This course introduces students to the field of marriage and family counseling. The course covers the history and development of the field as well as the research foundations for the field and specific models and approaches to treatment. Models covered include the Systemic and Strategic approaches, Structural, Experiential, Intergenerational and Psychoanalytic approaches, Cognitive-Behavioral, Mindfulness-based, Solution-Focused, and Narrative approaches, and the Gottman approach. A Christian perspective on marriage and family interventions is incorporated into the coursework. Prerequisites: COUN550 and COUN551. (3 credits)

This course provides students with an overview of psychopathology through the lens of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (5th ed.) of the American Psychiatric Association. Fundamental clinical mental health counseling processes such as the diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and treatment planning processes are also explored. The course utilizes case studies, discussions, presentations, and reflection papers to assist students in developing an understanding of the importance of the clinical interview and the mental status exam on the diagnostic process, and to help students examine and reflect on disorder etiologies and the impact of culture, biology, neuroscience, and spirituality on the diagnostic process. A Christian perspective on understanding and treating mental health disorders is integrated into the course. Prerequisites: COUN550 and COUN551. (3 credits)

This course introduces students to the field of treating substance use disorders. As such, it provides an overview of the major theories, issues, and modalities for treating addictive disorders and the major drugs of abuse. Students will explore the impact of addiction on clients' lives, and consider a holistic approach to recovery which includes biological, psychological, sociological, and spiritual dimensions. Students will explore spiritual treatment approaches including the 12-step approach originating with Alcoholics Anonymous, and mindfulness meditation, and reflect on how spiritual approaches could support students' understanding of and treatment of addictive disorders in practice. Prerequisites: CMHC520 or SCO520. (3 credits)

This course introduces students to the field of psychiatry and examines the topic of psychopharmacology, or the treatment of mental health conditions through prescribing of medications and psychoactive substances, and the topic of neuroscience, or our current understanding of brain science and the impact of the brain on human cognitions, emotion, and behavior. Students will work to be able to collaborate with multidisciplinary treatment teams that include psychiatrists and other medical doctors, and understand how psychopharmacological and neuroscientific issues impact the work counselors do in clinical mental health counseling settings. The course is arranged around students working in groups with classmates to consider a series of case studies through the lens of psychopharmacology and neuroscience. (Prerequisite: CMHC520. (3 credits)

The counseling Practicum experience provides students with an initial experience in providing counseling services in the clinical mental health counseling setting. The Practicum experience requires a minimum of 100 clock hours of documented contact including indirect and direct service, and supervision both onsite (provided by a designated site supervisor) and in class (provided by your assigned faculty member). The Practicum course is a seminar-style class which supports students participating in their Practicum experience and which supports students in developing their basic counseling skills and in learning a variety of assessment and intervention techniques. Students are required to earn a minimum grade of a B in this course in order to move forward in the program. This course requires online students to attend weekly synchronous class meetings. The day/times of the meetings will be determined by the course instructor. Prerequisites: COUN505, COUN515, COUN520, COUN525, COUN550, COUN551, COUN555 and COUN605. (3 credits)

The Counseling Internship experience provides students with experience in providing counseling services in the clinical mental health counseling setting. The Internship experience requires a minimum of 600 clock hours spread over at least two semesters of documented contact including indirect and direct service, and supervision both onsite (provided by a designated site supervisor) and in class (provided by an assigned faculty member). The Internship course is a seminar-style class which supports students participating in their Internship experience and which supports students in developing their counseling skills and in learning a variety of counseling and intervention techniques. Students are required to earn a minimum grade of a B in this course in order to move forward in the program. This course requires online students to attend weekly synchronous class meetings. The day/times of the meetings will be determined by the course instructor. In this course, students will increase competency in their clinical skills, case conceptualization abilities, and ability to apply what they have learned in the program to the work they do with clients. Students' caseloads and responsibilities will increase and they will continue to fine tune their theoretical orientations, increase awareness of their counseling styles, and develop their counseling identities. Students will also continue to develop their written and verbal communication and presentation skills, and peer feedback skills. Prerequisites: COUN505, COUN515, COUN520, COUN525, COUN550, COUN551, COUN555, COUN605 and COUN610. (3 credits)

