  
  *A minimum grade of B is required.  

Clinical Mental Health Counseling Practicum and Internship

COUN 601 PRACTICUM-CLINICAL MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING and COUN 640 INTERNSHIP IN COUNSELING are required courses that provide practical, applied experience in a mental health setting. 

Provisional Licensed Alcohol & Drug Counselor (PLADC) 

CMHC students seeking licensure as a Provisional Nebraska Licensed Alcohol & Drug Counselor (PLADC) will have completed the academic coursework toward the Provisional Alcohol & Drug Counselor license (PLADC). They can also seek a field experience under the supervision of a LADC. Don't hesitate to contact the Counselor Education Program for more information. 

Nebraska Professional School Counselor Endorsement

CMHC students who also seek endorsement as a Nebraska Professional School Counselor can complete the academic coursework toward this endorsement, including an internship for each endorsement level under the supervision of an endorsed school counselor. Don't hesitate to contact the Counselor Education Program for more information.