Masters (MA) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

The MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is designed for people who desire graduate study and preparation for the counseling profession. We recognize the clinical training and expertise required for working with individuals, groups, and the broader community. It is therefore intended that the program leading to the MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree will assist students in the process of developing such expertise for effective counseling practice.

Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) and approved by the Oregon Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists.

GSC Mission:

The Graduate School of Counseling is grounded in and shaped by our commitment to an integrated understanding of the Christian faith and mental health that embraces diversity and promotes justice.  We train graduate level mental health professionals who work in community, private practice, and school settings.  Through rigorous academic and clinical training we foster the personal and professional development of students with the goal of promoting relational, psychological, academic, physical, and spiritual well-being.

Graduates will:

• Demonstrate and articulate an understanding of professional identity and ethical practice as a clinical mental health counselor
• Demonstrate knowledge and clinical competence of an ecosystemic approach to human growth and development to understand the needs of individuals and systems at all developmental stages and multicultural contexts as it pertains to clinical mental health counseling
• Demonstrate knowledge and articulate an understanding of career development as it pertains to clinical mental health counseling
• Demonstrate the effective group counseling facilitation and development in a multicultural society
• Demonstrate and articulate an understanding and competence in individual and group approaches ot assessments and evaluation as a clinical mental health counselor
• Demonstrate and apply relevant research methods and understand basic statistical operations in the application and use, from a multicultural context, in the field of clinical mental health counseling
• Demonstrate reflective and ethical decision making grounded in the knowledge of relevant legal and ethical codes as well as an examination of personal values
• Demonstrate knowledge and application of effective strategies for counseling prevention and intervention and treatment planning
• Demonstrate clinical competence as a counseling intern, including the skills and practices of assessment, diagnosis, treatment, termination, documentation, and ethical practice 
• Articulate how personal faith informs one's identity and practice as a clinical mental health counselor 
• Articulate knowledge of the contextual components of the helping relationship and the counseling process, demonstrating knowledge in theories, consultation, ethical relationships, and the integration of technology
• Demonstrate application of skill in recognizing one’s own limitations as a professional counselor (seeking supervision, self-evaluation, and self-care)
• Demonstrate personal awareness, theoretical knowledge and clinical skills needed to engage in multi-culturally sensitive individual and group counseling and advocacy 
• Demonstrate the College of Education Conceptual Framework to Think Critically, Transform Practice, and Promote Justice

• Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution. A cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 or above is required. The undergraduate degree does not have to be in the field of psychology.
• Completed Application Form at apply.georgefox.edu
• $40 non-refundable application fee
• Résumé of work and/or volunteer experience
• Written admission statement addressing the question provided in the Application Form
• One academic reference form and one professional reference form
• An official transcript from each college or university attended
• Group interview with the Admissions Committee. An invitation will be extended to those meeting initial program criteria.

Additional requirements for international students are online here.

Up to 18 credit hours from another CACREP Accredited program can be transferred. Credits from Non-CACREP Accredited programs will only be considered as electives.  Program directors will determine the number of transferable credits upon admission into the program. Students must have earned a grade of B or better for a course to be considered for transfer. In addition, only courses taken elsewhere within 10 years of the date of matriculation to the MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program will be considered for transfer. Transferability of credits earned at this institution and transferred to another is at the discretion of the receiving institution. 

Of the 60 hours required for the MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program, a minimum of 42 hours must be taken in resident study at George Fox University. All work leading to the MA must be completed within seven years from the time of matriculation. Extension of this limit requires the approval of the Graduate School of Counseling (GSC) Faculty. However, only one such extension may be considered due to special circumstances, such as ill health. Reinstatement to the program after withdrawal requires Admissions Committee action and may subject the student to additional requirements for the degree. A leave of absence is valid for up to one year after which the student must re-apply to the program.

The MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is generally 2-4 years in length with 60 semester hours of course work required as a minimum for graduation. Of those hours, 6 are in prescribed spiritual integration courses, 48 in prescribed counseling courses, and 6 in clinical internship credits.

