Mental Health Counseling Program Requirements
It is expected that students will have already completed undergraduate coursework in Abnormal Psychology. It is recommended that students also have completed courses in Theories of Personality, Research and Statistics, Developmental Psychology, and Tests and Measurement.
Required Courses
- GMHC 500 - Mental Health Counseling as a Profession (3)
- GMHC 510 - Counseling Theories and Strategies (3)
- GMHC 515 - Process of Counseling Clients from Diverse Backgrounds (3)
- GMHC 520 - Assessment in Counseling (3)
- GMHC 525 - Psychopathology and Differential Diagnosis (3)
- GMHC 530 - Treatment Planning and Intervention (3)
- GMHC 535 - Group Theory and Process (2)
- GMHC 536 - Group Activity (1)
- GMHC 550 - Counseling Practicum (3)
- GMHC 575 - Research and Program Evaluation (3)
- GMHC 585 - Biological foundations of Behavior and Psychopharmacological Interventions (3)
- GMHC 600 - Family and Partner Counseling (3)
- GMHC 610 - Adult Lifestyle and Career Counseling (3)
- GMHC 603 - Human Development in Counseling (3)
- GMHC 650 - Counseling Internship (18)
Elective Courses (vary each year)
- GMHC 590 - Assessment & Intervention of Childhood and Adolescent Disorders (3)
- GMHC 615 - Counseling the Older Adult (3)
- GMHC 630 - Substance Abuse Counseling (3)
Degree Requirements: 60 hours
Course descriptions can be found in the Graduate Bulletin [pdf].
Recommended Progression of Required Courses
For a recommended sequence of courses for full- and part-time students, please refer to the Mental Health Counseling Matrix [pdf].
Lee Cocco
As an older student coming in from another profession and without a degree in psychology, I was concerned about how I would fit in to this program. Almost immediately, I felt encouraged and appreciated for the life experience that I could bring to this field. I trusted that I would get the training and guidance that I needed to succeed, and I have!
The faculty are dedicated to helping each student discover her or his unique capability to be effective in this broad-ranging field of mental health counseling. I also appreciate their solid training and experience, which they share expertly, generously, and with great heart.
My field placements taught me that the knowledge and skills that I learned in class were right on target for application to the work setting. My field placements and the supervision I received were excellent, and these experiences also validated what the faculty had indicated to me -- that this work is right for me!