Mental Health Counseling Program (MHC)
The Mental Health Counseling Program (MHC) is fully accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). The MHC Program is a 60 credit hour program which meets the educational requirements for licensure in the state of Florida as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC). The program is practitioner-oriented in the sense that students are required to complete a demanding field experience requirement of 1,000 supervised hours before graduation. The counseling curriculum offers a unique blend of courses to provide the skills and knowledge necessary for becoming a competent counseling professional. Solid academic performance and experiential mastery are required. |
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Mission
The mission of the UNF Master's Program in Mental Health Counseling is to provide comprehensive training for individuals who wish to counsel diverse populations in a variety of mental health settings. This program provides students with an intellectually stimulating and supportive environment which encompasses academic rigor and promotes excellence, ethical and professional integrity, and effective interpersonal communication and therapeutic skills. Curricular experiences include opportunities to explore the life-span, social, and cultural foundations of behavior; practice psychotherapeutic and diagnostic skills; and complete extensive field experiences in order to apply knowledge and skills in professional settings.
The program prepares mental health counselors to fulfill the following roles: provide direct counseling services to individuals, groups, and families; assist clients in making responsible decisions and in developing skills of self determination; provide resources, referrals, and information to assist clients in coping with societal, economic, and other barriers; serve as models and mentors to clients as they pursue optimum levels of mental health; advocate for clients’ rights through participation in community, state, and national organizational efforts; and, become leaders in community agencies in efforts to facilitate delivery of optimum mental health services.
The MHC curriculum is focused on preparing counseling professionals for employment in various settings including:
- community mental health centers
- psychiatric hospitals
- residential treatment facilities
- outpatient mental health clinics
- rehabilitation agencies
- social service agencies
- employee assistance programs
- alcohol and drug abuse treatment centers
- correctional institutions
- adolescent crisis centers
- college counseling centers
- private practice
Important Dates for MHC Program
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Spring 2009
DEADLINES |
Fall 2010
DEADLINES |
Applications Due in Graduate School |
November 1, 2009 |
June 1, 2010
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Interview Date for MHC Applicants
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November 13, 2009 |
June 18, 2010 |
Decision Date |
November 23, 2009 |
June 25, 2010 |
New Student Orientation for MHC Students Admitted for Fall 2009
Wednesday, September 23, 2009 at 7pm in Room 4042, Bldg 39
INFO SESSIONS
Explore a Career in Mental Health Counseling
- Attend an Informational Session
Location:
Brooks College of Health
Building 39/Room 4032 (4th floor)
UNF Campus
| Thursday, September 17, 2009 |
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm |
| Thursday, September 24, 2009 |
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm |
| Thursday, February 4, 2010 |
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm |
| Thursday, March 4, 2010 |
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm |
| Thursday, April 1, 2010 |
5:30 pm - 6:30 pm |
PROGRAM
Program of Study
The program of study for the Mental Health Counseling Program is designed to provide comprehensive training for individuals who wish to counsel diverse populations in a variety of mental health settings. Curricular experiences encompass opportunities to explore the life-span, social, and cultural foundations of behavior; practice psychotherapeutic and diagnostic skills; and complete extensive field experiences in order to apply knowledge and skills in professional settings.
Major Requirements (48 semester hours)
MHS 6407 3.0 Personality and Counseling Theories
MHS 6482 3.0 Personality and Life Span Development
MHS 6201 3.0 Assessment in Counseling
SDS 6310 3.0 Career and Lifestyle Development
MHS 6941 3.0 Prepracticum in Counseling
MHS 6428 3.0 Counseling Diverse Populations
MHS 6510 3.0 Group Counseling
MHS 6401 3.0 Advanced Counseling
MHS 6700 3.0 Legal, Ethical, and Profess Issues in Counseling
MHS 6070 3.0 Psychopathology
MHS 6480 3.0 Sexual Issues in Counseling
MHS 6450 3.0 Substance Abuse counseling
MHS 6800 3.0 Practicum in Counseling
MHS 6830 3.0 Internship in Counseling
MHS 6830 3.0 Internship in Counseling
MHS 6830 3.0 Internship in Counseling
Major Electives (9 semester hours)
MHS 6009 3.0 Overview of Brief Counseling
MHS 6430 3.0 Introduction to Family Counseling
MHS 6431 3.0 Advanced Seminar in Family Counseling
MHS 6440 3.0 Counseling Couples
MHS 6610 V.1-3.0 Clinical Supervision in Counseling
SDS 6411 3.0 Counseling Children and Adolescents
MHS 6930 V.1-3 Special Topics in Counseling (Summer only)
ADMISSIONS
General Information Concerning Admission to Mental Health Counseling
Students are admitted to the Mental Health Counseling track in Fall and Spring semesters. The general requirements for admission to the Counselor Education program are described in the graduate catalog. The application for admission to the Mental Health Counseling track must include the following:
- Transcripts of previous collegiate work, including graduate and undergraduate degrees,
- A combined GRE score of 1000 on the verbal and quantitative sections and a GPA of 3.0 on the last 60 semester hours
of undergraduate work. Applicants who do not meet the 1000 minimum score on the GRE may be considered under
departmental exceptions policy.
