Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
CMHC Mission Statement: The mission of the Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Richmont Graduate University is to integrate Christ-centered education with clinical excellence to develop ethical, compassionate, and culturally competent counselors.
The Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MACMHC) is designed to provide specialized graduate training in proven counseling methods combined with sound theological principles. This degree fulfills the academic requirements in most states for licensure as a professional counselor (LPC) and certification as a national certified counselor (NCC).
The basic MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program consists of 66 semester credit hours, inclusive of a counseling practicum and clinical internship.
Clinical Mental Health Counselors serve in a wide variety of capacities from hospitals, community mental health centers, human service agencies, and private counseling practices to traditional local church and denominational ministries and beyond. They utilize counseling and psychotherapy to evaluate and treat emotional, relational, and mental problems and conditions.
Furthermore, Clinical Mental Health Counselors focus on prevention, consultation, education, and advocacy, as well as the management of programs and networks that promote mental health in a multicultural society.
Richmont students are mentored to engage actively with the counseling profession. The distinguished Richmont faculty teach students to integrate a sound Christian theology, clinical counseling, and their personal spirituality to address the whole person, and faculty members are committed to the highest standards of graduate counselor education. The MACMHC program is delivered through a traditional day program over two or three years, or through a more versatile schedule over four years. The MACMHC is also offered online in either a three- or four-year sequence.
In addition to the MACMHC, students can pursue a certificate to strengthen their ability to work with specific client populations. Certificates, which are above and beyond the basic degree program, are documented on the graduate’s transcript. Students who apply to graduate from a certificate program receive a paper certificate displaying the earned credential. Available certificates are listed at the end of this section.
Program Objectives
Objective 1: Theoretical and Clinical Knowledge
Students will demonstrate knowledge of theoretical and empirical foundations of clinical mental health counseling. (CACREP's Standards for Program Evaluation).
Objective 2: Counseling Clinical Skills
Students will develop skills of interpersonal therapeutic processes, clinical assessment, and treatment interventions.
Objective 3: Professional Identity and Ethical Character
Students will develop a practical understanding of counseling ethics, law, and professional standards and act in accordance with ethical codes.
Objective 4: Theological Understanding and Spiritual Formation
Students will integrate Christian spiritual formation and critical theological reflection as these pertain to the counseling profession.
Objective 5: Multicultural Competence
Students will demonstrate multicultural awareness, knowledge, and skills necessary for working with diverse populations.
LPC Content Area Courses
- Human Growth and Development
- CED7113: Human Growth and Development
- Social and Cultural Foundations
- CED7153: Social and Cultural Issues in Counseling
- The Helping Relationship
- Group Dynamics, Processing and Counseling
- CED7123: Group Counseling Theory and Practice
- Lifestyle and Career Development
- CED7143: Lifestyle and Career Development
- Psychopathology
- CED6143: Psychopathology: Diagnosis and Treatment of Mental Disorders
- CED6913: Applied Practicum and Treatment Planning Lab in Counseling
- Appraisal of Individuals
- CED6163: Clinical Appraisal and Assessment
- Research and Evaluation
- Professional Identity
- CED5122: Foundations in Counseling
- CED6112: Personal and Spiritual Life of the Counselor
- CED6123: Ethical, Legal and Professional Standards in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Program Sequencing
Students enrolled in the Master of Arts degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling may choose to attend full-time and complete the on-ground degree in two years or proceed at a more comfortable pace and complete the degree in three years. Students completing the thesis option or certificates are encouraged to consider the three-year sequence because of the demands of the program. Richmont also offers the MA degree on a schedule that may be completed in four years for all modalities and campuses. Other timelines are also possible.
Students may begin any on-campus degree program at the beginning of the fall, spring, or summer semester. However, the ideal time to begin is fall. The online campus modality begins each fall and spring semester. Students are given five years to complete the MACMHC degree offered by Richmont. The two- and three-year sequences are listed in this Catalog; four-year degree plans are available from faculty advisors or the Records Office.
Degree Requirements
The MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling curriculum consists of a minimum of 66 semester hours.
Core Counseling Curriculum (41 hours)
| CED1010 | Enrich | 0 |
| CED5122 | Foundations in Counseling | 2 |
| CED6112 | Personal and Spiritual Life of the Counselor | 2 |
| CED6113 | Helping Relationships | 3 |
| CED6123 | Ethical, Legal, and Professional Standards in Clinical Mental Health Counseling | 3 |
| CED6133 | Counseling Systems and Interventions | 3 |
| CED6143 | Psychopathology | 3 |
| CED6163 | Clinical Appraisal and Assessment | 3 |
| CED7462 | Couples, Marriage and Family Therapy I | 2 |
| CED6833 | Addictions: Theory and Clinical Assessment | 3 |
| CED7113 | Human Growth and Development | 3 |
| CED7123 | Group Counseling Theory and Practice | 3 |
| CED7132 | Theodicy and Trauma Counseling | 2 |
| CED7143 | Lifestyle and Career Development | 3 |
| CED7153 | Social and Cultural Issues in Counseling | 3 |
| CED7713 | Methods of Research | 3 |
CED7713: Students in the thesis option must plan their course sequence in consultation with their advisor.
Clinical Intervention Curriculum (8 hours)
| CED6802 | Trauma in Developmental Context | 2 |
| CED6813 | Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy | 3 |
| CED7891 | Professional Seminar | 1 |
| CED7822 | Psychodynamic Theories and Counseling | 2 |
Integration Curriculum (6 hours)
Clinical Training Curriculum (9 hours)
Elective (2 hours)
CEDXXXX: Students may choose one course from specified 2 credit hour courses which are identified as elective options. (See below)
Elective Options
Students may choose one of the following electives as listed below. Students who have already taken an elective that also meets the criteria for a Richmont Graduate Certificate will use that course as their elective.
