Mental Health Counseling, MS

Program Directors
Fred Washburn, PhD
Meaghan Nolte, PhD
Psychology Building, rooms 431 and 432

The Mental Health Counseling program of Central Washington University selects, educates, and supervises competent mental health counselors. Selection focuses on a small number of highly qualified students. Our Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) accredited counselor-training program balances rigorous academic course work with a 3-4 part personalized clinical experience in our on-site training clinic. Through individualized supervision, we provide support and feedback to facilitate students’ development of knowledge, skills, practice, and personal growth. Our goal is to prepare counselors, with a strong sense of professional identity, to meet and advocate for the diverse needs of clients.

Admission Requirements
Prerequisites: PSY 362 and 363 (or approved equivalent). Prerequisite courses may be taken concurrently with certain program courses. In addition, the following undergraduate courses are strongly recommended: personality or abnormal; social or developmental; learning; physiological, multicultural issues in psychology and a course in history and systems of psychology. Please note the background check and liability insurance requirements described in the general departmental information section.

Graduation Requirements
The student shall complete a comprehensive portfolio defense and an approved course of study filed with the School of Graduate Studies and Research.

Program Requirements
PSY 560 and 593A are taken concurrently. Successful completion of PSY 560 and 593A is required for final admission to the Mental Health Counseling Program.

Students who take the master of science (MS) degree and also seek school psychology certification must complete an internship in mental health (PSY 681B) and in school psychology (PSY 683). Other courses required for certification in school psychology will be determined through individual assessment.

Program Learner Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

• Organize their work effectively, demonstrate critical thinking skills, function independently, and use data/research to conceptualize their thinking.
• Demonstrate skills in oral and written communication, listening to client’s concerns, interpersonal relations, and respect for human diversity. Students will demonstrate responsiveness to supervision.
• Take initiative for their clinical, academic, and personal duties.  They will demonstrate dependability and time management skills.  Students will also maintain professional/ethical behavior, work as a team with peers, maintain flexibility when approaching clinical and academic concerns, and demonstrate appropriate self-awareness of personal strengths and weaknesses.