The mission of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program is to prepare graduate students from northeast Alabama and the surrounding area for success as they move toward: (1) counseling positions in mental health agencies; (2) LPC licensure application in Alabama, Georgia, and beyond; and/or (3) continued progress toward a terminal degree in Counselor Education. The program is designed to identify, train, and assist candidates with the skills and dispositions needed to become capable counselors and creative decision-makers, able to facilitate client growth by utilizing refined communication skills, equipped to creatively and appropriately apply therapeutic techniques, consistently employ ethical practice in keeping with the Code of Ethics and Standards of practice endorsed by the counseling profession, and exhibit multicultural competence and respect for diversity. Teaching, scholarship and service are values demonstrated throughout the program. Self-awareness, intellectual development and social consciousness are supported and encouraged. The program has sought and been awarded transfer of accreditation of the Community Agency program to the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program from the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). This transition was awarded in January 2016. The program is accredited through March 31, 2018.

Completed JSU Graduate Application for Admission. Non-refundable $35.00 application processing fee. Official transcripts from all colleges/universities with degrees posted. (Students who have previously attended JSU do not need to request a transcript from the university.) Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Marriage and Family Counseling, Community Counseling, or a related field. Background check. Any candidate applying for admission to a state approved teacher education program shall be required to be fingerprinted for a criminal history background check, including Clinical Mental Health Counseling, through the Alabama State Department of Education to the Alabama Bureau of Investigation (ABI) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Applicants should contact Cogent Systems for directions in completing this process. Professional resume. Three Graduate Reference Forms completed by individuals who can provide qualitative assessment of the applicant’s potential for success in graduate coursework. Reference forms will be submitted electronically. Instructions for submission will be sent through email to the applicant upon submission of the online graduate application. International student applicants must see the International Student Applicants section of this catalog for other application and enrollment requirements. Applicants whose packages are complete will be contacted to schedule an appointment for a writing sample and an interview with faculty members of the program.