The MA in Mental Health Counseling program prepares students to become knowledgeable, caring, culturally-competent mental health practitioners in a variety of settings. Upon graduation, students will be eligible to apply for Washington state credentialing as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor - Associate.
Over the six semester/60 credit program, students will learn about topics such as trauma-informed counseling, group and individual therapy techniques, family systems, and addictive behaviors. All courses are grounded in a framework of social justice/advocacy and cultural diversity, and students will learn how to use their education to be change makers in their communities.
Courses are offered in a combination of in-person and online, with students expected to be available for on-location courses on Fridays.
Program learning outcomes
- Students understand, identify, and develop strategies for working with clients at different developmental stages, including understanding how addiction, trauma, and developmental concerns impact the client and process of human growth and development.
- Students understand the impact of culture, including their own, on the counseling process and are able to act within the expectations of Multicultural and Social Justice Competencies.
- With respect for and healthy collaboration with other professionals, students adopt the professional identity of a counselor and practice as such, including following and knowing the ACA Code of Ethics, state legal codes, reporting and referral processes, and the roles and functions of a professional counselor.
- Students understand group counseling dynamics and are able to facilitate various types of groups using appropriate and relevant group facilitation skills to create transformational experiences in serving clients.
- Students intentionally, creatively, and effectively use essential counseling and interviewing skills in working with clients from various cultures and backgrounds.
- Students are able to incorporate theoretical understanding into work with clients, including using techniques and interventions, conceptualization, and developing a personal understanding of their own theoretical approach.
- Students understand assessment process in counseling and intentionally and effectively utilize appropriate assessments for a variety of reasons across a variety of settings, particularly within community mental health and educational contexts.
- Students are effective consumers of research and understand how to intentionally apply research to the counseling process.
It is an MMHC program requirement that students maintain good academic standing. At the graduate level, this is defined as maintaining a 3.0 GPA, and adequate completion of course credits each semester. It is also a requirement that students earn a grade of B- or higher to be considered “passing”. Similarly, faculty reserve the right to issue an “Incomplete” or failing grade in a class if key competencies of a given course are not met.
If students receive below a B- in their graduate level coursework, they will be placed on a Student Development Plan (see section on Student Development Plans). Because a 3.0 is required to maintain eligibility in the program, and material in each class is crucial to the development of a mental health counselor, students need to demonstrate academic proficiency in each course in order to progress. Faculty will discuss with the student next steps in an SDP meeting, which could include retaking the course, taking an incomplete in the course, and/or taking a leave of absence.
