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CLINICAL MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING
GOES ONLINE

AT HODGES UNIVERSITY

S tudents interested in pursuing an online
master’s degree in clinical mental health
counseling (CMHC) now have the
opportunity thanks to Hodges University. In January
2017, the university launched a fully online program
for students looking to earn their degree but who
are unable to attend class on campus.
“Providing the same level of education and
learning, the online program will allow a greater
level of access for students who are unable to
attend classes on campus,” said Dr. Amber Pope,
clinical mental health counseling program chair at
Hodges University.
Students who enroll in the online CMHC
program will adhere to the same course requirements
as those enrolled in the current CMHC program,
which is offered in a hybrid format with traditional,
on-campus meetings, as well as online instruction.
All core and elective classes will contain at least three
synchronous sessions lasting two and a half hours DR. ALI WOLF
each. Students will also be required to complete
four residencies throughout the program. Each will the need in the state of Florida.
occur over the course of a Friday-Sunday weekend In addition to the online program, CMHC faculty are currently researching
and will require students to attend the residencies and developing educational strategies to provide enhanced training to students
on campus in order to receive the hands-on practice, who are bilingual and aspire to practice bilingual therapy. Dr. Tom Hofmann,
which is essential for the development of master’s Applied Psychology program chair and CMHC professor, stated, “We emphasize
level knowledge and skill. the advantages of overall diversity, and we understand the challenges of building
“It is our goal to provide a student-focused counseling fluency in more than one language.”
experience in an online program taught primarily by Hodges alumna and Applied Psychology adjunct faculty member Liana
core-faculty with extensive professional and academic Calderin explains the importance of this research, saying, “We live in a community
experiences. We want our online students to develop where, once you become a therapist, it is a strong possibility your clientele will not
an in-depth understanding of counseling practice be native English speakers.” She goes on to say, “There are two bilingual groups:
and theory, as well as be able to demonstrate high those who speak English and learn Spanish, and those who speak Spanish and
competency in counseling skills and interventions,” learn English. It is much more than learning the language, their culture and
said Dr. Ali Wolf, CMHC professor. background play a large role.”
In a survey conducted by current clinical Located in Hodges’ Nichols School of Professional Studies, the CMHC program
mental health counseling faculty at Hodges, is accredited through the Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related
local professionals and national mental health Educational Programs (CACREP). As of September 2016, Pope stated, “Since the
counseling programs believe their students and program’s inception in 2011, 44 students have graduated from the program and more
employees, who are not currently enrolled in a than 90 percent of our alumni, who were seeking employment as counselors, have
master’s program, would be interested in attending acquired full- or part-time employment in a counseling-related area.”
Hodges’ CMHC online program. By offering a To find out more information about Hodges’ clinical mental health counseling
completely online program, it would serve as the program, visit www.hodges.edu. You may also contact Dr. Amber Pope at apope@
only accredited online CMHC program fulfilling hodges.edu or Dr. Ali Wolf at awolf1@hodges.edu.

16 Life in Naples | February 2017