UNIVERSITY OF MARY HARDIN-BAYLOR
GRADUATE COURSE SYLLABUS
PSCO 6370 CLINICAL MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING
COURSE DESCRIPTION
6370. Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Three (3) semester hours. This course will integrate
the student’s professional knowledge and skills basic to clinical mental health counseling and
practice. The student will explore a variety of topics within the field to include: the role,
functions, and settings of clinical mental health counselors; administration and management of
mental health programs and services; strategies for supporting client education and advocacy;
and knowledge of public mental health and government policies.
GENERAL COURSE INFORMATION
This course serves as one of the advanced courses in the Graduate Psychology and Counseling
Program. Prerequisites include PSCO 6308 Problems and Issues, PSCO 6315 Advanced
Psychopathology, PSCO 6316 Applied Counseling Techniques, PSCO 6320 Theories of
Counseling, and PSCO 6326, Psychological Assessment. Lab fee applies.
COURSE OBJECTIVES, include, but are not limited to, the following. Students will
1. Be able to describe the principles of mental health, including prevention, intervention,
consultation, education, and advocacy. (2009 CACREP CHMC C.1)
2. Understand the history, epistemology, and trends in clinical mental health counseling.
(2009 CACREP CMHC A.1)
3. Be able to describe how programs and networks that promote mental health in a
multicultural society operate. (2009 CACREP CHMC C.1)
4. Understand the roles, functions and settings of clinical mental health counselors in
various practice settings and the importance of relationships between counselors and
other professionals in these settings, including interdisciplinary treatment teams. (2009
CACREP CMHC.A.3)
5. Know professional organizations, preparation standards and credentials that are relevant
to the practice of clinical mental health counseling. (2009 CACREP PI.G.1.f; PI.G.1.g;
CMHC.A.4)
6. Know and apply the ethical standards of ACA, TCA, and the Texas State Board of
Examiners of Licensed Professional Counselors and the legal considerations related to
these ethical standards in working with individuals, groups, and families. (2009 CACREP
PI.G.1.j)
7. Are aware of professional issues that affect clinical mental health counselors, such as
core provider status, access to and practice privileges within managed care systems, and
expert witness status. (2009 CACREP CMHC.A.7)
8. Understand the management of mental health services and programs, including areas
such as administration, finance, accountability and concepts and procedures used in
mental health services for determining outcomes. (2009 CACREP CMHC.A.8)
9. Understand the operation of an emergency management system within clinical mental
health agencies and the community. (2009 CACREP CMHC.A.10)
10. Demonstrate knowledge of public policies, financing, and regulatory processes at all
levels that impact the quality and accessibility of mental health services and apply that
knowledge to improve service delivery opportunities in mental health counseling. (2009
CACREP CMHC.B.2 and E.6)
11. Demonstrate knowledge of models, methods, and principles of program development and
service delivery for a diverse clientele (e.g. support groups, peer facilitation training,
parent education, and encouragement of self-help. (2009 CACREP PI.G.1.i;
CMHC.C.3)
12. Understand the range of mental health service delivery, such as inpatient, outpatient,
partial treatment and aftercare, and the mental health counseling services network. (2009
CACREP CMHC.C.5)
13. Understand effective strategies supporting client advocacy and influencing public policy
and government relations on local, state, and national levels to enhance equity, increase
funding and promote programs that affect the practice of clinical mental health
counseling. (2009 CACREP PI.G.1.h; CMHC.E.4)
14. Demonstrate an understanding of the professional issues relevant to the practice of
clinical mental health counseling, including, but now limited to, public policy, advocating
for marginalized clients, diagnosis, evidence-based treatment, ethics and legal statutes,
and healthcare issues. (2009 CACREP PI.G.8.e; CMHC.C.9)
15. Develop and maintain an up-to-date community resource list to use in making client
referrals during clinical instruction courses. (2009 CACREP CMHC.F.1)
16. Will demonstrate knowledge of models of program evaluation for clinical mental health
programs. (2009 CACREP, CMHC I.2)
TOPICAL OUTLINE OF COURSE CONTENT
1.
2.
3.
4.
What is Clinical Mental Health Counseling?
The roles, functions and settings of mental health counselors
Multidisciplinary mental health treatment teams
Mental Health Service Delivery: inpatient, outpatient, partial and aftercare, and the
mental health counseling services network
5. Preparation standards, licensing, and credentialing
6. Advocacy and Community Resources
7. Managed Care: gaining provider status, practice privileges and third-party
reimbursement
8. Management of mental health services programs: administration, finance, and evidencebased practice in Private Practice, hospital settings, clinic settings, educational settings,
and business and industry.
