The Professional Counseling Program leading to the Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MACMHC) or Marriage, Couple, & Family Counseling (MAMCF), or Addictions Counseling (MAAC) is designed to provide individuals who possess a knowledge base in the Bible the opportunity to pursue an integrated program of study, specifically in the professional fields of clinical mental health counseling, addictions counseling, and marriage, couple, and family counseling,
The concentrations in mental health counseling, addictions counseling, and marriage, couple, and family counseling provide individuals with theological distinctiveness, contemporary scholarship and professional counseling skills to serve within the local church, para-church organizations, counseling centers, personnel offices, hospitals, prisons, retirement centers, and a variety of human service settings. Each concentration emphasizes that every person is worth understanding and through a competent counselor, can achieve a marked difference in his/her life.
The MA degree is a total of 60 credits, qualifying students to meet the Pennsylvania requirements to sit for the PA counselor licensing exam.
The Practicum and Internship courses are a critical and integral component in the training of a well-equipped counselor. These courses provide students with the opportunity to utilize their classroom learning in counseling situations under the supervision of professional counselors.
Prior to practicum and internships, students must take the Counselor Preparation Comprehension Examination (CPCE) after completing Tier 1 and Tier 2 courses. The purpose of the exam is to assess the student’s knowledge of counseling to ensure minimum competence in the field.
Student group meetings, either face-to-face or online, will be held with a LBC faculty member for both courses. These meetings will review the student's counseling activity and issues, and provide for student presentations along with peer and faculty feedback.
The following requirements must be successfully completed in order to receive the Master of Arts degree:
Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Degree:
Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
The purpose of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program is to provide training that will give entry-level qualifications for mental health counseling opportunities, state licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor, and professional certification. The objectives for the program are:
• To equip the student with theoretical orientation that is necessary for assessment of the client’s learning, motivation, and character.
• To provide educational training to enhance the prospective counselor’s clinical skills necessary for individual therapy.
• To create within the student the ability to conduct critical thinking skills to evaluate theory and practice from a biblical perspective.
• To provide an emphasis on application of information and knowledge by means of supervised counseling experiences.
• To develop the student’s knowledge of the foundational elements in counseling theory and research to prepare students for further study.
Curricular Structure: The Clinical Mental Health Counseling program consists of 60 credits. The curriculum is designed as follows:
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Professional Core Courses
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15 Credits
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2nd Tier Professional Courses
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18 Credits
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3rd Tier Advanced Course
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15 Credits
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Professional Practice Courses
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9 Credits
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Elective Options
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3 Credits
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Program Total
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60 Credits
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Location Offered
Lancaster, PA
Pre-Program Candidacy Requirements
Biblical and Theological Foundational Courses
Students must complete all the Biblical and Theological Foundation courses before the practicum. Some exemptions are possible. Students without the 30 credits of Bible/Theology but who have taken 9 credits of Old Testament, New Testament, or Theology courses are exempt from taking the respective Biblical and Theological Foundation Courses. Likewise, a 3 credit course in Hermeneutics will exempt students from BTC 561. At the time of admission, an evaluation will be done of the students’ transcripts, and students will be informed of which courses they are exempt from taking.
The following four Biblical and Theological Foundation Courses are each 1 credit courses and are included with each semester’s roster of courses.
Counseling Prerequisites Required before any Classes
Six undergraduate credits of counseling/psychology are required before any graduate work can commence.
Noncredit program requirements
Candidacy Requirements
Therapist evaluation of MMPI-2 and 16PF-taken immediately after preliminary acceptance phase AND evaluated by counseling department faculty before registering for your 6th course (including transfer credits)
Background clearances which includes PA criminal background check, child abuse clearance, and FBI fingerprinting record must be submitted before registering for your 6th course
Candidacy: must be granted before registering for your 6th course (including transfer credits), see Handbook for details (requires current child abuse clearance, criminal background check, and FBI fingerprinting record)
| BTC 521 | Biblical Narrative - Old Testament | 1 |
| BTC 531 | Biblical Narrative - New Testament | 1 |
| BTC 561 | Biblical Interpretation | 1 |
| BTC 571 | Introduction to Christian Theology | 1 |
Counseling Prerequisites Required before any Classes
Six undergraduate credits of counseling are required before any graduate work can commence.
