Training Tomorrow’s Counselors: A Faculty-Guided Journey
Faculty who are practicing counselors have completed vetting the latest cohort of students in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) master’s program. The selection process for limited seats in the three-year, 60-credit graduate program includes two essays, a résumé review, undergrad transcript evaluation and group and individual interviews.
“A minimum of five faculty take a look at each applicant to determine if they have the skills to succeed in the program,” says Dr. Lisa Adair, CMHC chair. “It is a challenging program with two years of coursework and a year of clinical skills. Emotional maturity and perseverance are very important.”
Throughout the program, faculty directly supervise, advise and coach the students, offering diverse skills. For example, Dr. Matthew Bukowski maintains a private telehealth practice and has done research on the mental health benefits of nature. Dr. Melissa Lemons is an ordained minister.
“All of us are still in the field doing clinical work,” Dr. Adair says. She and other faculty members are working to establish additional support systems for students in navigating the program’s rigor. Students who complete their degrees can sit for the National Counselor Examination administered by the National Board of Certified Counselors, the next step toward becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor of Mental Health (LPCMH).
— Eileen Smith Dallabrida
