Students who pursue a Master of Science in Counseling under the Clinical Mental Health Counseling track may call themselves Clinical Mental Health Counselors and qualify for LPC licensure. They will receive training in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental and emotional disorders of the DSM-5 and will gain the knowledge and skills to perform individual, group, and couples and family counseling. Students will learn to work with clients across the lifespan and multiple cultural backgrounds. Clinical Mental Health Counselors are qualified to engage in counseling and/or psychotherapy, provide short and long-term therapy, and work with mild and severe mental illness. Typical clinical topic areas include the following: 

o   Anxiety disorders

o   Depressive Disorders

o   Mood Disorders

o   Substance use disorders

o   Trauma and trauma disorders, such as PTSD and Adjustment disorders

o   Personality disorders

o   Eating disorders

o   Dual diagnoses

o   Domestic violence and anger management

o   Developmental issues

o   Marital issues and family problems

o   Normal life stressors 

 

Students will study many types of theoretical orientations and treatment approaches, some at the basic level and some at the advanced level. In addition, students will learn to integrate the many dimensions of humanity to fully conceptualize their clients, such as the biological, psychological, interpersonal, and sociocultural-historical dimensions. Faculty provide all training using a solid research foundation under the scientist-practitioner model, meaning that counseling interventions taught will be based on a theory of personality supported by research. 

School Counseling

Students who pursue a Master of Science in Counseling under the School Counseling track may call themselves School Counselors and may qualify for School Counselor Certification and LPC licensure. They will receive similar clinical training as the clinical mental health track, but also focus on the K-12 school setting. The objectives of the School Counseling track are as follows:

o   Deliver high quality school counselor education required by CACREP

o   Prepare students to meet the Louisiana to become a Certified School Counselor in K-12 settings

o  Train students in current school counseling models that aid them in becoming leaders, advocates, collaborators, and change agents in the schools

o   Provide students with an abundance of supervised experiences designed to aid them in working effectively with students from a multicultural and pluralistic society

Students will study many of the latest theoretical orientations, treatment approaches, and school counseling models that are supported by research. Students will be trained as research consumers, giving them the skills to effectively critique research studies and evidence-based models and treatments. In addition, they will learn to integrate the many dimensions of humanity to fully conceptualize their students, such as the biological, psychological, interpersonal, and sociocultural-historical dimensions. Faculty provide all training using a solid research foundation under the scientist-practitioner model, meaning that counseling interventions taught will be based on theory supported by research.  

 

Addiction Counseling

Students who pursue a Master of Science in Counseling under the Addiction Counseling track may call themselves Addiction Counselors and qualify for LPC licensure. This track will also contribute to the licensure requirements for their state’s addiction counselor license. Students will receive training in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental, emotional, and substance use and addictive disorders of the DSM-5 and will gain the knowledge and skills to perform individual, group, and couples and family counseling related to addictions work. Students will learn to work with clients across the lifespan and multiple cultural backgrounds. Addiction Counselors are qualified to engage in counseling and/or psychotherapy, provide short and long-term therapy, and work with mild and severe substance use and addictive disorders. Typical places that Addiction Counselors find employment are:

o   Inpatient Programs

o   Intensive Outpatient Programs

o   Outpatient Programs

o   Community Mental Health Centers

o   Private Practice

o   Hospital 

o   Employment Assistant Programs

o   College Counseling Centers

o   Higher Education

o   Adminstrative Positions 

o   VA and Military

 

Students will study many types of theoretical orientations and treatment approaches related to addictions work, some at the basic level and some at the advanced level. Faculty provide all training using a solid research foundation under the scientist-practitioner model, meaning that counseling interventions taught will be based on a theory of personality supported by research.  

 

Combined Option

Students who pursue a Master of Science in Counseling under the Combined track will specialize in two of the three tracks offered by the program: Clinical Mental Health, School, and/or Addiction. This 75-hour combined specialization prepares graduates to competently practice in two areas of counseling. Graduates may refer to themselves as either of the two specializations in which they pursue and qualify LPC licensure and school certification if one of the tracks is School Counseling. Both of the track names the student chooses for the combined track will appear on their graduate transcripts.

 

For more information about this program please see the ULM Graduate School or contact Dr. Thomas Foster at tfoster@ulm.edu