Is the master's in Counseling Psychology program for me?

Our M.A. in Counseling Psychology program is for students who want to work as licensed mental health counselors in Washington state.

Choose the Couples and Family Therapy (CFT) specialization if you want to be a licensed marriage and family therapist. The CFT track can be added on to your M.A. in Counseling Psychology program or taken as a stand-alone series of classes if you already have a M.A.C.P degree.

What will I learn in the master's in Counseling Psychology program?

Your master's coursework will provide you with a broad-based clinical foundation for therapeutic work with clients. The internship experience will expose you to practical hands-on clinical client work and to the community mental health system. You'll come out of our program prepared to:

• Conduct clinical assessments and diagnosis
• Apply theory to clinical cases
• Write formal treatment plans
• Meet with other professionals in case consultations

What can I do with my master's degree in Counseling Psychology?

Upon successful completion of the M.A. in Counseling Psychology program, you will be qualified to apply for a Washington state associate license and work toward your Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) Certification. You'll be qualified to work in a variety of mental health settings, including non-profit counseling agencies, private counseling practices, managed care organizations and hospitals.

Why CityU?

• Because you want an education that's relevant to what's happening in the real world, right now.
• Our faculty teach what they do for a living, not just what's in the book. They're smart, successful people who can help you get there, too.
• You'll go through the program with the same group of students. We call it cohort learning. It's like a built-in support group.
• You can get an education without sacrificing your lifestyle. Attend class on Saturdays or in the evenings.

How to get started:

Do you have at least a bachelor's degree? If so, you're eligible to apply. Here's how:

1. Chat with an admissions advisor or call 888.42.CityU
2. Complete the M.A.C.P. admissions packet
3. Apply now
4. Order your official transcripts from other schools you attended
5. Submit application with application fee
6. Complete an interview with the program director or senior faculty member

