Graduate Catalog
Professional Mental Health Counseling
Professional Mental Health Counseling at Lewis & Clark has a longstanding reputation in the community for educating professional counselors who are well-grounded in theory and skillful in providing sound clinical interventions. We train empathetic and compassionate practitioners who through their creative leadership and advocacy contribute to the advancement of the counseling profession.
Our core mission is to train counselors who can provide effective individual and group counseling and therapy in diverse community settings. Professional preparation includes knowledge, skills, and supervised clinical experiences, as well as developing an identity as a professional counselor who understands and addresses social justice as a key factor in improving the well-being of clients, individually and relationally.
Graduates of our programs understand that power, privilege, and oppression impact the well-being of individuals and the relationships in their lives, especially as related to physical ability, culture, race/ethnicity, social and political processes, socioeconomic status, exile/migration status, religious and spiritual beliefs, language, education, gender, sexual orientation, and age.
Professional Mental Health Counseling programs are for students wanting to become professional counselors and work in a wide variety of settings including community mental health clinics, hospitals, correctional facilities, educational settings, residential treatment centers, and private practice.
Accreditation and Licensure
Professional Mental Health Counseling programs are approved by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) under the 2001 standards for Community Counseling programs. Students who complete the Professional Mental Health Counseling program are eligible to take the National Counselor Examination (NCE) and to apply for status as a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC).
The Oregon Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists (OBLPCT) extends approval to Lewis & Clark's Professional Mental Health Counseling programs. Graduates who have earned an M.A. or M.S. degree are eligible to pursue licensing as professional counselors (LPC) in Oregon. In addition, Professional Mental Health Counseling programs meet the requirements for licensure as a professional counselor in most states. However, some states may have additional educational requirements that must be met prior to licensure.
Master of Arts in Professional Mental Health Counseling
This degree program is for students who wish to become counselors in community mental health clinics, service programs for adolescents or children, private practice, the juvenile justice system, and other community settings. Students can choose an emphasis on adult counseling or on child and adolescent counseling.
Degree Requirements
A minimum of 60 semester hours, distributed as follows:
Degree Courses
| CPSY 503 | Introduction to Professional Counseling | 2 |
| CPSY 505 | Practicum in Counseling (two semesters, 3 semester hours each) | 6 |
| CPSY 506 | Life Span Development | 2 |
| CPSY 509 | Practical Skills for Counselors | 3 |
| CPSY 510 | Ethical and Legal Issues in Professional Counseling | 2 |
| CPSY 513 | Theory and Philosophy of Counseling | 3 |
| CPSY 514 | Group Counseling With Children and Adolescents | 3 |
| or CPSY 515 | Group Counseling With Adults | |
| CPSY 520 | Career Counseling | 2 |
| CPSY 522 | Diagnosis of Mental and Emotional Disorders | 2 |
| CPSY 523 | Counseling and Interventions With Children and Adolescents | 3 |
| CPSY 524 | Counseling and Interventions With Adults | 3 |
| CPSY 532 | Introduction to Assessment | 2 |
| CPSY 534 | Child and Family Counseling | 3 |
| CPSY 535 | Research Methods in Counseling | 3 |
| CPSY 536 | Introduction to Addiction Counseling and Psychopharmacology | 2 |
| CPSY 548 | Trauma and Crisis Intervention in Counseling: Theoretical Foundations, Response Models, and Interventions Across the Life Span | 2 |
| CPSY 549 | Clinical Reasoning: Theory and Research to Practice | 1 |
| CPSY 550 | Diversity and Social Justice | 3 |
| CPSY 582 | Mental Health Internship: Adult Emphasis (two semesters, 3 semester hours each) | 6 |
| or CPSY 583 | Mental Health Internship: Emphasis on Child and Family Problems | |
| CPSY 591 | Professional Career Development | 1 |
Graduate Core Requirement
A minimum of 2 semester hours of Core Program coursework and one Core convocation
Elective Courses
The remaining 4 semester hours will be earned by taking elective courses approved by the program. At least one elective credit must be taken in one of the program's focus areas:
- Counseling LGBTQ clients
- Feminist therapies
- Mind/body/spirit
- Community and professional advocacy
Electives meeting each focus requirement are determined on a yearly basis; a list is available from the program director(s).
