The Saint Michael’s program in Clinical-Counseling Psychology prepares students for careers in mental health practice at the masters-level. As a program, we strive to promote empathy, self-reflection, cultural humility, and an appreciation for the intersectionality of identities. We work to increase our sensitivity and responsiveness to the role of discrimination in society and to address the impact of social determinants on health, including behavioral health.

Our 60-credit curriculum integrates science and practice, enabling our students to become informed consumers of psychological research, who can critically evaluate and apply empirical knowledge. We strive to train students to use current research to inform and evaluate their professional practice.

Students gain professional experience through their practicum and internship. The two-semester practicum course gives students an opportunity to work in a mental health setting under supervision and offers in-class group consultation weekly. The internship occurs during the final year of the program, with students providing mental health services under the supervision of a licensed mental health professional. Students spend 20 hours per week at their internship site, accumulating a minimum of 600 hours for the year. Weekly class meetings with an instructor supplement students’ on-site practice. Saint Michael’s students have completed practicum and internship at a variety of sites throughout the area including college and university counseling centers, community mental health agencies, and medical settings.

Full-time students may complete the program in two years. Part-time students may extend their time to complete the program in three or four years.

Annual Student Evaluations

Professional mental health providers demonstrate competence within and across a number of different dimensions. Programs that train professional helpers strive to protect the public and profession. Therefore, faculty, supervisors, and administrators have a duty and responsibility to evaluate the competence of students across multiple domains. In addition to performance in coursework, other aspects of students’ development and functioning (e.g., professional, interpersonal, and ethical) will also be evaluated throughout their time in the program.

Students submit a self-evaluation by February 1 of each spring semester. Faculty provide written feedback to students based on the student self-evaluation, grades, practicum and internship evaluation forms, and faculty feedback.

Advancement Through the Program

Successful advancement through the program is contingent upon satisfactory progress each semester, whereby students exhibit knowledge, skills, competencies, and behaviors required for graduation and professional practice.

In the event a student receives a B- or lower as a final course grade in any course, the student should contact the Program Director immediately. If the student’s grade is a B- or C, the Program Director and student will develop a Remediation Plan. The plan will serve as a contract between the student and Program Faculty. Failure to complete the plan may lead to dismissal from the program. Poor performance in another course may result in removal from the program even if the remediation plan is successfully completed. Students should consult the Graduate Catalog for information regarding student grades of C or below.

Student conduct which, in the opinion of the faculty or clinical supervisors, is the result of cognitive, affective, or behavioral impairment or which interferes with the training of other students or the welfare of clients, students, faculty, or supervisors may result in student dismissal from the program or remediation.

Comprehensive Exams

Students complete comprehensive exams the spring of their final year in the program. Comprehensive exams provide students an opportunity to integrate knowledge from course work and professional training experiences and involves demonstrating a reasoned synthesis, application, and communication of research, practice, and ethical standards. If a student does not pass comprehensive exams, a second administration is offered that semester. If a student does not pass a second administration, the student must wait until the fall semester for a re-administration of the exam.