The Counseling Internship experience provides students with experience in providing counseling services in the clinical mental health counseling setting. The Internship experience requires a minimum of 600 clock hours spread over at least two semesters of documented contact including indirect and direct service, and supervision both onsite (provided by a designated site supervisor) and in class (provided by an assigned faculty member). The Internship course is a seminar-style class which supports students participating in their Internship experience and which supports students in developing their counseling ski and in learning a variety of counseling and intervention techniques. Students are required to earn a minimum grade of a B in this course in order to move forward in the program. This course requires online students to attend weekly synchronous class meetings. The day/times of the meetings will be determined by the course instructor. In this course, students will continue to hone their clinical skills, case conceptualization abilities, and ability to apply what they have learned in the program to the work they do with clients. Students will continue develop their theoretical orientations, increase awareness of their counseling styles, and develop their counseling identities. Students will also continue to develop their written and verbal communication and presentation skills, and peer feedback skills. Prerequisites: CMHC610 and CMHC615. (3 credits)

This course introduces students to the field of counseling in diverse settings, including school and clinical mental health settings. The course provides a broad overview and survey of the counseling profession, including its historical and theoretical foundations, the major professional associations of the counseling profession, and roles and responsibilities of counselors in a variety of settings and within and among the other mental health professions. Students will begin development of a professional identity and will reflect on their calling to the profession of counseling and their vision for using their master's degree in the future. Students will begin the process of spiritual formation for counseling. (3 credits)

This course introduces students to the field of counseling in diverse settings, including school and clinical mental health settings. The course provides a broad overview and survey of the counseling profession, including its historical and theoretical foundations, the major professional associations of the counseling profession, and roles and responsibilities of counselors in a variety of settings and within and among the other mental health professions. Students will begin development of a professional identity and will reflect on their calling to the profession of counseling and their vision for using their master's degree in the future. Students will begin the process of spiritual formation for counseling. (3 credits)

This course introduces students to legal and ethical issues relevant to the counseling profession and equips students with an ethical decision-making model for navigating ethical dilemmas and issues related to professional practice. Students will develop ethical sensitivity and utilize the ethical principles, which serve as the profession's foundation for ethical behavior and decision making, in evaluating case studies. An overview of the Iowa statutes which govern practice will also be provided. The goal of this course is to get students to think about major issues related to the professional practice of counseling, while challenging them to formulate positions on such issues, consider a biblical perspective, and appraise the values impacting counselors and the counseling profession. (3 credits)

In this course, students will examine the psychological and sociological factors that form self-concept and cultural identity, and consider how these constructs impact effective counseling with diverse populations. Students will begin a professional journey of developing multicultural competence through developing self-awareness, sensitivity to elements of diversity, knowledge of cultural values, and a commitment to the counseling profession's core value of honoring diversity and embracing a multicultural approach in support of the worth, dignity, potential, and uniqueness of people within their social and cultural contexts. Students will learn how to apply awareness and culturally competent skills and knowledge in interventions and advocacy practices with diverse populations. Course concepts will be considered through a biblical world view which provides a foundation for understanding how God views all people groups. Prerequisite: COUN505. (3 credits)

One of the philosophies underlying the counseling profession that helps set it apart from the other mental health professions is a developmental perspective; a recognition that many of the issues clients face in life are developmental in nature. This course introduces students to theories of individual and family development across the lifespan, theories of learning, theories of moral and spiritual development, and theories of normal and abnormal personality development. The course also delves into factors and circumstances that can impact a person's development; biological, neurological, and physiological factors, addictive behaviors, systemic and environmental factors, crises, disasters, and trauma, and culture. Students will develop a general framework for developing interventions based on client developmental level and ethical and culturally relevant strategies for promoting resilience and wellness across the lifespan. (3 credits)

This course introduces students to the theory and practice of group counseling, its development within the field of counseling, and its utilization as an intervention in school counseling, clinical mental health counseling, and other settings. Group work requires some distinct understandings and approaches from individual counseling and as such, this course focuses on the stages of group formation, group therapeutic factors, group facilitation skills, dealing with challenges particular to group settings, and utilizing the group modality effectively. Students will be given the opportunity to participate in a group process, both as participants and as leaders. Because of this component, there will be a synchronous component to this course, where students will have to coordinate a day/time where they can consistently meet with their group to meet this requirement of the course. Prerequisites: COUN515, COUN550, COUN551, COUN605. (3 credits)

