(Courtesy of Alma College)
ALMA — Students acquire the skills needed to pursue careers in multiple job fields. Alma College’s new Master of Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) program includes Mental Health, Human Services, and Private Practice.
The limited residency program, scheduled to begin in August 2024, will be led by Julie Robinson, a certified clinical professional counselor who has served as the certification program administrator for more than 25 years. The Alma College program is approved by the Higher Education Commission. The university plans to apply for accreditation by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) in the future.
“We are pleased to offer the Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at Alma College and are pleased to welcome Julie Robinson to our faculty,” said Sean Burke, provost and vice president for academic affairs. I did. “We are proud that this program supports Alma’s commitment to improving the communities around us through education by providing students with the skills necessary to provide mental health services to a diverse range of clients in the communities in which they live. I believe it is well aligned with our goals.”
Read more about Alma College’s graduate programs, including a master’s degree in creative writing and a master’s degree in special education.
The Alma College CMHC program is designed to provide students with flexible scheduling and ease of access. This is his 60 credit hour program that can be completed in as little as two and a half years and provides students with the skills needed to pass the National Counselor Examination (NCE). The courses are taught by faculty members who earned their doctorate degrees in CACREP-accredited counselor education and supervision programs, or who taught full-time in her CACREP-accredited programs prior to 2013, and by faculty members who taught full-time in her CACREP-accredited counselor education and supervision programs. Located on one of our campuses and delivered online.
Courses will focus on topics such as trauma, marriage and family therapy, substance abuse, grief and bereavement, behavior modification, and crisis intervention. Social and cultural diversity is an important feature of the program. Students will acquire the skills necessary to contribute to advancing mental health equity and social justice in society. Alma College program faculty work with students to identify internship opportunities in areas that match their individual interests.
“Our goal is to be as hands-on as possible while providing convenience for our students. They learn from trained and experienced faculty and choose the time that best meets their needs. We learn from the belt,” Robinson said. “Our goal with class offerings is to allow students to experience a variety of populations that may be interested in their specialty.”
From hands-on research activities to travel and internships, at Alma we pride ourselves on providing an education as unique as you are. For more information, visit alma.edu/admissions.
Alma College’s Strategic Investment Task Force spent three years considering various research areas to add to its offerings before selecting CMHC. The task force believed it was a good fit for Alma, in part because of the increasing number of jobs available. Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors and mental health counselors are projected to be two of Michigan’s fastest-growing occupations over the next decade, according to a labor market analysis.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics identified changes in the criminal justice system and the counseling needs of veterans as the primary reasons for the rapid growth, along with the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We use what we call a scholar-practitioner model, which means we focus on teaching students what it’s like to be a counselor while applying what they’ve learned in the field.” said Robinson. “This is in contrast to research-based programs like clinical psychology. We focus on education and practice.
“What we’ve found is that in many cases you don’t need a background in psychology to join this program. You start from the same place as everyone else. Community through mental health counseling It appeals to everyone who wants to make a difference.”
Robinson comes to Alma from Southern New Hampshire University and National Lewis University, where he was a faculty member in the counseling program. She previously served as dean and director of clinical training at Argosy University in Schaumburg, Illinois. There she taught her CACREP certification courses at the graduate level, supervised faculty, and placed students in clinical community counseling agencies to gain practicum and internship experience. .
Robinson is considered an industry expert in children’s play therapy and has presented at several organizations and published research in various academic publications. She holds a Doctorate of Philosophy in Counselor Education from the University of North Texas.
For more information about the Alma College Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC), including how to apply as a student, visit alma.edu/academics/programs/ma-in-clinical-mental-health-counseling or call (989) 463-7176.
