Master of Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC), Private Practice — Provide individual, couples, family, and group therapy to clients across the lifespan in independent or group practice settings.

Community Mental Health Counselor — Deliver outpatient counseling, crisis intervention, and case management services in community mental health centers serving diverse and underserved populations.

Substance Use Disorder Counselor — Assess, diagnose, and treat individuals with substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders in residential, outpatient, or intensive outpatient settings.

Integrated Behavioral Health Counselor — Work within primary care or medical settings to provide brief counseling, behavioral health screenings, and coordinated care addressing both physical and mental health needs.

Crisis Counselor or Crisis Response Specialist — Provide immediate assessment and intervention in high-acuity environments such as emergency departments, crisis stabilization units, or mobile crisis teams.

College or University Counseling Center Therapist — Support student mental health through counseling services, outreach programming, and campus collaboration within higher education settings.

COUN 599 ORIENTATION TO THE MAC (0 credit hours) The MAC New Candidate Orientation is required of all new candidates. This orientation workshop begins the MAC graduate experience and provides the candidate’s indoctrination into the counseling program and profession. During this one-day workshop, candidates are introduced to the campus, campus services, college administration, and department faculty.  It also allows an integrative discussion of the requirements of the MAC program. Candidates are oriented to the Graduate College Catalog, the Candidate Handbook, and the Field Placement Handbook. Additionally, candidates are oriented to their ethical and professional obligations and personal growth expectations as counselors-in-training. Finally, counselors-in-training will be oriented to licensure requirements and eligibility in Kentucky, Indiana and surrounding states. (Fall Year 1)

Prerequisites: Admission to MAC program

COUN 600 History & Philosophy of Mental Health Counseling (3 credit hours) This foundational course examines the historical development, philosophical underpinnings, and professional identity of the counseling profession, with particular emphasis on clinical mental health counseling. Students explore the evolution of counseling from vocational guidance to contemporary mental health practice, including key historical figures, movements, and legislative milestones that shaped the profession. The course addresses professional roles, functions, and relationships with other mental health disciplines within diverse practice settings. Students examine professional organizations, credentialing bodies, licensure requirements, and advocacy processes essential to clinical mental health counseling identity. Emphasis is placed on understanding counseling as a distinct profession with unique philosophical foundations rooted in wellness, prevention, advocacy, empowerment, and normal human development across the lifespan. Students explore the mental health service delivery system, including healthcare policy. The course integrates social justice, multicultural competence, and advocacy as core professional values, examining systemic barriers to mental health access and counselors’ roles in promoting equity. Students develop professional identity through exploration of counseling philosophy, ethical decision-making frameworks, and self-care strategies for professional resilience. They will learn about current labor market information and occupational outlook relevant to opportunities for practice within the counseling profession. (Fall Year 1)

Prerequisites: Admission to MAC program

CACREP Standards: 3.A.1-9; 5.C.2,3, 7, 8 (CMHC foundations)

COUN 615 LIFESPAN DEVELOPMENT (3 credit hours) This course examines human growth and development across the lifespan from biological, neurological, psychological, social, and cultural perspectives, with emphasis on trauma-informed approaches to clinical mental health counseling. Students explore major developmental theories and their application to counseling practice, including cognitive, psychosocial, moral, and ecological frameworks that inform understanding of normative and atypical development from conception through death. The course addresses developmental stages and transitions, including physical, cognitive, emotional, social, and identity development across infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and late life. Students examine developmental tasks, milestones, and crisis points characteristic of each life stage, considering how trauma exposure affects developmental trajectories and long-term functioning. Significant emphasis is placed on understanding the neurobiological, psychological, and social impact of trauma across developmental periods. Students learn trauma-informed counseling principles and developmentally-appropriate interventions that promote healing and resilience. The course examines factors affecting development including biological influences, family systems, cultural contexts, socioeconomic conditions, disability, addictive behaviors, psychopathology, and environmental stressors. Students integrate developmental perspectives with mental health counseling approaches, learning to conceptualize client concerns within developmental contexts and recognize how timing of trauma influences symptom presentation and treatment needs. Family development stages, career development patterns, and systemic influences on individual growth are examined through a trauma-sensitive lens. (Fall Year 1)

Prerequisites: Admission to MAC program

CACREP Standards: 3.C.1-12

COUN 610 COUNSELING TECHNIQUES & PRACTICE (3 Credit Hours) This skills-based course provides systematic training in essential counseling competencies and evidence-based intervention strategies for clinical practice. Students develop foundational helping skills including active listening, reflection, paraphrasing, summarizing, questioning, confrontation, and interpretation through structured practice and feedback. The course addresses therapeutic relationship development, including establishing rapport, demonstrating empathy, maintaining appropriate boundaries, and navigating cultural differences in the counseling process. Students learn problem identification, progress monitoring techniques and clinical documentation standards. The course prepares students for clinical practicum through application of counseling skills in simulated sessions (COU503-L), self-assessment of counselor characteristics and behaviors, and development of a personal framework for effective helping relationships. (Fall Year 1)

Prerequisites: Admission to MAC program. Must be taken with COU503-L.

