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Clinical Mental Health Counseling in Schools and Communities Emphasis

The Clinical Mental Health Counseling in Schools and Communities emphasis in the Counselor Education (M.Ed.) Master's Program at Penn State is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Programs (CACREP). This program prepares professionals to work with and in schools as well as other community settings such as non-profit organizations, government agencies, and hospitals. This emphasis does not lead to certification as a school counselor in Pennsylvania. Students interested in working as a school counselor should consult the Elementary or Secondary master's emphases. It takes two-years of full-time graduate study, or its equivalent, to complete this 60 credit hour master’s degree.

Clinical Mental Health Counseling in Schools and Communities

  • Promoting optimal human development, wellness, and mental health through outreach, prevention, and early intervention strategies in schools and community settings
  • Implementing a wide range of culturally responsive, early intervention and intervention services to maximize the potential of children, adolescents, adults, and families
  • Providing crisis intervention services to schools, families, and communities
  • Promoting social change through the development of cross-system collaborations that contribute to school and community improvement initiatives
  • National Certification as a Professional Counselor
  • Licensure as a Professional Counselor
  • The holistic development of children, adolescents, adults, and families
  • Addressing mental health concerns and related social problems through the provision of both direct and indirect services to individuals, schools, families, and communities
  • Outreach, prevention, and early intervention; individual, group, and family counseling; addiction; crisis intervention; collaborative practice; social networks; school and community systems
  • Incorporating counseling theory, skills and techniques into experiential learning modes including role-playing and genuine counseling situations through practicum at the Herr Clinic (link to Dr. Edwin L. Herr Clinic) and supervised internship in school and community settings
  • Social justice and culturally responsive mental health counseling

The clinical mental health counseling emphasis in the Counselor Education (M.Ed.) Master's Program is a two-year program with a fall semester start date. Students are required to complete 60-credits, including a one-semester off-campus internship under the supervision of the university Internship Coordinator and an agency supervisor.

Fall Semester (15 credits)
CN ED 404 (3) Group Procedures in Guidance and Counseling
CN ED 500 (3) Introduction to Counseling & Development
CN ED 501 (3) Counseling: Theory & Method
CN ED 506 (3) Individual Counseling Skills
CN ED 507 (3) Multicultural Issues in Counseling

Spring Semester (12 credits)
CN ED 505 (3) Foundations of Career Development & Counseling Information
CN ED 530 (3) Family Counseling: Theory & Practice
CN ED 595A (3) Practicum
CN ED 597A (3) Foundations of Clinical Mental Health Counseling in Schools & Communities

Summer Semester (9 credits)
CN ED 532 (3) Diagnosis Counseling
CN ED 523/524 (3) Child or Adolescent Counseling
Elective (3)

Fall Semester (12 Credits)
CN ED 422 (3) Foundations of Addictions Counseling
CN ED 526 (3) Counseling Research
CN ED 595G (3) Internship
Elective (3)

Spring Semester (12 Credits)
CN ED 525 (3) Use of Tests in Counseling
CN ED 595G (3) Internship
CN ED 596 (3) Individual Studies (Master's paper)
Elective (3)

Suggested Electives (9)
CN ED 597A (3) Sexuality Issues in Counseling (Summer – Semester 3)
CN ED 597A (3) Grief Counseling (Summer – Semester 3)
BBH 451 (3) Psychopharmacological Influences on Health (Summer - Semester 3)
BBH 432 (3) Biobehavioral Aspects of Stress (Fall - Semester 4)
RHS 560 (3) Psychosocial Aspects of Disability (Fall - Semester 4)
PSYCH 422 (3) Human Sexuality (Fall - Semester 4)