Noncredit program requirements
- Orientation Seminar (0 credits)
- Therapist evaluation of MMPI-2 and 16PF-taken immediately after preliminary acceptance phase AND evaluated by counseling department faculty before registering for your 5th course (including transfer credits)
- Candidacy: must be granted before registering for your 5th course (including transfer credits), see Handbook for details (requires current child abuse clearance & criminal background check)
Professional Core (15 Credits)
| CPS 501 | Orientation to Professional Counseling Identity, Function & Ethics | 3 |
| CPS 508 | Counseling Skills in Helping Relationships | 3 |
| CPS 515 | Counseling Theory and Techniques | 3 |
| CPS 530 | Professional Ethics and Legal Issues in Counseling | 3 |
| CPS 541 | Group Counseling Leadership Skills | 3 |
The 15 credits of the Professional Core must be taken in order to be granted candidacy.
2nd Tier Professional Courses (18 Credits)
| CPS 505 | Research and Program Evaluation | 3 |
| CPS 510 | Human Growth and Development across the Lifespan | 3 |
| CPS 525 | Assessment Techniques in Counseling I | 3 |
| CPS 531 | Psychopathology & Counseling | 3 |
| CPS 583 | Multicultural Foundations of Counseling | 3 |
| CPS 588 | Career and Lifestyle Development | 3 |
The 18 credits of the 2nd Tier Professional courses can only be taken after being granted Candidacy.
CPS 505: For Students without a previous statistics course; they will need to take a pre-statistics assessment on eCampus to assess their level of pre-statistics understanding. This assessment will be taken on a Counseling & Social Work Department computer. If the student scores a 70% or higher, they would be eligible to register for CPS 505 Research and Program Evaluation or PSC 504 Statistical Methods for School Counselors. Should they score lower than 70%, the student would be required to take MAT 216 Statistics for the Social Sciences prior to taking CPS 505 or PSC 504. Students who have already taken a statistics course in their undergraduate experience in which they received a final grade of at least 70% are free to register for CPS 505 or PSC 504.
3rd Tier Professional Courses (15 Credits)
| CPS 546 | Theories of Personality | 3 |
| CPS 551 | Assessment Techniques in Counseling II | 3 |
| CPS 553 | Counseling & Psychotherapy for the Individual | 3 |
| CPS 572 | Counseling Addictions | 3 |
| CPS 575 | Counseling Children and Adolescents | 3 |
Tier 3 Advanced and Professional Practice courses can be taken only after being granted Candidacy and completion of Tier 1 and Tier 2 Professional Courses. CPCE exam must be taken upon completion of Tier 1 and 2 but prior to practicum and internships.
Professional Practice Courses (9 Credits)
Tier 3 Advanced and Professional Practice courses can be taken only after being granted Candidacy and completion of Tier 1 and Tier 2 Professional Courses. CPCE exam must be taken upon completion of Tier 1 and 2 but prior to practicum and internships.
Elective Options (3 Credits)
| CPS 514 | Psychopharmacology | 3 |
| CPS 517 | Biopsychology | 3 |
| CPS 540 | Marriage Counseling & Psychotherapy | 3 |
| CPS 545 | Counseling the Older Adult | 3 |
| CPS 550 | Family Counseling & Psychotherapy | 3 |
| CPS 552 | Marriage and Family Issues | 3 |
| CPS 573 | Advanced Addictions Treatment Methods | 3 |
| CPS 577 | Human Sexuality | 3 |
| CPS 586 | Advanced Applied Research Practicum | 3 |
Electives can be taken only after completing 2nd Tier Professional Courses and being granted candidacy. Electives may be taken at other times: fall semester, winter term, spring semester, or summer.
Counseling Admissions and Candidacy Process
Program Admission Criteria
The application process for the M.A counseling programs has four phases: Initial application phase (IAP), interview phase (IP; parts 1-3), preliminary acceptance phase (PAP), and candidacy phase (CP).
