A master's degree program in mental health counseling allows students to help couples, families, or children. These programs teach students to identify and help people with mental disorders. Along with classroom instruction students are required to participate in supervised practical experiences before applying for graduation. Santa Clara University and National University are just two schools in California offering degree programs related to mental health counseling.
National University's Mental Health Counseling Programs
Founded in 1971, National University has 28 campuses in California and one campus in Nevada. The National University awards more master's degrees to minority students than any other university in California.
Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology
The master's program in counseling psychology teaches students diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders, psychopharmacology, case presentation, report preparation, cultural awareness and ethical standards for mental health counselors. The program prepares students for mental health counseling careers in individual, couples, adolescent and child psychotherapy. Students may also choose to pursue graduate studies in clinical psychology or a related field.
The counseling psychology curriculum meets California licensure requirements for marriage and family therapists. Required coursework includes psychotherapy, clinical assessment and intervention, couples and family therapy, psychopharmacology, addiction treatment and relational violence. Students must complete a 200-hour practicum under the guidance of an approved site supervisor.
- Address: 11255 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037
- Phone Number: (800) 628-8648
Santa Clara University's Mental Health Counseling Programs
Santa Clara University is the only university in California that offers an M.A. in Counseling Psychology with a correctional psychology emphasis. It is one of only three universities in the nation that offers a Latino counseling emphasis in the counseling psychology program.
Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology (Correctional Psychology)
The master's program in counseling psychology with an emphasis in correctional psychology trains future mental health counselors who wish to work with non-conventional, delinquent and at-risk youth. Required coursework includes short-term approaches to therapy, psychology and marriage counseling, transitional treatment and vocational planning, counseling for contemporary problems and correctional psychology. Graduates pursue mental health counseling careers in mental health centers, social services programs, juvenile justice programs and alternative schools.
Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology (Latino Counseling)
The Latino counseling emphasis in the counseling psychology program prepares students for mental health counseling careers in Latino communities. Students learn mental health counseling issues that relate to ethnicity, culture, assimilation and acculturation. Required coursework includes psychology of marriage counseling, counseling for contemporary problems, clinical assessment, Latino psychology, individual counseling skills with Latino clients and interventions with Latino families and children. Some courses may be taught partially or mostly in Spanish.
- Address: 500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, CA 95053
- Phone Number: (408) 554-4000
POST COMMENT