CACREP Standards: 3.E.7-10

COUN 610-L COUNSELING TECHNIQUES LAB (0 credit hours) This is the Laboratory component of COU503 in which candidates work in the Counseling Lab to develop and practice the skills they are learning in the instruction component of the course. Students engage in supervised role-play experiences with peer and instructor feedback, developing competency in implementing counseling techniques while integrating multicultural sensitivity and ethical decision-making. Video-recorded practice sessions allow students to evaluate their developing counselor skills, non-verbal communication, and therapeutic presence.

Must be taken with COUN610. (Fall Year 1)

COUN 640 PSYCHOPATHOLOGY & DIAGNOSIS (3 credit hours) This course provides comprehensive training in the diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorders across the lifespan. Students develop competency in utilizing the DSM-5-TR diagnostic classification system, including multiaxial assessment, differential diagnosis, and understanding of co-occurring disorders. Emphasis is placed on recognizing symptom patterns, applying diagnostic criteria, and distinguishing between similar presentations through systematic clinical reasoning. The course examines the etiology, epidemiology, and clinical presentation of major psychopathological conditions, including mood disorders, anxiety disorders, trauma-related disorders, psychotic disorders, personality disorders, substance-related disorders, and neurodevelopmental conditions. Students explore evidence-based treatment approaches matched to specific diagnoses, considering developmental, cultural, and contextual factors in treatment selection. Students develop case conceptualization skills by integrating diagnostic assessment with theoretical frameworks to formulate comprehensive treatment plans. Training includes conducting diagnostic interviews, mental status examinations, risk assessments, and collaborative goal-setting with clients. The impact of trauma on individuals with mental health diagnoses is addressed. Experiential learning includes weekly case analysis requiring diagnostic formulation and treatment planning. Students participate in two supervised laboratory sessions with patients (actors portraying clients), applying diagnostic interviewing skills in simulated clinical environments with instructor feedback. This integrated approach prepares students for ethical, culturally-responsive diagnostic practice in clinical mental health settings. (Spring Year 1)

Prerequisites: COUN610 Counseling Techniques & Practice

CACREP Standards: 3.G.11 & 16; 5.C.1 & 5 (CMHC)

COUN 635 ASSESSMENT IN COUNSELING (3 credit hours) This course develops competency in assessment methods, psychological testing, and evaluation procedures essential to clinical mental health counseling practice. Students examine fundamental concepts of standardized and non-standardized assessment, including reliability, validity, measurement error, scoring, interpretation, and ethical application of assessment instruments. The course addresses diverse assessment approaches including clinical interviews, mental status examinations, symptom inventories, personality assessments, cognitive measures, and behavioral observations. Students learn to select, administer, score, and interpret psychometric instruments appropriate to client needs, developmental stages, and presenting concerns. Emphasis is placed on understanding statistical concepts underlying test interpretation, including normative data, standard scores, confidence intervals, and clinical significance. Students develop psychological report writing skills, learning to integrate assessment data into coherent case conceptualizations that inform treatment planning and clinical decision-making. Training includes communicating assessment results effectively to clients, families, and referral sources while maintaining cultural sensitivity and ethical standards. Cultural, contextual, and environmental factors affecting assessment validity are examined, including the influence of gender, ethnicity, language, disability, and socioeconomic status on test performance and interpretation. Students explore bias in assessment instruments and develop culturally-responsive evaluation practices. Experiential learning includes conducting a comprehensive psychological evaluation with an undergraduate volunteer, including test selection, administration, scoring, interpretation, and preparation of a professional psychological report with instructor supervision and feedback. (Spring Year 1)

Prerequisites: COUN610 Counseling Techniques & Practices

CACREP Standards: 3.G.1-10, 12, 13, 15 & 17; 5.C.4 (CMHC)

COUN 605 THEORIES OF COUNSELING AND CONSULTATION (3 credit hours.) This foundational course provides comprehensive examination of major counseling and consultation theories and strategies and their application to clinical practice. Students explore the seminal theories of counseling and psychotherapy. Emphasis is placed on understanding theoretical frameworks as integrated systems for conceptualizing client concerns, establishing therapeutic relationships, and implementing evidence-based interventions. Students critically examine each theory’s view of human nature, personality development, psychopathology, assessment strategies, and change mechanisms. The course addresses multicultural and social justice considerations inherent in theoretical application, exploring how counselor and client worldviews influence the therapeutic process. Through case conceptualization exercises, students develop skills in applying theoretical principles to diverse client populations across the lifespan, including consideration of developmental, cultural, gender, and contextual factors. Students examine their developing theoretical orientation and explore the integration of counselor characteristics, behaviors, and personal values with theoretical frameworks. Course activities include comparative analysis of theories, experiential exercises, and counseling demonstration videos. (Spring of Year 1)