Master of Science in Professional Mental Health Counseling
Students admitted to the Master of Arts in Professional Mental Health Counseling program may choose to seek an M.S. degree. This option, which is often of interest to students planning to pursue a doctoral degree in psychology, is available only upon formal application to the M.S. program. Students wishing to pursue this degree apply after completing the requirements listed below.
Requirements for Application
Application to the M.S. requires prior admission to the Master of Arts in Professional Mental Health Counseling program.
In addition to prior admission, application to the Master of Science requires the following:
- A demonstrated capacity for initiative and independent research
- Completion of Research Methods and Statistics I (CPSY 530) (this should be taken in place of Research Methods in Counseling (CPSY 535)) with a grade of B or better
- Completion of Research Methods and Statistics II (CPSY 531)
- Completion of a thesis proposal, including a timeline for completing the project, agreement by a faculty member to serve as chair of a thesis committee, and designation of a three-person faculty committee
- Formal approval of a thesis proposal by a thesis committee
Degree Requirements
A minimum of 63 semester hours, distributed as follows:
Students must meet all regular requirements for a Master of Arts in Community Counseling (except Research Methods in Counseling (CPSY 535))
| CPSY 594 | Proposal Writing | 1 |
| CPSY 595 | Master's Thesis Research (Satisfactory completion of a thesis—a minimum of 2 semester hours and maximum of 9 semester hours is required) | 2 |
Practicum and Internship Information
Students in Professional Mental Health Counseling complete two semesters of practicum (6 credit hours total) and two semesters of internship (6 credit hours total). The department partners with community agencies to provide supervised student services to clients. Onsite faculty supervision and videotaping assist students in developing their skills and providing appropriate services to clients. Practica generally require 8-10 on-site hours per week, as well as additional coursework and group supervision.
To provide internship students with the widest range of opportunities to meet their professional goals, over 100 agencies in Portland and its surrounding communities are approved for placement. Prospective interns contact and interview with agencies in conjunction with our annual internship fair. Students can expect to schedule 16-20 hours per week at the internship site in addition to group supervision on campus.
Prior to enrollment in a practicum or internship, students must complete a portfolio of their work in the program, including coursework, field work, and other professional activities, and be approved for clinical work by the program director or designee. More information is available in the program handbook, available online.
Master of Arts Courses
CPSY 503 Introduction to Professional Counseling
Content: Basic theoretical assumptions of the counseling
profession, with an overview of its historical
roots, social and cultural contexts, types of
practice, ethical principles, and professional
orientation.
Prerequisites: None.
Corequisites: CPSY 513.
Credits: 2 semester hours.
CPSY 505 Practicum in Counseling
Content: Working with clients in the practicum clinic,
agency or school setting (eight to 10 hours per
week, 150 hours total) under intensive supervision
from CPSY faculty, developing the therapeutic
relationship and basic counseling competencies.
Students are expected to demonstrate personal
characteristics and professional conduct necessary
for effective, ethical counseling. Two semesters,
3 credit hour each required.
Prerequisites: CPSY 503, CPSY 506, CPSY 509, CPSY 510, CPSY 513, CPSY 514
or 515, CPSY 522, CPSY 523, CPSY 524, CPSY 530 or CPSY 535,
CPSY 534, CPSY 550.
Corequisites: CPSY 532 (may be taken prior to or concurrent with)
Restrictions: Consent of the program director.
Credits: 1-3 semester hours.
