Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Master of Science, (M.S.)

More information about this degree program can be found in the College of Health Sciences section of the catalog.

To see course descriptions, click on any linked course number, or click on “Course Descriptions” in the side banner, or view course descriptions in Lipscomb’s online digital catalog.

The M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling offers a 61-hour curriculum designed to meet the academic requirements for licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor with Mental Health Service Provider designation in Tennessee. Requirements include successful completion of one year clinical experience sequence totaling 750 hours. For detailed information about this licensure, see the rules of the Tennessee State Board of Certification for Licensed Professional Counselors, Licensed Marital and Family Therapists and Licensed Clinical Pastoral Therapists (https://www.tn.gov/health/health-program-areas/health-professional-boards/pcmft-board.html). This degree is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). In addition to counseling courses, students must also adhere to the policies and requirements listed in the Graduate Studies in Counseling Program Handbook and Clinical Experiences Handbook.

Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Core Courses (46 Hours)

Practicum Courses (9 Hours)

Elective Courses (select 6 Hours/2 courses)

Required course sequence for a first year full-time student in M.S. in CMHC

First Semester:
Introduction to Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Psychopathology and Adaptive Behavior
Theories of Counseling and Personality

Second Semester:
Introduction to Counseling Skills
Ethics & Professional Issues in Counseling
Effective Counseling & Treatment Planning

Third Semester:
Multicultural Issues in Counseling
Trauma and Crisis Counseling Skills
Substance Abuse Counseling or Foundations of Substance Use Disorders Treatment*

Specializations

Addiction Specialization

Students must apply and are admitted specifically into this specialization. The program is designed for a January start, but an August start is possible with some modifications to the experience. Students in this specialization complete the standard clinical mental health counseling coursework with the addition of specialized coursework and practicum/internship in substance use addiction at a local residential addictions facility. Specifically, students take the following specialized courses:

Note

The M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with Addiction Specialization is designed to meet the academic requirements for Tennessee licensure as Licensed Professional Counselor with Mental Health Service Provider designation (LPC-MHSP) and Licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor (LADAC).

Play Therapy Specialization

Students interested in this specialization complete specialized coursework and one internship in play therapy. Students admitted in either fall or spring semesters may choose this specialization. Specifically, students take the following courses:

Note

The M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with Play Therapy Specialization is designed to meet the academic requirements for Tennessee licensure as Licensed Professional Counselor with Mental Health Service Provider designation (LPC-MHSP) and to meet partial requirements for credentialing as a Registered Play Therapist. Visit the Association for Play Therapy website, http://www.a4pt.org/, for more information regarding the requirements of the RPT credentials.