MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING (M.S.)

The Rockland Graduate Campus is proud to offer the Mental Health Counseling Program. This program is registered at the Rockland Graduate Campus and is offered, in its entirety, at the Rockland Graduate Campus. For any questions about the program, please contact the Admissions Office at Rockland@liu.edu.

• Program Overview
• Admissions Requirements
• Degree Requirements
• Course Descriptions
• Faculty

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Program Overview
The master's degree program in Mental Health Counseling fulfills the educational requirement for licensure in New York State. Our 60-credit M.S. in Mental Health Counseling prepares you for a career as an agency counselor, mental health professional or human resource counselor in public/private agencies or outpatient clinics. Learn individual and group counseling techniques to help youths, adults, couples, parents and families work through their problems and issues. Gain greater self-insight and experience and as a mental health professional as you work with clients and lead actual group counseling sessions in various mental health settings. Students also participate in additional supervised internships. Each degree candidate will be required to complete 90 hours (and 10 additional hours – see course description) of counseling practicum (EDC 669) and 900 hours of internship experience (EDC 683, EDC 684, EDC 685).

ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS

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COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

EDC 600 Introduction to Professional Counseling
This is the basic course for counseling in schools, colleges, and mental health agencies and explains the role of the professional counselor. The course focuses on the student as a person and as a potential counselor. The changing world of the counselor is also the world of the developing client. Forces contributing to the variable and emerging culture of values, societal norms, and individual choices are examined in relation to the developmental world of young persons and adults and to the practices, philosophies, and principles of the institutions with which counselors are associated.
3 Credits

EDC 601 Introduction to Mental Health Counseling (MHC)
To be taken as the first course in the Mental Health Counseling specialization, within the student’s first 15 semester hours of work. This course is an introduction to preventive education and counseling for mental and emotional health as uniquely available in mental health centers. The course prepares students to work in counseling teams and enrichment programs, to handle referral procedures, community relations and teamwork, and to deal with mental health problems in terms of their etiology and the innovations in the field.
3 Credits

EDC 608 Assessment and Intervention Strategies in Mental Health Counseling (MHC)
This course is a weekly seminar focused on, but not limited to, the following: the etiology, diagnosis, treatment, referral and prevention of disorders; psychological assessment, case conceptualization, psychopathology, utilization of current diagnostic tools, including the DMS-IV; use and limitations of psychopharmacological medications; guidelines for conducting intake, mental status, biophysical, and mental health interviews; and consultation theory and practice.
Prerequisites: EDC 610 and EDC 615
3 Credits

EDC 610 Behavior Dynamics Over the Life Span (MHC and SC)
This course provides for the study of the dynamics of human behavior over the life span. This course covers healthy adjustment versus maladjustment at each stage of life. The major models describing human behavior and the causes of mental illness are described. The classification of mental illness and adjustment disorders according to the DSM IV are discussed and illustrated.
3 Credits

EDC 613 Diversity and Socio-Cultural Issues in Counseling (MHC and SC)
Major twenty-first century contributions of sociology and anthropology will be examined with a view to understanding the role of socio-cultural factors in human development and behavior. This course will also examine the impact of the socio-cultural viewpoint on contemporary concepts of adaptive and maladaptive human behavior and related mental health issues.
3 Credits

EDC 615 Theories of Counseling (MHC and SC)
This is a basic course in counseling theories and techniques and their application within a multicultural and diverse society. Students gain an understanding of the major theories of counseling and psychotherapy, (e.g. psychoanalytic, existential, person-centered, gestalt, reality, behavioral, cognitive-behavioral and family systems, etc). In addition, the counselor as a person and a professional is explored as well as ethical issues in counseling and therapy.
Prerequisites or co-requisites: EDC 600 or 601, and EDC 610
3 Credits

EDC 616 Family Counseling (MHC)
This course offers a consideration of theories, practices and related activities with couples, parents and/or other related adults and children. Included in the course is a survey of some major trends and problems associated with individual adjustments, adaptations and other reactions within family and social settings.
Prerequisite: EDC 615
3 Credits