9. The Mental Health Counselor as political activist
10. Developing programs for a diverse clientele.
11. Evaluation of clinical mental health programs
METHODS OF INSTRUCTION
This course is both a theoretical and application course. Teaching methods will include lecture,
guest speakers, reading assignments, self-reflection, research and presentation, and group
discussion.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND PERFORMANCE EVALAUTION
Assignment #1: Two major exams, accounting for 60% of the final grade, will be given.
Material covered in the exam will come from the textbook, class lectures, guest speaker
presentations, and assigned readings. Exam will be approximately 80% objective and 20%
essay. (Measures Objectives 1-14.)
Assignment #2: One of the most important aspects of effective service delivery to clients is the
counselor’s knowledge of the setting in which he/she works and the services it offers. In this
assignment, students will work in pairs. Visit a setting (according to assignment) where mental
health counseling is done. Using the agency’s Policies and Procedures Manual, Texas Family
Code, any other printed information in the agency, other available resources, and the agency’s
manager/owner/director, develop the following:
1. Purpose of the agency (i.e., Mission, Goals, Objectives)
2. History of the agency (development, location, justification, legislation, etc.)
3. What is the primary population served? (demographics – age, gender, scope of presenting
problem)
4. How is the agency organized (where does mental health counseling fit in if they provide other
services), funded (public/private funds, grants, faith-based funding, local, state, national tax
based funding), managed, etc.?
5. The role of counselors within the agency and types of intervention modalities used (crisis
intervention, therapeutic groups, theoretical perspectives, etc)
6. In what ways do the agency’s counselors and staff serve as client advocates?
7. What are the ethical issues of greatest concern to the agency?
8. What are the legal issues of most concern to the agency?
9. Identify the agency’s strengths and limitations and your observations of these in any of the
above areas
10. Evaluate how you see yourself, as a new mental health counselor, fitting into both the formal
and informal agency structures
This assignment measures Objectives 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 16. The assignment should
be written in APA writing format (2009 version) and should be between 12-15 pages excluding
cover sheet, abstract, and reference page/s. Use subheadings for your observations and
evaluations of #’s 1-9; answer # 10 on a separate page using the first person. Divide the work
equally between you and your partner for the visit, data collected, literary research, typing of
paper, and class presentation. Type up the contributions you individually made to the project
and turn in with the paper. Paper is due at the time of presentation.
Write a letter of appreciation to the agency and person/s you interviewed and mail to them.
Attach a copy of this letter to your paper.
The project will account for 30% of your final grade. The grade will consist of (1) paper grade
(content and construct) (2) presentation grade (3) individual contribution grade.
Assignment#3: Referral Resource List and Book. Make a list of adult and child social service
agencies (government and private), hospitals, shelters, etc. that would be used by helping
professionals. The list should be complete with contact person’s name, current address and
phone number and email address if available. The project will account for 5% of your final
grade. (Measures Objective 15.)
Assignment #4: Participation Grade: (5% of final grade) In addition to attendance, your
participation grade will consist of:
1. The remaining students in the class will develop three (3) questions each to be asked
of guest lecturers on the following topics:
a. Credentialing (Measures Objective 5)
b. Advocacy (Measures Objectives 13 and 14)
c. Ethics, the Law, and the Expert Witness (Measures Objective 6)
d. Public Policy (Measures Objectives 10 and 13)
e. Starting, Operating, and Maintaining a Private Practice (Objectives 3, 4, 14)
This is a total of 15 questions each student will submit to Dr. Statz prior to each guest
lecture. (Measures Objectives 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 13, and 14)
Evidence-Based Learner Outcomes:
Student learning of knowledge reflected in Objectives 1-16 is evidenced by a student grade of 70
or better on the mid-term and final exams (Assignment #1).
Student learning of knowledge reflected in Objectives 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 13, and 14 is evidenced by
questions submitted by each student to which guest speakers responded and through the
development and submission of a referral resource list for in-house publication.
Student learning of knowledge reflected in Objectives 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 16 is
evidenced by a score of 70 or better on the APA Writing rubric and the Oral Presentation rubric
for Assignment #2.
