MASTER OF SCIENCE IN CLINICAL MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING

Be prepared for a career as a licensed professional counselor, where you are able to empower individuals, families, and groups to accomplish their mental health, wellness, education, and career goals.

You’ll engage in classroom learning rich in practical and theoretical knowledge, and clinical training. Plus, you have the opportunity to apply clinical skills in practice under close supervision by licensed faculty supervisors.

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The need for clinical mental health counselors continues to increase in the region and state. With the development of mental health parity laws, more people are accessing health insurance and mental health services. The demand for highly trained counselors, offering evidence-based interventions in mental health treatment settings, exists in clinics, agencies, integrative care settings, and private practice. Students will develop skills critical to effective clinical mental health counseling such as: assessment, diagnosis, intervention, advocacy, and program evaluation.

A CMHC MS degree can lead to work as a professional counselor working with a range of populations (children and families, adults, couples, and groups) in a variety of settings including

• Mental Health outpatient care
• Hospitals
• Clinics
• Agencies
• Integrative Care Settings
• Private Practice

Several factors set this 60-credit hour counseling program apart from other clinical training programs. The program meets the educational requirements for licensure as a professional counselor and prepares you for a career as a Licensed Professional Counselor. As a graduate student, you have the opportunity to:

Develop knowledge, skills, and awareness for a future career as a clinical mental health counselor.
Receive clinical supervision, mentorship, and advising from licensed faculty and supervisors.
Collaborate with faculty in determining practicum and internship placements that meet your clinical training needs and match your career interests.
Develop collaborative relationships with peers and faculty members through either a full-time or part-time program of study.
Collaborate with faculty members conducting research.

Admissions will occur on a rolling basis with the initial review of applicants on February 15 and every 30 days thereafter until July 1.

APPLICATION CHECKLIST

Program Overview

Course Schedule

Department Site

CMHC Program Assessment

CMHC Handbook

Vision
The Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside seeks to train and educate students to be professional counselors who meet the mental health, wellness, education and career needs of all members of their communities and the broader region. Program faculty aim to foster students’ professional, personal, and social growth so students develop to be ethical, trauma-informed, multiculturally competent counselors and leaders in the counseling profession.

Mission
To prepare counselors-in-training to meet the mental health, wellness, education and career needs of their communities and broader region, with a commitment to underserved populations. In addition, to work towards eliminating mental health stigma, through both professional leadership and providing ethical, trauma-informed and culturally competent counseling services, informed by current research, holistic care, and clinically effective interventions.

UPCOMING EVENTS AND SESSIONS

Do you have a bachelor's degree in something other than psychology?

The Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is designed for people who want to help others. In addition to psychology majors, sociology, anthropology, criminal justice, communication, education, and students with other undergraduate majors can pursue the MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
18 Credits in Social Sciences
GPA of 3.0

FIND OUT MORE!

Learn more about application requirements, program schedule, and licensure at our open houses in October and March. Other available resources include a program interview on Community Matters, WGTD radio. We also encourage you to review the video testimony from a Clinical Mental Health Counseling graduate student.

CLINICAL MENTAL HEALTH FACULTY INTERVIEW

PROGRAM RESOURCES

PROGRAM OF STUDY (FULL-TIME)

PROGRAM OF STUDY (PART-TIME)

Frequently Asked Questions

What courses are considered social science?

Courses from the following academic disciplines are considered social science for the purposes of applying to the CMHC program at UW-Parkside: psychology, sociology, anthropology, criminal justice, communication, education, and political science. Other disciplines may be accepted.

What if I do not have a minimum of 18 undergraduate social science courses?

Applicants who do not meet the minimum social sciences requirement should e-mail Dr. Robtrice Brawner, Coordinator of CMHC Program cmhcgradprogram@uwp.edu.

What if I do not have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0?

Applicants with an undergraduate GPA between 2.75-2.99 may be admitted on a probationary status.

E-mail Dr. Robtrice Brawner, Coordinator of the CMHC Program cmhcgradprogram@uwp.edu. if you have questions about this requirement.

How do I find out if something is missing from my application?

You can check your "To Do List" in SOLAR for missing materials. Read the tutorial here.

You can also call the Office of Admissions at 262-595-2355 or email admissions@uwp.edu.

How will I find out the decision?

After all required application materials are submitted by the application deadline, a committee will review the application and make a decision. Typically within thirty days, decision letters are sent by email if the application is submitted by the deadline.

You may also call us to check the status of your application: 262-595-2355. A decision can only be shared directly with the student who applied.

PROGRAM CONTACT INFO

Robtrice Brawner | 262-595-2980 | cmhcgradprogram@uwp.edu

Robtrice Brawner, Ph.D., LCPC (MD)

Associate Professor

Dr. Brawner is a tenured Associate Professor and Program Director for the clinical mental health counseling (CMHC) program. She earned her doctoral degree in Counselor Education from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) and is a licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC) for the state of Maryland. She has been a practicing counselor for over 15 years to include almost 20 years in higher education.

Dr. Brawner began her career as a mental health therapist working in residential, school, and outpatient environments; and spent eight years working as a college counselor and administrator at Northern Virginia Community College. At the community college level, Dr. Brawner worked as a disability counselor, transfer and general advisor, personal and crisis counselor, teaching faculty member, and coordinator for programs designed to improve the retention of community college students. Prior to joining the faculty at UWP Dr. Brawner taught both masters and doctoral level counseling courses at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, DC campus and served as a department chair. Dr. Brawner is a member of the American Counseling Association (ACA) and has served as a co-chair of the ACA presidential targeted task force on LGBT individuals for the young adult age group. Dr. Brawner has been a member of the ACA Research & Knowledge committee, and a past chair of the Diversity and Inclusion committee for the ACA American College Counseling Association (ACCA).

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Aaron Carlstrom, PhD, LP

Associate Professor – Psychology

I co-advise the undergraduate certificate in Mental Health Skills, was a co-developer and former Program Director of the M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program, and past recipient of the Advising Excellent Award.

The courses I teach are in the areas of counseling and clinical psychology, at both the graduate and undergraduate levels, including courses in counseling theories, assessment, career counseling, and abnormal psychology.

My research interests are in vocational psychology and career development, with a focus on the connection between work, career development and mental health, and the evaluation of career development interventions.

Prior to joining UW-Parkside in 2012, I was a psychotherapist with the University Counseling Services, and an Assistant/Associate Professor in the Department of Special Education, Counseling and Student Affairs. I received a B.A. in psychology from Marquette University, and a M.S. in Educational Psychology-Community Counseling and Ph.D. in Urban Education-Counseling Psychology (APA Accredited) from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

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Sharazazi Dyson, PhD, LPC

Assistant Professor of Counseling

Sharazazi Dyson, Ph.D. LPC (IL), is an Assistant Professor of Counseling in the Psychology, Professional Counseling, and Neuroscience Department. She earned her doctoral degree in Counselor Education and Supervision from Northern Illinois University (NIU). Her research areas include power, race and ethics. As a counselor educator, Dr. Dyson is interested in culturally responsive teaching strategies and supervising. As a counselor, Dr. Dyson works with clients ranging from adults, minors, couples and families.

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