EDC 617 Principles of Couple Counseling (Elective MHC)
A study of the theoretical and practical aspects of couple counseling from initial referral to termination. The difference between this form and individual, group or family counseling will be examined in order to understand the clinical issues involved. Both the object relations and the systemic theories will be studied with emphasis on the clinical application to help couples change, according to their therapeutic goals.
3 Credits

EDC 652 Counselor’s Approach to Human Sexuality (Elective MHC)
A study of human sexuality from its normal manifestations and development to its dysfunctions. The student will be guided to examine his/her own attitudes and values in this area and to learn counseling approaches to problems and questions related to sexuality.
3 credits

EDC 654 The Counselor Examines Alcoholism (Elective MHC)
Alcoholism, as a behavioral psychological problem, is analyzed to enable the counselor to integrate current theories on this condition into his/her work. Approaches to the treatment will be evaluated, and varied techniques will be studied.
3 credits

EDC 657 Counseling Families of Alcoholics (Elective MHC)
Consideration of theories, practices, problems and trends as they relate to counseling the family affected by alcoholism. Sessions will include lectures, films and role-playing to explore the kinds of problems present and the different approaches to counseling these families.
3 credits

EDC 660 Practicum in Psychological Testing for Counselors (MHC)
This course is a laboratory experience designed to develop adequate understandings and competencies with respect to concerns, issues, and implementation factors related to administration, scoring, recording and interpretations of aptitude, intelligence tests, as well as interest and personality inventories.
3 credits

EDC 668 Counseling Pre-Practicum (MHC and SC)
This is a basic counseling laboratory course designed to provide supervised practical counseling experience from a life span and a multicultural perspective that can be applied in the school, agency, or college setting. Students learn the basics in terms of the active listening skills and the use of appropriate counseling techniques through role-play and other activities. Students must have seven actual tape-recorded role-playing sessions with another student in the course who will act as the client; the professor may give permission for students to work with a client who is not a member of the class. Interview summaries, detailed analyses, and other relevant counseling experiences are a part of the course. Orientation to the role of the professional counselor and ethical concerns are discussed.
Prerequisites: EDC 600, 610 and 615 (or co-requisite for full time students)
3 Credits

EDC 669 Counseling Practicum (MHC and SC)
This course is an in-depth counseling laboratory course designed to provide supervised practical counseling experience from a life span and multi-cultural perspective through successful completion of 100 hours of to wit: sixty (60) hours of observation, interaction, and supervision at a school or mental health agency site; thirty (30) hours of direct service via individual and group counseling to clients at that site; and ten (10) hours off site with clients who will be audio-taped. The purpose of the sixty hours, which can be interspersed throughout the semester, is to acclimate the practicum students to the environment in which the counseling experience occurs. Interview summaries, detailed analyses, and other relevant counseling experiences are a part of this course. Again, it must be emphasized that Practicum students in 669 must provide forty (40) hours of direct service to clients of which thirty (30) hours take place at a school or agency site and ten (10) hours are provided to non-site clients. With on-site clients, practicum students are to document and describe each individual and group counseling experience, which are to be shared with the cooperating counselor and reflected in the logs given to the University professor. These clients are supervised by and remain the primary responsibility of the cooperating counselor. The remaining ten (10) hours with non-site clients are audio-recorded and shared only with the University professor and the other students in EDC 669. Practicum students meet in group seminar with the University professor every week. In addition, the University professor provides an hour of individual or triadic supervision (i.e., professor and two students), the time for which is built into this six (6) credit course. While the professor and the two students are interacting, the other practicum students observe the supervision being given by the professor. After the triadic supervision occurs, the observing students will be asked to offer their comments and suggestions, immediately after the triadic supervision or during the group class. The appropriate roles of the professional counselor, based upon the Ethical Guidelines of the American Counseling Association, are covered. This course is also designed to develop and extend the student’s understanding and competencies begun in 668, Counseling Pre-Practicum. This course must be completed prior to taking EDC 683, Counseling Internship I. Health insurance required for Mental Health Counseling students.
Prerequisite: EDC 668; Pre-requisite or Co-requisite: EDC 687
6 Credits

