MHGS offers the M.A. in Counseling Psychology (MACP) degree for students seeking graduate education in the area of counseling.  As a learning community informed by incarnational theology, we believe that our Triune God is continually made known through relationship.  As persons created in the image of God we seek to honor the other as sacred and adopt a way of thinking and being that is filled with awe, gratitude, and hope. Our calling is to face our fallenness and embrace suffering as we move toward reconciliation and restoration.  Our purpose is to unite Christian theology with philosophy and interpersonal psychology.  We teach and practice the art of psychotherapy as a discipline insistent upon finding meaning in the nature and purpose of the human encounter. 

Upon receiving the M.A. in Counseling Psychology degree, the graduate will be prepared for counseling vocations in private practice, family services, counseling centers, mental health clinics, and residential and outpatient treatment programs.

The program is designed to meet the educational requirements for licensure as a mental health counselor in the state of Washington. It is the responsibility of the individual applicant to be aware of the educational content requirements leading to licensure or certification in her or his intended state of residence.

Upon completion of the degree, the graduate should be able to:

1. Demonstrate the assimilation of the core theoretical principles of therapeutic counseling through articulating the principles and employing them in practice.
2. Distinguish between the practice of individual and group therapeutic intervention and demonstrate skills needed for both.
3. Evidence an awareness of multicultural issues in the therapeutic environment.
4. Demonstrate an understanding of the stages of human development and a coherent theory of human personality as necessary for professional competence.
5. Compare and contrast the core theoretical principles with other major approaches to counseling, and demonstrate knowledge of the convictions of major theorists.
6. Evidence the skills necessary to assess psychopathologies according to the current DSM-IV taxonomy and understand professional strengths and limitations in working with particular psychopathologies. This understanding includes the knowledge of when to refer to other professionals and how to do so.
7. Demonstrate psychological and therapeutic assessment knowledge and skills.
8. Evidence interpersonal skills needed for effective work with clients.
9. Assimilate the codes of professional counseling ethics.
10. Identify and articulate aims and objectives for life-long personal and professional development in the field of counseling.

In addition to the school's general education goals, the M.A. in Counseling Psychology program endeavors to achieve the following goals:  

1. Prepare students for a professional counseling career.  Many states offer certification or licensure for the counseling profession.  Although the educational requirements of many states can be met through the M.A. in Counseling Psychology program, it is the responsibility of each student to determine her/his state’s requirements and plan an educational experience to meet the requirements. 
2. Prepare those students who intend to go into the mental health field to impact others and their cultures with relational purpose.
3. Promote personal growth through understanding unique giftedness as well as considering any hindrance to caring for others. 
4. Inter-relate biblical, theological, philosophical, and cultural studies with the fields of psychology and counseling.

In addition to classroom experiences, the student will participate in practicum training.  We believe that the strongest tool that a person brings to a counseling or helping relationship is herself or himself.  Therefore, our practicum experiences offer counseling training as well as an opportunity to look at personal matters that impact the student’s ability to counsel effectively.  A student is never required to disclose personal matters, however the practicums do call for a look at one’s relational style and any matters that impede or enhance the process of counseling.  This is accomplished through small group practicum led by faculty which includes faculty feedback, peer interactions, and individual conversations with practicum facilitators.  Through these experiences, the student can place theoretical counseling constructs into practice.

The M.A. in Counseling Psychology is conferred upon the attainment of certain academic and personal requirements.  In addition to the general graduate school requirements, degree candidates must:  

1. Give evidence of a level of personal maturity and stability that is consistent with counseling-related vocations
2. Complete all courses in the prescribed M.A. in Counseling Psychology curriculum with a minimum grade point average of 2.7.
3. Students are expected to fulfill a minimum 40 hours of psychotherapy (session should be a minimum of 45-50 minutes each).

At Mars Hill Graduate School, we believe that continual self-understanding and sensitivity are required as a part of a student’s training in the field of counseling. Therefore, students participating in the Mars Hill Graduate School Counseling Psychology program must satisfy the psychotherapy requirement. Students must provide MHGS a signed acknowledgement and release form before the student may begin psychotherapy. Each student must complete a minimum of 40 sessions (45-50 minutes each) of psychotherapy. The guidelines are as follows:

1. All 40 sessions must be completed within a twelve month period.
2. Except as otherwise approved in writing by the MACP Committee the twelve month period must begin before the start of the Spring Trimester. It is strongly recommended that psychotherapy begin when the student participates in First-Year Practicum (which begins Fall Trimester).
3. The psychotherapy must be individual, couples or family psychotherapy.
4. The psychotherapy must be provided by a licensed therapist who satisfies the requirements set forth in Section 2 below.
5. Therapy must be completed with one therapist, except as may be otherwise permitted with the written consent of the MACP Committee. Such consent will be given only in those circumstances when it is difficult or impossible for the student to continue with the therapist (for example, in the case of the death of the therapist, lack of therapist/client fit, breach of the therapist’s ethical duties, or the loss of the therapist’s license to engage in counseling).

   The therapist must:

6. Hold a Master’s or Doctoral Degree in a mental health field or a degree as a Doctor of Medicine (M.D., in the case of a psychiatrist);
7. Be licensed by the State of Washington as a Psychologist, Marriage & Family Therapist, Mental Health Counselor, Clinical Social Worker, Advanced Clinical Social Worker or Psychologist, or licensed to practice medicine in the State of Washington, in the case of a psychiatrist.
8. Not be a MHGS faculty member, adjunct faculty member, employee or member of the MHGS Board of Directors, unless approved by the MACP Committee.

Upon completion of the required psychotherapy, the student must submit a Psychotherapy Verification Form to the Registrar with all the information completed. A copy of the Psychotherapy Verification Form is attached. For those enrolled in the three year program, the Psychotherapy Verification Form must be submitted before the student may register for Practicum II. For those enrolled in the two year program, please consult with the Registrar for the deadline for submitting this form. MHGS recommends that its students provide a copy of this Policy and the Psychotherapy Verification Form to prospective therapists to be sure the therapy and the therapist satisfies the requirements of this policy.

 

 

 Currently, MHGS meets licensure requirements for Mental Health Counselors in the state of Washington.  It is the responsibility of the student to determine how to meet the mental health licensure requirements for any other state, territory or country in which they will seek mental health licensure.  The MHGS library can assist students in locating information on out-of-state, territory or country mental health licensures.  For specific requirements within Washington State, it is recommended for students to start at the Washington State Department of Health and click on Licensing/Certification link.

Below is a list of courses at MHGS that fulfill certain subject content areas that are required by the state of Washington (courses followed with an * are required for the degree).  This list is provided as a reference only and students should refer to the complete licensing requirements at www.doh.wa.gov.
  

Assessment/ diagnosis	CSL 544*, 545*,  538*
Ethics/Law	CSL 503*
Counseling Individuals	CSL 542*, 543*
Counseling Couples and Families	CSL 517*
Developmental Psych. (may be child, adolescent, adult or life span):	CSL 510*, 524*
Abnormal Psychology/Psychopathology	CSL 544*, 545*
Research and Evaluation	CSL 516*
Career Developmental Counseling	CSL 511
Multicultural Concerns	CSL 509*
Substance/Chemical Abuse	CSL 512
Abusive Relationships	CSL 514, DVA 503, 506
Chronically Mentally Ill	CSL 544* & 545*