Mission and Program Objectives

Clinical Mental Health Counseling Programs: Mission and Objectives 

Mission of the School of Counseling for the M.A. in Counseling: Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a concentration in Pastoral Clinical Mental Health Counseling: The mission of the CMHC programs is to prepare graduates to function as effective counselors in a wide variety of mental health settings. Performing successfully as a counselor requires graduates to integrate theoretical and research-based knowledge with therapeutic clinical skills to form an ethical, professional, and caring counselor. By providing students with the knowledge and skills recognized as important for counselors by CACREP with an emphasis on clinical mental health counseling, the program seeks to prepare graduates for success in clinical, consultative, supervisory, administrative, and scholarship roles they will encounter in the community as professional counselors.

 

Program Objectives: Throughout the MA programs in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a concentration in Pastoral Clinical Mental Health Counseling (both on ground and digitally delivered programs), students are assessed over a variety of courses using key performance indicators (KPIs) and common assessments across the curriculum that correspond to the following CACREP core curriculum areas. (Note: The Marymount University course title may differ slightly from the CACREP Core Curricular Areas outlined by CACREP) due to SACSCOC (see chart below the program objectives).

 

These program objectives are the basis upon which the program and students are evaluated. Upon graduation, the successful CMHC student will be able to:

Program Objective #1: Students will demonstrate knowledge of individual and family development across the lifespan, and synthesize the theories of personality, biological and environmental influences, and culturally and ethically appropriate strategies to support resilience, wellness, and differentiated interventions for diverse abilities.

  • CACREP Core Area: 2.F.3 – Human Growth and Development
  • KPI (using CACREP 2016 Standards): 2.F.3.a., 2.F.3.c., 2.F.3.e., 2.F.3.f., 2.F.3.h., 2.F.3.i.
  • Assessment: Annotated Bibliography in CE503: Advanced Human Growth and Development (Marymount University CACREP Core Curriculum Course)

Program Objective #2: Students will demonstrate knowledge of multicultural counseling theories and competencies, cultural identity development, the impact of power, privilege, and oppression, while applying culturally responsive and socially just strategies to effectively support diverse individuals and communities.

  • CACREP Core Area: 2.F.2 – Social and Cultural Diversity
  • KPI (using CACREP 2016 Standards):F.2.a., 2.F.2.b., 2.F.2.c., 2.F.2.d., 2.F.2.e., 2.F.2.f., 2.F.2.h
  • Assessment: Cultural Group Presentation in CE551: Multicultural Counseling (Marymount University CACREP Core Curriculum Course)

Program Objective #3: Students will demonstrate knowledge and application of culturally responsive, ethical, and evidence-based counseling strategies and skills-including case conceptualization, treatment planning, prevention, and intervention – while developing a personal model of counseling and engaging in continuous professional self-evaluation to effectively support diverse client needs across settings.

  • CACREP Core Area:F.5–Counseling and Helping Relationships
  • KPI (using CACREP 2016 Standards): F.5.d., 2.F.5.e., 2.F.5.f., 2.F.5.g., 2.F.5.h., 2.F.5.i., 2.F.5.j., 2.F.5.n.
  • Assessment: Counselor-in-training Recordings in CE522: Counseling for Individuals (Marymount University CACREP Core Curriculum Course)

Program Objective #4: Students will demonstrate knowledge of group dynamics, development, and leadership, including ethical and culturally relevant strategies for designing, forming, and facilitating effective therapeutic groups across diverse settings.

  • CACREP Core Area:F.6 – Group Counseling and Group Work
  • KPI (using CACREP 2016 Standards):F.6.f, 2.F.6.c, 2.F.6.d, 2.F.6.e, 2.F.6.g , 2.F.6.b.
  • Assessment: Group Proposal and Presentation in CE523: Group Counseling Techniques (Marymount University CACREP Core Curriculum Course)

Program Objective #5: Students will demonstrate knowledge of career development theories, assessments, and culturally responsive strategies for supporting clients’ career and educational planning, while integrating the interrelationship between work, well-being, and life roles in a global and diverse society.

  • CACREP Core Area:F.4 – Career Development
  • KPI (using CACREP 2016 Standards):F.4.a., 2.F.4.b., 2.F.4.e., 2.F.4.f., 2.F.4.g., 2.F.4.i., 2.F.4.j
  • Assessment: Career Assessment Paper in CE530: Career Development Counseling (Marymount University CACREP Core Curriculum Course)

Program Objective #6: Students will demonstrate knowledge of ethical and culturally appropriate assessment practices, including the selection, administration, and interpretation of a variety of tools—such as academic, career, behavioral, psychological, and diagnostic assessments—for use in diagnosis, treatment planning, and management of mental health and co-occurring disorders. (CACREP Core Curricular Area: Assessment and Testing)

  • CACREP Core Area: 2.F.7 – Assessment and Testing
  • KPI (using CACREP 2016 Standards): 2.F.7.i., 2.F.7.j., 2.F.7.k., 2.F.7.l., 2.F.7.m.
  • Assessment: Assessment Battery and Written Reports in CE510: Survey of Testing and Assessment (Marymount University CACREP Core Curriculum Course)

Program Objective #7: Students will demonstrate knowledge and integrate the history, philosophy, roles, settings, and ethical standards of the counseling profession and its specialty areas with an emphasis on advocacy, interprofessional collaboration, and the promotion of client access, equity, and success.

  • CACREP Core Area: 2.F.1-Professional Counseling Orientation and Ethical Practice
  • KPI (using CACREP 2016 Standards): 2.F.1.a., 2.F.1.b., 2.F.1.e., 2.F.1.i.
  • Assessment: Program Development Team Assignment and Presentation in CE502: Foundations, Ethics, and Professional Issues in CMHC (Marymount University CACREP Core Curriculum Course)

Program Objective #8: Students will demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to understand and apply research and program evaluation methods in counseling.

  • CACREP Core Area: 2.F.8 – Research and Program Evaluation
  • KPI (using CACREP 2016 Standards):F.8.a, 2.F.8.f, 2.F.8.g
  • Assessment: Research Proposal in CE500: Research and Evaluation (Marymount University CACREP Core Curriculum Course)

Comparison of CACREP Core Areas and Marymount Course Titles:

 

CACREP Core Curricular Areas

  

Marymount School of Counseling Course Titles
 

Professional Counseling Orientation and Ethical Practice

  

Foundations, Ethics, and Professional Issues in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
 

Social and Cultural Diversity

  

Multicultural Counseling
 

Human Growth and Development

  

Advanced Human Growth and Development
 

Career Development

  

Career Development Counseling
 

Counseling and Helping Relationships

  

Counseling for Individuals
 

Group Counseling and Group Work

  

Group Counseling Techniques
 

Assessment and Testing

  

Survey of Testing and Assessment
 

Research and Program Evaluation

  

Research and Evaluation
 (See Student Handbook for details)