EDC 676 Career Development
This course in an in-depth study of theories and emerging patterns in career development counseling. Attention is given to psychological, sociological, economic, and education dynamics. Emphasis is placed on practical counseling techniques at the various stages of development, and on the effect that career choices, problems and solutions have on members of the family system. Data from sociology and anthropology will be used to understand psychological issues of career and employment as they make an impact on the family.
3 Credits

EDC 683 Counseling Internship I ( MHC)
This course is designed for students in the latter part of the graduate program, after having taken considerable theory and course work in the counseling process. The student is required to attend seminar meetings, to prepare weekly logs directed toward observation, insight, and evaluation of activities in the field setting. Related professional readings and development of an action or research project are also required. The student is expected to develop a counseling caseload, participate in group work, attend staff meetings, and meet with the field supervisor for evaluation. A minimum of 300 hours in a counseling setting, appropriate to the student’s specialization, is required. Health insurance required for Mental Health Counseling students.
Prerequisites: EDC 669
3 Credits

EDC 684 Counseling Internship II (MHC)
A second semester internship required for counseling students. Course content and time requirements are the same as for EDC 683. Health insurance required for Mental Health Counseling students.
Prerequisites: EDC 683 and 669
3 Credits

EDC 685 Counseling Internship III (MHC)
This course consists of supervised experience involving 300 hours in selected school or agency settings. Professional readings and action research project are required. However, the student at this level is expected to be self-initiating and able to perform both competently and creatively in considerable depth in achieving the objectives of the course at the practitioner level. Health insurance required for Mental Health Counseling students.
Prerequisites: EDC 683 and 684
3 Credits

EDC 686 Counseling Internship IV
This course is a continuation of the advanced internship placement and seminar experience. Health insurance required for Mental Health Counseling students.
Prerequisites: EDC 685
3 Credits

EDC 687 Group Approaches: Theories and Practice (MHC and SC)
This course will examine the dynamics present in a counseling group and how these forces can be employed in the service of therapeutic change. Leadership styles and skills will be discussed with special consideration given to their application and impact on members. The progressive stages in group development will be identified. Concomitant strategies for addressing relevant issues within the stages will be presented. Practical considerations necessary for screening potential members, beginning/ending groups, process interventions, discussing confidentiality and ethical considerations will be included. A variety of theoretical orientations on groups will be explored.
3 Credits

EDC 689 Group Counseling Laboratory (MHC and SC)
Goals of the Course: This course requires student demonstration of accepted and appropriate practice and procedure in supervised professional group counseling methods and experiences. The course presumes familiarity and understanding of the dynamics of therapeutic forces within a counseling group, the ability to assist in self-awareness and discovery, and the competence to facilitate change. Although theory will be reviewed, it is the practice in effective group counseling leadership that will be the focus and goal of this course. Professional reading, viewing of group counseling videotapes, and analysis and evaluation of group sessions are used. Students will lead a minimum of two but preferable three group sessions.
Prerequisite: EDC 687
3 credits Pass/Fail only

EDC 700 Independent Study (MHC and SC)
Independent study involves in-dept development of a project idea as an area of study in a previous course. Permission to take this course is based on the merit of the proposed study and the needs and background of the student. Permission required the signature of the faculty member sponsoring the study, the Department Chair, and the Dean of the School of Education. Independent study is not allowed in place of a course offered as part of the program. Hours are arranged. Offered on Rotation
Every Semester, 1, 2, or 3 credits

EDC 701 Counseling Supervision
This course is designed to systematically train experienced professional counselors in counselor supervision. Both didactic and experiential instructions are included. Self-awareness, theoretical and conceptual knowledge, and skill acquisition are stressed. Supervision trainees are required to apply theory to actual practice through weekly face to face, hour-long, individual supervision of graduate students enrolled in EDC 669 Counseling Practicum. Department faculty members, in turn, oversee trainee supervision of 669 practicum students.
Prerequisite: Master’s Degree in Counseling or its equivalent
3 credits

EDC 702 Research Methods in Counseling (MHC and SC)
This is a course in the understanding of the use, process, and applications of research findings in counseling. Students will examine recent research studies, explore topics of particular interest to them, and prepare a draft research proposal on an issue of their choosing. EDC 702 is project-based, relevant, and practical.
3 Credits

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