The counseling programs provide coursework and experiential training designed to prepare individuals as professional counselors. Specifically, the Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) Program provides students with training in the prevention, assessment, and treatment of individuals dealing with mental health problems.  Individual, group, and family therapy are focused upon in this specialization.  The curriculum is based upon the academic requirements for licensure in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in the State of Indiana.

In addition to the above broad goals, the clinical mental health program has four further objectives.

• to provide a broad background in fields specifically connected with clinical mental health counseling;
• to encourage ethical application of scientific knowledge and an investigative approach to the understanding of psychopathology and the practice of clinical assessment and intervention;
• to prepare students for clinical practice through extensive course work in counseling theory and process and through intensive involvement in supervised practice; and
• to develop a professional counseling identity through pursuit of appropriate certification, licensure, organizational affiliation, and ethical conduct

The 60 credit CMHC program is specifically designed for students who plan to meet licensure requirements in the State of Indiana (or states having similar requirements) as a Mental Health Counselor.

VU's CMHC program is the only such program of its kind in the region housed within a psychology department, and the CMHC degree is the only counseling specialty that leads to licensure.

Curriculum Overview

More information on the program can be found in the Graduate Catalog and Student Handbook.

Click on the "Prospective Students" link to learn more about applying for a degree program.

If you have any questions you may email the Director of Counseling and Psychology Graduate Programs, Dr. Jim Nelson.