CPSY 506 Life Span Development
Content: Exploration of life span development through the
lenses of social, cultural, cognitive, biological,
and learning theories and research. Emphasis is on
gaining better conceptual understanding of healthy
development and better practical understanding of
how to help children, adolescents, and adults
address the developmental challenges they face
across the life span. Particular focus placed on
understanding our own developmental processes as
well as the role of cultural difference and
commonality in the developmental process.
Prerequisites: For Professional Mental Health Counseling and Professional
Mental Health Counseling--Addictions students, CPSY 502 or
CPSY 503, CPSY 513.
Credits: 2 semester hours.
CPSY 509 Practical Skills for Counselors
Content: Overview of basic counseling concepts and skills,
including skill development through role-playing
and simulated counseling experiences.
Prerequisites: CPSY 503, CPSY 513.
Credits: 3 semester hours.
CPSY 510 Ethical and Legal Issues in Professional Counseling
Content: Consideration of the applicable ethical and legal
issues for mental health and school settings.
Students develop skills in writing reports,
assessments, and treatment plans.
Prerequisites: CPSY 503, CPSY 506, CPSY 509, CPSY 513, CPSY 530 or 535,
CPSY 550.
Corequisites: CPSY 522, CPSY 534.
Credits: 2 semester hours.
CPSY 513 Theory and Philosophy of Counseling
Content: Overview of counseling theories such as
psychoanalytic, Adlerian, client-centered,
cognitive-behavioral, multi-modal, Gestalt,
feminist, existential, solution-focused, and brief
therapy, as well as integrative approaches.
Examines a wide range of theoretical perspectives
and advocates professional knowledge of best
practices. Students acquire knowledge of various
counseling theories and critique their relevance
to diverse populations and clinical situations.
Students clarify their personal assumptions and
learn how to explain their own theoretical stance.
Issues of diversity and client matching are
addressed throughout.
Prerequisites: None.
Corequisites: CPSY-503 or CPSY 569.
Credits: 3 semester hours.
CPSY 514 Group Counseling With Children and Adolescents
Content: Instruction and practice in developing group
treatments for children and adolescents in
clinical and school settings. Students gain
practice as group leaders in addressing issues
related to group dynamics, cultural diversity,
potential problems encountered when running
groups, and generalization and maintenance of
behavioral change. Students also gain experience
constructing curricula for specific issues such as
divorce, substance use, grief, and social skills.
Prerequisites: For students in the Professional Mental Health Counseling
or Professional Mental Health Counseling-Addictions
programs, CPSY 502 or CPSY 503, CPSY 506, CPSY 509 or CPSY
511, CPSY 513, CPSY 522, CPSY 530 or CPSY 535, CPSY 534,
CPSY 550. For students in Marriage, Couple, and Family
Therapy programs, CPSY 504, CPSY 506, CPSY 526; for
students in the School Psychology program, CPSY 507.
Restrictions: Consent of Counseling Psychology department required.
Credits: 3 semester hours.
CPSY 515 Group Counseling With Adults
Content: Introduction to the major schools of thought
regarding group therapy and the common factors
associated with positive outcomes. Covers group
dynamics, obstacles to success in group therapy,
and the stages of group process. Role-playing,
outside group membership, and demonstrations
illustrate principles of effective group
leadership.
Prerequisites: For Professional Mental Health Counseling and Professional
Mental Health Counseling--Addictions students, CPSY 502 or
CPSY 503, CPSY 506, CPSY 509 or CPSY 511, CPSY 513, CPSY
522, CPSY 530 or 535, CPSY 534, CPSY 550. For Marriage,
Couple, and Family Therapy students, CPSY 504, CPSY 506,
CPSY 526.
Credits: 3 semester hours.
CPSY 520 Career Counseling
Content: Career development theories; current career
trends, concerns, and programs/interventions for
diverse client populations; career counseling
strategies, tools, and resources (including
Web-based resources); facilitation of client
awareness, choice, and action with respect to
career-related issues; integration of career
counseling with mental health and addictions
treatment. Emphasis is on developing a broad view
of career as lifestyle, the mutual impact of
career and culture, and the practical application
of theory and information in a professional
counseling context.