ATTENDANCE
Mandatory. “Students are expected to attend all classes regularly and are held responsible for all
course work and assignments” (UMHB Graduate Catalog, 2009-8, p. 30). A second absence
will result in the student’s course grade being lowered one grade (e.g., A to B, B to C, etc.).
All students are responsible for adhering to the professional performance
standards as stated in the Graduate Counseling & Psychology Student
Handbook through the Graduate Counseling and Psychology website at
http://www.umhb.edu/files/graduate/psychology/ppe. Failure to meet the
standards supersedes the student’s academic grade performance and will
result in a grade of F for the course.
See UMHB Graduate Catalogue for students with special needs and
expectations and ethics.
TEXTBOOK:
Gladding, S. and Newsome, D. (2010) Clinical Mental Health Counseling in Community and
Agency Settings (3rd Edition), NJ, Pearson.
REQUIRED READINGS (Books are on reserve in the library. Journal articles are also on
reserve and can be accessed through the library database.)
Braun, S., & Cox, J. (2005, September). Managed mental health care: Intentional misdiagnosis of
mental disorders. Journal of Counseling & Development, 83(4), 425-433. Retrieved March 12,
2009, from PsycINFO database.
Chwalisz, K. (2003, September). Evidence-Based Practice: A Framework for Twenty-FirstCentury Scientist-Practitioner Training. Counseling Psychologist, 31(5), 497-528. Retrieved
March 12, 2009, doi:10.1177/0011000003256347
Myers, J., Sweeney, T., & White, V. (2002, September). Advocacy for counseling and
counselors: A professional imperative. Journal of Counseling & Development, 80(4), 394-402.
Retrieved March 12, 2009, from PsycINFO database.
Pazar, J. (2006). The reliability of the triage assessment system for crisis intervention. Retrieved
March 12, 2009, from PsycINFO database.
Weikel, W. & Palmo, A.J. (1966) Foundations of Mental Health Counseling. IL: Tomos Books.
Recommended Readings
Alston, R., & Harley, D. (1999). Managed care and privatization in counseling and rehabilitation.
Professional Counseling: Transition into the next millennium (pp. 14-33). Springfield, IL
US: Charles C. Thomas Publisher. Retrieved March 12, 2009, from PsycINFO database.
Balkin, R. (2006, March). A reexamination of trends in acute care psychiatric hospitalization for
adolescents: Ethnicity, payment, and length of stay. Journal of Professional Counseling:
Practice, Theory, & Research, 34(1), 49-59. Retrieved March 12, 2009, from PsycINFO
database.
Bembry, J., Anderson, B., & Yaggy, E. (2002, August). Mental health care for the poor: The pro
bono counseling project. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 13(3),
273-279. Retrieved March 12, 2009, doi:10.1177/10408902013003001
Butsashvili, M., Preble, E., Kamkamidze, G., Robinson, J., Chubinishvili, O., & Sukhiashvili, R.
(2008, October). Uptake of an HIV voluntary counseling and testing program for
pregnant women in Georgia. AIDS Care, 20(9), 1125-1127. Retrieved March 12, 2009,
doi:10.1080/09540120701842837
Chin, J. (2003). Multicultural competencies in managed health care. Handbook of multicultural
competencies: In counseling & psychology (pp. 347-364). Thousand Oaks, CA US: Sage
Publications, Inc. Retrieved March 12, 2009, from PsycINFO database.
Cooper, C., & Gottlieb, M. (2000, March). Ethical issues with managed care: Challenges facing
counseling psychology. Counseling Psychologist, 28(2), 179-236. Retrieved March 12,
2009, doi:10.1177/0011000000282001
Daniels, J. (2001, December). Managed care, ethics and counseling. Journal of Counseling &
Development, 79(1), 119-122. Retrieved March 12, 2009, from PsycINFO database.
Danzinger, P., & Welfel, E. (2001, April). The impact of managed care on mental health
counselors: A survey of perceptions, practices and compliance with ethical standards.
Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 23(2), 137-150. Retrieved March 12, 2009, from
PsycINFO database.
Delk, M. (2002, January). Study of the differences in and practice of advocacy among clinical
social workers, marriage and family therapists, and mental health counselors. Retrieved
March 12, 2009, from PsycINFO database.
