Curriculum for Mental Health Counseling - Outline Example

Mental Health Counseling Program of Study (POS) According to Walden (2009, pg The M.S. in Mental Health Counseling program will help prepare you to address and treat clients’ mental health needs knowledgeably, ethically, and with respect for diversity. You’ll gain the confidence, qualifications, and critical-thinking skills needed to seek licensure and apply best practices as a change agent in the counseling profession. This degree will allow you to use your knowledge immediately as a practicing professional.” The degree program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, otherwise known as CACREP. The program features a number of challenges that students must complete. First of all, their online courses are focused on practical skills. Second, real world skills are practiced during interactive simulations. Third, residencies that are face-to-face offer students the chance to interact with faculty, staff, and other students. Fourth, the practicum and internship make for challenging fieldwork. Finally, the teachers they will be learning from are leaders in mental health. To complete the degree, there are stringent completion requirements which students must meet. They must complete between 95 and 102 total quarter credits, including foundation courses, core courses, capstone or thesis, field experience, a professional development plan, a program of study, a licensure plan, full-time enrollment and 12 days of residency. The program of study includes all of the above, plus the chart that appears on the next page, which came from Walden University, 2009, pg. 1. Curriculum The courses are delivered in a prescribed sequence. Each 12-week quarter, except for the first and last quarter, includes two concurrent 12-week courses. Course Code Course Title Credits Quarter 1 COUN 6000 Foundations for Graduate Study in Mental Health Counseling 6 Quarter 2 COUN 6705 Professional Identity and Ethics in Counseling 5 COUN 6100 Introduction to Mental Health Counseling 5 Quarter 3 COUN 6722 Counseling and Psychotherapy Theories 5 COUN 6331 Interviewing and Observational Strategies 5 6-day residency required by end of third quarter Quarter 4 COUN 6305 Statistics 1 5 COUN 6723 Multicultural Counseling 5 Quarter 5 COUN 6315 Tests and Measurement 5 COUN 6215 Lifespan Development 5 Quarter 6 COUN 6720 Diagnosis and Assessment 5 COUN 6753 Vocational Psychology and Counseling 5 Quarter 7 COUN 6726 Couples and Family Counseling 5 COUN 6250 Group Process and Dynamics 5 Quarter 8 COUN 6785 Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation 5 COUN 6728 Substance Abuse Counseling 5 Quarter 9 COUN 6310 Research Design 3 COUN 6671 Practicum 5 Quarter 10 COUN 6682 Internship 3 COUN 6800 Capstone Project 5 Quarter 11 COUN 6682 Internship 3 Professional Development Plan I am currently enrolled in the M.S. in Mental Health Counseling program at Walden University. I have worked with people with disabilities and mental handicaps for years and truly feel that it is my calling in life. I am interested in obtaining my M.S. because I feel it will give me a much stronger edge and make me much more qualified to work with those suffering from mental disabilities. I do not believe that there are enough competent practicing mental health professionals to do justice to those who need them. Far too many people are turned away because of glitches in the system. I would like to be a part of fixing that. At the completion of my M.S. Program in Mental Health Counseling, I would like to seek licensure in the area. Then, I would like to become a practicing mental health professional. I know that I could do this efficiently and effectively because of my experience and education. I would like to work with disaster and trauma victims, help to prevent youth violence, and work with children and families. In addition, I would like to work with the following groups, programs, and individuals: Administration/Policy Children and Families CMHS Programs Consumer/Survivor Culture/Ethnicity Disaster/Trauma Education Organization & Financing Funding HIV/AIDS Homelessness/Housing Mental Health System Mental Illnesses/Disorders Prevention Protection/Advocacy Psychiatry/Psychology Rural Mental Health Services Research States/Territories Statistics Stigma Stress/Anxiety Substance Abuse Suicide Surgeon General Reports Treatment and Recovery Women & Men Women, Violence and Trauma Work/Community Support Professional Resources (United States Department of Mental Health Services, 2009, pg. 1) Personal State Licensure Plan According to Florida’s State Mental Health Licensure requirements, “Mental Health Counseling –– Masters degree with a major related to the practice of mental health counseling or related field. Must also have two (2) years of post-master’s supervised experience under the supervision of a licensed mental health counselor or the equivalent (64B4-31.007(1)a,b,c,d,e F.A.C.) who is qualified as determined by the Board. The requirements are the minimum of an earned masters degree from a CACREP accredited mental health counseling program that consists of at least 60 semester hours or 80 quarter hours of clinical and didactic instruction, including a course in human sexuality and a course in substance abuse” (Florida Department of Health, 2009, pg. 1). “This option must also include the equivalent, as determined by the board, of at least 1,000 hours of university-sponsored supervised clinical practicum, internship, or field experience as required in the accrediting standards of the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs for mental health counseling programs. In addition, the applicant must pass the national clinical mental health counseling examination (NCMHCE) developed by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) and complete an eight-hour laws and rules course and a two-hour prevention of medical errors course from an approved provider” (Florida Department of Health, 2009, pg. 1). Why is a Mental Health Degree Good to Have? When one graduates from a mental health degree program, he or she can have a level of education that ranges from minimal to excellent. In addition, however, certifications may need to be acquired. The most important part is that mental health practitioners can serve as counselors, psychologists, social workers, psychiatric nurse practitioners, and psychiatrists. In other words, they can practice healthcare (Mentor Research Institute, 2007). Where Can it Take One? Mental health care in primary care settings; Parental reports of emotional or behavioral difficulties and mental health service use among U.S. school-age children; Mood disorder prevalence among young men and women in the U.S.; National and state trends of organized mental health services; and, Data on the number of mental health practitioners and trainees in the U.S. (Department of Health and Human Services, 2009, pg. 1) How Would a Walden Mental Health Degree Help One with Their Career in Counseling? First and foremost, it would give the student the education he or she needs to further his or her career in the right direction. With the education, additional credentials such as certifications, and professional licensures, it greatly increases the likelihood that someone with a Walden Mental Health Degree would obtain a job in the counseling field. One thing is for sure—no one is going to be having a career in the counseling field without first having the education that a Walden Mental Health Degree would give him or her. It is the essential first step. It smoothly guides students in the degree program into the next steps as well, so following the program closely and really concentrating will make certifications and licensure a breeze. References M.S. in Mental Health Counseling. (2009). Walden University. Retrieved April 26, 2009, from http://www.waldenu.edu/Degree-Programs/Masters/M.S.-in-Mental-Health-Counseling.htm Mental health. (2009). Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved April 26, 2009, from http://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/ Mental health. (2009). SAMHSA. Retrieved April 26, 2009, from http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/topics/explore/ Mental health counseling. (2009). Florida Department of Health. Retrieved April 26, 2009, from http://www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/491/soc_lic_req.html#Mental%20Health%20Counseling Mental health licensure, degrees, certifications, registration and academies: A description of credentials. (2009). Mentor Research Institute. Retrieved April 26, 2009, from http://www.mentorresearch.org/ Read More