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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN

Professional Development Plan and Program of Study

Student N. Class

Walden University

Counselor Identity Statement

I respect diversity, value and understand how nature and nurture mold and shape us into the unique individuals we are. I vow to make a difference through counseling, educating and evaluation of those that I come in contact with. Through self-awareness I am better able to relate, recognize, and value differences. Helping, those from upbringings who lacked support and guidance, as I did is a lifetime dream that keeps me motivated to push forward while being respectful and responsive to all walks of life. To promote optimum mental and emotional health, meaningful change is the ultimate goal. While remembering where I came from, knowing the journey that lays ahead. Helping those make good life choice. Challenging yet rewarding.

Professional Development Plan

This is where to introduce the purpose and format of the paper. Make sure to mention the degree you are seeking and your expected graduation date. Remember to note the date this professional development plan is written.

Professional Development

In this section (which is to be two to three paragraphs) be sure to address the following questions. Why are you obtaining your MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling? What factors motivate you to complete your degree and excel in your career as a counselor? How do you intend to begin/continue your growth within the counseling field? Name a professional conference you would like to attend. Research the conference to obtain and include dates, locations, etc. Name a professional topic you would be interested in presenting at a conference. Identify ways in which you plan to participate in scholarly writing at the local, regional, and/or national level and when you would like to have achieved this. Identify ways in which you plan to participate in leadership opportunities. Identify how you plan to review and understand the entire ACA Code of Ethics and when in your academic career this will be achieved. Identify associations you plan on joining (American Counseling Association/your state counseling association/ Association of Mental Health Counselors), what divisions you plan to join, and when you plan to join.List continuing education opportunities you can engage in after graduation. Identify potential struggles or challenges you might encounter related to the intersection of your personal and academic life; what areas of your personal life do you feel might create barriers to your success academically and professionally? Describe how you anticipate these stressors might impact your academic career and discuss how you will manage those factors successfully. Include at least two strategies you could use to help manage stress and positively impact your overall wellness.

You will likely need at least three paragraphs to address all of these questions. Feel free to use more levels of headings to help the flow of this section. This will help you separate the paper into sections to address the various prompts to be included in the body of the text. A secondary benefit of using headings is that they also help you separate your main ideas. Please see the APA examples in doc sharing for how to use headings. Or, see page 62-62 in the APA 6th edition manual for a written explanation as well as pages 41-51 for visual examples. You could also reference The Walden University Writing Center for the APA levels of heading presentation from the writing center.

Clinical and Curricular Training

In this section, include the expected dates (term and year) to

  1. Attend residency I: term, year
  2. Attend residency II term, year
  3. Begin practicum: term, year
  4. Begin Internship: term, year
  5. Complete all Internship requirements: term, year

Plan of Licensure and Certification

Please review your state licensure requirements to obtain information about your educational, supervision, exam, and any other requirements. Include your Licensure Plan below in paragraph form. Use this link to obtain contact information and licensure requirements for your state. Identify at least 3 possible facilities in which to complete your Practicum and Internship.

Educational Requirements

In this paragraph list the educational requirements for your state including (a) degree required, (b) any required accreditations, and (c) continuing education. You may be seeking additional credentials; if so, list any additional educational requirement here. Please also complete the course chart that follows. This chart is to help you identify courses required by your state for licensure and the equivalent courses offered in your program at Walden (i.e. those courses on the right side of the chart should correspond to those on the left). Be sure to identify any courses you may need to add to your program as electives. This comparison will be required when you apply to take the licensing exam.

Courses required by your State / Courses required in your program
  1. [McD1]

Supervision Requirements

In this section list the supervision requirements for your state including (a) supervision required in practicum, (b) supervision required for internship, and (c) supervision required post-masters degree. Please also include (d) if any supervision hours from your Walden internship that your state will count towards your post-masters supervision hours, (e) required credentials for your supervisor (e.g. LPC or LMHC), (f) any other regulations set by your state.

Exam Requirements

In this section (a) identify the exam(s) you need to sit for to proceed with the state licensure process, (b) when you are eligible to take the exam(s), (c) exam fees, (d) when/where the exam is offered, (e) any other pertinent information.

