Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHM)

Advisors:

Carla Adkison-Johnson
Gary H. Bischof
Stephanie T. Burns
Stephen Craig
Jennifer M. Foster
Phillip Johnson
LaCretisha McDole
Olivia Ngadjui
Gemarco Peterson
Glinda J. Rawls
Jennipher Wiebold

Department Office: Room 3521, Sangren Hall

The Counselor Education Master of Arts program options [Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHM); Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling (MCFM); Rehabilitation Counseling (RHCM)-(Admission has been suspended); and School Counseling (SLCM)] are designed to prepare individuals to counsel individuals in specific settings with specific credentials. The program options are:

Clinical Mental Health Counseling a,d
School Counselor License, K-12 a,b,c,d
Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling a,d
Rehabilitation Counseling a,e (Admission has been suspended)
Certificate in School Counseling b,c

Superscript (a,b,c,d,e) Definitions:

a Leads to Michigan license as a professional counselor.
b Leads to endorsement as a counselor on a current, valid Michigan teaching certificate.
c Prepares students who do not hold a valid Michigan Teaching Certificate for school counselor license recommendation in Michigan.
d Accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
e Leads to eligibility for certification by the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC) as a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC).

Admission to one of the options above is based upon grade point average, educational background, work and/or volunteer counseling/rehabilitation experiences, as well as other factors. Prior to consideration by the M.A. Admissions Committee, applicants are required to complete and return a questionnaire indicating, among other things, the program option desired. Interviews, transcripts, a resume, letters of recommendation, a written statement, test scores, and other material may be required.

The Department has two different application deadlines for M.A. and graduate certificate program admissions during the year: January 15, for the following summer or fall semesters, and September 15, for the following spring semester. Applicants interested in beginning their graduate master’s degree studies in the Fall semester are encouraged to meet the January 15 application deadline. This allows applicants to receive admission offers well in advance of the fall semester. Also, applicants who plan to seek assistantships or campus employment beginning in the fall semester should apply by January 15 to be competitive for such assistance or positions. Applicants must complete a WMU graduate application through the online application system.

Application materials are available on-line through links on the WMU Office of Admissions and department web pages. Upon admission, each student is assigned an advisor who will assist in preparing a program of study. It is recommended that the program of study be completed during the first semester or session of enrollment.

The department recognizes the importance of increasing the educational opportunities of racial minority students, as well as the importance of ensuring an increased diversity of role models in the fields represented by its training programs. Therefore, the department strives to create an atmosphere conducive to the concerns of racial minorities and diverse populations, to integrate these concerns into programs and course offerings, and to fulfill its commitment to recruit, admit, support, and graduate a diverse population of students prepared for their chosen careers.

Program Requirements

Curriculum guides for the Counselor Education Master of Arts program options (Clinical Mental Health Counseling; Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling; Rehabilitation Counseling; and School Counseling) are available online at wmich.edu/cecp/student-resources.

Students are expected to work with advisors in order to be informed of policies, course offerings, prerequisites, and applications required for designated courses. A student’s performance and progress will be evaluated throughout the program. This process includes “checkpoints”, such as the program of study, assignment of a grade below “B” in any course, and final evaluation prior to graduation. The student is referred to the Professional Dispositions Plan and Retention Policy for WMU Counselor Education Programs.

The Clinical Mental Health Counseling 60-hour program trains students to appropriately assess clients so that the correct diagnosis can be made to ensure that the most effective evidence-based counseling intervention is selected to help clients reduce the impact of mental and emotional disorders. As reliable and valid assessments must first be used with clients to make the correct diagnosis and ensure that the most effective counseling intervention is selected, CMHC students are trained in many types of assessments by taking two assessment classes. Because students will work with diverse clients, students learn strategies for identifying and eliminating barriers, prejudices, and processes of intentional and unintentional oppression and discrimination. The program includes a 100-hour practicum and a 600-hour internship in a clinical mental health setting. This option leads to licensure as a professional counselor.