Initial Application Phase (IAP) requires submission of the following items:
- Online application form with $40 application fee.
- Personal statement of spiritual journey and statement of faith
- Two professional references completed online by their applicant’s supervisor(s) and their pastor
- Transcript of an accredited Bachelor’s degree (and grad. transcripts if seeking transfer credit approval).
- The TOEFL examination is required only if English is not the applicant's native language or if the applicant has not completed a degree program taught in English. TOEFL scores must be from tests administered within two years of the application deadline. The official TOEFL score report must be sent directly from the Educational Testing Service.
- Individuals seeking admission to the MA program must complete each step of the application process by submitting a complete application by:
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Fall Semester Start
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August 1
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Spring Semester Start
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December 1
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Summer Semester Start
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April 1
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To apply online, go to the following link: https://www.LBC | Capital.edu/capital/admissions/
Current LBC | CAPITAL undergraduate students who are pursuing Counseling Majors and wish to apply for the 5-year grad school program will go through a similar process the semester immediately following their completion of 45 credits. Applications for these students must be completed and submitted by:
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Fall Semester Start
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April 19
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Spring Semester Start
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November 11
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Upon review of application materials, prospective students will be contacted by the Counseling Department within one week for the application interview.
IAP Grading Rubric:
20 possible points
- Professional Reference 1 completed online (max 5 points)
- Professional Reference 2 completed online (max 5 points)
- Undergraduate GPA - (max 5 points) –
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4.0-3.75 = 5
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3.5-3.74 = 4
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3.25-3.49 = 3
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3.0-3.24 = 2
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2.75-2.99 = 1
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- Autobiographical Statement of Faith (max 5 points)
Those accepted at this phase will be welcomed to the campus for the interview phase.
Interview Phase Part 1 (IP1):
The prospective student is invited for an on-campus interview with the admission committee. Before the meeting, the applicant is asked to type a 1-page scholarly paper using APA format in Microsoft Word reviewing articles given to them that day. Writing samples help us assess for graduate-level skills related to comprehension, adaptability, critical thinking, and scholarly writing (max 10 points).
Interview Phase Part 2 (IP2):
After completion of the writing sample, the student has to appear before the admission committee for a face-to-face interview. During the interview process, the committee assesses interpersonal skills, critical thinking, and self-awareness (max 5 points).
IP Grading Rubric:
15 possible points
Part 1 (max 10 points)
Part 2 (max 5 points)
-A score of 11 or higher is required for admission. Those who have met the interview criteria will be welcomed to the preliminary acceptance phase.
Preliminary Acceptance Phase (PAP):
This phase enables provisional acceptance to the graduate program. During this phase, the new MA Counseling student will need to take the following four courses:
- CPS 501: Orientation to Professional Counseling Identity, Function & Ethics
- CPS 508: Counseling Skills in Helping Relationships
- CPS 515: Counseling Theory & Techniques
- CPS 530: Professional Ethics and Legal Issues in Counseling
- CPS 541: Group Counseling Leadership Skills.
In addition to the requirement of a grade of B or higher, each student will be rated by their professors on various interpersonal and academic performance standards. The student will then meet with their academic advisor under being deemed academically and interpersonally fit to continue to the candidacy phase. Should the student not meet the above expectations, an individual remediation plan tailored to the student’s growth needs will be developed. If the student does not satisfy the requirements of the remediation plan, they will be dismissed from the program.
Candidacy Process:
In addition to the requirement of a grade of B or higher, each student will be rated by their professors on various interpersonal and academic performance standards in each of the Tier 1 courses. Students have to complete the following requirements before scheduling the candidacy meeting.
Students’ academic performance, interpersonal characteristics, and behavior are monitored throughout the program.
