Clinical Mental Health Counseling, M.S.

The mission of the Counselor Education Program is to facilitate a holistic educational experience, through which students develop personal and professional qualities, competencies, ethical judgment, and spiritual awareness, as they prepare for professional service in school counseling, clinical mental health counseling, or for advanced study in a related field.

The heritage of Christian faith expressed in the University’s values and the knowledge discovered within the counseling and helping professions have shaped the Counselor Education Program’s “distinctively Christian and clinically professional” identity. Through a rigorous academic curriculum, field-based experiential learning, personal growth experiences, and close mentoring relationships with highly skilled faculty, students are prepared to enter the field of professional counseling in a wide variety of settings, including schools and universities, community agencies, private practices, humanitarian, and government agencies.

Located in culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse South and Central Florida, PBA’s counseling program attracts and serves a diverse student body representative of the local demographics.

To begin the application process, go to apply.pba.edu/apply.

Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click Create an account to create a new application. You will then take the following steps:

• Create a new graduate application

• • Select West Palm Beach OR Orlando as the campus/location
  • Select the Counseling degree as the focus
  • Select your entry term and year (Spring starts in January, Summer starts in May, and Fall starts in August).
  • Fill in your personal information.
  • Fill in contact information for recommendations. They will receive an email with instruction on submitting recommendations.
  • Submit the application.

• After submission, a checklist will populate that keeps you abreast of your progress toward the completion of your application. It will alert you once your transcripts and recommendations have been received. 
• Use the provided hyperlink to complete the required essay 
• Fully completed applications will be reviewed and interviews scheduled. See the interview schedule below.
• Admission decisions will be communicated to applicants within 72 hours of interviews.

Interview Session Schedule:

9:45 – 10 a.m.– Complimentary coffee/tea (optional).

10 a.m. – Group Interview Session  

• Introductions of faculty and all attendees
• PowerPoint presentation by faculty providing an overview of the program (specialization, concentrations, clinical experience, required courses, other assessments, class schedule, etc.)

• Individual interview with a program faculty member 

1:00 p.m. – Conclusion of interview session  

Students choose one of three specializations to complete the MS in Counseling degree. Specific courses required for each individual specialization can be found in the PBA Catalog.

• Clinical Mental Health Counseling specialization: Successful completion of the prescribed curriculum of 60 credit hours with a 3.0 cumulative GPA and a grade of “B” or higher in COU 5133 – Counseling Skills and Characteristics, COU 5123 – Legal, Ethical, and Professional Standards, and COU 5263 – Diagnosis and Treatment in Counseling, as well as practicum and internship courses; 700 hours of supervised practicum and internship under a supervisor approved by the program faculty; and an exit exam.
• School Counseling specialization: Successful completion of the prescribed curriculum of 60 credit hours with a 3.0 cumulative GPA and a grade of “B” or higher in COU 5133 – Counseling Skills and Characteristics, COU 5123 – Legal, Ethical, and Professional Standards, and COU 5233 – Psychosocial Issues of Childhood and Adolescence, as well as practicum and internship courses; 700 hours of supervised practicum and internship under a supervisor approved by the program faculty; and an exit exam.

Note: In addition to the graduation requirements specific to each major, student performance is assessed throughout the program in key performance indicators, overall progress, and professional dispositions, as outlined in the Counselor Education Handbook.

• (cost per credit hour and the entire program)
• $1,000 scholarship

Instruction is primarily offered in a traditional, residential format, with select courses being offered online. Courses specific to the Crisis and Trauma Counseling concentration and certificate program are offered entirely online. The Play Therapy concentration and certificate program courses are offered residentially, in a traditional setting. All programs, concentrations and certificates are available at both locations (West Palm Beach and Orlando).

Students can expect different forms of formative and summative assessment including but not limited to quizzes, exams, lecture, small-group discussion, presentations, research papers, role-plays, field experiences, and engagement in Canvas (PBA’s learning management system).

Learn more about your classes and requirements in the course catalog.

Pass Rates: 
Based on the student data from the 2017 cohort completion rate and credentialing exams: 
Using state licensure verification tools, provided by Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling, it was determined that 35/64 students obtained a license from the state of Florida. Some graduates were indicated as deceased, and some have remained registered interns – yet to be licensed. It is not known, at this time, how many (might) have sought/obtained a license in other states. Future outcome surveys will more accurately track this data, and also provide job placement rates.    

Completion Rate: 
Using the standard 150% model for reporting completion rates of students, the following represents the most recent Palm Beach Atlantic University Clinical Mental Health Counseling completion rate.

For the 2017 CMH Cohort, 20 students graduated within 150% of normal time to graduate and 4 did not (83% vs 17%). This is counting any student who started in 2017 under CMH and finished their master’s degree within 150% time. Not all finished under CMH but they did finish at PBA. The breakdown of programs completed by the CMH 2017 Cohort is as follows:

Job Placement Rates: 
Based on the NACE First-Destination Survey Template, for the class of 2020-21: of the 22 graduates, 8 reported to be employed (6 in full-time and 2 in part-time employment), earning an average salary of $45,000 annually. These outcomes are commensurate to the university’s Business Administration master’s program which reported the same number of graduates and employment rates.

• Kathryn Bosso, Ph.D., LMHC*
• Devie Forrester, Ed.D., Certified School Counselor*
• Philip J. Henry, Ph.D., Psychologist, Qualified Supervisor MHC*
• Lindsay Kozachuk, Ph.D.,*
• David A. Lawson, Psy.D., *
• Laura Rendon Finnell, LMHC-S, NCC, CCMHC
• Larry E. Shyers, Ph.D., LMHC-S, NCC*
• Steven Vensel, Ph.D., LCSW*

*Program core faculty

• Renee Risnear, Secretary, School of Education and Behavioral Studies
• Nicole Figueroa, Orlando Faculty Secretary
• Keith Dawson, Coordinator, Graduate Evening Online Student Services