Student Name, Term, Year Started, Phone, Email, Cell

Student Nameterm Year Startedstudent Phonee Mailcell

Student Name:      Term/ Year Started:       Student Phone/E-mail:       Cell:       Faculty Advisor Dr. Adrienne Baggs ( [email protected] )      Academic Counselor      Program of Study: MA Clinical Mental Health Counseling (60 credit hours) Course # Core Course Name Grade Term/ Year Taken Comments or Transfer Courses PC6106-NAC Foundations of Mental Health Counseling Spring 1 2019 PC6300-NAC Professional and Ethical Issues Spring 2 2019 PC6025-NAC Human Growth and Development Summer 1 2019 PC6000-NAC Counseling Theory Summer 2 2019 PC6104-NAC Counseling Skills I Fall 1 2019 Portfolio Review I Fall 1 2019 PC6014-R Residency I November 2019 Course # Core Course Name Grade Term/ Year Taken Comments or Transfer Courses PC6521-NAC Research and Program Evaluation Fall 2 2019 PC6515-NAC Multicultural Diversity and Advocacy PC6505-NAC Group Counseling PC6712-NAC Diagnosis and Treatment of Behavioral and Emotional Disorders PC6525-NAC Appraisal and Assessment Portfolio Review II PC6712-R Residency II Course # Core Course Name Grade Term/ Year Taken Comments or Transfer Courses PC6803-NAC Trauma Impact and Counseling PC6600-NAC Career and Lifestyle Development PC6700-NAC Couples and Family Counseling PC6105-NAC Counseling Skills II PC6900-NAC Substance Abuse Counseling Portfolio Review III PC6900-R Residency III (Comprehensive Exam during Residency III) Course # Course Name (Core Courses must be completed prior to beginning Counseling Practicum) Grade Term/ Year Taken Comments or Transfer Courses PC6410-NAC Counseling Practicum (100 hours) Elective (Taken anytime after Residency II) Elective (Taken anytime after Residency II) PC6416-NAC Counseling Internship I (450 hours) Portfolio Review IV PC6416-R Residency IV PC6417-NAC Counseling Internship II (450 hours) Electives: PC6030-NAC Psychopathology and Assessment; PC6200-NAC Human Sexuality; PC6440-NAC Child & Adolescent Counseling; PC6814-NAC Forensic Counseling; PC6816-NAC Psychopharmacology for Counseling; PC6818-NAC Integrating Spirituality in Counseling. This form is an Advising Tool for planning purposes only. Signed copy in student’s file.

Paper For Above instruction

The development of a comprehensive and structured academic plan is essential for students pursuing a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. This program, consisting of 60 credit hours, aims to equip students with theoretical knowledge, clinical skills, and ethical standards necessary for effective mental health practice. Analyzing the curriculum outlined in the provided advising tool reveals a strategic progression from foundational courses to advanced practica and internships, culminating in a comprehensive residency and a final evaluation, such as a comprehensive exam.

The introductory courses like Foundations of Mental Health Counseling (PC6106-NAC) and Professional and Ethical Issues (PC6300-NAC) set the baseline for understanding the core principles of therapy, ethics, and professional conduct. These courses, offered in the first half of 2019, establish foundational knowledge that informs subsequent coursework. Human Growth and Development, along with Counseling Theory, further deepen students’ understanding of client behaviors and therapeutic approaches. These classes serve as prerequisites for more specialized skills development in later stages of the program.

As students progress, training intensifies through courses such as Counseling Skills I and II, which develop practical counseling techniques. Portfolio reviews intersperse the coursework to ensure students can reflect on their learning and demonstrate competence ongoingly. The residency components—Residency I, II, III, and IV—are experiential learning modules designed to integrate academic knowledge with real-world clinical practice. Each residency builds upon the previous, increasing in complexity and scope, and culminating in the comprehensive exam during Residency III, signifying readiness for independent practice.

Specialized courses like Research and Program Evaluation, Multicultural Diversity and Advocacy, and Diagnosis and Treatment of Behavioral and Emotional Disorders broaden the students’ skill set, preparing them for diverse clinical settings. Additional electives such as Psychopathology, Human Sexuality, Child & Adolescent Counseling, and Forensic Counseling enable students to tailor their education according to their interests and career goals. The inclusion of Electives like Psychopharmacology for Counseling and Integrating Spirituality in Counseling reflects a contemporary, holistic approach to mental health care, emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary knowledge and culturally sensitive practices.

The practical component of the program emphasizes extensive supervised experiential learning—totaling 900 hours spread over two counseling internships (PC6416-NAC and PC6417-NAC)—which ensures that students develop the requisite skills under supervision. These internships are critical for translating academic knowledge into effective clinical practice, preparing students for licensure and professional competency. Portfolio reviews after each internship phase serve as quality assurance measures and reflective checkpoints, promoting continuous improvement and self-assessment.

Overall, the curriculum’s layered design with a mix of core coursework, practica, internships, and electives reflects best practices in mental health counseling education. It ensures that students undertake a logical progression from foundational theories through to advanced clinical application, emphasizing ethical practice, multicultural competence, and evidence-based interventions. This comprehensive academic plan prepares graduates not only for licensure but also for lifelong learning and professional development, vital in the dynamic field of mental health.

References

• Corey, G., Corey, M., & Corey, C. (2019). Theory and practice of counseling and psychotherapy (10th ed.). Cengage Learning.
• American Counseling Association. (2014). ACA Code of Ethics.
• Kaslow, N. J. (2011). Evidence-based practice in mental health counseling. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 33(4), 275–287.
• Myers, L. B. (2017). Multicultural counseling competencies: A review. Journal of Counseling & Development, 95(2), 212–221.
• Paulson, D., & Whyte, J. (2020). Clinical practicum and internship in counseling. Counselor Education & Supervision, 59(3), 210–221.
• Remley, T. P., & Herlihy, B. (2018). Ethical and professional issues in counseling (5th ed.). Pearson.
• Vasquez, M. J. T. (2019). Counseling ethics. Journal of Counseling & Development, 97(3), 261–268.
• Sharf, R. S. (2016). Theories of psychotherapy and counseling: Concepts and cases (5th ed.). Cengage Learning.
• Wilson, C. E., & Lindy, P. (2018). Developing clinical counseling skills. Journal of Counseling & Development, 96(4), 389–399.
• Zur, O. (2019). Integrating spirituality in mental health practice. Counseling and Spirituality, 11(2), 100–112.