New students begin the program in the Preliminary Acceptance Phase (PAP). During this phase, the new MA Counseling student will need to display academic fitness and interpersonal fitness through the following four 1st Tier courses:
- CPS 501 Orientation to Professional CNS Identity, Function, & Ethics
- CPS 508 Counseling Skills in Helping Relationships
- CPS 515 Counseling Theories and Methodologies
- CPS 530 Professional Ethics and Legal Issues in Counseling
- CPS 541 Group Counseling and Leadership Skills
Students are required to earn a grade of B or higher in each of the five PAP courses. Each student will also be rated by their PAP course professors on various interpersonal and academic performance standards via the Critical Competencies Review form. The student will then meet with their academic advisor under being deemed academically and interpersonally fit to continue to the candidacy phase. Should the student not meet the above expectations, an individual remediation plan tailored to the student’s growth needs will be developed. If the student does not satisfy the requirements of the remediation plan, they will be not permitted to move forward in the program.
Students who complete the PAP portion of the program move on to the candidacy phase.
Candidacy Phase (CP)
To ensure the student’s socio-emotional and behavioral fitness for the profession, they will be required to take the MMPI-2 and the 16PF no later than the semester following approval of academic and interpersonal competence as noted above. The student will also be interviewed by a faculty member, and test results will be interpreted collaboratively by full-time faculty. Recommendations germane to findings will be generated and the advisor will meet with the student to communicate this information. Examples of recommendations include but are not limited to:
Clearances
Two (2) background checks are required prior to your candidacy interview (more information below) and are necessary for approval for field placement in an educational setting.
- PA Child Abuse Clearance (ACT 151)
- PA Criminal Background Check (ACT 34)
- Proof of completed Mandated Reporter Training
Personality and Career Assessment: These assessments are required and reviewed in order to ensure the student is at a socio-emotional and behavioral level fit for the profession.
- MMPI-2: Before exiting the Pre-Candidacy phase, the student will need to obtain a personality evaluation, comprising of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory – 2nd Edition Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF). The student’s advisor will review the results of this assessment and discussed at the Candidacy interview. The results of the personality evaluation may verify the student’s continuation within the program and/or evidence a need for additional counseling, or it may show evidence that another area of pursuit would be in the student’s best interest. Failure to complete this requirement will result in the student’s inability to take additional courses.
- 16-PF: The student is also required to take the 16-Personality Factors Assessment. The assessment is reviewed with the student during the candidacy interview. We utilize the Human Resource Development Report that will assess your personality and the associated relationship with common workplace factors to ensure that your chosen career path correlates with common counseling environments.
After the required assessments are completed and all materials received by the Department Assistant, the student will be allowed to schedule an appointment to be interviewed for Candidacy. This meeting is an intentional pause to assess academic, intrapersonal, and interpersonal fitness to continue in the program. During the Candidacy meeting, the student will be interviewed by the Program Director. The interview will consist of review current grades in the core courses, review of interpersonal and academic rating (via a standardized form) completed by all four professors, overall program fit, and the results of the MMPI-2 and the 16 PF.
Based on the results of the Candidacy meeting, recommendations germane to findings will be generated. Examples of recommendations include but are not limited to:
- Formal approval as socio-emotionally, academically, and behaviorally fit for advancement to Candidacy.
- Provisionally fit for Candidacy IF various recommendations are followed
- Temporary hiatus from additional classes until requirements have been satisfactorily fulfilled.
- Unfit for candidacy and dismissal from the program.
PHONE: 717.569.7071 ext. 5455 | EMAIL: rkuehner@lbc.edu
Judson C. Buckwalter, MA
Freeman M. Chakara, PsyD
Ryan M. Kuehner, PhD
Gary L. Troxell, EdD
Justin D. Charles, PsyD
In Pennsylvania the academic requirement to be a Licensed Professional Counselor is 60 credits. The licensure test is administered by the National Board of Certified Counselors. Students, who have completed the MA with only 48 credits have the option to pursue 12 additional course credits for licensure in order to meet PA educational requirements for licensure examination. Students must declare their intention and submit application for admission to master-level coursework for state licensure (non-degree) to the Program Director Dr. Ryan Kuehner, PhD.(rkuehner@lbc.edu). Application will be reviewed by the Director of the Professional Counseling program.
Additional information about the Pennsylvania Licensed Professional Counselor is available at http://www.dos.pa.gov/ProfessionalLicensing/BoardsCommissions/SocialWorkersMarriageanFamilyTherapistsandProfessionalCounselors/Pages/default.aspx#.VT7xiCFViko.