Course List
| CED5612 | Person of the Marriage and Family Therapist | 2 |
| CED6302 | Deconstruction in Theology and Counseling | 2 |
| CED6512 | Introduction to Human Sexuality and Sex Therapy | 2 |
| CED6412 | Child and Adolescent Psychopathology | 2 |
| CED6812 | Trauma and Biology | 2 |
| CED7162 | Psychopharmacology for Counselors | 2 |
| CED7262 | Integrating Spiritual Formation into Counseling | 2 |
Note: Students should contact their State Board of Examiners to determine whether additional work is required for licensure eligibility
2-Year Program Sequence
Below is the suggested sequence of courses for a student pursuing the basic MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. With the help of an advisor, it can be adapted for students also interested in obtaining a certification. Three-year program sequence options are available on the following pages; four-year program sequence options available from the Records Office.
Fall Semester I: 16 hours
| CED1010 | Enrich | 0 |
| CED5122 | Foundations in Counseling | 2 |
| CED6113 | Helping Relationships | 3 |
| CED6123 | Ethical, Legal, and Professional Standards in Clinical Mental Health Counseling | 3 |
| CED7123 | Group Counseling Theory and Practice | 3 |
| CED7153 | Social and Cultural Issues in Counseling | 3 |
| CED7362 | Integrative Theology | 2 |
Spring Semester I: 17 hours
| CED6133 | Counseling Systems and Interventions | 3 |
| CED6143 | Psychopathology | 3 |
| CED7462 | Couples, Marriage and Family Therapy I | 2 |
| CED6813 | Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy | 3 |
| CED6833 | Addictions: Theory and Clinical Assessment | 3 |
| CED6913 | Applied Practicum and Treatment Planning Lab in Counseling | 3 |
Summer Semester I: 9 hours
Fall Semester II: 11 hours
CED7713: Students in the thesis option must plan their course sequence in consultation with their advisor.
Spring Semester II: 13 hours
| CED6112 | Personal and Spiritual Life of the Counselor | 2 |
| CED6163 | Clinical Appraisal and Assessment | 3 |
| CED7132 | Theodicy and Trauma Counseling | 2 |
| CED7143 | Lifestyle and Career Development | 3 |
| CED7891 | Professional Seminar | 1 |
| CED7942 | Internship II | 2 |
Note: Students should contact their State Board of Examiners to determine whether additional work is required for licensure eligibility.
3-Year Program Sequence
Many students at Richmont find it helpful and necessary to extend their studies over three or four years. Advisors encourage students to consider this possibility in order to have time to develop the skills and knowledge necessary to practice as a counselor and in order to ensure their own health and well-being throughout the rigors of graduate school.
Below is the suggested sequence of courses for a student pursuing the basic MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. With the help of an advisor, it can be adapted for students also interested in obtaining a certificate.
Fall Semester I: 10 hours
| CED1010 | Enrich | 0 |
| CED5122 | Foundations in Counseling | 2 |
| CED6113 | Helping Relationships | 3 |
| CED6123 | Ethical, Legal, and Professional Standards in Clinical Mental Health Counseling | 3 |
| CED7362 | Integrative Theology | 2 |
Spring Semester I: 11 hours
| CED6133 | Counseling Systems and Interventions | 3 |
| CED6143 | Psychopathology | 3 |
| CED7462 | Couples, Marriage and Family Therapy I | 2 |
| CED6833 | Addictions: Theory and Clinical Assessment | 3 |
Summer Semester I: 5 hours
Fall Semester II: 11 hours
| CED6802 | Trauma in Developmental Context | 2 |
| CED7123 | Group Counseling Theory and Practice | 3 |
| CED7153 | Social and Cultural Issues in Counseling | 3 |
| CED7713 | Methods of Research | 3 |
CED7713: Students in the thesis option must plan their course sequence in consultation with their advisor.
Spring Semester II: 11 hours
| CED6163 | Clinical Appraisal and Assessment | 3 |
| CED6813 | Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy | 3 |
| CED6913 | Applied Practicum and Treatment Planning Lab in Counseling | 3 |
| CED7143 | Lifestyle and Career Development | 3 |
Summer Semester II: 4 hours
Fall Semester III: 6-7 hours
| CED7822 | Psychodynamic Theories and Counseling | 2 |
| CED7932 | Internship I | 2 |
CEDXXXX
| Elective | 2 |
Spring Semester III: 8 hours
| CED6112 | Personal and Spiritual Life of the Counselor | 2 |
| CED7132 | Theodicy and Trauma Counseling | 2 |
| CED7891 | Professional Seminar | 1 |
| CED7942 | Internship II | 2 |
Note: Students should contact their State Board of Examiners to determine whether additional work is required for licensure eligibility.
Online Requirements
For students who are completing the Clinical Mental Health program online, it requires a series of on-campus residency experiences as noted below. These residencies are mandatory for successful course and program completion. With the help of an advisor, this program of study can be adapted for students also interested in obtaining a certificate, but certificate coursework will require traditional on-campus Weekly and/or Intensive course attendance.
Residency Requirements:
| CED6113: Helping Relationships and CED5122: Foundations in Counseling |
1st Residency, first Fall semester - 4 days (Wednesday-Saturday) (August) |
| CED7123: Group Counseling and CED7153: Social & Cultural Issues in Counseling |
2nd Residency, second Fall semester - 5 days (Monday-Friday) (August) |
| CED6913: Applied Practicum/Pre-Practicum |
3rd Residency, second Spring semester - 3 days (Wednesday-Friday) (April) |
| President’s Colloquium |
4th Residency, third and final Spring semester – 1 day (Thursday before Commencement, in the city of graduation) |