Prerequisites: COUN610 Counseling Techniques & Practices

CACREP Standards: 3.E.1, 4, 11 & 21

COUN 620 LIFESTYLE & CAREER DEVELOPMENT (3 credit hours) This course provides comprehensive training in career development theories, assessment, and intervention strategies across the lifespan. Students examine major career development theories including trait-factor, developmental, social cognitive, constructivist, and ecological approaches, learning to apply theoretical frameworks to diverse client populations and career concerns. The course addresses career development processes including vocational identity formation, career decision-making models, occupational information resources, labor market trends, and the changing nature of work in global economies. Students explore the interplay between work, family roles, leisure, and life satisfaction, recognizing career development as integral to overall wellness and lifestyle design. Emphasis is placed on career assessment instruments and techniques, including interest inventories, values clarifications, skills assessments, and card sorts. Students develop competency in interpreting career assessments, facilitating career exploration, and supporting clients through career transitions, job search strategies, and workplace adjustment challenges. The impact of diversity factors on career development is examined, including gender, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, disability, sexual orientation, and immigration status. Students explore systemic barriers to career access, occupational stereotyping, and strategies for promoting equity in career opportunities. Course content addresses career counseling with specific populations including adolescents, college students, adults in transition, displaced workers, and individuals with disabilities. Students learn to integrate career concerns with personal counseling issues, recognizing the psychological dimensions of work-related stress, unemployment, underemployment, and retirement adjustment. (Summer Year 1)

Prerequisites: COUN605 Theories of Counseling & Consultation

CACREP Standards: 3.D.1-12

COUN 618 LEGAL AND ETHICAL ISSUES IN COUNSELING (3 credit hours). This course provides comprehensive training in ethical standards, legal requirements, and professional responsibilities essential to counseling practice. Students examine the ACA Code of Ethics and standards of affiliated professional organizations, including the American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA), developing competency in applying ethical principles to complex clinical situations. The course addresses legal and regulatory frameworks governing counseling practice, including state licensure laws, scope of practice boundaries, mandatory reporting requirements, duty to warn and protect, HIPAA regulations, and documentation standards. Students explore the legal dimensions of informed consent, confidentiality and its limits, minor client rights, subpoenas, and court testimony. Emphasis is placed on ethical decision-making models for navigating dilemmas involving multiple stakeholders, competing values, and ambiguous situations. Students examine ethical considerations across professional domains including competence boundaries, dual relationships, supervision responsibilities, multicultural practice. Emerging ethical issues are addressed, including artificial intelligence in counseling, social justice advocacy, social media use, and equity in service delivery. Students develop awareness of personal values and biases that influence ethical reasoning and practice. Course activities include case analysis, ethics consultation exercises, and development of personal ethical frameworks aligned with professional standards. Students demonstrate competency in identifying ethical concerns, consulting relevant codes and laws, applying systematic decision-making protocols, and implementing ethically sound courses of action. (Fall Year 2)

Prerequisites: COUN605 Theories of Counseling & Consultation

CACREP Standards: 3.A.10-12; 5.C.6 (CMHC)

COUN 645 RESEARCH METHODS AND PROGRAM EVALUATION (3 credit hours) This course develops competency in research methodology, statistical analysis, and program evaluation essential to evidence-based counseling practice. Students examine research designs including experimental, quasi-experimental, single-case, action research, and qualitative methodologies, learning to evaluate research validity, reliability, and applicability to clinical practice. The course addresses the counselor’s role as both consumer and producer of research, emphasizing critical evaluation of counseling literature, identification of evidence-based practices, and integration of research findings into clinical decision-making. Students explore ethical and culturally relevant research strategies, including informed consent, participant protection, cultural validity, and responsible dissemination of findings. Emphasis is placed on quantitative and qualitative data analysis techniques. Students develop proficiency in descriptive and inferential statistics, including measures of central tendency, variability, correlation, t-tests, ANOVA, regression, and chi-square analyses. Qualitative analysis methods including thematic coding, phenomenological approaches, and grounded theory are examined. Program evaluation principles and models are addressed, including needs assessment, formative and summative evaluation, outcome measurement, and quality improvement processes. Students learn to design evaluation frameworks that assess counseling program effectiveness, client outcomes, and service delivery efficiency. Students develop practical skills in formulating research questions, reviewing literature, selecting appropriate methodologies, analyzing data, interpreting results, and communicating findings through professional writing and presentation. Course activities include critiquing published research, designing program evaluation plans, and conducting statistical analyses. (Fall Year 2)