Fox, D. (2003, May). Awareness is good, but action is better. Counseling Psychologist, 31(3),
299-304. Retrieved March 12, 2009, doi:10.1177/0011000003031003005
Gehart, D., & Lucas, B. (2007). Client advocacy in marriage and family therapy: A qualitative
case study. Journal of Family Psychotherapy, 18(1), 39-56. Retrieved March 12, 2009,
from PsycINFO database.
Gottlieb, M., & Cooper, C. (2000, March). The future of mental health care delivery: Ideals and
realities. Counseling Psychologist, 28(2), 263-266. Retrieved March 12, 2009,
doi:10.1177/0011000000282005
Hartston, H. (2008, March). The state of psychotherapy in the United States. Journal of
Psychotherapy Integration, 18(1), 87-102. Retrieved March 12, 2009, doi:10.1037/10530479.18.1.87
Ivey, A. (2008, January). Review of Handbook for social justice in counseling psychology:
Leadership, vision, and action. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 14(1),
83-83. Retrieved March 12, 2009, doi:10.1037/1099-9809.14.1.83a
Jacobson, J. (2008). Review of Work and the workplace: A resource for innovative policy and
practice. Journal of Workplace Behavioral Health, 23(3), 331-335. Retrieved March 12,
2009, doi:10.1080/15555240802381805
James, S., & Greenwalt, B. (2001, March). Documenting success and achievement: Presentation
and working portfolios for counselors. Journal of Counseling & Development, 79(2),
161-165. Retrieved March 12, 2009, from PsycINFO database.
Johnson, M., Tobben, K., & Hong, B. (2005). Referral of Patients: Mental Health, Family, and
Community Resources. Adult psychiatry (2nd ed.) (pp. 76-87). Malden, MA US:
Blackwell Publishing. Retrieved March 12, 2009, from PsycINFO database.
Lambert, M., Okiishi, J., Finch, A., & Johnson, L. (2003). Outcome assessment: From
conceptualization to implementation. Methodological issues & strategies in clinical
research (3rd ed.) (pp. 619-633). Washington, DC US: American Psychological
Association. Retrieved March 12, 2009, from PsycINFO database.
Lawless, L., Ginter, E., & Kelly, K. (1999, January). Managed care: What mental health
counselors need to know. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 21(1), 50-65. Retrieved
March 12, 2009, from PsycINFO database.
Mahaffey, B. (2006, December). Review of Rewarding specialties for mental health clinicians:
Developing your practice niche. Journal of Counseling & Development, 84(1), 127-128.
Retrieved March 12, 2009, from PsycINFO database.
Maruish, M. (2002). Psychological testing in the age of managed behavioral health care.
Mahwah, NJ US: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Publishers. Retrieved March 12, 2009,
from PsycINFO database.
Masaquel, A., Wells, K., & Ettner, S. (2007, September). How does the persistence of depression
influence the continuity and type of health insurance and coverage limits on mental
health therapy?. Journal of Mental Health Policy and Economics, 10(3), 133-144.
Retrieved March 12, 2009, from PsycINFO database.
Myer, R., Williams, R., Ottens, A., & Schmidt, A. (1992, April). Crisis assessment: A threedimensional model for triage. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 14(2), 137-148.
Retrieved March 12, 2009, from PsycINFO database.
Pakman, M. (1999, January). Designing constructive therapies in community mental health:
Poetics and micropolitics in and beyond the consulting room. Journal of Marital &
Family Therapy, 25(1), 83-98. Retrieved March 12, 2009, doi:10.1111/j.17520606.1999.tb01111.x
Paylo, M. (2007). Characteristics of counselors that advocate for clients. Retrieved March 12,
2009, from PsycINFO database.
Raats, C., van Veenendaal, H., Versluijs, M., & Burgers, J. (2008, December). A generic tool for
development of decision aids based on clinical practice guidelines. Patient Education and
Counseling, 73(3), 413-417. Retrieved March 12, 2009, doi:10.1016/j.pec.2008.07.038
Reardon, M., Cukrowicz, K., Reeves, M., & Joiner, T. (2002, September). Duration and
regularity of therapy attendance as predictors of treatment outcome in an adult outpatient
population. Psychotherapy Research, 12(3), 273-285. Retrieved March 12, 2009,
doi:10.1093/ptr/12.3.273
Richter Herlihy, B., & Watson, Z. (2007). Social Justice and Counseling Ethics. Counseling for
social justice (2nd ed.) (pp. 181-199). Alexandria, VA US: American Counseling
Association. Retrieved March 12, 2009, from PsycINFO database.
