POSTED BY; MLELWA PIERY. G

COMMUNITY COUNSELING FOCUS ON THE SCHOOLS POPULATION

Community counseling focuses on professional counseling for a particular population, group or unit. Usually, community counselors work with families, but they can also work with a certain social group or even an individual. Generally, those who work in this field are responsible for analyzing and advising client behavior.

Master of Science in Community Counseling

In a community counseling degree program, students learn about human behaviors and characteristics as well as how to categorize behaviors as abnormal or normal. Understanding mental health issues is the crux of this program. Though this is a specified program in community counseling, students acquire general counseling skills as well. However, because the program is specialized, students also learn how to apply those counseling techniques and practices to a very diverse group of people.

Generally, this program also prepares students to sit for the National Counselors Examination. The exam is administered by the Council Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Before students can begin a career in counseling they must past this exam. However, if students want to sit for the Licensed Professional Counselor of Mental Health (LPCMH) exam, they must specialize in mental health counseling.

Education Prerequisites

To enter this degree program, students are only required to have an undergraduate degree from an accredited university or college. The undergraduate major does not matter. However, most programs require the student to have had experience in helping people. This can include volunteering in shelters or food banks or participating in a mentoring program. The admissions board requires a statement of why the student wants to become a professional counselor. A clear explanation of how past experiences helping people lead to wanting a career in counseling is expected.

Program Coursework

The programs core courses focus on theories in counseling, human behavior, research techniques and psychology. These core courses provide students with a foundation in counseling. Once students complete the core courses, students can choose a specialization. Core courses include:

• Counseling theories and techniques
• Principles of community counseling
• Counseling groups and individuals
• Family counseling
• Human development and psychology
• Life and career development counseling
• Cultural diversity and counseling
• Diagnosis and treatment planning
• Interpersonal skills and development

After finishing these core courses, students usually pick a specialization like mental health, family counseling or career development counseling. Also, students spend an academic year gaining field experience. Students gain this experience after they take their core courses. Successful completion of the field experience is required to graduate and to sit for either the CACREP or the LPCMH exam.

Popular Career Options

By design, this degree program is specialized. It is a counseling program that teaches students about a particular form of counseling. As a result, students are expected choose from a few career tracks. These tracks include:

• Mental health/crisis management counselor
• Child and family counselor
• Career development counselor
• Life planning counselor or coach
• Marriage or relationship counselor