Prerequisites: COUN605 Theories of Counseling & Consultation

CACREP Standards: 3.H.1-11

COUN 625 SOCIAL JUSTICE & DIVERSITY (3 credit hours) This course develops multicultural and social justice competencies essential to ethical, culturally-responsive counseling practice. Students examine theories and models of multicultural counseling, social justice, and advocacy, exploring their application across diverse client populations and systemic contexts. The course addresses the impact of heritage, attitudes, beliefs, understandings, and acculturative experiences on individuals’ worldviews, identity development, and help-seeking behaviors. Students explore the intersectionality of multiple identities including race, ethnicity, culture, language, age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, spirituality, religion, ability status, socioeconomic class, immigration status, and other dimensions of diversity. Emphasis is placed on developing self-awareness of personal cultural values, biases, and assumptions, and their influence on the counseling relationship. Students examine privilege, oppression, discrimination, and systemic barriers affecting marginalized populations. Strategies for eliminating biases, prejudices, and intentional and unintentional oppression and discrimination are explored. Students learn to adapt evidence-based interventions to diverse cultural contexts, and advocate for equitable access to services. The impact of cultural differences on counseling theory assumptions, therapeutic relationships, assessment validity, and intervention effectiveness is critically examined. The course integrates social justice advocacy competencies, including identifying systemic inequities, challenging discriminatory practices, and promoting institutional change. Students develop skills in community collaboration, culturally-appropriate resource identification, and empowerment-based approaches that honor client cultural strengths and resilience. (Fall Year 2)

Prerequisites: COUN605 Theories of Counseling & Consultation

CACREP Standards: 3.B.1-11

COUN 630 THEORY & PRACTICE OF GROUP COUNSELING (3 credit hours) This course provides comprehensive training in group counseling theory, dynamics, and leadership skills essential to clinical mental health practice. Students examine theoretical approaches to group work including psychodynamic, person-centered, Gestalt, cognitive-behavioral, solution-focused, and interpersonal process models, learning to apply theoretical frameworks to group facilitation. The course addresses group development stages, including forming, storming, norming, performing, and terminating phases, with emphasis on recognizing stage-specific dynamics and implementing appropriate leadership interventions. Students explore group process concepts including cohesion, therapeutic factors, norms, roles, resistance, conflict resolution, and interpersonal learning within group contexts. Emphasis is placed on developing group leadership skills including screening and selection of members, establishing group structure and goals, facilitating meaningful interaction, managing challenging behaviors, promoting safety and trust, and evaluating group effectiveness. Ethical and legal considerations specific to group work are examined, including confidentiality limitations, informed consent, dual relationships, and competence boundaries. Students learn to design and facilitate counseling groups for diverse populations and purposes, including psychoeducational, support, counseling, and psychotherapy groups. Cultural considerations in group composition, communication patterns, and intervention strategies are integrated throughout. Experiential learning is central to skill development. Students participate as members in a counseling group experience and facilitate at least one group session under supervision, receiving feedback on leadership style, intervention effectiveness, and group management skills. (Spring Year 2)

Prerequisites: COUN610 Counseling Techniques & Practice

CACREP Standards: 3.F.1-10

COUN 633 ADVANCED TECHNIQUES, TELECOUNSELING, AND BILLING (3 credit hours) This course provides supervised preparation for field-based clinical experience through intensive skills development in a combined classroom and laboratory setting. Students demonstrate cumulative counseling competencies developed throughout foundational coursework, applying theoretical knowledge to simulated clinical scenarios under faculty supervision. The course emphasizes essential counseling skills including therapeutic relationship building, active listening, empathy, appropriate use of questions, reflection, confrontation, goal-setting, and termination processes. Students develop proficiency in conducting clinical intake interviews, risk assessments, and evidence-based treatment planning aligned with client presenting concerns. Emphasis is placed on applying three major contemporary theoretical approaches to counseling practice, demonstrating ability to select and implement theory-consistent interventions. Students integrate multicultural competence, ethical decision-making, and self-awareness into their emerging counselor identity and therapeutic style. Laboratory experiences include role-play sessions with peers and simulated clients, allowing students to practice counseling skills in a controlled environment. Students record counseling sessions for self-evaluation and supervision, receiving detailed feedback on verbal and non-verbal communication, intervention effectiveness, and professional demeanor. Group supervision sessions facilitate peer learning, critical self-reflection, and collaborative skill enhancement. Students demonstrate readiness for practicum through competency assessments evaluating counseling skills, ethical understanding, and professional dispositions. Insufficient skill demonstration requires additional preparation before advancing to field placement. In addition, students learn about the application of technology related to counseling, ethical and legal issues relevant to establishing and maintaining counseling relationships across service delivery modalities, and third-party reimbursement and other practice and management issues in clinical mental health counseling. (Spring Year 2)

Prerequisites: COU503 Counseling Techniques & Practice; COU504 Psychopathology & Diagnosis

CACREP Standards: 3.E.5-6; 5.C.9 (CMHC)

