Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MA)

The CMHC program has the full eight-year cycle of accreditation from CACREP which concludes in October 2027. The CMHC program will begin our reaccreditation process about two years before the CACREP end date.

CMHC is a 60 credit hour program.

The primary responsibility for the preparation of students in the CACREP-accredited counseling program falls within the CMHC program under the direction of the full-time counselor education and supervision faculty. However, students are allowed to take a Master-level course from another discipline, if desired, to meet the elective requirement of the CMHC program. This course must be approved by CMHC faculty prior to taking the course and it should enhance the work of a counselor in the field.

The following courses are offered with the CMHC program. For additional course information, you can review our Academic Catalog.

Introduction to the Counseling Profession

Training, role and professional identity of counselors and other professions in the helping profession. Professional organizations, publications, certification and licensing. Roles and functions of counselors in various settings. Ethical and legal issues in counseling.

Counseling Theory and Practice

• In-depth examination of major counseling theories, their historical development, and their application in diverse settings. Students will explore foundational approaches such as psychoanalytic, behavioral, humanistic, and cognitive theories, as well as contemporary perspectives like solution-focused, narrative, and multicultural counseling models. Emphasis will be placed on integrating theoretical concepts with practical counseling techniques to develop a personal comprehensive framework for effective change with various populations.

Counseling Interventions and Techniques

• Addresses the interviewing, attending, and listening skills essential to developing the counseling strategies and techniques used to build the therapeutic relationship and facilitate the client change process. Included are evidence-based counseling strategies and techniques for both prevention and intervention. The course covers ethical and legal issues as well as culturally sustaining and responsive strategies relevant to establishing and maintaining counseling relationships across service delivery modalities. This course requires role playing and videotaping to demonstrate student learning of skills and interventions.

Career Counseling and Education

• Provides students with an in-depth understanding of theories, techniques, and practical skills necessary for effective career counseling. Emphasis is placed on helping individuals explore career options, make informed decisions, and develop strategies to achieve their career goals. Topics include vocational assessment, career development theories, counseling interventions, ethical considerations, and cultural factors influencing career choices.

Assessment Techniques

• Provides an exploration of assessment techniques and tools used in counseling practice. Students will learn the principles of psychological measurement, including reliability, validity, and standardization, as well as the ethical considerations involved in assessment. The course emphasizes the selection, administration, interpretation, and integration of various assessments, including personality inventories, aptitude tests, achievement tests, and diagnostic tools used in school counseling and clinical mental health counseling. Practical application through case studies and simulated practice will prepare students to use assessment data effectively to inform counseling interventions and treatment planning.

Research in Psychology

• Provides candidates with a comprehensive understanding of research methods and evaluation techniques relevant to the field of clinical counseling. Through theoretical exploration, practical application, and hands-on experience, candidates will develop the skills necessary to critically evaluate counseling interventions, assess client outcomes, and contribute to the evidence base of effective counseling practice. Candidates will explore ethical guidelines and cultural considerations relevant to counseling research and evaluation. Throughout the course, candidates will engage in hands-on activities, literature reviews, research projects, and critical discussions to apply research concepts and methodologies to real-world counseling scenarios.

Counseling and Human Development

• Students are provided with an understanding of the nature and needs of persons throughout the lifespan including developmental and multicultural domains. Counseling approaches and issues are discussed in relation to developmental stages. Resiliency factors and ethical issues are applied across the lifespan.

Applied Diagnosis for Counselors

• Provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the methodologies and techniques used in diagnosing various conditions and ailments across different domains of mental health. It addresses the principles of diagnosis and the use of current diagnostic tools using the current edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM). This class encompasses both theoretical knowledge and practical applications, aiming to equip students with the skills necessary to accurately assess and identify mental health issues in clinical settings.

Multicultural Counseling

• Equips clinical mental health counselors with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively work with culturally diverse student populations within the community settings with special emphasis on understanding the cultural context of relationships, issues, and trends in multicultural counseling. By reflecting on ones own cultural preferences, candidates can greater appreciate the cultural implications of others. Recognizing the importance of cultural competence in counseling practice, this course explores various aspects of multicultural counseling, including theories, concepts, and practical applications.

Child and Adolescent Counseling [ELECTIVE]

• Develop foundational theory and clinical counseling skills for working with child and adolescent populations. Enhanced understanding of systemic play among children, adolescents, and families. Ethical, legal, diagnostic, and cultural issues are highlighted with basic competencies to counsel children and adolescents.

Clinical Mental Health Counseling Profession

• This course provides a knowledge base for understanding the history, philosophy, and trends in clinical mental health counseling. Caseload management, consultation models, referrals, record-keeping, interventions and treatment plans will be covered. Students will obtain a perspective on clinical mental health counseling program development and delivery of services to promote optimal wellness and empowerment.

Transforming Crisis to Wellness

• Provides candidates a comprehensive understanding of crisis management and its role in promoting individual and collective wellness. This course aims to explore the various dimensions of crises, their impact on mental health and well-being, and strategies for coping and recovery. Stages of crisis and recovery are explored as well as the role of the mental health professional in each stage. Candidate self care issues and ethical concerns evaluated.

