Frequently Asked Questions

What Kind of Program Is It?

As a student in Walden University's M.S. in Mental Health Counseling program with a specialization in Trauma and Crisis Counseling, you will receive specialized instruction so you can offer support to individuals who are experiencing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder or who are coping with a life crisis, such as the loss of a loved one. While enrolled in the program, you will be able to take related online courses that focus on graduate-level counseling methods, human development theories, and crisis intervention techniques. You can expect to participate in skill-enhancing residencies, internships, and simulations as well.

What Are the Prerequisites?

If you are a potential candidate for the M.S. in Mental Health Counseling program with a specialization in Trauma and Crisis Counseling at Walden University, you must want to provide coping skills to families and individuals in crisis, and you should seek to help bring about positive changes in their lives. You must hold a bachelor's degree. Applicants may need to complete additional requirements for some programs.

What Are the Program Requirements?

Your coursework will focus on counseling and specialty areas as well as developing leadership skills. Following those studies, you must participate in a field experience. Degree program curriculum and credits are subject to change. Contact Walden University for the most current information before enrolling in a program.

Foundation Course Requirement

• Foundations for Graduate Study in Counseling

Core Course Requirements

• Introduction to Mental Health Counseling
• Ethics and Legal Issues in Counseling
• Counseling and Psychotherapy Theories
• Techniques of Counseling
• Multicultural Counseling
• Assessment in Counseling and Education
• Lifespan Development
• Diagnosis and Assessment
• Career Counseling
• Research and Program Evaluation
• Couples and Family Therapy
• Group Process and Dynamics
• Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation
• Substance Abuse Counseling
• Psychopharmacology
• Crisis, Trauma, and Disaster Response

Trauma and Crisis Counseling Specialization Course Requirements

• Vicarious Trauma and Compassion Fatigue
• Crisis Management

Field Experience Requirements

• Counseling Practicum
• Counseling Internship I
• Counseling Internship II

What Could I Do After I Graduate?

Career Opportunities

A degree such as the M.S. in Mental Health Counseling with a specialization in Trauma and Crisis Counseling can translate to a professional career. When you graduate from this program, you might consider pursuing the following positions:

• Mental health counselor
• Professional counselor
• Marriage and family therapist

Career options may require additional experience, training, or other factors beyond the successful completion of this degree program.

Advanced Degrees

It is possible for you to advance even beyond the master's level when you are seeking a career in counseling. Graduating with a master's degree in mental health counseling allows you to go on to pursue a Ph.D. in the subject. Degrees listed are not institution-specific but constitute a sampling of continuing education options for graduates. Degrees you could pursue include:

• Ph.D. in Counselor of Education and Supervision in Trauma and Crisis
• Ph.D. in Psychology with a concentration in Counseling Psychology

Find information on costs, occupation types, completion rates, and median loan debt for this program at http://waldendisclosures.com.

Walden University's M.S. in Mental Health Counseling is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), which is a requirement for licensure in many states. The M.S. in Mental Health Counseling program is designed to prepare graduates to qualify to sit for licensing exams and to meet the academic licensure requirements of many state counseling boards. Walden enrollment advisors can provide guidance on licensure issues, state-by-state educational requirements, and internship and practicum requirements; however, it remains the student's responsibility to evaluate and understand the licensure requirements for the state or international location in which he or she intends to work as requirements vary widely. Walden University makes no representation or guarantee that the completion of a degree or coursework for graduate credit will permit the student to obtain licensure.

Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association, www.ncahlc.org.