MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING

Program: Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling

Is designed to train therapists for positions as a Mental Health counselor in community, state, federal, and private social service agencies and for EAP positions in business and industry. Graduates are prepare to provide such services as child, youth, couple, family, employment, health, multicultural, gerontological, substance abuse and/or well new counseling. Students who complete the program are eligible to take the examination of the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) and to become members of the American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA). After completing two years of postgraduate supervised experience, students may be eligible for clinical membership in the NBCC’s Academy of Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselors and for licensure in Florida as Mental Health Counselors.

MARITAL, COUPLE AND FAMILY COUNSELING/THERAPY

Program: Master of Science in Marital, Couple & Family Counseling/Therapy

This program prepares students for careers as Marital, Couple & Family Counselors/Therapists in public and private social service agencies, hospitals, churches, businesses and independent practice settings. Students who complete the program are eligible to take the examination of the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) and to become members of the International Association of Marriage & Family Therapists (IAMFC). After completing two years of post-graduate supervised professional experience, students may be eligible for clinical membership in the American Association for Marriage & Family Therapy (AAMFT) and for licensure in Florida as Marital, Couple & Family Therapists.

SCHOOL COUNSELING

Program: Master of Science in School Counseling

This program prepares school counselors for positions in public or private elementary, middle or secondary schools. The program is systemically oriented and designed to promote a family strength focused approach and collaborative assessment and intervention model between parents, children and the school system. This program is intended to enable program graduates to obtain Florida Department of Education Certification in School counseling. Students who complete the program are eligible to take the examination of the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) and to become members of the American School Counselor Association (ASCA).

The School Counseling program supports the principle of circular causality which maintains that problems are not the result of a cause-and-effect process; rather that problematic behavior results from mistaken interaction patterns among parents, children and teachers. Brief intervention models provided by school counselors can assist a systematic-based diagnosis and offer interventions designed to promote “positive parent, child and teacher” child interactions in a non-blaming, supportive manner.