Counseling Programs Available at Lewis University

Lewis University has rigorous counseling programs that prepare you to succeed in a variety of professional settings. The university’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling master’s program stands out with its prestigious CACREP accreditation. The program earned recognition as the Illinois Counseling Association (ICA) Leo G. Bent Outstanding Counseling Program of the Year.

Your experience at Lewis will help you grow as a counselor, scholar, and ethical professional. You’ll learn about:

• Everything in personality theory, life span development, multicultural issues, counseling theories, and assessment
• Practical skills in interviewing, assessment, and counseling techniques
• Ways to understand client individuality and cultural sensitivity
• Professional identity and ethical behavior

The Clinical Mental Health Counseling program features two distinct concentrations that match your career goals. You can choose the Adult Clinical Mental Health Counseling concentration to work with adult clients in counseling settings of all types. The Child and Adolescent Clinical Mental Health Counseling concentration helps you work with younger clients and families.

Lewis University also offers an optional Addiction Studies component for Clinical Mental Health Counseling students. The university is first in Will County to offer this advanced training program. This specialization prepares you to take examinations for both Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor credentials.

Students interested in school settings can pursue graduate programs in School Counseling at Lewis University. These programs welcome both licensed teachers and non-licensed professionals. They follow State of Illinois guidelines to meet the growing need for qualified K-12 counselors.

The programs stand out because of their practical approach. You’ll learn from faculty who bring their ground experience from various counseling backgrounds to the classroom. The 700 practicum and internship hours give you hands-on experience that’s crucial for this challenging career.

The program’s success shows in its numbers. It boasts a 97% completion rate, an 87% acceptance rate, and an impressive 92-95% job placement rate. Graduates thrive in clinical mental health settings, hospitals, and private practice.

Classes meet one night weekly at the main Romeoville campus. You can take up to 50% of coursework online. This setup makes the program available to working professionals who want to advance their counseling careers.

What counseling programs does Lewis University offer?

Lewis University offers two counseling programs that match your career goals. The Clinical Mental Health Counseling Master of Arts program teaches you to help people with serious problems by applying theory and research in real-world settings.

The CACREP-accredited Clinical Mental Health Counseling program has two concentrations:

• Adult Clinical Mental Health Counseling – Prepares you to work with adult clients in counseling settings of all types
• Child and Adolescent Clinical Mental Health Counseling – Teaches you to work with children, adolescents, and families in different professional settings

Clinical Mental Health Counseling students can boost their credentials with an optional Addiction Studies component. As the first institution in Will County to provide this advanced training, the program prepares you to take both Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor examinations. This accredited program includes the required supervision and work experience.

The School Counseling Master of Arts program welcomes both licensed teachers and non-licensed professionals under State of Illinois guidelines. You’ll learn to help students with their academic, career, and social/emotional growth as outlined by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA).

Licensed teachers can earn a Master of Arts in School Counseling and become eligible for the Professional Educator License (PEL) with School Counselor Endorsement. If you have a bachelor’s degree but no teaching license, you can get both the master’s degree and complete coursework for Professional Educator License eligibility.

Both counseling programs give you valuable hands-on experience. The Clinical Mental Health Counseling program includes 700 practicum and internship hours to ensure detailed training before you start your career.

Graduates work in many settings, including clinical mental health facilities, substance abuse treatment centers, rehabilitation services, crisis intervention, grief counseling, marriage and family therapy, or military veterans’ support services.

Internships/Practicum at Lewis

Hands-on experience is the foundation of counseling education at Lewis University. The Clinical Mental Health Counseling program has 700 practicum and internship hours. You will get substantial hands-on training before starting your professional career. This extensive field experience helps you use theoretical concepts in ground clinical settings under professional supervision.

You will start placement procedures one semester before field education begins. The field director will meet you personally to help select suitable agencies for interviews. You and your agency field instructor will then arrange hours and schedules. Most placements need you to be available during standard business hours.

Your field experience will let you:

• Participate directly with clients in therapeutic settings
• Use assessment and intervention techniques
• Merge classroom knowledge with ground situations
• Develop professional identity under experienced mentors
• Build a portfolio of clinical experiences

Lewis University has mutually beneficial alliances with many social service agencies, nonprofit organizations, and government facilities throughout the Chicagoland area. These connections give you access to a variety of practice settings such as mental health centers, substance abuse treatment facilities, crisis intervention services, and family counseling agencies.

You must meet certain eligibility requirements. Most field education organizations run criminal background checks. Some also need drug screening, health physicals, or child abuse clearances. Students should maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5 and show professional conduct that meets ethical standards.

The field education experience matches your educational progress. First-year students use simple knowledge and skills within the generalist practice framework. Advanced placement students provide more specialized clinical services based on their chosen concentration.

Field education at Lewis follows strict standards set by accrediting bodies. Your internship hours will count toward licensure requirements. This complete approach to practical training substantially contributes to the program’s impressive 92-95% job placement rate for graduates.

What sets Lewis University apart?

Lewis University’s counseling programs have built their exceptional reputation on several factors that create a unique learning experience. The Clinical Mental Health Counseling program earned recognition as the Illinois Counseling Association (ICA) Leo G. Bent Outstanding Counseling Program of the Year. This achievement and the program’s prestigious CACREP accreditation will give a solid foundation that meets rigorous national standards.

Lewis University ranks prominently in multiple areas – #176 in Best Education Schools, #92 in Best Nursing Schools: Master’s, and #212 in Occupational Therapy. These rankings showcase the university’s dedication to excellence in disciplines of all types.

The program’s success shows in the numbers:

• 97% completion rate among students
• 87% acceptance rate for applicants
• 92-95% job placement rate for graduates

Lewis University pioneered advanced counseling training in Will County as the first institution to offer such a program. Students benefit from this 29-year old program’s deep community connections and placement relationships.

Lewis University’s Catholic and Lasallian heritage creates an environment where professional excellence meets service-oriented values. This faith-based mission encourages a diverse student community through associations and peer connections that serve various ethnic and social needs.

Students can access satellite campuses throughout the Chicago area. Lewis provides flexible scheduling with evening classes, and students can complete up to 50% of coursework online. This setup works great for busy professionals balancing work and personal life.

Yes, it is worth noting that instructor-practitioners teach Lewis University’s counseling programs. They bring their current clinical experiences into classroom learning, creating an environment where theory meets ground application. Students graduate with knowledge and skills that counseling professionals value.

Next steps

Want to start your counseling studies at Lewis University? You can complete your application in a few simple steps. The first step is to choose and submit the right application that matches your student category and program through Lewis University’s secure online portal.

The Clinical Mental Health Counseling program requires these materials:

• Official transcripts from all colleges attended
• Personal statement of professional goals
• Two letters of recommendation
• Evidence of 15 credit hours of psychology coursework (including statistics or research methods)
• Application fee

The admission team evaluates both your academic credentials and personal qualities. Your maturity and experience are key indicators of success. A 3.0/4.0 undergraduate GPA typically leads to full admission, though you might receive provisional admission in certain cases.

After reviewing your application, you’ll receive one of three enrollment statuses: full admission, provisional admission, or student-at-large status. Working professionals can take advantage of evening classes with flexible scheduling options.

Students can transfer up to 12 semester hours from other regionally accredited institutions toward their psychology program. These courses must have a grade of B or better.