M.A. Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling Specialization

Admissions Requirements

Applicants for the M.A. Counseling must submit the following documents:  

• Application for Admissions 
• An official transcript from an accredited university demonstrating successful completion of a bachelor’s degree, with a 3.0 GPA or better; 
• Professional resume or CV; 
• Personal statement; and 
• One Letter of recommendation * 

*Letter of recommendation should be a professional reference 

Residential / University / Virtual Learning Experience

​​Online Learning Model: The M.A. Counseling degree program combines online learning with in-person residential learning experiences, experiential intensives, workshops and classes to support students in working toward the MA Counseling degree. 
 
Residential Orientation: All new students in the M.A. Counseling program begin their studies with a one-time, virtual Orientation. The Orientations will be a combination of Canvas orientation, and a one-time virtual meeting ahead of the academic term start date. 
 
Residential Learning Experiences: All students participate in two four-day long required residential learning experiences per year (one at the beginning of the Fall semester and one at the beginning of the Spring semester) for the duration of the program. Activities during the required residential conferences are designed to expand further on the knowledge from coursework, to practice clinical skills, and to participate in professional development through lectures, workshops, invited talks, roundtables, courses, and seminars as well as formal and informal meetings and discussions with faculty, advisors, and peers. Although students complete most of their courses through distance learning, full attendance at all residential conferences is an academic requirement, and their completion is important for successful academic progress as well as allowing students to meet with faculty and co-learners in a stimulating face-to-face environment. 
 
Online Instruction: Online courses utilize a combination of learning goals, objectives, strategies, and delivery formats, including assigned readings, papers, and projects as well as asynchronous online discussions and at times synchronous teleconferences and/or videoconference sessions with faculty and peers.​ 

Fieldwork

A portion of the 60 credit program includes three semesters of clinical coursework referred to as Practicum, Internship I and Internship II. Students locate appropriate practicum and internships and supervision in their geographic area, working in conjunction with Saybrook’s faculty and the Director of Clinical Training. Faculty support and supervise year-round practicum and internship training so that students can accrue clinical training hours at their field experience sites during summer and semester inter-sessions.

ProSeminar

Residential Conference Workshops & Special Population Intensives

The following required workshops, intensives and experientials are completed at the residential learning experiences. These workshops are designed to ensure that students in the state of California meet all of the requirements for the LPCC. In addition to meeting the CA requirements, we have found that all of our students benefit from the depth of conversation in these critical areas. Except where noted, these workshops are required for students that plan to pursue a license in CA, and will be optional for all other students.

The workshops are: 

COUN 2538 Aging and Long-Term Care  

COUN 2539 Child and Elder Abuse Assessment and Reporting  

COUN 2544 Mental Health Recovery  

COUN 2640 Partner Abuse and Domestic Violence  
 
 
Residential Conference Experiential Training
 
The experiential training courses are offered as required companion courses to the online course of the same name. These experientials allow students to practice their skills, engage in group work, and discuss these topics in depth and in person. Each semester, students participate in two experiential training courses.

Some examples include: Basic Counseling Skills, Group, Crisis and Trauma, etc.  
 
Residential ProSeminar Training 

Each ProSeminar workshop is designed to add additional topic areas to the overall curriculum. The on-site proseminar workshops shift each semester, based on the current trends in the field, student topic interest, and areas of research of the faculty. Students engage in 6 hours of proseminar workshop training at each RLE. 

Program Specific Requirements

Professional Licensure: In order to become licensed as a professional counselor, professional clinical counselor, or mental health counselor candidates must complete the degree, program, and/or coursework required by their chosen state. States also have licensing requirements beyond a program’s graduation requirements including: post-master’s supervised clinical experience, examination(s), background check, and application for license.    
 
For information on where Saybrook University meets, does not meet, or has not determined if the program meets licensure eligibility requirements for the state in which you wish to be licensed, please visit: https://www.saybrook.edu/admissions/professional-licensure-and-certification-disclosures/ 
 
The M.A. Counseling hybrid online program is aligned with the degree and coursework requirements of the California Board of Behavioral Sciences for registration and examination eligibility as a Professional Clinical Counselor (Business and Professions Code section 4999.33) Candidates for licensure must pass the relevant clinical examination and law and ethics examination. Additional post-master’s supervised experience is required and candidates must register with BBS as an APCC in order to accrue supervised experience. All candidates are also required to complete the application process, which includes fees and a background check. For further information about licensure in California, please visit the Board of Behavioral Sciences. 
 
During the first semester, all Counseling students complete a curriculum map to licensure to assure that they complete the coursework requirements for their state. State professional licensing requirements are subject to change at any time. Students should contact the specific state licensing board directly to verify information regarding professional licensure. A list of state board contact information is available via The American Counseling Association. 
 
Transfer Credit 
 
M.A. Counseling students can transfer up to 9 approved semester credits from an accredited academic institution. To transfer hours earned at another institution to the M.A. Counseling Program, the student must provide an official transcript from the institution where the credits were earned. The student must also provide evidence that the course was approved for graduate credit at the institution where the course was completed. To determine course equivalency, students will need to submit the official transcript, course title, course description and (when required) the course syllabus. No more than 9 semester hours that have been transferred from another accredited institution may be used for meeting the credit hour requirements of a master’s student’s program. The Program Chair and appropriate program faculty will review each course transfer request on an individual basis. Clinical courses such as practicum and internship are not eligible for transfer review. 
 
The M.A. Counseling program is designed to address the CACREP core areas, and one specialization area. To this end, the curriculum includes the following competency areas:

• Professional Orientation and Ethical Practice 
• Social and Cultural Diversity 
• Human Growth and Development 
• Career Development 
• Counseling and Helping Relationships 
• Group Counseling and Group Work 
• Assessment and Testing 
• Research and Program Development 
• Clinical Mental Health Counseling - Specialization