Counseling Sam Houston State University

Overview

Key facts

Students at Sam Houston State University receive complete and broad based training which prepares them to work with diverse clients in community mental health centers, community agencies, psychiatric facilities, and private practice. Specifically, students learn the knowledge and skills to treat clients who struggle with issues from adjusting to everyday life to serious mental health issues and concerns.The program is accredited by the Counsel for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). At the end of the 60-credit-hour program, students receive a Master of Arts degree.

Emphasis Options:

Students interested in the treatment of children may complete play therapy electives and choose a play therapy focused internship.Students interested in the treatment of marriage and families may choose electives and internship placements with a marriage and family therapy focus.

The Master of Arts in Counseling degree offers two tracks of study, Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling. The Clinical Mental Health Counseling track is a CACREP-accredited program. Students select the Clinical Mental Health Counseling track if they want to complete coursework needed in the State of Texas to apply for licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). The counseling faculty are in the process of applying for CACREP accreditation for the Marriage, Couples, and Family track. Students select the Marriage-Couples and Family Counseling track if they want to complete the Marriage and Family Therapist license academic coursework requirement for the state of Texas.

Licensed Professional Counselor – Students completing this Clinical Mental Health degree track will have the academic requirements and practical skills needed to apply for a temporary license as a Professional Counselor in the state of Texas. Students may choose electives that will provide them with more specific training about working with special populations (i.e. play therapy, marriage and family). Typically, students graduating from the Clinical Mental Health Counseling secure employment in family service agencies, mental health centers, the prison system, community college counseling centers, treatment centers, etc. Once fully licensed, the graduates of this program may also work in private practice.

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist – Students selecting the Marriage, Couples, and Family Counseling track will be prepared for employment in settings that focus on family systems,. Once graduated, student may pursue the Marriage and Family Therapy license with the state of Texas and work in private practice, agencies serving families, home based family therapy programs and other employment opportunities servicing couples and families. wishing to specialize in Marriage and Family counseling may take electives in this area. The combined academic

Both degree tracks, Clinical Mental Health and Marriage, Couples, and Family are sixty semester credit hours for completion. A comprehensive examination is required for graduation and is taken during the first semester of internship. Students must be enrolled in the university when taking the comprehensive examination and when applying for graduation.

Accreditation

The College of Education’s Educator Preparation Program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).