Prerequisites: None.
Credits: 2-3 semester hours.
CPSY 522 Diagnosis of Mental and Emotional Disorders
Content: Introduction to the structure and uses of the
DSM-IV and ICD-9 systems for diagnosing mental and
emotional disorders. Limits and weaknesses of
these approaches--especially with regard to
cultural differences--and alternatives to them.
How to use these systems effectively in the
context of person-centered, psychosocial, and
systemic interventions, and in culturally diverse
environments. Current knowledge, theory, and
issues regarding selected disorders. Use of
technology-based research tools to secure and
evaluate contemporary knowledge.
Prerequisites: For Marriage, Couple, and Family Therapy students, CPSY 569.
For Professional Mental Health Counseling and Professional
Mental Health Counseling--Addictions students, CPSY 502 or
CPSY 503, CPSY 506, CPSY 509 or CPSY 511, CPSY 513, CPSY 530
or CPSY 535, CPSY 550.
Credits: 2 semester hours.
CPSY 523 Counseling and Interventions With Children and Adolescents
Content: Mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders of
childhood and adolescents. Topics include
identification, diagnosis, and planning of
multifaceted counseling intervention and treatment
strategies; developmental, social, and cultural
influences on diagnoses and interventions;
ecological and social-justice-oriented
conceptualization and intervention across systems.
Prerequisites: For Professional Mental Health Counseling and Professional
Mental Health Counseling--Addictions students, CPSY 502 or
CPSY 503, CPSY 506, CPSY 509 or CPSY 511, CPSY 513, CPSY
522, CPSY 530 or CPSY 535, CPSY 534, CPSY 550. For
Marriage, Couple, and Family Therapy students, CPSY 504,
CPSY 506, CPSY 526. For School Psychology students, CPSY
507.
Credits: 3 semester hours.
CPSY 524 Counseling and Interventions With Adults
Content: Identification, assessment, diagnosis, and
treatment of mental, emotional, substance abuse,
and addictive disorders in late adolescence and
adulthood. Covers adjustment, mood, anxiety,
psychotic, dissociative, impulse, sexual,
personality, and addictive disorders, including
gambling and eating disorders. Topics include
multicultural, interpersonal, and relationship
factors; evidence-based treatments; and
information technology research tools. Emphasis is
on planning comprehensive, multifaceted treatment
interventions.
Prerequisites: For Professional Mental Health Counseling or Professional
Mental Health Counseling--Addictions students, CPSY 502 or
503, CPSY 506, CPSY 509 or CPSY 511, CPSY 513, CPSY 530 or
CPSY 535, CPSY 550. For Marriage, Couple, and Family Therapy
students, CPSY 504, CPSY 506.
Corequisites: CPSY 522 (may be taken prior to or concurrently with CPSY
524).
Credits: 3 semester hours.
CPSY 532 Introduction to Assessment
Content: Principles of psychological assessment as employed
in school, clinical, and applied settings.
Addresses psychometric concepts such as validity,
reliability, norms, and score interpretation.
Surveys intelligence, personality, career,
interest, aptitude, and achievement tests and
reviews alternative methods of assessing
competence and person-situation interactions.
Contemporary issues such as the validity of
instruments for diverse populations and the impact
of technology on assessment are discussed.
Prerequisites: CPSY 502 or CPSY 503, CPSY 506, CPSY 509 or CPSY 511, CPSY
513, CPSY 530 or 535, CPSY 534, CPSY 550.
Corequisites: CPSY 522, CPSY 514 or CPSY 515.
Credits: 2 semester hours.