Additional Requirements

Include additional requirements that are necessary in your state for you to proceed with the licensure process (e.g. post degree experiential hours needed to sit for licensure).

Licensure and Certification

In this section please include your goal dates to complete

  1. National Counselor Exam/State Licensure Exam/National Clinical Mental Health Counselors Exam: month, year.
  2. National Counselor Certification/National School Counselor Certification/National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Certification (choose the appropriate ones): month, year.
  3. Date you anticipate completing all licensure requirements (a good rule of thumb is 1000 post degree hours = 1 year; if your state requires 4000 hours post degree experience to sit for the exam, then you will likely be eligible to sit for the licensure exam four years after your graduation date): month, year.

Summary

In this short paragraph make any closing statements you may have about your professional development plan.

References

McDonald, K. E. (2010). Ethical Principles: Week one application. Journal of Nonexistent and Imaginary Articles, 4 (1) 19-79. doi 10.1234/b12345678ook1234_8

Note: Please use the appropriate Program of Study. For example, if you are in MCFC program, you would integrate that POS into your paper.

Program of Study: MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC)
Course / Credits / Sequence
(Term)
COUN 6101: Foundations for Graduate Study in Counseling / 1
COUN 6100: Introduction to Clinical Mental Health Counseling / 5
COUN 6306: Ethics and Legal Issues in Counseling / 5
COUN 6722: Counseling and Psychotherapy Theories / 5
COUN 6316: Techniques of Counseling / 5
COUN 6723: Multicultural Counseling / 5
COUN 6360: Assessment in Counseling and Education / 5
COUN 6215: Lifespan Development / 5
COUN 6720: Diagnosis and Assessment / 5
COUN 6753: Career Counseling / 5
COUN 6326: Research and Program Evaluation / 5
COUN 6726: Couples and Family Therapy / 5
COUN 6250: Group Process and Dynamics / 5
COUN 6785: Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation / 5
COUN 6728: Substance Abuse Counseling / 5
COUN 6743: Psychopharmacology / 5
COUN 6336: Crisis and Trauma Response / 5
COUN 6671: Counseling Practicum / 3
COUN 6682A: Counseling Internship / 3
COUN 6682B: Counseling Internship / 3
Total Credits / 90

MS in Clnical Mental Health Counseling: Proposed Sequence

YEAR 1

COUN 6101: Foundations for Graduate Study in Counseling (1)
COUN 6100:Introduction to Clinical Mental Health Counseling (5) / COUN 6306: Ethics and Legal Issues in Counseling (5)
COUN 6316: Techniques of Counseling (5) / COUN 6722:Counseling and Psychotherapy Theories (5)
6-Day Residency required prerequisite for COUN 6723 / COUN 6360: Assessment in Counseling and Education (5)
COUN 6723:Multicultural Counseling (5)

YEAR 2

COUN 6336: Crisis and Trauma Response (5)
COUN 6215: Lifespan Development (5) / COUN 6720: Diagnosis and Assessment (5)
COUN 6753:
Career
Counseling (5) / COUN 6726: Couples and Family Therapy (5)
COUN 6250: Group Process and Dynamics (5) / COUN 6785: Prevention, Intervention, and Consultation (5)
COUN 6728:
Substance Abuse Counseling (5)
6-day Residency prerequisite for COUN 6671

YEAR 3

COUN 6326: Research and Program Evaluation (5)
COUN 6671: Counseling Practicum (3) / COUN 6743:Psycho-
pharmacology
(5)
COUN 6682A:Counseling Internship (3) / COUN 6682B: Counseling Internship (3)

Specialization in Forensic Counseling

  • COUN 6511:Treatment of Forensic Populations (5 credits)
  • Choose one additional course
  • COUN 6512:Juvenile Justice, Delinquency, and Development (5 credits)
  • COUN 6742:Conflict, Conflict Resolution, and Peace (5 credits)
  • COUN 6912:Mental Health Law (5 credits)

[McD1]courses on the right side of the chart should correspond to those on the left