Central Washington University’s graduate mental health counseling (MHC) program aims to identify, educate, and supervise competent mental health professionals.
Our counseling training program balances rigorous academic coursework with a progressive clinical experience. Through individualized supervision, we provide supportive feedback to facilitate students’ knowledge, skills, practice, dispositional qualities, and personal growth.
Our goal is to prepare emerging counselors with a strong sense of professional identity to meet and advocate for the diverse needs of clients. Program graduates will have the ability to provide a full range of mental health counseling services to help individuals, couples, families, adolescents, and children.
This program prepares students to serve in a variety of settings, including independent practice, community agencies, managed behavioral health care organizations, integrated delivery systems, hospitals, employee assistance programs, and similar environments.
Admission Requirements
Baccalaureate Degree: Applicants must have completed a baccalaureate degree prior to beginning the MHC master’s program. While most students in the program have a degree in psychology or a closely related major, applicants with degrees in any field are welcome to apply to the program if they meet all admission requirements. It is recommended that applicants have prior coursework and/or knowledge in the following areas: personality, psychopathology; social psychology, developmental psychology, learning; neuroscience, research methods, and multicultural issues in psychology. Students not having these courses should expect to do additional work when background knowledge is needed.
Statistics Requirement: Two background statistics courses (PSY362 and PSY363) are required for full admission to the MHC program. The Program Director may assist you in determining if your introductory and intermediate statistic courses from prior institutions satisfies this requirement.
Because mental health counseling students have an opportunity to work with children and members of other vulnerable populations as a component of their training, they all must obtain a comprehensive criminal history background records from the Washington State Patrol (WSP)and Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) in accordance with Washington State Law.
Graduation Requirements
Students will complete all required coursework and supervised placement. In addition, students shall complete 30 hours of Professional Involvement activities as well as 15 hours of civil engagement (service learning or research assistance). Students will also complete a comprehensive portfolio defense and assessment, and an approved course of study filed with the School of Graduate Studies and Research.
Program Requirements
Students must complete PSY 560 and PSY 503 within the first two quarters of their first year; Successful completion of PSY 560 and PSY 503 is required for full admission to the Mental Health Counseling Program. Students will complete all required coursework, 90 credits, related to the core areas of: professional counseling orientation and ethical practice, social and cultural diversity, human growth and development, career development, counseling and helping relationships, group counseling and group work, assessment and testing, research and program evaluation, and social change. In addition, students will be trained in the knowledge, skills, and practical elements of mental health counseling via clinical placement experiences. Students must adhere to the ACA Code of ethics throughout the duration of the program.
Program Learner Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Cultivate a professional identity that is relevant to clinical mental health counseling and promotes client wellness as well as legal and ethical practice.
- Exhibit multicultural competence by assessing for, identifying, and providing services that address unique aspects of clients’ intersectionality and cater to their distinctive needs.
- Demonstrate an understanding of human growth and development as related to counseling across the lifespan.
- Infuse career development theories and skills into their counseling practice.
- Develop therapeutic relationships that promote effective working alliances, increased wellness, and change.
- Apply principles of group formation as well as dynamic and therapeutic factors to facilitate ethical and culturally appropriate leadership across a range of types of groups
- Employ individual approaches to assessment and evaluation and utilize appropriate assessment tools for diagnosis and treatment planning.
- Critically evaluate and integrate research to inform their clinical practice and program development.
- Serve as agents of change through advocacy by empowering clients and fostering positive change within various settings while developing and applying self-care practices to sustain their well-being and effectiveness.
- Students develop and demonstrate professionalism, including counselor behaviors that promote growth and wellness.
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