What our graduates say about the CAGS Program

Helen Packey, CAGS
Assistant Professor
Southern New Hampshire University
Manchester, NH

"I have truly enjoyed my CAGS experience. The flexibility and the opportunity to meet new people and to learn from them has been most rewarding. Sarasota has been a great experience so far. Everyone has been helpful, and the professors responsive and supportive, and I have learned a great deal. I might add that I have also worked very hard, maybe too hard in some cases, but I wouldn't change a thing! I can't wait to start the dissertation!"

Mental Health Counseling

Program Coordinator: Dr. Gail Mears, e-mail: gmears@plymouth.edu
Associate Professor of Counselor Education
B.A., Plymouth State College; M.Ed., CAGS, University of New Hampshire; Psy.D. Antioch University

This program is intended for two distinct groups of counselors who wish to be leaders in the field of mental health counseling.

1. Counseling professionals who hold a counseling master's degree that does not meet the educational requirements for licensure as a clinical mental health counselor in New Hampshire may be able to meet their educational licensure requirements through the CAGS strand in Mental Health Counseling. This program allows counselors with specializations in other areas such as school, human relations or rehabilitation to gain the specialized academic and field experiences required for clinical mental health counseling.
2. Already licensed clinical mental health counselors. The CAGS contains coursework targeted at leadership issues applicable to mental health counseling settings. The CAGS strand in Mental Health Counseling offers the opportunity for counselors who are already licensed or license-eligible to further their education and take specialized coursework in areas that will expand their areas of expertise.

Admission Requirements
There are two additional admissions requirements for the CAGS Mental Health Counseling concentration, beyond the standard CAGS requirements. First, prospective students need to meet with the Chair or program coordinator to undergo a curriculum review of candidates' previous master's degree to determine initial eligibility for the degree. Second, candidates for admission must have a personal, face-to-face interview with members of the admissions board. After candidates submit their application materials, they can set up an admissions interview by contacting the Counselor Education Administrative Assistant at (603) 535-2636.

Required Courses

Counselor Education Core
CO 7210 Ethical, Legal, and Professional Issues in Counseling - 3 credits
CO 7300 Counseling Supervision - 3 credits
EP 7050 Qualitative Methodology and Applied Research - 3 credits

Mental Health Specialization
CO 5770 Psychopathology: Disorders of Childhood, Adolescence, and Adulthood - 3 credits
CO 5700 Critical Issues: Mental Health Counseling - 3 credits
CO 5600 Introduction to Mental Health Counseling - 3 credits
CO 5790 Interventions in Mental Health Practice - 3 credits
CO 5130 Psychopharmacology and the Biological Basis of Mental Illness - 3 credits

Internship
CO 5880 Seminar and Internship in Mental Health Counseling - 9 credits

Total for CAGS in Educational Leadership, Counselor Education and School Psychology Strand – Mental Health Counseling - 33 credits

Candidates in the Mental Health Counseling strand may intern in any mental health organization that can provide the requisite clinical opportunities and clinical supervision. The Counselor Education program works with multiple organizations across New England.