CPSY 534 Child and Family Counseling
Content: An introduction to theoretical systems and
practical approaches to working with children and
families in various counseling settings. Ethical
principles, self-awareness, personal counseling
style and honoring of diversity will be examined
through textbook reading, class discussions,
reflective assignments, as well as various
classroom activities to assist students in
beginning work with children and families.
Students will practice counseling skills related
to working with children and families and will
develop awareness and intentionality in
conceptualization of child and family clients.
Prerequisites: CPSY 502 or CPSY 503, CPSY 506, CPSY 509 or CPSY 511, CPSY
513, CPSY 550, CPSY 530 or CPSY 535.
Restrictions: Admission to Professional Mental Health Counseling Program
or Professional Mental Health Counseling--Addictions
Program.
Credits: 3 semester hours.
CPSY 535 Research Methods in Counseling
Content: Foundations of psychological research. Students
are introduced to qualitative and quantitative
research processes and basic concepts. Topics
include (1) elements of the research process; (2)
types of designs, program evaluation; (3) ethical
considerations of research: informed consent,
research with diverse and vulnerable populations,
research with children, human subjects review; (4)
basic measurement concepts: validity, reliability,
norms, score interpretation; and (5) basic
statistical concepts: frequency distributions,
central tendency, measures of variability,
correlation, normal curve, hypothesis testing,
significance tests. Students read and evaluate
examples of published research. Reviews Web-based
resources for conducting research.
Prerequisites: None.
Credits: 3 semester hours.
CPSY 536 Introduction to Addiction Counseling and Psychopharmacology
Content: General survey course providing a broad overview
of the field of addiction counseling and the
impact of addiction on child, adolescent, and
adult populations. The course will summarize key
points drawn from the following areas: the
American experience with addiction and recovery,
theoretical explanations for understanding
addiction and dual diagnosis, basic pharmacology
and neuroscience, and assessment and treatment
issues specific to dual diagnosis and addiction
counseling.
Prerequisites: CPSY 503, CPSY 506, CPSY 509, CPSY 510, CPSY 513, CPSY 514
or CPSY 515, CPSY 522, CPSY 523, CPSY 524, CPSY 530 or CPSY
535, CPSY 534, CPSY 550.
Corequisites: CPSY 505, CPSY 532.
Credits: 2 semester hours.
CPSY 548 Trauma and Crisis Intervention in Counseling: Theoretical Foundations, Response Models, and Interventions Across the Life Span
Content: This class includes the basic historical and
theoretical foundations of crisis intervention and
treatment of the effects of trauma. The main focus
of study is current theory and practice models as
well as the application of skills and techniques
utilized in crisis interventions. The effects of
crises, disasters, and other trauma-causing events
will be differentiated across the lifespan.
Principles of crisis intervention for people
during crises disasters and other trauma-causing
events will be examined utilizing a worldview
context. Counselor self-care practice will be
integrated into crisis and trauma work to bring
into awareness and ameliorate the effects of
crisis and trauma exposure.
Prerequisites: CPSY 503, CPSY 506, CPSY 509, CPSY 510, CPSY 513, CPSY 514
or CPSY 515, CPSY 522, CPSY 523, CPSY 524, CPSY 530 or CPSY
535, CPSY 534, CPSY 550.
Corequisites: CPSY 505.
Credits: 2 semester hours.
CPSY 549 Clinical Reasoning: Theory and Research to Practice
Content: This course assists students in developing
critical thinking, case conceptualization, and
treatment planning skills. Students develop their
abilities to gather data, conceptualize from their
emerging theoretical perspectives, and plan
treatment. Uses an ecological and social-justice
framework to view the client in context, apply
evidence-based practice with cultural sensitivity,
and plan interventions across multiple systems
(individual, family, and community)
Prerequisites: One semester of CPSY 505.
Corequisites: CPSY 505.
Credits: 1 semester hour.
CPSY 550 Diversity and Social Justice
Content: Development of diversity awareness and knowledge
including systems of power and privilege.
