School Adjustment Counseling for Mental Health Counselors Certificate

Prerequisites: CCP 520 and CCP 792A. (enrollment limited to 10.) This course is for students in the School Adjustment/Mental Health program who are in the second semester of an approved ESE/SAC School Internship. This course focuses on students’ mental health counseling practice which is conducted in an approved school setting. A minimum of 225 hours of internship experience are required under the supervision of a qualified supervisor (Massachusetts Regulations 262 CMR) and must also have ESE licensure as a School Adjustment Counselor. Goal(s) for each student will be established with their College internship instructor and site supervisor at the beginning of the experience. Casework, note taking, diagnostic and treatment planning will be analyzed and explored in the classroom with a focus on enhancing students’ clinical skills in these areas. Development of Behavior Intervention Plans based on Functional Assessments will be discussed as well as establishing groups in the school setting and evaluating their impact. Additionally, a review of the principles of therapeutic relationships, developing techniques for communicating and working with families, agencies/systems, and school and community personnel; and the use of supervision will be discussed. The diagnosis and treatment of learning and behavioral disorders, when to recommend an educational evaluation, an FBA, an IEP or a 504 will also be discussed. SAC interns will learn to develop plans for the prevention, treatment and referral of students engaged in legal or illegal substances, school violence, school crises and other situations. The completion of a portfolio demonstrating the student’s advancement through their program of study is required in this course. This course includes the fundamental occupational tasks of assessment, case presentation, case collaboration, team membership and client interaction. Onsite training supervised by a state-approved licensed/certified school adjustment counselor who also has clinical licensure as an LMHC, LICSW, LMFT, licensed psychologist, or psychiatrist is required.
The fieldwork experiences in this course address the following Massachusetts State Standards for School Adjustment Counselors: 3: A practicum of 900 hours, 450 of which must be working with children, adolescents, and families in an educational setting.
Standard a: Principles of therapeutic relationships. b. Theories of normal and abnormal intellectual, social, and emotional development c: Learning disorders, including emotional issues affecting student achievement, and their treatment. d: Prevention and treatment of substance abuse, physical and sexual abuse, and violence in PreK-12 students. e. Knowledge of state-of-the-art diagnostic instruments; procedures for testing and interpreting results. f Techniques for communicating and working with families and school personnel. g. Knowledge of the criminal justice system with particular reference to the juvenile justice system and organizations. h. Knowledge of medical conditions and medication related to physical disabilities and learning disorders. i. Federal and state laws and regulations addressing the legal rights of students and families