Clinical Group Counseling

• Delves into the theory, practice, and ethical considerations involved in providing counseling within a group setting. This course offers a comprehensive exploration of the dynamics, techniques, and challenges specific to group counseling contexts. Key components include theoretical frameworks, group counseling techniques, ethical and legal considerations, cultural competencies, and group counseling processes and stages.

Cognitive Behavior Theory and Therapy

• Currently, this class focuses on Acceptance and Commitment Theory and Therapy under the CBT umbrella. Application is from a cognitive framework and implementation of appropriate ACT techniques and interventions. Video and audio mock sessions are required.

Substance and Alcohol Abuse Treatment

• Explore the complex dynamics of substance use disorders, including biological, psychological, social, and environmental factors that contribute to substance use disorders. Through case studies, and practical skill-building exercises, students learn to effectively assess, intervene, and support individuals struggling with substance and alcohol use. Topics covered include screening and assessment techniques, pharmacological and behavioral interventions, relapse prevention strategies, and the integration of holistic approaches to recovery. Ethical considerations, cultural competence, and current trends in substance use treatment are discussed.

Counseling and Psychopharmacology [ELECTIVE]

• Understanding of the basic neurobiology of psychopathology and how psychotropic medications treat such conditions is the foundation of this class. An emphasis is placed on the role of the counselor as a member of a treatment team who helps facilitate client treatment compliance and monitors the efficacy and side effect manifestations of psychotropic treatment, while helping to integrate that treatment with other non-pharmacological modalities.

Family Systems Theory and Therapy

• Counseling from a systems perspective focusing on the competencies, cognitions, and skills to developing the orientation of a family systems counselor. Strategic and systems theories of family therapy are examined in light of multicultural and ethical issues. Family systems counseling techniques and interventions are described and demonstrated including crisis, multicultural, and multigenerational considerations related to the family life cycle.

Advanced Clinical Mental Health Counseling

• Reviews application of counseling approaches, supervision techniques, documentation styles and all domains involved in professional mental health counseling. This advanced course reinforces and emphasizes the application of skills and approaches when working in a mental health setting including issues related impact of legislation and reimbursement.

Practicum: Clinical Mental Health Counseling

• On-site experiences to introduce the student to various functions of clinical mental health counselors. Students will be applying learned classroom knowledge to working with clients under weekly classroom supervision of a university supervisor, and the on-site weekly supervision of their approved site supervisor. Supervision of student work with clients is based on video/audio taping, live observations, and course interactions.

Internship I: Clinical Mental Health Counseling

• The Clinical Mental Health Counseling Internship is a supervised field experience designed to provide advanced counseling students with the opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge, develop clinical competencies, and gain professional experience in a mental health setting. Under the supervision of licensed mental health professionals and faculty, students engage in direct and indirect counseling services, including assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, individual and group counseling, and case management.

Internship II: Clinical Mental Health Counseling (3 hours)”

• The Clinical Mental Health Counseling Internship is a supervised field experience designed to provide advanced counseling students with the opportunity to apply theoretical knowledge, develop clinical competencies, and gain professional experience in a mental health setting. Under the supervision of licensed mental health professionals and faculty, students engage in direct and indirect counseling services, including assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, individual and group counseling, and case management.

Capstone Experience

• “Capstone is a comprehensive multiple-choice exam taken during the practicum semester. This exam highlights all the learning in the CMHC program and is also intended to help students prepare to take the National Counselor Exam required for licensure in the state of Illinois.”

Students in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program participate in practicum/internship clinical experiences during their third year of this program. Students apply their course knowledge and skills as counselors-in-training under the supervision of both sites and faculty. The following are some examples of currently used sites in the Chicago area:

• Counseling Center of Illinois

• Northwestern Medicine Behavioral Health Services

• The Chicago Lighthouse

• Counseling Center of Arlington Heights

• Counseling Center of Grayslake

• DuPage County Health Department

• Flourish Counseling and Wellness

• Innovative Counseling Partners

• Kids Above All

• Lake County Health Department 

• Midwest Center for Hope & Healing

• Pilsen Wellness Center

• The Bridge Youth and Family Services

• Thrive Counseling Center

• UCAN

• Wayne/Winfield Area Youth/Family Services

• Youth Crossroads, Inc.

The Academic Year (AY) of 2024-2025 is the most recent year that data is available for the Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) Master of Arts program at Concordia-Chicago. This academic year consists of semester data from Summer 2024, Fall 2025 and Spring 2025. During this time there were 135 students enrolled in our 60-credit hour MA CMHC program. The number of CMHC graduates was 19. The academic completion rate for the CMHC program in AY 24/25 was 89%. 95% of our CMHC students passed the National Counselor Exam (NCE), which is needed to qualify for the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Illinois. Our job placement rate for CUC CMHC graduates was 98%. The majority of our graduates were offered positions from the place they chose to intern.

We are proud to offer classes in the CMHC program to assist adult learners in accomplishing their goals. We focus heavily on both academic and personal growth in this program! Our face-to-face classes are offered one evening per week in Fall I and Spring I, which are 8-week terms. Fall II and Spring II online synchronous courses are also offered in the evenings. All summer semester courses are offered asynchronously online to accommodate for busy personal and family schedules.

Download the Annual Assessment Report

International students must meet additional requirements as specified in the Concordia University Chicago Academic Catalog for graduate studies.