Counseling

The Clinical Mental Health Counseling option combines didactic and experiential course work to give students grounding in theories and principles of mental health counseling and extensive experience in supervised application of those theories and principles with adult clients. The Clinical Mental Health Counseling prepares students to enhance their personal and professional development as counselors; to increase their ability to understand the characteristics and concerns for adult client populations and their environments; to develop their knowledge and skills in use of theory-based counseling models; and to train them in the use of scientific methods of inquiry and evaluation. The Clinical Mental Health Counseling program meets educational licensure requirements for a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in the State of Montana.

This program option is designed to prepare counselors to address a variety of mental health and relationship issues from a family systems framework. Students in this program are trained to work with individuals, children, families, or couples from a family systems perspective.

Students in the Marriage, Couples, and Family counseling master’s degree work in a broad range of counseling contexts where they see children, adolescents, individuals, couples, and families. This extended focus beyond individual counseling provides a well-rounded training experience. The Marriage, Couples, and Family Counseling program meets educational licensure requirements for a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in the State of Montana.

Competent counseling practice is informed and guided by theory and evidence-based best practice. The school counseling degree emphasizes thorough knowledge of counselees' developmental and cultural contexts. During counseling practicum, students are closely supervised in their use of practical counseling skills, counseling theories, and professional practice in the K-12 school setting. Supervised practice continues and is expanded during internship. The School Counseling program meets educational licensure requirements for a Licensed School Counselor Specialist in the State of Montana.

The addiction counseling certificate program is an online academic program that prepares students to pursue licensure as a Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC) in Montana.  Please note, this is a graduate certificate program – not a master’s degree program. Students must have a bachelor's degree in a relevant field with a GPA of 3.0 to apply. However, we encourage motivated students with a GPA less than 3.0 to contact us to discuss the application process.

The graduate online certificate in mental health support will provide mental health training for career professionals to better support those who work in environments that intersect with human services. This certificate requires 12 credits of online coursework. Coursework is focused on development and helping theories, multicultural and diversity/inclusion education and support, helping skills and attending behavior, crisis management and trauma, reducing stigma around mental health, consultation, career, and leadership theory. This certificate program is offered summers only to accommodate faculty schedules as well as to increase accessibility to those working in K-12 as well as the university setting.