Total Required Credits:		72
Core Courses:		49
CP 501	Introduction to Counseling Psychology Practice	5
This course provides an introduction to the fundamental skills needed to facilitate therapeutic change. Topics include interviewing skills, establishing a therapeutic alliance, and professional documentation. Students will be able to conduct a client interview using the foundational practices of the field.
CP 502	Systemic Theory: Diversity and Cultural Psychology	3
This course examines the effects of age, gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, power, and oppression on individuals, families, and the counseling relationship. Feminist and multicultural perspectives will be explored. Students begin this examination by focusing on their own cultural backgrounds.
CP 503	Psychology of Human Development	3
This course is an in-depth study of human growth and development. The major theories in the field are covered. Students explore paradigms of development that cover the stages of life in the context of Mental Health Counseling. Stages of life covered in this course range from conception, birth, infancy, childhood and adolescence, through young, middle, and late adulthood, to the experience of death and dying.
CP 525	Testing and Assessment	3
This course presents a survey of assessment techniques and instruments for personality, intelligence, achievement, interest and aptitude. Students learn to incorporate test results into written reports, conduct mental status examinations, and write detailed case conceptualization reports.
CP 510	Professional Ethics and Law	3
This course provides a comprehensive investigation of professional ethical and legal codes as they relate to the development of a professional identity. Areas of focus include responsibilities and liabilities, confidentiality, dual relationships, independent practice, managed care referrals, and inter-professional communication.
CP 511	Psychology of Loss and Grief	3
Psychological processes involved in bereavement are explored from a developmental perspective. Students will learn the techniques of effective loss and grief therapy, which remediates pathological grieving processes and facilitates healthy grieving processes, promoting new relationships and progress towards life goals.
CP 512	Family Systems Therapy	5
This course introduces systemic thinking and a variety of family therapy theories and interventions. Students explore stages in the family life cycle, learn to utilize the genogram as a therapeutic tool, and examine their own families of origin in order to deepen understanding of course material.
CP 513	Brief Therapy Models	3
This course provides an overview of the common factors inherent in all effective psychotherapy, and provides skill development in how to plan treatment that is time-sensitive, pragmatic, and outcome-focused.
CP 515	Psychopharmacology	3
This course explores current psychopharmacology as an integrated treatment modality for psychological problems. Topics include neurotransmission and psychopharmacology, clinical intervention strategies, and the referral process for psychopharmacological evaluation and treatment.
CP 529	Psychology of Addictions	3
This course provides an introduction to the theory, research and therapy practices in the field of Addictions. The course will provide the fundamental skills needed to conduct an assessment of Substance use, diagnose the appropriate stage of the Addiction process and to develop a treatment plan. Topics include the identification of drugs and the effect on individuals, theoretical perspectives, assessment and intervention.
CP 517	Psychopathology	4
This course is an investigation of psychopathology from a therapeutic perspective based upon observable patterns of behavior. Students develop skills in diagnostic assessment and case conceptualization. Case vignettes will be utilized to diagnose syndromes, etiology, treatment and prognosis.
CP 522	Psychology of Trauma and Interpersonal Violence	3
Students will develop therapeutic competency to engage with victims and perpetrators of violence in a process of change. Theoretical understanding and clinical competencies will include attention to social context, ethics, and legal implications, including analyzing social and psychological dimensions of power in interpersonal relationships.
CP 526	Counseling Psychology Theory	5
This course provides a comprehensive didactic and experiential exploration of various counseling theories and their relationship to practice.
CP 527	Group Counseling Psychology	3
This course provides both information regarding the group counseling process and experiential opportunity for students to learn group process theory and skills by participating as both members and as leaders. Students will explore the application of various group approaches to specific client populations and clinical settings.
CP 550	Comprehensive Examination	0
Please check back soon for the full description of this course.
Additional Required Courses:		17
CP 514	Research Methods and Statistics	3
This course, covering research in the social sciences, provides the context for the development of the ability to critically review as an informed counseling practitioner, scientific research in the mental health fields. This course will be helpful in research oriented papers that are done in several of the MACP courses.
CP 516	Human Sexuality	2
An exploration of research, theory and personal awareness of human sexuality and intimacy is provided in this course. Topics include parameters of sexual behavior, sexual physiology, and an overview of theories and techniques of sex therapy.
CP 518	Introduction to Career Counseling	1
This course provides an introduction to career counseling concepts, theories and techniques. The focus of the course is career assessment techniques and interpretation and use of career resources. Other topics include working with client populations with psychiatric disorders and/or physical disabilities.
CP 600	Child and Adolescent Counseling	3
An intense exploration of approaches to working with children and adolescents in therapy, this course emphasizes methods of integrating and applying systemic, developmental, and individual theories. Topics include: behavior problems, violence, drug and alcohol problems, school problems, suicide assessment, and family issues.
CP 604	Psychology of Aging	2
This course presents critical information for clinicians working with older adults. Current issues and pragmatic considerations, and their implications for treatment will be explored. Students will engage in study and discussions of social, generational, cultural, financial, medical, and ethical concerns specific to the older adult population. Prerequisites: MACP program.
CP 606	Couples Counseling	3
This course exposes students to relationship issues and therapeutic techniques grounded in empirically-based clinical findings. Current models of couples therapy will be explored. Students will learn to teach couples skills to strengthen and support their relationships.
CP 690	Integrative Research Project	3
This course integrates the student's overall program academic work. Students will write three papers that will address their Philosophy of Counseling, Self-Assessment of Self-As-Therapist, and Clinical Research Paper. The Clinical Research Paper will be based on their client work in their internship.
Internships/Practica: (Note: 250 client hours of internship are required for completion of the MACP program.)		6
CP 633	Internship	0
Students arrange clinical internships at local agencies or other approved settings, and deliver counseling services under the supervision of the internship site and the Practicum instructor.
CP 651	Practicum I*	2
The Practicum courses provide clinical experience and professional supervision beyond the student's internship setting. Students will have the opportunity to participate in group supervision, discuss internship issues, journal their client contact therapy work, and conduct professional clinical case presentations. Prerequisites: MACP Program.
CP 652	Practicum II*	2
The Practicum courses provide clinical experience and professional supervision beyond the student's internship setting. Students will have the opportunity to participate in group supervision, discuss internship issues, journal their client contact therapy work, and conduct professional clinical case presentations. Prerequisite: Admission to MACP program.
CP 653	Practicum III*	2
The Practicum courses provide clinical experience and professional supervision beyond the student's internship setting. Students will have the opportunity to participate in group supervision, discuss internship issues, journal their client contact therapy work, and conduct professional clinical case presentations. Prerequisites: Admission to MACP program.
Elective Courses (optional):
CP 599	Graduate Seminar-Independent Study (Special topics in counseling psychology will be explored in seminar, workshop or independent study formats.)	1-5
This is a variable credit course, credits vary from 1 to 5, depending on coursework. Offered as an Individual Learning Contract.
*Practicum courses are not taken concurrently; they may overlap with other advanced and elective courses.
Total credits required for the M.A. w/CFT Specialization		80
Couples and Family Specialization* (Optional):
CP 609	Special Issues in Treatment of Sexual Disorders	1
This course involves the study of current sexual behaviors and disorders addressed in clinical practice. Topics include sex addiction, addiction to internet pornography, and cybersex. The impact of these behaviors and disorders on intimate relationships, and models of clinical interventions will be examined.
CP 610	The AAMFT Code of Ethics	1
This course introduces students of couple and family therapy to the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy Code of Ethics. Areas of focus include responsibilities and liabilities, confidentiality, informed consent, and dual relationships
CP 632	Couple Family Therapy Internship	0
CP 632 is utilized to track both client hours and supervision hours for the student's internship work towards their CFT specialization. In addition, both student and supervisory evaluations will be submitted. The MACP internship log and the evaluations are to be given to the Internship Coordinator at the end of each quarter the student is in their internship.
CP 646	Practicum IV: Self of Therapist	3
This Practicum course is for MACP Couple and Family Therapy Specialization students enrolled in clinical internship. The course provides clinical experience and professional supervision beyond the classroom setting. It offers students the opportunity to participate in clinical case presentations, group supervision, and discussion of internship issues. In addition, each student will examine his/her self, namely, one's own strengths, challenges, beliefs and family of origin experiences that impact him/her in the role of counselor. This self examination is based on the belief of experts in the profession that the most critical element of a successful therapeutic process is the relationship of the client and the therapist. This belief leads to questioning the aspects of the therapist's personality that enhance as well as obstruct the therapy process. Through required reading and writing assignments, students will partake in a self reflective examination of their functioning in the role of the therapist.
CP 647	Practicum V: Systemic Interventions	3
This Practicum course is for MACP Couple and Family Therapy Specialization students enrolled in clinical internship. The course provides clinical experience and professional supervision beyond the classroom setting. It offers students the opportunity to participate in clinical case presentations, group supervision, and discussion of internship issues. In addition, each student will focus on the application of systemic theory in case conceptualization and treatment.