Human Development & Psychological Counseling

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HPC Dept Home > Community Counseling > Overview

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the RCOE/HPC Community Counseling program is to develop a community of practice that will support graduate students enrolled in HPC courses to move from novice towards entry level mental health practitioners through the process of socially meaningful activities that develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to become effective, ethical and competent counselors with diverse clients across the human spectrum.

Download the Community Counseling Program Handout

COMMUNITY COUNSELING PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

The Community Counseling Master of Arts Program at Appalachian State University is designed to meet The State of North Carolina Licensed Professional Counselor and National Certified Counselor standards and to prepare counselors for a wide variety of human service agencies, including, mental health centers, social service agencies, educational institutions, private practice, government, business and industry. The Masters of Arts in Community Counseling is a 60 hour program providing core CACREP curriculum and emphasis training in community counseling, addictions counseling, expressive arts therapy, body centered therapy or marriage and family counseling. The community of practice combines classroom instruction with structured practical experiences to prepare students as counselors. The program is designed to accommodate full and part time students with experience in human services, either as a paraprofessional or professional prior to entering the program. The faculty and students work together to create an inclusive environment that fosters personal and professional growth and development.

The program attempts to produce counselors who are leaders and advocates as they carry out their roles in counseling, consultation, and coordination. Students will demonstrate an understanding of appropriate skills and attitudes involving:

1. The nature and needs of individuals at all developmental levels; normal and abnormal human behavior; personality theory within cultural contexts.
2. Societal changes and trends; human roles; societal subgroups, noting specific cultural, historical, political and sociological influences; social mores and interaction patterns; and differing life styles.
3. Historical and philosophic bases of helping processes; counseling theories and their applications; helper self-understanding and self development; the facilitation of the stages of change in clients; counseling theories and their application to clients across the lifespan.
4. Group development, dynamics, and counseling theories; group leadership styles; group counseling methods and skills; and other group approaches.
5. Career development theories; occupational and educational information sources and systems; career and leisure counseling, guidance, and education; lifestyle and career decision-making; and career development program planning, resources and evaluation.
6. Group and individual educational and psychometric theories and approaches to appraisal; data and information gathering methods; validity and reliability; psychometric statistics; factors influencing appraisals; and use of appraisal results in helping processes.
7. Types of research; basic statistics; research-report development; research implementation; program evaluation; needs assessment; and legal and ethical considerations.
8. Professional roles and functions; professional goals and objectives; professional organizations and associations; professional history, trends; ethical and legal standards; professional preparation standards; and professional credentialing.
9. The foundations of community counseling including history, philosophy, trends, purpose and objectives, ethics, legal aspects, standards, and roles within agencies.
10. Specialized studies related to the roles of community counselors and the particular setting and client population with which students intend to work.

EXPECTATIONS:

Program faculty expects students to demonstrate professionalism and a commitment to:

1. Gaining the necessary knowledge as identified in program objectives.
2. Understanding and applying appropriate professional and ethical standards.
3. Developing facilitative interpersonal skills.
4. Developing the personal qualities necessary to integrate and apply their knowledge and skills.
5. Displaying evidence of good judgment and appropriate emotional functioning prior to contact with clients in any practicum or internship. Those students who are recovering from a personal addiction to alcohol or drugs are expected to have 12 months of continuous sobriety prior to registering for the Practicum in Counseling and 15 months of continuous sobriety prior to registering for the internship.

ACCREDITATION

The Community Counseling (M.A.) program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), a specialized accrediting body. Graduates are eligible to take the examination of the National Board for Certified Counselors, Inc. with successful completion qualifying the individual to become a National Certified Counselor (NCC).

PERSONNEL

Sally Atkins, Ed.D, Geri Miller, Ph.D., and Keith Davis, Ph.D. (program coordinator) plus other personnel (mental health professionals, and intern/practicum supervisors). The community counseling program committee meets periodically with department faculty, mental health professionals and an advisory board. The Community Counseling program committee has the responsibility for developing and carrying out the objectives of the community counseling program.