Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Master of Arts Counseling - U.S.A.
The Master of Art in Counseling (MAC) Clinical Mental Health Counseling track (CACREP-accredited), a program for students who want to work as licensed mental health counselors in Washington State, examines social justice issues as they relate to the overall mental well-being of people from any background. Race, poverty, social injustices, gender issues, sexuality differences, morality and belief systems are all taken into consideration throughout all course work and are of a particular focus in training courses. To address the overall well-being of individuals, families, and communities, social justice issues must be addressed. This program involves students and faculty in these social justice issues.
Through a practitioner-scholar model, the MAC program trains well-rounded mental health counselors (CMHC), marriage, couple, and family counselors (MCFC), professional school counselors (PSC), and addictions counselors (AC) for the realities of day-to-day practice. In addition to social justice awareness and practice, the MAC program emphasizes practical application of theory, development of case conceptualization skills, ethical awareness, appreciation of diversity, and self-awareness. Students will be introduced to a broad range of clinical issues through a breadth of coursework delivered by practitioner faculty. Supported clinical experiences focus on the delivery of clinical services, and assist students to develop a coherent theoretical and ethical framework for practice.
Note: Licensing and certification requirements vary by state. Students who relocate to another state during their enrollment may or may not satisfy the eligibility criteria to obtain a professional license or certification in that state. If a student is located outside of the State of Washington, it is highly recommended that you first seek guidance from the appropriate licensing agency in your home state before beginning an academic program outside of your state. CityU has provided the following information about requirements for certification or licensure in other select states.
Program Outcomes
This program will prepare students to:
Professional Counseling Orientation and Ethical Practice: Demonstrate understanding and apply professional ethical standards including clear and appropriate relationships with clients, colleagues, and the community.
Social and Cultural Diversity: Collaborate with people of diverse ethnicity, culture, gender identity, sexual identity, physical ability, religious beliefs, and socioeconomic status through a lens of social justice and advocacy.
Human Growth and Development: Develop understanding and awareness into what impacts personal development through a lens of resiliency and wellness for clients across the lifespan.
Career Development: Demonstrate knowledge and working application of career development in counseling practice.
Counseling and Helping Relationships: Establish and maintain effective counseling relationships, and employs theoretically grounded counseling techniques.
Group Counseling and Group Work: Apply methods, skills, and other group approaches in a multicultural society using theories of group counseling, principles of group dynamics, facilitation styles, and direct experiences.
Assessment and Testing: Gather information to assess needs and next steps in the counseling process, including assessment for suicide/homicide risk and reporting requirements for abuse/ neglect of vulnerable populations.
Research and Program Evaluation: Locate resources and critically evaluate research related to core areas of counseling to incorporate into clinical practice.
Social Justice: Demonstrate systemic understanding of the role of counselors in promoting social justice for the well-being of the greater community.
Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Apply counseling theory to client presenting problems and diagnoses, including co-occurring disorders, with appropriate theoretical-based treatment planning and interventions for projected outcomes.
Admission Requirements
In addition to City University of Seattle's graduate admission requirements, found under Admissions in the catalog menu, students in this program must also meet the requirements listed below:
- A cumulative GPA of at least 2.75 in undergraduate degree program.
- Three (3) confidential letters of professional reference.
- A writing sample defining professional goals and addressing past and current experience relevant to becoming a counselor. Guidelines for writing the sample paper will be sent from the academic advising office. The writing sample will be used to determine whether minimum qualifications have been met for admission to the program.
- CV/resume.
- A completed, signed background information form, with a history free of convictions for criminal misdemeanors and felonies. Applicants who have such a history may be denied a professional credential at the state level (see RCW 18.130 for US program). The background information form must be submitted prior to the interview process.
- Interview with the program director / coordinator or designee. The interview will be used to determine whether minimum qualifications have been met for admission to the program.
Total Required Credits (90 Credits)
Core CACREP Areas (42 Credits)
| COUN 501 | Introduction to Counseling Practice * | 5 |
| COUN 502 | Systemic Theory: Multicultural Counseling * | 5 |
| COUN 503 | Human Growth and Development * | 5 |
| COUN 510 | Professional Ethics and Law * | 5 |
| COUN 516 | Career Counseling in Clinical Settings * | 3 |
| COUN 524 | Research Methods and Program Evaluation * | 4 |
| COUN 525 | Testing and Assessment * | 5 |
| COUN 526 | Counseling Theory * | 5 |
| COUN 527 | Group Counseling * | 5 |
Required Courses Outside of Core (28 Credits)
| COUN 512 | Systemic Theory: Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling * | 5 |
| COUN 522 | Systemic Theory: Crisis, Disaster and Trauma Counseling * | 3 |
| COUN 530 | Introduction to Psychopathology and Psychopharmacology * | 3 |
| COUN 521 | Psychopathology and Psychopharmacology II * | 5 |
| COUN 532 | Addictions and Co-Occurring Counseling * | 5 |
| COUN 609 | Systemic Theory: Human Sexuality * | 3 |
| COUN 692 | Capstone Project and Comprehensive Examination - CMHC * | 4 |
Additional Required Depth Coursework (7 Credits)
| COUN 600 | Systemic Theory: Child and Adolescent Counseling * | 2 |
| COUN 604 | Counseling Older Adults * | 2 |
| COUN 603 | Expressive Arts in Counseling * | 3 |
Training Requirements (13 Credits)