Introduction

The Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) Program is a 60-semester-hour program designed to prepare students to be Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC) in the State of Georgia. The program has been developed to be in compliance with the 2016 Standards outlined by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Students will be prepared to sit for the state-required licensure exam (e.g., the National Counseling Exam (NCE)). Upon completion of the program, graduates may apply to take the National Counselor Examination (NCE), then obtain employment. Once students have found both a supervisor and director to sign off on their paperwork students may apply for an associate license. Students who obtain their associate license in counseling (APC) will be eligible to practice in a variety of settings, including private practice and/or community agencies such as mental health centers, hospitals, outpatient and residential drug treatment centers, and agencies serving children, adolescents, and families. 

Mission of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program

It is the mission of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) Program at LaGrange College to prepare counseling professionals who value civility, integrity, diversity, service, advocacy, and excellence as they promote the well-being of all those they serve. The faculty members are committed to communicating the knowledge, skills, and passion for both the art and the science of counseling as they prepare qualified graduates to serve the people of their communities as well as the counseling profession. 

Program Mission Goal

It is our goal of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program at LaGrange College to develop counseling professionals who possess the skills and knowledge necessary to be highly competent and committed in specialty areas. 

Program Goals and Objectives

The program goals and objectives reflect current knowledge and projected needs concerning counseling practice in a multicultural and pluralistic society. The LaGrange College CMHC program has program goals that are met through learning objectives, which are utilized as key performance indicators for the efficacy of the program. These key performance indicators (learning objectives) are assessed by a series of assessments. All assessments are tracked by using a comprehensive assessment map. All program goals are directly tied to learning objectives (key performance indicators) that are measured through the assessment map. The overall program goals are met through key learning indicators (objectives). The assessment of key student learning indicators includes assessment that is summative and formative, across time and across program requirements. Key student learning indicators include program specific requirements and external assessments (e.g., CPCE). Course specific learning indicators are reflective of the requirement that all courses in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program have assignments that directly evaluate learning indicators reflective of the CACREP 2016 foundational and specialty standards. The key student learning indicators are evaluated by a comprehensive assessment map. 

CMHC Program Goal

• Develop knowledge and skills necessary for competent professional practice, while cultivating strong counselor identity (met through objective #1- #10) 
• Develop competent professional who engage in advocacy, by enhancing awareness and creating a passion for social justice while implementing multiculturally competent practices (met through the following learning objectives #2, #3, #10) 
• Maintain a high-quality CACREP based program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (#1- #10) 
• Enhance engagement in professional organizations by increasing counselor identity (#1, #10) 

CMHC Learning Objectives (Key Performance Indicators)

1. Demonstrates knowledge and skills of counseling professional standards including ethical and legal standards.
2.  Demonstrates knowledge and skills of multicultural theories and multicultural counseling practices.
3. Demonstrates knowledge and skills of theories and counseling practices related to human growth and development.
4. Demonstrates knowledge of theories related to career planning and career counseling practice.
5. Demonstrates skills necessary to establish a counseling relationship.
6. Demonstrates knowledge of theories and models of crisis intervention.
7. Demonstrates knowledge and skills needed to conduct group counseling and apply group counseling theories.
8. Demonstrates knowledge of assessment and testing theories including use of assessment.
9. Demonstrates knowledge of program evaluation and the use of research within counseling
10. Demonstrates awareness and ability to develop clinical mental health counseling identity.

Program Objectives (Key Performance Indicators)

 Learning Outcomes

a. Multicultural Issues
b. Skills in Assessment and Treatment Planning

Admission Requirements

Students applying for admission to the CMHC Program must fulfill the following:  

Students who wish to apply to the CMHC Program must submit the following information: 

1. A completed application. 
2. An official transcript of their undergraduate and previous graduate programs (if applicable)
3. An undergraduate cumulative GPA of 2.5 
4. A two-page essay describing the journey that led them to pursuing a counseling career, including how this degree program will assist them in pursing their career goal 
5. A background check 
6. No licenses or certifications have been revoked in other fields. 
7. One professional reference 

All materials are due by the admissions deadline to be invited for the online interview. All interviews will be conducted on Microsoft Teams. At least two faculty representatives will be present to conduct the interview and complete a rubric assessment for each candidate. The candidate must be rated above the minimal cutoff score to be considered for the program. 

Background Check 

Because of the sensitive nature of the counseling process, applicants must submit to a background check before they are admitted providing evidence that graduates would be eligible for licensure as a professional counselor.  

Interview Process 

Students who have submitted a complete application and who meet the requirements for the graduate program may be invited for an on-line interview.  This interview will consist of an individual interview with two or more faculty members. Students are evaluated by a comprehensive admissions rubric. Admissions decisions will be made very shortly after this process and students will notified via email. 