- Three completed recommendation reference forms for counseling applicants, at least one from a professor who has
academic knowledge of the student,
- Resume,
- A personal statement ---- (for more information on the goals statement see below),
- Onsite Interview
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Guidelines for Personal Statement:
Review the following series of questions carefully. Be sure to address each question in detail. Your responses should be typewritten (font size = 12 pt.) and should not exceed 5 double spaced typewritten pages.
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What motivates you to pursue your degree in mental health counseling?
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What are your short-term and long-term professional goals?
- Name a particular text or author in the psychological/mental health field that has influenced you the most and describe why.
All documents and materials should be mailed to the Graduate School at the following address:
The Graduate School
University of North Florida
1 UNF Drive
Building 1, Room 1200
Jacksonville, FL 32224
Admission to the MHC Program
Counseling Application Process Checklist (pdf)
Reference Forms for Counseling Applicants (pdf)
UNF Graduate School
Required Documents for Application
LICENSURE:
Mental Health Counseling Licensure
Students graduating from the Mental Health Program will have completed all the educational requirements for licensure as Mental Health Counselors in the State of Florida. In order to become licensed, graduates of the program will need to complete the following:
a. Pass the Florida licensure examination (currently the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Exam, administered by the National Board of Certified Counselors, NBCC);
b. Register as a counseling intern, obtain an approved supervisor (licensed therapist who has completed an approved course in supervision and who has at least five year’s experience beyond licensure);
c. Complete two years’ (total of 3000 hours) experience under supervision; 1500 of the 3000 hours must be in direct client contact; and
d. Complete course work in the Prevention of Medical Errors (3 clock hours) and Florida Laws and Domestic Violence
(1 clock hour). Students are encouraged to regularly check for updates about Mental Health Counselor licensure contact the Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling at (850) 487-3083 or http://www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/491/.
Marriage and Family Therapy Licensure
Some students who complete the Mental Health Counseling Track are interested in pursuing licensure as marriage and family therapists. In order to do this, students will need to add the following to their programs:
a. Three courses in dynamics of marriage and family systems; marriage therapy and counseling theory and techniques; and family therapy and counseling theory and techniques. The three courses which will fulfill this requirement are:
- MHS 6430: Introduction Family Counseling
- MHS 6431: Advanced Seminar in Family Counseling
- MHS 6440: Counseling Couples
b. One three semester hour practicum consisting of 180 direct client contact hours of marriage and family therapy services. Following completion of the master’s degree, students who wish to pursue licensure as a marriage and family therapist must include two years of supervised experience under the supervision of a licensed marriage and family therapist with at least 5 years’ experience. At least 50% of the intern’s supervised experienced must be with individuals receiving marriage and/or family counseling.
In addition to the post-master’s supervised experience in marriage and family counseling, applicants must also pass a theory and practice exam in marriage and family therapy. Individuals who have been licensed as mental health counselors for 3 years can receive a license in marriage and family therapy simply by passing the marriage and family exam. For further information, interested students should contact the Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling at (850) 487-3083 or http://www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/491/.
Additional contact information:
Dr. David Whittinghill
Mental Health Counseling Program
Brooks College of Health
University of North Florida
1 UNF Drive
Jacksonville, FL 32224
Phone: (904) 620-1749
E-mail: d.whittinghill@unf.edu
RESOURCES
Financial Aid and Scholarship:
Scholarship and Graduate Tuition Waiver Information
UNF Financial Aid and Assistance
MHC Program:
Program of Study Mental Health Counseling
Mental Health Counseling Program Frequently Asked Questions
Program Contact Information
Handbooks and Guidelines:
Student Handbook for Mental Health Counseling (pdf)
Handbook for Mental Health Counseling Practicum and Internship (pdf)
Guidelines for Mental Health Counseling Practicum and Internship Site Supervisors (pdf)
LINKS
Related Links
University of North Florida
Brooks College of Health
UNF Graduate School
Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs
Professional Organizations
American Counseling Association
American Mental Health Counseling Association
Florida Counseling Association
Florida Mental Health Counseling Association
National Board for Certified Counselors
Northeast Florida Mental Health Counseling Association
Chi Sigma Iota Counseling Honor Society
ACCREDITATION
The Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling Programs are accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs [http://www.cacrep.org/] (CACREP). CACREP approval is a professional standards accreditation which validates the quality of education of counseling and related programs.
About CACREP
The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) was formed in 1981. Often, as with CACREP, the specialized accrediting bodies have been organized by professional associations. The history of commitment to accreditation has been long and substantive by the American Counseling Association (ACA) and its respective divisions. Accreditation is viewed as a means of proactively strengthening the profession. Formed as a corporate affiliate of ACA, CACREP's mission coincides with that of ACA—to promote the advancement of quality educational program offerings.
In the United States, both the process and the condition of accreditation have a unique structure since accreditation is extended through nongovernmental, voluntary institutional agencies or professional associations. Therefore, the criteria for evaluation utilized by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) are the result of extensive input from educators, practitioners and the public-at-large.
Schools with programs accredited by CACREP have accepted their responsibility to provide quality training programs. Accreditation is a powerful tool for self-evaluation and improvement. The Council remains responsive to the changing needs of society and those persons serving as counselors. CACREP accredited programs are encouraged to make continual evaluations and revisions to remain current.
Counselor Education at the University of North Florida: Mental Health Counseling Graduate Program Report for 2006
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