COUN 650 CRISIS, TRAUMA & ADDICTIONS COUNSELING (3 credit hours) This course provides comprehensive training in evidence-based approaches for crisis intervention, trauma-informed counseling, and addiction treatment. Students examine the neurobiological, psychological, and social impacts of crisis, trauma, and substance use disorders, developing competencies in intervention strategies across the lifespan, diverse populations, and settings. The course addresses theories and etiology of addictions and addictive behaviors, exploring the complex interrelationship between trauma exposure and substance use disorders. The psychological dynamics and family patterns associated with addiction are explored alongside prevention strategies and harm reduction approaches. Students learn to recognize and treat co-occurring conditions, understanding how trauma and addiction mutually influence symptom presentation, treatment engagement, and recovery outcomes to develop culturally-responsive approaches. Evidence-based addiction interventions including motivational interviewing, relapse prevention, harm reduction, and medication-assisted treatment are examined. Students develop crisis intervention skills applicable to specific situations including suicide risk, homicide risk, intimate partner violence, sexual assault, natural disasters, and terrorism. Emphasis is placed on suicide and homicide risk assessment, safety planning, trauma-informed care principles, and community-based intervention strategies. The impact of crisis, disaster, and trauma on individuals with mental health and substance use diagnoses is explored. Students learn assessment procedures for trauma, crisis situations and addiction severity, including screening instruments, diagnostic interviewing, and collaborative treatment planning. Referral processes, case management strategies, and coordination with community resources are addressed. The course emphasizes the impact of addiction on clients, families, and communities, along with essential counselor self-care strategies for preventing vicarious trauma and professional burnout. Ethical and legal considerations in working with substance-using clients complete the course focus. (Spring Year 2)

Prerequisites: COUN605 Theories of Counseling and Consultation

CACREP Standards: 3.C.13; 3.E.19-20; 3.G.14

COUN 638 PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY & SUBSTANCE ABUSE (3 credit hours) This course provides comprehensive training in psychopharmacology and the neuropsychology and medical treatment of substance use disorders essential to clinical mental health counseling practice. Students examine major classifications of psychotropic medications including antidepressants, anxiolytics, mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, and stimulants, exploring their mechanisms of action, therapeutic indications, side effects, and impact on client behavior and mental processes. The course addresses the neurobiological foundations of mental illness and addiction, including how psychoactive substances affect brain chemistry, neurophysiology, and behavior. Students develop competency in recognizing medication effects, understanding drug interactions, monitoring client responses to pharmacological treatment, and collaborating effectively with prescribers and interdisciplinary treatment teams. Substance use disorders are examined through multiple theoretical frameworks including disease models, biopsychosocial perspectives, and evidence-based treatment approaches. Students learn to understand and recognize intoxication, withdrawal syndromes, and co-occurring mental health conditions. (Summer Year 2)

Prerequisites: COUN640 Psychopathology & Diagnosis

CACREP Standards: 3.E.18

COUN 656 ADVANCED ASSESSMENT IN COUNSELING (3 credit hours) This advanced assessment course develops specialized competencies in comprehensive psychological evaluation of mental and emotional functioning. Building upon foundational assessment knowledge, students gain expertise in administering, scoring, interpreting, and integrating complex standardized assessment instruments to evaluate cognitive abilities, personality dynamics, emotional functioning, psychopathology, and achievement. Students develop proficiency in selecting appropriate assessment batteries based on referral questions, conducting comprehensive psychological evaluations, and synthesizing multiple data sources into coherent diagnostic formulations. Emphasis is placed on differential diagnosis, treatment planning, and clinical decision-making informed by assessment results. Advanced interpretation skills include profile analysis, configural interpretation, and integration of quantitative and qualitative data. The course addresses professional psychological report writing, emphasizing clear communication of assessment findings, diagnostic impressions, and evidence-based treatment recommendations to diverse audiences including clients, families, treatment teams, and referral sources. Students learn to provide professional consultation based on evaluation outcomes in clinical mental health and forensic settings. Special emphasis is given to forensic psychological assessment, including evaluations for disability determination, competency assessments, and court-related referrals. Ethical considerations unique to advanced assessment practice are examined, including informed consent, cultural bias in testing, and professional boundaries in consultation. Students conduct comprehensive psychological evaluations with volunteer clients under faculty supervision, demonstrating competency in test administration, assessment integration, ethical practice, and preparation of detailed professional psychological reports. (Fall Year 3)

Prerequisites: COUN690 Practicum & Advanced Case Conceptualization

CACREP Standards: 3.G.7, 10, & 17; 5.C.4

Elective Courses

The following elective courses may be taken by any MAC Student but are used in various combinations to satisfy specialization tracks:

COUN 660 MARRIAGE, FAMILY & COUPLES (3 credit hours) This elective course provides specialized training in systemic approaches to counseling couples and families. Students explore foundational systems theories and their application to relational practice, including structural, strategic, intergenerational, experiential, and narrative family therapy models. Emphasis is placed on understanding circular causality, homeostasis, boundaries, differentiation, and multigenerational patterns that influence relationship dynamics. The course addresses assessment techniques specific to couples and family counseling, including genogram construction, relational assessment inventories, communication pattern analysis, and systemic case conceptualization. Students develop skills in joining with family systems, establishing therapeutic alliances with multiple clients simultaneously, and managing complex relational dynamics within sessions. Major intervention strategies are examined, including reframing, enactment, boundary-setting, communication training, conflict resolution, and emotionally-focused techniques. Students learn to assess and address communication patterns, behavioral contingencies, cognitive processes, affective regulation, and attachment dynamics that impact relationship functioning across diverse family structures and cultural contexts. Ethical considerations unique to systemic practice are addressed, including confidentiality with multiple clients, managing competing interests, addressing power differentials, and recognizing when individual versus systemic interventions are indicated. Cultural, socioeconomic, and contextual factors influencing family systems are integrated throughout. Students engage in role-play practice and video analysis of couples and family sessions, developing competency in applying systemic interventions while maintaining cultural responsiveness and ethical practice standards.

