Counseling (Clinical Mental Health Counseling Specialization), M.A.

Program Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to:

• demonstrate the attitudes, characteristics, and behaviors defined by the program as characteristic of exemplar counseling professionals.
• practice counseling from a strong foundational understanding of ethical and legal issues, intentionally integrating counseling ethical practices into day-to-day professional activities.
• develop self-awareness, knowledge, and skills to prepare them to be contemporary, relevant, and culturally informed practitioners in clinical, marriage and family, and school counseling settings.
• explain lifespan development and the capacity to integrate knowledge of developmental theory into practice.
• describe the world of work and the relationship between mental health and life roles such as work, school, and home.
• explain the theories and research related to helping relationships, and will develop the skills to apply their knowledge in professional, therapeutic relationships.
• describe group process dynamics, group counseling, and group work, including group theories, stages of group, leadership styles, and therapeutic factors.
• demonstrate a broad understanding of validity and reliability of assessments, the selection and use of assessment tools, client assessment and diagnosis, trauma assessment, and the assessment of self-inflicted harm and danger to others.
• develop the capacity to select, analyze, and apply research to inform practice, including evidence-based practices and theory-based interventions appropriate to their designated setting and personal theoretical orientation.
• demonstrate an understanding of foundational knowledge (such as psychological testing), contextual factors (such as trauma, co-occurring disorders, poverty, and culture), and the demonstration of competence in clinical mental health practice.

Contact Information

Tricia Woodliff, Ph.D.
(775) 682-5502
twoodliff@unr.edu
Graduate Handbook *

Admission Requirements

The admissions criteria for the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Specialization takes into account three broad factors:

1. appropriate student dispositions;
2. academic potential; and
3. counseling career fit.

Appropriate Student Dispositions 

These are traits appropriate for the counseling field and wellness across the lifespan. 

Academic Potential

This includes an analysis of student transcripts, undergraduate GPA, and coursework taken. The GRE is not required. 

Counseling Career Fit

Career fit includes consideration of paraprofessional and other relevant work and life experiences.

I. Program Requirements

II. Total Units (67 units)

Undergraduate Prerequisites

There are no undergraduate prerequisites for this program; but you must have completed an undergraduate degree by the time you enroll in this program.