Program Outcomes

Program Outcomes

Professional Counseling Orientation and Ethical Practice

Counselors-in-training will develop as ethical and competent clinicians with a strong counselor identity in accordance with American Counseling Association ethical standards, to prepare for careers as counseling professionals who advocate on behalf of the profession and promotes client equity and access.

Social and Cultural Diversity

Counselors-in-training will demonstrate knowledge and self-awareness of socially, culturally, and spiritually appropriate skills and practices in professional counseling that promote social justice, advocacy efforts and minimize barriers between counselors and clients.

Human Growth and Development

Counselors-in-training will apply theories, etiology of human growth and development, relevant environmental factors and ethical strategies to promote optimum wellness for diverse clients across the lifespan.

Career Development

Counselors-in-training will apply career development theories, decision-making models, vocational, and occupational information and to develop strategies for supporting and advocating for clients in relation to their unique career development, industry information and identified opportunities within a global economy.

Counseling and Helping Relationships

Counselors-in-training will demonstrate essential and applicable counseling techniques and culturally relevant strategies as well as theories, models, and skills for client consultation, treatment, intervention and prevention.

Group Counseling and Group Work

Counselors-in-training will apply knowledge of therapeutically appropriate strategies for effectively forming and facilitating group counseling and group work in a variety of settings with a diverse range of clients

Assessment and Testing

Counselors-in-training will demonstrate ethical and appropriate intake, assessment, case conceptualization, diagnosis, treatment planning, documentation and clinical treatment to properly serve clients across multicultural perspectives.

Research and Program Evaluation

Counselors-in-training will evaluate and incorporate ethically and culturally relevant evidence-based research findings when selecting strategies for prevention, intervention, treatment and program evaluation.

Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Counselors-in-training will utilize community resources, referral sources, and case management services in accordance with their role as clinical mental health counselors, including situations involving trauma, crisis or risk to client wellbeing. To prepare future CMHC to provide wellness and holistic based services to clients who seek help with everyday life concerns as well as those who struggle with significant emotional, cognitive, developmental and behavioral challenges.

Professional Practice

Counselors-in-training will develop culturally relevant clinical skills and strategies for best practice through supervised practicum and internship experiences and an integration of the knowledge and skills needed to be successful as practicing counselors and client advocates.

State Specific Educational Requirements

Counselors-in-training will attain specific and added educational requirements, necessary for licensure, that may be outlined by their intended state of licensure.

Program & Completion Rates

At Sacred Heart University, the counselor education department offers two programs: clinical mental health counseling (CMHC) and school counseling. During the most recent academic cycle, we had total enrollment of 167 students, with 148 in the CMHC program and 19 in the school counseling program.

To date, the CMHC program has graduated 59 students, and the school counseling program will graduate its first students in spring 2025. The program completion rate was 100% for the CMHC program. Graduates of our programs excel in licensure exams, with a 100% pass rate for the National Counselor Examination (NCE). Job placement rates during this period were 100% for CMHC graduates.

Sacred Heart University’s programs are comprehensive and rigorous, requiring 60 semester hours for both the CMHC and school counseling tracks. The CMHC program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), ensuring the highest standards in counselor education.

2023-2024 Summary Table

2022-2023 Summary Table

*Program began during the 2023-2024 academic year