Clinical mental health counseling is a proactive mental health profession that treats mental illness, addresses life distress and adjustment issues, and facilitates wellness in individuals, families, and their related contexts (Shallcross, 2013). Clinical mental health counselors are highly-skilled professionals who provide flexible, consumer-oriented therapy. They combine traditional psychotherapy with a practical, problem-solving approach that creates a dynamic and efficient path for change and problem resolution. Clinical mental health counselors may qualify as both a nationally certified counselor (NCC) and a licensed professional counselor (LPC).
The Clinical Mental Health Counseling
specialization prepares individuals to provide evaluations, referrals, and short-term counseling services to help people prevent or remediate personal problems, conflicts, and emotional crises. Includes instruction in human development, psychopathology, individual and group counseling, personality theory, career assessment, patient screening and referral, observation and testing techniques, interviewing skills, professional standards and ethics, and applicable laws and regulations.
| Program Advisor | Dr. Annie Lewis | 229-500-2149 | annie.lewis@asurams.edu |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online Specialist | Dr. Denata Williams | 229-500-2913 | denata.williams@asurams.edu |
Albany State University recommends the following course track for transfer students. If you would like to use a different track, please contact your Online Support Specialist.
| Course | Title | Credits | Term | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Foundations (21 hours) | ||||
| COUN 5000 | Introduction to Counseling Profession | 3 | ||
| COUN 5500 | Theories of Counseling* | 3 | ||
| COUN 5501 | Lifespan Development* | 3 | ||
| COUN 5520 | Multicultural Counseling: Theory & Practice | 3 | ||
| COUN 5540 | Prevention, Intervention & Consulation | 3 | ||
| COUN 5600 | Ethical and Legal Issues in Counseling | 3 | ||
| COUN 5610 | Crisis Counseling And Intervention | 3 | ||
| EDUC 5199 | Introduction Teacher Education | 0 | ||
Nature of the Learner (12 hours) | ||||
| COUN 5508 | Introduction to Mental Health Counseling | 3 | ||
| COUN 5519 | Addiction Counseling | 3 | ||
| COUN 5560 | Diagnosis and Treatment | 3 | ||
| COUN 5561 | Psychopharmacology | 3 | ||
Clinical Skills (21 hours) | ||||
| COUN 5512 | Counseling Strategies and Techniques | 3 | ||
| COUN 5515 | Group Counseling and Dynamics | 3 | ||
| COUN 5517 | Couples and Family Counseling | 3 | ||
| COUN 5531 | Career Development and Counseling | 3 | ||
| COUN 5570 | Practicum | 3 | ||
| COUN 5595 | Internship I | 3 | ||
| COUN 5598 | Internship II | 3 | ||
Clinical Skills (21 hours) | ||||
| COUN 5510 | Assessment in Counselor Education | 3 | ||
| COUN 5596 | Thesis | 3 | ||
| COUN 5620 | Research and Program Evaluation for Counselors | 3 | ||
This program is designed to prepare graduates to pursue a job in this field or related fields. Although career and professional development services are available to students and graduates, finding a job is the individual responsibility of the student. We do not guarantee that any student will be placed in any particular job, or at all.