Core Courses

CM 500 - Introduction to the Counseling Profession and Ethics (3 credits)

This course introduces students to professional and practice aspects in counseling. Students will examine the historical, philosophical, and social context of the field as it developed. The course examines the professional, ethical, and legal issues related to the practice of professional counseling. Topics addressed include ACA Code of Ethics content such as informed consent, client rights, and malpractice as well as other regulations influencing the practice of counseling. The course also examines the major decision-making models used for resolving ethical dilemmas. Relevant statutes and laws in the State of Illinois and other states are also reviewed.

CM 550 - Diversity & Multiculturalism (3 credits)

Recognizing that becoming practitioner who has cultural humility is a lifelong endeavor, this course serves as a foundation upon which continued personal and professional development in diversity may be built. Students examine Self as a sociocultural being and identify the impact of their own worldviews, cultural privilege, and biases on cross-cultural interactions. This course addresses the psychological, socio-political, historical, and economic influences on various aspects of social identity, including but not limited to, gender, ethnicity, religion, class, race, immigrant status, disability, and sexual orientation. Students then examine how social identity influences mental and physical health, health literacy, health beliefs, and perceptions of health care providers. Students examine a variety of behavioral health care provider roles, including advocating for and encouraging culturally appropriate care; facilitating client engagement to optimize effectiveness and client satisfaction; and heightening awareness and sensitivity to the relevance of individual and cultural diversity among integrative team members. The course will be presented in both didactic and experiential formats with a focus on self-awareness and students will be expected to actively engage in interdependent and reflective learning.

CM 521 - Lifespan Development (3 credits)

This course examines typical development from infancy through advanced age, focusing on the development of perceptual and cognitive processes, psychosocial roles, and familial interpersonal processes. Current clinical approaches are examined from diverse theoretical viewpoints and considering recent research findings. Cultural diversity and individual differences are integral to this course.

CM 564 - Career Development (3 credits)

This course provides an understanding of career development theories and decision-making models, occupational educational information sources and systems, assessment instruments and techniques relevant to career planning and decision making, career, lifestyle, and leisure counseling, guidance and education, career development, program planning, resources, and effectiveness evaluation.

CM 528 - Helping Relationships & Skill Development in Counseling (3 credits)

This course provides a comprehensive knowledge base of essential counseling and interviewing processes in a multicultural society, including the development of basic listening and attending skills. Counseling methods and strategies, and counselor self-awareness are integrated into the course.

CM 543 - Group Theories and Processes of Counseling (3 credits)

This course provides the foundation for understanding theory, dynamics, principles and techniques of group therapy and counseling. Throughout the course students are exposed to various models for conducting therapeutic groups with diverse populations. Students participate in experiential practice of group process during the course.

CH 571 - Assessment of Individuals (3 credits)

This course introduces the student to psychological evaluation and its role in the counseling relationship. It provides the student with a strong foundation in understanding and communicating clinical assessment data. The course will review basic concepts of standardized and non-standardized testing and other assessment techniques including norm-referenced and criterion-referenced assessment, environmental assessment, intellectual assessment, individual and group test and inventory methods, behavioral observations, and computer-managed and computer-assisted methods. Attention will be given to understanding strategies for selecting, administering, and interpreting assessment and evaluation instruments and techniques in counseling.

CM 578 - Methods of Research and Program Evaluation (3 credits)

In this course, students examine experimental and quasi-experimental research design at both the conceptual and applied levels. Areas of emphasis include quantitative and qualitative methodology (research design, data collection, analysis and interpretation); basic statistical analyses; program evaluation; and critical appraisal of published research. Students discuss and utilize ethical and culturally-relevant strategies for interpreting and reporting results of research and program evaluation within the context of mental health.

Mental Health Courses

CM 507 - Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy (3 credits)

The course reviews basic theories, principles, and techniques of counseling and psychotherapy, as well as applications to a variety of therapeutic settings. The course also focuses on personal theory construction, bias embedded in theory, and cultural diversity.

CM 514 - Diagnosis of Mental Health Issues (3 credits)

This course addresses the general principles of etiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental and emotional disorders. Major definitions and descriptions of psychological phenomena as categorized and classified by the DSM diagnostic system are covered. This course includes models of mental status assessment as well as the application of how cultural factors influence mental health. The impact of crises, disasters, and other trauma-causing events on people and the appropriate use of diagnosis during a crisis, disaster, or other trauma-causing event will be discussed.

