COUN 5000 - Introduction to Counseling

An orientation to the counseling profession; ethical and legal issues, counseling process, skills and theories; professional counselor roles, functions and work settings; and historical foundations of counseling. This course serves as an orientation to the counseling profession and to the clinical mental health counseling program. The course covers history, philosophy, and trends in clinical mental health counseling; roles, responsibilities, knowledge of clinical mental health settings and curriculum; legal and ethical issues; policies. laws, and legislation, and implications of sociocultural, demographic, and lifestyle diversity; and coordination of counseling program components as they relate to the total clinical mental health community. Students will learn about national standards, certification and licensure requirements.

NOTE: By participating in this course, students agree to endorse the professional ethical codes of their respective organizations (e.g., American Counseling Association) (3 credits)