This course is part one of a two-part integrated skills and theories series that introduces students to the basic skills of the counseling relationship and the major theories of personality and psychotherapy, and provides students an experiential opportunity to begin practicing and assimilating these skills in their counselor identity. In Theories and Skills of Counseling I, students are introduced to counseling skills such as attending, active listening, empathy, questioning, observation, encouraging, summarizing, reflecting, and challenging. Skills are practiced with role play partners, video recorded and submitted to the professor for review and feedback. Theories covered in Theories and Skills of Counseling I include Psychodynamic, Adlerian, Client-Centered, Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy, Behavior Therapy, and Cognitive Therapy. Modern psychotherapies are considered through a biblical world view. Prerequisite: COUN515. (3 credits)

This course is part two of a two-part integrated skills and theories series that introduces students to the basic skills of the counseling relationship and the major theories of personality and psychotherapy, and provides students an experiential opportunity to begin practicing and assimilating these skills in their counselor identity. In Theories and Skills of Counseling II, students review counseling skills such as attending, active listening, empathy, questioning, observation, encouraging, summarizing, reflecting, and challenging. Skills are practiced with role play partners, video recorded and submitted to the professor for review and feedback. Theories covered in Theories and Skills of Counseling II include Existential, Gestalt, Interpersonal, Family Systems, Mindfulness/Contemplative, Positive Psychology, Integrative, and Multicultural approaches. Modern psychotherapies are considered through a biblical world view. Prerequisites: COUN515 and COUN550. (3 credits)

This course introduces students to the field of counseling in diverse settings, including school and clinical mental health settings. The course provides a broad overview and survey of the counseling profession, including its historical and theoretical foundations, the major professional associations of the counseling profession, and roles and responsibilities of counselors in a variety of settings and within and among the other mental health professions. Students will begin development of a professional identity and will reflect on their calling to the profession of counseling and their vision for using their master's degree in the future. Students will begin the process of spiritual formation for counseling. (3 credits)

This course provides an overview of career development theory, models, occupational information sources and systems, college and career readiness, and career assessment instruments for diverse populations. Students will consider the relevance of career in the overall development of the counseling profession, the interrelationship between work, mental well-being, relationships, and other life roles and factors, and specific career interventions in clinical mental health and school counseling settings. The course will focus on the career decision-making process and how counselors can use assessments and different career resources to gather information tailored to help guide the client in the decision-making process. Prerequisite: COUN510. (3 credits)

This course provides students with practical guidance for accessing and comprehending published research articles with a goal of helping students incorporate an intention of understanding the evidence base for the interventions they use with clients and a willingness to be life-long consumers of counseling research. The course provides an overview of important methodological concepts of research, measurement and statistical concepts, and quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods research methodologies. The course also examines program evaluation with a focus on understanding the need for, and strategies for utilizing program evaluation in diverse settings. (3 credits)

This course is designed to give students practice experience engaging in a counseling relationship over the course of six sessions, in the practice setting most relevant to the client's future practice (clinical mental health, school counseling, etc.). Students will review and utilize basic counseling skills and continue developing their own individual counseling approaches with an emphasis on integration of theoretical orientation techniques, ethical practices, personality, spiritual integration, and setting-specific practices, under the instruction and evaluation of the course instructor. This course is largely experiential and is focused on preparing students for their Practicum experiences. Students will engage in a multi-session counseling experience with a learning partner focused on solidification of basic counseling skills and growth of advanced counseling skills. Prerequisites: COUN505, COUN515, COUN520, COUN550, COUN551, COUN555 (prerequisite or concurrent), CMHC520 or SCO520. (3 credits)

This course is intended to be a final summation of students' experience in the clinical mental health counseling and school counseling programs. As such, it is intended to be taken during students' last semester of the program, where they can reflect back on what they've learned over the previous semesters. Students will reflect on and integrate features from psychology, theology, Christian spirituality, and the practice of evidence-based counseling skills and methods as students work to continue refining their individual counseling approaches that they will be applying in school counseling and clinical mental health counseling settings. Prerequisite: COUN615. (3 credits)