CM 530 - Treatment Planning (3 credits)

This course advances the student’s knowledge and abilities in counseling, diagnostic, and treatment skills, including crisis intervention, suicide ideation, and mental status exams. The course examines the treatment of mental and emotional disorders, including the development of a treatment plan, reporting and assessing progress, appropriate referral procedures, formulating SMART goals, and cultural diversity and individual differences. Students utilize core principles of evidence-based practices in developing, delivering, and assessing behavioral health treatment planning and interventions. The course will also review classifications, indications, and contraindications of commonly prescribed psychopharmacological medications for appropriate medical referral and consultation.

CM 585 - Addictions and Substance Abuse (3 credits)

This course introduces the multiple components and etiology of addictions and substance abuse. A strength-based and holistic model for assessment and evidence-based research and treatment care models are examined.

CM 592 - Clinical Mental Health Counseling (3 credits)

This introductory course provides an overview of the history and role of clinical mental health counseling within integrated behavioral health care. Students learn about the role of clinical mental health counselors in responding to the mental health needs of those utilizing primary care; promoting mental health and wellness; addressing the psychological and emotional impact of chronic medical conditions, providing prevention, interventions, consultation, education, and advocacy for behaviors which increase the risk of medical conditions; and fostering effective collaboration and teamwork in human service and integrated behavioral health care systems, including interagency and interorganizational collaboration and consultation. The course reviews the need for integrated care and the centrality of the biopsychosocial model to integrated care. The course also examines the core elements of primary care culture and practice management, client-centered care, population-based practice, and evidence-based care.

CM 536 - Couples and Family Counseling (3 credits)

This survey course presents family systems and its major theories and practice. Couple and family lifecycle dynamics will be addressed as well as issues impacting healthy family functioning and development in a diverse society. Other relevant theories will also be covered.

CM 599 - Trauma and Crisis Counseling: Causes, Effects & Contexts (3 credits)

This course provides an overview of trauma and its multi-level effects on development and physiology, interpersonal relationships, family systems and societies. A conceptual framework of evolving perspectives of traumatic stress, as well as education about the ethnocultural milieu is provided. Numerous sources of trauma, including child maltreatment, domestic violence, sexual assault, terrorism, armed conflict, and natural disasters are explored. Risk and protective factors are considered within the context of local, national and international efforts to reduce or respond to crises and other traumatic events, from both logistical and systems perspectives.

Fieldwork

Fieldwork Requirements

Students in the CMHC program complete a 100-hour Practicum, Internship 1 (300 hours), and Internship 2 (300 hours) and constitutes coursework and a minimum of 700 hours of fieldwork experience (100 hours during practicum and 600 hours during internship). Fieldwork experiences give hands-on direct opportunities in which students practice the skills they have developed under the supervision of faculty.

CM 605 - Counseling Practicum
(3 credits)

During this course, students complete a supervised practicum experience at an approved site with an approved clinical supervisor for a minimum of 100 hours. The practicum course is comprised of the on-site clinical counseling supervised experience, and students must participate in group supervision, which meets weekly throughout the entirety of the semester.

CM 614 - Internship in Counseling I
(3 credits)

During this course, students complete the next level of supervised internship experience at an approved site with an approved clinical supervisor, for a minimum of 300 hours to further develop their individual and group counseling skills. The Internship I course is comprised of the on-site clinical counseling supervised experience, and students must participate in site and group supervision, which meets weekly throughout the semester.

CM 619 - Internship in Counseling II
(3 credits)

During this course, students complete a more advanced level of supervised Internship experience at an approved site with an approved clinical supervisor, for a minimum of 300 hours to further develop their individual and group counseling skills. This course is comprised of the on-site clinical counseling supervised experience, and students must participate in site and group supervision, which meets weekly throughout the semester.

Elective Courses

CM 720 - Creativity in Counseling (3 credits)

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to methods of integrating creativity and expressive therapy modalities into the therapeutic relationship. Students will be exposed to different variations of creativity in counseling such as art therapy, sand tray therapy, music therapy, metaphors in counseling, adventure-based counseling, and forms of ceremonies in therapy. Ethical considerations for using creativity in counseling will be addressed, as well as national organizations that govern the various creative modalities. Students will be provided with the basic concepts and methods of these specialty areas. Information presented in this course will be explored through discussions, readings and basic experiential activities.

CM 595 - Human Sexuality (3 credits)

This course is an introductory bio-psycho-social exploration of the field of sexuality. Sexuality is viewed as a central and multidimensional part of the human experience throughout life span. Issues of diversity will be explored as they interrelate with sexual issues. The course will be presented in both didactic and experiential formats with a focus on self-awareness and students will be expected to actively engage in interdependent and reflective learning.