Prerequisites: COUN605 Theories of Counseling & Consultation

COUN 662 COUNSELING GRIEF & LOSS  (3 credit hours) This elective course provides specialized training in counseling individuals experiencing loss and bereavement. Students explore theoretical frameworks for understanding grief and loss, including stage models, relational models, task-based approaches, continuing bonds theory, and complicated grief conceptualizations. Emphasis is placed on recognizing diverse grief responses across cultures, developmental stages, and loss circumstances. The course addresses assessment and intervention strategies for supporting bereaved individuals. Students develop competency in conducting grief assessments, differentiating normative from complicated grief responses, identifying risk factors for prolonged grief disorder, and implementing evidence-based interventions including meaning-making therapies, narrative approaches, and cognitive-behavioral grief therapy. Historical and cultural perspectives on death, dying, and mourning are examined, including hospice philosophy, palliative care principles, and cultural rituals that shape bereavement experiences. Students explore anticipatory grief, disenfranchised loss, traumatic death, suicide bereavement, and children’s grief responses. Self-awareness development is central to course learning. Students engage in reflective exercises examining personal beliefs about death, mortality, and loss, enhancing capacity for therapeutic presence with dying and grieving clients. Professional self-care strategies for managing vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue when working with loss are emphasized. Ethical considerations including end-of-life decision-making, advance directives, boundaries in hospice settings, and multicultural competence in grief counseling are integrated throughout. Students develop skills applicable across clinical settings where loss and mortality concerns emerge.

Prerequisites: COUN610 Counseling Techniques & Practice

COUN 664 COUNSELING CHILDREN & ADOLESCENTS (3 credit hours) This elective course provides specialized training in evidence-based counseling approaches for children and adolescents across developmental stages. Students develop competencies in establishing therapeutic relationships with young clients, utilizing developmentally-appropriate communication strategies, and addressing common presenting concerns including anxiety, depression, trauma, behavioral disorders, family conflict, peer relationships, academic difficulties, and identity development challenges. The course integrates developmental theory with specialized intervention modalities including play therapy, art therapy, music therapy, bibliotherapy, sandtray, solution-focused brief therapy, and creative arts approaches. Students learn to select and adapt techniques based on developmental stage, cognitive abilities, cultural background, and presenting concerns. Emphasis is placed on understanding the therapeutic power of play and creative expression in child and adolescent counseling. Assessment strategies specific to young populations are addressed, including developmental screening, behavioral observation, parent and teacher consultation, and age-appropriate clinical interviewing techniques. Students explore ethical considerations unique to working with minors, including informed consent, confidentiality limits, mandated reporting, and family involvement in treatment. Cultural competence in working with diverse children, adolescents, and families is emphasized throughout the course. Students examine how ethnicity, socioeconomic status, family structure, immigration status, and community context influence youth development and help-seeking behaviors. Family systems perspectives and parent consultation skills are integrated to support comprehensive treatment approaches.

(Prerequisites: COUN615 Lifespan Development)

COUN 655 SUBSTANCE ABUSE & ADDICTIONS COUNSELING (3 credit hours) This advanced elective course provides specialized training for students pursuing expertise in addictions counseling. Building upon foundational knowledge, students develop comprehensive competencies in assessment, diagnosis, and evidence-based treatment of substance use disorders and process addictions including gambling, internet/gaming, sexual behaviors, and eating disorders. The course examines advanced theories and models of addiction etiology including neurobiological, genetic, psychological, social, and spiritual perspectives. Students explore the continuum of substance use from experimentation through severe dependence, understanding diagnostic criteria, symptom progression, and the complex interplay between addiction and co-occurring mental health conditions. Specialized treatment modalities are addressed including motivational interviewing, cognitive-behavioral therapy, twelve-step facilitation, contingency management, family systems approaches, medication-assisted treatment, and harm reduction strategies. Students develop expertise in individual, group, and family counseling techniques specific to addiction treatment, with emphasis on behavior change, relapse prevention, and sustained recovery support. The course addresses assessment instruments for addiction severity, readiness to change, and treatment matching. Students explore barriers to treatment including stigma, discrimination, and systemic oppression affecting substance-using populations. Prevention strategies, community education, and public health approaches to reducing substance-related harm are examined. Students learn about the continuum of care including detoxification, residential treatment, intensive outpatient programs, and recovery support services. Ethical and legal considerations unique to addictions counseling complete the course focus.