Introduction to methods/skills for working with
clients who are diverse in culture, race,
ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, or
physical or mental ability. Focus is on helping
students become capable therapists in varied
environments, including becoming aware of their
own beliefs, biases, and prejudices.
Prerequisites: Professional Mental Health Counseling and Professional
Mental Health Counseling-Addictions students, CPSY 502 or
CPSY 503, CPSY 513.
Credits: 3 semester hours.
CPSY 582 Mental Health Internship: Adult Emphasis
Content: Internship in a community setting. Participants
engage in counseling and related professional
activities under supervision. Students write
reports, prepare case histories, and submit work
samples for supervisory review.
Prerequisites: CPSY 505.
Restrictions: Consent of internship coordinator.
Credits: 3 semester hours.
CPSY 583 Mental Health Internship: Emphasis on Child and Family Problems
Content: Internship in a community setting. Participants
engage in counseling and related professional
activities under supervision. Students write
reports, prepare case histories, and submit work
samples for supervisory review.
Prerequisites: CPSY 505.
Restrictions: Consent of internship coordinator.
Credits: 3 semester hours.
CPSY 591 Professional Career Development
Content: This course is designed to apply principles of
career development to the professional development
of counselors in a variety of roles and settings.
Administration, supervision, consultation, and
other career-related opportunities for
professional mental health counselors will be
explored.
Prerequisites: CPSY 505.
Corequisites: CPSY 582 or CPSY 583.
Credits: 1 semester hour.
Master of Science Courses
CPSY 530 Research Methods and Statistics I
Content: Introduction to research methods with an emphasis
on design, sampling, measurement issues, and
introductory data analysis. Topics include (1)
research design: elements of the research process,
types of designs, program evaluation; (2) ethical
considerations of research: informed consent,
research with diverse and vulnerable populations,
research with children, human subjects review; (3)
basic measurement concepts: validity, reliability,
norms, score interpretation; (4) basic statistical
concepts: frequency distributions, central
tendency, measures of variability, correlation.
Reviews Web-based resources for conducting
research. Note: Taught during the fall semester
only, as the first course of a two-semester
sequence. Students who wish to pursue the
thesis-option M.S. program are advised to take
this sequence as early as possible in their course
of study.
Prerequisites: None.
Credits: 3 semester hours.
CPSY 531 Research Methods and Statistics II
Content: Research design and data analysis, inferential
statistics. Simple and complex designs, normal
distribution, z-test, t-test, analysis of
variance, statistical power, simple regression.
Overview of nonparametric and multivariate
analysis. Note: Taught in spring semester only, as
the second course of a two-semester sequence.
Students who wish to pursue the thesis-option M.S.
program are advised to take this sequence as early
as possible in their course of study.
Prerequisites: CPSY-530.
Credits: 3 semester hours.
CPSY 594 Proposal Writing
Content: Direct instruction and support for the process of
preparing a thesis and/or other research or grant
proposals. Includes both a colloquium and
individual consultations with a thesis chair (or,
if not writing a thesis, another faculty member).
The colloquium will focus on the refinement of
research questions, the specifics of research
design, and the Human Subjects in Research
application process. Consultations with thesis
committee chair or other faculty member will focus
on the development of a manuscript that clearly
details the purpose of the research, summarizes
relevant literature, and identifies the proposed
design and methodology for the research project.
Prerequisites: CPSY 530 and CPSY 531, or consent of instructor.
.
Restrictions: Permission of thesis coordinator.
Credits: 1 semester hour.
CPSY 595 Master's Thesis Research
Content: Completion of thesis research project under the
direction of the chair of the candidate's thesis
committee. Three semester hours, which can be
taken in 1-semester hour increments, are required
for degree. Grades are deferred until the
candidate has successfully defended his or her
thesis.
Prerequisites: Consent of thesis committee chair.
Restrictions: Consent of thesis committee chair.
Credits: 1-9 semester hours.
Graduate Departments and Programs of Study