Admissions decisions are made by the Program Faculty and are based on the applicant’s academic preparation, career goals, aptitude for graduate-level study, potential success in forming effective counseling relationships, and respect for cultural differences (CACREP, 2016).  

Provisional Admission 

In some cases, students who do not meet minimal academic requirements for admission to graduate school may be admitted with a provisional status. Students will be required to obtain a grade of no less than B in each of the 4 courses offered in first enrolled semester.  Students who obtain a grade lower than a B on one of more of those courses taken during the first 12 hours will not be allowed to continue in the program.  

Student Dispositions  

CACREP (2023) defines professional dispositions as: commitments, characteristics, values, beliefs, and behaviors that influence the Counselor's professional growth and interactions with clients, faculty, supervisors, and peers, including working in a diverse, multicultural, and global society with marginalized populations (Standard 2. C). 

For counselors to be most effective, they should possess certain dispositions, which our faculty expects of applicants to our program.  The following is a brief summary of those dispositions: 

1. Professional Identity 
2. Self-Awareness and Continued Introspection 
3. Commitment to Diversity 
4. Ability to Express Empathy 
5. Integrity 

As students are being interviewed for possible admission, as they are progressing through their coursework, and as they continue through their clinical experiences, students are evaluated based on their display of these important qualities and behaviors.  More information related to these dispositions is provided to students during their orientation experiences when they are admitted. Students are evaluated bi-annually on dispositional areas, academic progress, and overall good standing in the program. Students may be placed on a remediation plan for receiving an unsatisfactory score on the student annual review rubric. 

Student Transfer Policy

Students who are interested in transferring to LaGrange College may submit an application to transfer through admissions (put link)

1. The prospective student must be interviewed by the program faulty
2. Submit a CMHC application to admissions
3. Submit all transcripts
4. The student must be in “good standing” with their current institution
5. The student must provide a letter for recommendation from their current institution.

Await CMHC program faculty decision on their acceptance

Grading Scale for CMHC:

                     A     90-100

                     B     80-89

                     C     70-79

                     D     60-69

                     F     Below 60

Financial Information

All charges for the semester/term are due and payable at the beginning of the term, and each candidate is expected to make satisfactory arrangements at that time.

Candidates who pre-register and pay in advance of the deadline each semester are not required to attend final registration. Invoices not paid by the due date will be assessed a Late Payment Fee enumerated below.

The College offers a deferred payment option that allows candidates to make monthly payments to cover educational costs. Interest will be assessed to candidates utilizing this option.

Expenses

1. Tuition - per credit hour	$755.00
   Graduation Fee	$200.00
   Student Identification Card replacement fee	$25.00
   Comprehensive Fee	$120 (per semester)

Suggested Course Rotation

First Year Sample Plan of Study

The sample plan of study below demonstrates how students may complete the program in two calendar years. Students may take up to four years to complete their course work and clinical experiences to obtain a Master of Science Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.

          First Fall

COUN 5003 - Group Dynamics
COUN 5013 - Individual Analysis
COUN 6000 - Advanced Techniques
COUN 6001 - Assessment and Diagnosis

COUN 5011 - Life Span Development
COUN 5012 - Career Counseling
COUN 6004 - Crisis, Trauma, & Grief Counseling
COUN 6005 - Research and Program Evaluation

COUN 5999 - Practicum
COUN 5999 - Practicum Lab
COUN 6002 - Addictions Counseling
COUN 6003 - Family Counseling

COUN 6997 - Internship I

Graduation Requirements

Students must satisfy the following:

• Earn 60 semester hours in approved coursework and clinical experiences.
• Maintain a 3.0 (B) average throughout the program. Anything below a C is considered a failing grade. Courses in which a student achieves a grade below a B must be repeated. If a student does not achieve a B or better during the second attempt, a remediation plan must be created by the program faculty for the student to remain in the program. Failure to complete the remediation plan may result in the student being released from the program. 

Students may receive no more than 2 C grades in the program. Students who obtain more than 3 C’s will be dismissed from the program.

• Receive a passing grade on the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE). A student will be given two opportunities to pass all sections of the CPCE. If the student fails to receive a passing score on their first attempt, they must retake the exam a second time. We will accept the higher of the two scores on a failed section(s) of the exam. By their second attempt, the student must receive a passing score for all sections failed on the previous administrations. Failing to pass all eight sections of the comprehensive exam a second time will result in the student being issued a remediation plan and a comprehensive written assignment given by the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program.
• Students will complete a comprehensive portfolio project. The student will need to pass at least 6 out of the 8 sections in the portfolio in order to graduate. Students who do not pass the portfolio project will be subject to a remediation plan, or dismissal from the program.

• Meet with an advisor to verify, through an audit of courses and grades, that they meet the requirements for earning a Master of Science Degree in CMHC before petitioning to graduate.