Prerequisites: COUN640 Psychopathology & Diagnosis; COUN638 Psychopharmacology & Substance Abuse

COUN 667 SEXUALITY COUNSELING (3 sem. hrs.) This elective course examines human sexuality as a fundamental dimension of identity and lived experience, preparing counselors to address sexual health and relationship concerns competently and ethically. Students explore sexual development across the lifespan, including biological, psychological, social, and cultural factors influencing sexual identity formation, orientation, behaviors, and relationships. The course addresses diverse expressions of sexuality, gender identity, and relationship structures, emphasizing culturally-responsive approaches to working with LGBTQ+ populations, diverse family configurations, and individuals across the sexual orientation and gender identity spectrum. Students examine the intersection of sexuality with race, ethnicity, religion, disability, age, and socioeconomic status. Clinical applications include assessment and treatment of sexual dysfunctions, desire discrepancies, intimacy concerns, and relationship conflicts. Students learn basic sex therapy techniques, communication strategies for couples, and psychoeducational approaches to sexual health. Sexual trauma, consent issues, and recovery from sexual abuse are addressed within trauma-informed frameworks. The course explores contemporary issues including sexual health education, sexually transmitted infections, reproductive health, pornography use, sexual addiction controversies, and ethical boundaries in discussing sexuality with clients. Legal and ethical considerations are examined, including professional competence boundaries, referral processes, and counselor self-awareness regarding personal values and biases about sexuality. Students develop comfort and competence in initiating conversations about sexuality, using appropriate terminology, and creating affirming therapeutic environments for clients addressing sexual concerns.

Prerequisites: COU502 Theories of Counseling & Helping

COUN 668 GERIATRIC COUNSELING (3 credit hours) This course provides an in-depth examination of counseling theory and practice with older adult populations. Students will explore the psychological, biological, and social dimensions of aging, including cognitive changes, chronic illness, grief and loss, end-of-life issues, and caregiver dynamics. Emphasis is placed on the application of culturally responsive and developmentally appropriate counseling interventions with geriatric clients across diverse settings, including community mental health centers, assisted living facilities, hospice programs, and outpatient practices. Topics include late-life depression and anxiety, neurocognitive disorders, substance use in older adults, elder abuse and neglect, and intergenerational family systems. Students will critically evaluate evidence-based assessment tools and therapeutic approaches suited to older adult populations, while attending to issues of ageism, intersectionality, and social justice. Ethical and legal considerations specific to geriatric counseling, including capacity assessment, guardianship, and advance directives, are examined. This course aligns with CACREP standards addressing human development across the lifespan, social and cultural diversity, assessment, and counseling intervention, preparing students to deliver competent, ethical, and compassionate mental health services to older adults and their families.

Prerequisites: COUN605 Theories of Counseling & Consultation & COUN615 Lifespan Development                             

COUN 667 COUNSELING CO-OCCURRING DISORDERS (3 credit hours) This advanced elective course provides specialized training in assessment and treatment of clients presenting with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders. Students develop competencies in understanding the complex interactions between psychiatric conditions and addictive behaviors, recognizing how each condition influences symptom presentation, treatment engagement, and recovery trajectories. The course examines integrated treatment models emphasizing simultaneous addressing of both conditions rather than sequential or parallel approaches. Students explore evidence-based interventions adapted for co-occurring disorders including integrated dual diagnosis treatment, dialectical behavior therapy, trauma-informed care, and motivational enhancement strategies. Emphasis is placed on understanding how common psychiatric conditions—including mood disorders, anxiety disorders, PTSD, psychotic disorders, and personality disorders—intersect with substance use patterns. Assessment challenges specific to dual diagnosis are addressed, including differential diagnosis complexities, substance-induced symptoms versus primary psychiatric conditions, and comprehensive evaluation strategies. Students learn to develop integrated treatment plans that address both conditions simultaneously while considering medication interactions, treatment sequencing, and level of care determinations. The course explores barriers to treatment including stigma, service fragmentation, and inadequate provider training in dual diagnosis care. Cultural considerations, family involvement, peer support integration, and long-term recovery management strategies are examined. Students develop competence in coordinating care across treatment systems and advocating for clients navigating complex service delivery environments.

Prerequisites: COUN638 Psychopharmacology & Substance Abuse

Field Experiences

Following completion of most core courses, practicum begins in the second summer of the program (COUN690 Practicum & Advanced Case Conceptualization) with Internship I and II being taken the Fall and Spring of the third year. They are listed here for completeness of core requirements. The total core + field placement credits sum to 51.

COUN 690 Practicum & Advanced Case Conceptualization (3 credit hours) This field-based course provides students with initial supervised clinical experience in an approved mental health setting. Students complete a minimum of 100 clock hours, including at least 40 hours of direct service providing individual and group counseling to clients under qualified supervision. This experience bridges academic preparation with professional practice, allowing students to apply counseling theories, techniques, and ethical principles in real-world clinical contexts. Students explore evidence-based intervention techniques across theoretical orientations applicable to diverse client populations and presenting concerns. Students demonstrate proficiency in selecting and adapting interventions based on client needs, cultural contexts, and evidence-based practice guidelines. Students perform activities expected of professional counselors in their placement settings, including intake interviews, treatment planning, progress documentation, case consultation, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Emphasis is placed on developing professional identity, refining therapeutic skills, and integrating multicultural competence into clinical work. Supervision includes weekly individual or triadic supervision with site supervisors who are licensed professional clinical counselors (LPCCs) or licensed mental health counselors (LMHCs). Students participate in weekly group supervision with the course instructor, engaging in case presentations, peer feedback, and skill development activities. Counseling sessions are evaluated through live observation, video recordings, and/or audio recordings, providing opportunities for detailed feedback on counselor behaviors, intervention strategies, therapeutic presence, and clinical decision-making. Students maintain documentation of all clinical hours, engage in systematic self-evaluation, and demonstrate progressive skill development throughout the semester. Students are evaluated on counseling competencies, professional dispositions, ethical practice, and readiness for advanced clinical training leading to internship. (Summer Year 2)

