Personal Counseling
Before the beginning of the Practicum experience, students will need to complete personal counseling. The intent of Messiah's Master of Arts in Counseling Program in requiring students to obtain personal counseling is primarily to give students the opportunity to work through their own issues and to experience the therapeutic relationship from the client’s perspective.
Students must complete a minimum of 4 sessions with a licensed counselor, therapist or psychologist (for example, an LPC, LMFT, or licensed psychologist). Students will need to have their counselor complete a verification form and then upload the completed form to the Canvas Practicum site. Students will also need to write a 500 word essay describing what they have learned about themself through the counseling sessions and how that will impact their work with clients or students and submit it to the practicum and internship coordinator.
Part of the process of becoming a counselor is an ongoing commitment to self-awareness. Students often have strong emotional reactions to the content of counseling courses or skill-development experiences. Students may also become aware of something about themselves that impacts their present or future work with clients. It is important to acknowledge these reactions and utilize the help of a professional counselor/therapist to process them. Suggestions for how to find a counselor can be found in the Personal Development and Self-Care the Graduate Student Handbook.