Each student must complete a minimum of 20 clock hours of personal counseling/therapy as part of the MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. Additionally, an ongoing review process serves as a way to assess the student's fit for the program; fit for the profession; emotional, psychological, and intellectual ability; as well as maturity level for functioning safely as a mental health professional. Graduate School of Counseling faculty will review students each fall and spring semester. For more specific information, please refer to the student handbook.

Digital Synchronous track students admitted to the GSC in Fall 2024 and beyond are required to complete two Residency Events.

Residency I

Early in the Fall term of a Digital Synchronous track student's first year in the GSC, the student will travel to Portland to attend a 2-day Residency I event.

Requirement: Completion of this Fall-only event is required prior to enrolling in all future GSC courses. Completion of the event is noted on the student’s transcript. If a first-year Digital Synchronous track student cannot attend Residency I (attendance in full), additional coursework is postponed until the following Fall.

Purpose:

Residency I is the foundational first-year experience to prepare Digital Synchronous track students for their educational program. This includes building deeper levels of understanding and trust that are required for meaningful and substantive online engagement.

Goals:

• To feel welcomed as a GSC student, and as part of the larger GFU community;
• To gain a deeper understanding of the nature of a mental health care provider within the counseling professions, and the academic commitment required to practice safely and effectively;
• To have an understanding of the social and emotional growth process required of GSC students in order to practice safely and effectively as mental health providers within the counseling professions; and
• To leave Residency I feeling a sense of connection to and partnership with peers, faculty, and staff.

Program Fee: Residency I requires a student fee and additional financial costs:

• Fee: Contact the GSC for current Academic Year costs. This fee covers 2 nights lodging; select meals; and Residency I activities.
• Additional Costs for the Student: Travel to and from Portland; travel between the hotel, the Portland Center, and other Residency I events; additional lodging if desired; additional meals other than during the 2-day event; other incidentals.

Residency II

During the Spring term preceding the start of the Field Placement year, Digital Synchronous students will attend 3 2-hour small group virtual sessions with their academic advisor or program director as part of the Field Placement application and readiness process.

Requirement:

Completion of this Spring-only event is required prior to enrolling in the Field Placement year. Completion of all three small group virtual events is noted on the student’s transcript. If a Digital Synchronous track student cannot attend Residency II (attendance in full), the Field Placement year is postponed until the following year.

Purpose:

Residency II is designed to provide both a check-in time for students, as well as targeted coaching for Digital Synchronous track students as they prepare to embark on the most challenging aspect of their degree program. The small group environment will focus on charting personal and professional growth thus far, as well as strategies for developing the student’s Field Placement site.

Goals:

• To complete the Field Placement application process required prior to starting the clinical practice component of their degree program;
• To review and practice skills and strategies for securing a Field Placement setting; and
• To engage in a follow-up self assessment of the student’s professional disposition development thus far using an assessment tool they were first introduced to during Residency I and select Year 1 classes.

Program Fee: Residency II does not require any student fees.

Additional Information

Residency I and Residency II details can be found in the Graduate School of Counseling Student Handbook. For specific information about Residency I (dates, activities, fee), contact the Digital Programs Director (gsc@georgefox.edu; 503-554-6104).

In order to graduate with the MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree students must:

• Satisfactorily complete a minimum of 60 semester hours with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above
• Achieve no grade lower than a B in all courses. If a grade of a B- or lower is received in a required course, that course must be retaken (for more specific information, please refer to the student handbook)
• Complete 20 clock hours of personal counseling/therapy
• Complete a 700-hour supervised clinical field internship in counseling that meets the currently articulated criteria for such training, with at least 280 hours of direct client contact 
• Successfully complete the Clinical Portfolio (reading fees are assessed during the final semester of clinical internship), in which the student articulates their current understanding of counseling and applies the same through an analysis of their counseling practice, an evaluation of their strengths, and a three-year professional development plan