Roberts, A., & Ottens, A. (2005, November). The seven-stage crisis intervention model: A road
map to goal attainment, problem solving, and crisis resolution. Brief Treatment and
Crisis Intervention, 5(4), 329-339. Retrieved March 12, 2009, doi:10.1093/brieftreatment/mhi030
Rockland-Miller, H., & Eells, G. (2006). The implementation of mental health clinical triage
systems in university health services. Journal of College Student Psychotherapy, 20(4),
39-51. Retrieved March 12, 2009, doi:10.1300/J035v20n04_05
Rodgers, R. (2000, February). Examination of the assessment of global functioning using the
Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) as an approach to psychological triage.
Retrieved March 12, 2009, from PsycINFO database.
Rollin, S., Holland, J., & Solomon, S. (2003). Mental health counseling. I'm a people person: A
guide to human service professions (pp. 145-155). Springfield, IL US: Charles C.
Thomas Publisher. Retrieved March 12, 2009, from PsycINFO database.
Rubin, A. (2008). Practitioner's guide to using research for evidence-based practice. Hoboken,
NJ US: John Wiley & Sons Inc. Retrieved March 12, 2009, from PsycINFO database.
Smith, H. B. & Weikel, W. J. (2006). Mental health counseling: The first thirty years and
beyond. In A. J. Palmo, W. J. Weikel, & D. P. Boros (Eds.) The foundations of Mental
Health Counseling (3rd ed.) (pp. 5 - 29). Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas.
Smith, H. (1999, July). Managed care: a survey of counselor educators and counselor
practitioners. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 21(3), 270-284. Retrieved March 12,
2009, from PsycINFO database.
Smith, J. (2004, February). Securing a base on the frontline: Of a Primary Care Counselling
Service. Psychodynamic Practice: Individuals, Groups and Organisations, 10(1), 61-87.
Retrieved March 12, 2009, doi:10.1080/14753630310001656027
Steenbarger, B., & Smith, H. (1996, November). Assessing the quality of counseling services:
Developing accountable helping systems. Journal of Counseling & Development, 75(2),
145-150. Retrieved March 12, 2009, from PsycINFO database.
Stone, A. (2001, July). Psychotherapy in the managed care health market. Journal of Psychiatric
Practice, 7(4), 238-243. Retrieved March 12, 2009, doi:10.1097/00131746-20010700000003
Theunissen, N., de Ridder, D., Bensing, J., & Rutten, G. (2003, November). Manipulation of
patient-provider interaction: Discussing illness representations or action plans concerning
adherence. Patient Education and Counseling, 51(3), 247-258. Retrieved March 12,
2009, doi:10.1016/S0738-3991(02)00224-0
Uhlmann, W. (1998). A guide to case management. A guide to genetic counseling (pp. 199-229).
New York, NY US: Wiley-Liss. Retrieved March 12, 2009, from PsycINFO database.
Vera, E., & Speight, S. (2003, May). Multicultural competence, social justice, and counseling
psychology: Expanding our roles. Counseling Psychologist, 31(3), 253-272. Retrieved
March 12, 2009, doi:10.1177/0011000003031003001
Weikel, W. J., Smith, H. B., & Brooks, D. K. (2006). The impact of credentialing on mental
health counseling. In A. J. Palmo, W. J. Weikel, & D. P. Boros (Eds.) The foundations of
Mental Health Counseling (3rd ed.) (pp. 289 - 301). Springfield, IL:Charles C. Thomas.
Weikel, W. J. & Smith, H. B. (2006). The mental health counselor as political activist. In A. J.
Palmo, W. J. Weikel, & D. P. Boros (Eds.) The foundations of Mental Health Counseling
(3rd ed.) (pp. 289 - 301). Springfield, IL: Charles C. Thomas.
SELECTED WEBSITES
American Association of Christian Counselors: www.aacc.org
American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy: www.aamft.org
American Counseling Association: www.aca.org
ACA Ethical Code: www.counseling.org/ethics
American Psychological Association: www.apa.org
American Psychiatric Association: www.apsa.org
National Institute of Mental Health: www.nimh.org
Texas Counseling Association: www.tca.org
American Association of State Counseling Boards website: www.aascb.org
PracticeBuilders: www.practicebuilders.com
PROFESSOR
Dr. Raylene B. Statz
Office: Frazier 106
Tele: 254.295.4548
Email: rstatz@umhb.edu