Prerequisites: COUN 610 Advanced Techniques & Practicum

CACREP Standards: 3.E.3, 12 & 16; Section 4.Q-T

COUN 695 INTERNSHIP 1 (1-3 credit hours) This course represents the first part of the capstone clinical experience, providing advanced supervised practice in an approved clinical mental health setting. Students complete a minimum of 300 clock hours, including at least 120 hours of direct service with clients, as part of the program’s required 600-hour internship sequence. Students provide individual counseling, group counseling, and additional professional activities expected of regularly employed counselors in their placement settings. Students receive at least one hour per week of individual or triadic supervision from qualified site supervisors who are licensed professional clinical counselors (LPCCs) or licensed mental health counselors (LMHCs). Additionally, students participate in weekly group supervision with university faculty, averaging 1.5 hours per week, for case presentation, skill development, and professional consultation. Course emphasis includes advancing case conceptualization skills, refining evidence-based intervention strategies, developing multicultural competence, and strengthening professional counselor identity. Students engage in systematic evaluation of their counseling skills through audio or video recordings, receiving feedback from supervisors and peers on therapeutic techniques, clinical judgment, and ethical decision-making. Students demonstrate competency across diverse client populations, presenting concerns, and clinical situations. Professional activities include treatment planning, clinical documentation, interdisciplinary collaboration, crisis intervention, and agency-specific responsibilities. Students maintain comprehensive documentation of all clinical hours and activities, engage in ongoing self-assessment, and demonstrate progressive clinical competence. (Fall Year 3)

Prerequisites: COUN690 Advanced Techniques & Practicum

CACREP Standards: Section 4.U-X

COUN 696 INTERNSHIP 2 (1-3 credit hours) This course represents the culminating capstone experience, providing continuation of advanced supervised clinical practice in an approved clinical mental health setting. Students complete an additional minimum of 300 clock hours, including at least 120 hours of direct service with clients, achieving the program’s required 600 total internship hours. Students provide individual counseling, group counseling, and comprehensive professional activities expected of regularly employed counselors. Students receive at least one hour per week of individual or triadic supervision from qualified site supervisors who are licensed professional clinical counselors (LPCCs) or licensed mental health counselors (LMHCs). Weekly group supervision with university faculty averages 1.5 hours per week for advanced case consultation, skill refinement, and professional development. Course emphasis includes demonstrating mastery of clinical competencies, sophisticated case conceptualization, application of diverse evidence-based interventions, and consolidation of professional counselor identity. Students engage in systematic evaluation through audio or video recordings, receiving feedback on advanced therapeutic skills, complex clinical situations, and autonomous professional decision-making. Students demonstrate readiness for independent professional practice through work with diverse populations, complex presenting concerns, and multifaceted clinical challenges. Professional activities include comprehensive treatment planning, ethical consultation, crisis management, advocacy, and leadership within clinical settings. Students complete comprehensive documentation of clinical hours, engage in summative self-assessment, and demonstrate achievement of program learning outcomes preparing them for state licensure and professional practice. (Spring Year 3)

Prerequisites: COUN695 Internship I

CACREP Standards: 3.E.2, 13-15, & 17; Section 4.U-X

The Three-Year Plan is a full-time program that enables students to complete the required 60 hours of the program in three years.

How to Apply

1. Submit your application here. Kentucky Wesleyan College does not charge an application fee.
2. Upload a current resume/CV with your application.
3. Send official university transcripts from schools you attended to Kentucky Wesleyan College. 

International applicants

4. International applicants who attended college outside of the United States are required to submit an English Proficiency test score.
5. Transcripts from all institutions must be translated into English. We do not require a third-party transcript evaluation for international transcripts to submit an application.

Admission requirements include a bachelor’s degree, personal goals statement, transcripts, and a criminal background check.

GRE scores are not required unless the applicant has an undergraduate GPA below 3.0. This program is designed for working adults who are ready to embark on a career in health care.

Fall 2027 – application deadline May 1, 2027

Spring 2028 – application deadline September 1, 2027

Daniel R. Cruikshanks, Ph.D., LPC is the Director of the MAC Program

Daniel R. Cruikshanks, Ph.D., LPC

Professor of Psychology and Counselor Education

daniel.cruikshanks@kwc.edu

Learn more about Dr. Cruikshanks