In the process of completing the Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) program, students acquire the knowledge, skills and practices that enable them to work in programs utilizing their expertise; they also learn about the settings in which these skills are put to use. They learn of the organization and administration of such agencies, the political and economic dimensions related to clinical mental health counseling, and of the service-delivery emphasis in such settings, including counseling, prevention and intervention, assessment and diagnosis, advocacy, consultation, and research and evaluation.
The required core courses establish the basic knowledge and skills pertinent to the counseling profession, while the CMHC emphasis courses provide the specific knowledge, skills and practices to prepare students for work in clinical mental health settings. Specialized studies within the CMHC emphasis provide further area of focus in either General Practice or Substance Abuse and Addiction, depending on students’ career goals and areas of interest.
The CMHC program provides the educational background for licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in New Jersey. A graduate’s ability for licensure in Pennsylvania and other states will depend upon each individual state’s licensing board requirements. In addition, the Substance Abuse and Addiction Counseling specialization within the CMHC program meets the educational requirements for licensure as a Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LCADC) in New Jersey. Students may also opt to pursue Certification as a Student Assistance Coordinator (SAC) in New Jersey as part of their CMCH program requirements.