CEP 521LEC - Mental Health Counseling

This introductory course provides an overview of mental health counseling as a profession. The texts and assignments are designed to introduce students to the field. Core topics include: history and current trends of counseling, mental health counselor’s activities and work settings, role of diagnosis and counseling theories, community interventions and outreach, professional issues, and ethics. The eight core areas of the Standards of Practice for CACREP (Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs) also will be briefly examined: human growth and development, social and cultural foundations, helping relationships, career development, group work, appraisal, research and program evaluation, and professional ethics. Emphasis on multicultural competence and social justice advocacy as well as awareness of personal characteristics and strengths needed to be an effective counselor are also explored in this class.

Credits: 3