The mission of the Wright Institute's Counseling Psychology program is to prepare and inspire a diverse student body to provide culturally responsive mental health services that support resiliency, recovery, and social justice.

The program has four goals and eleven student learning objectives. Students will:

1. Learn counseling and marriage and family therapy theories and techniques for assessing, diagnosing, and improving the well-being of individuals and families.

a. Demonstrate the ability to assess clients from a developmental and family systems perspective.

b. Demonstrate the ability to assess and diagnose mental disorders using the DSM.

c. Demonstrate knowledge of the biological bases of behavior and the role of psychopharmacological intervention.

d. Demonstrate the ability to apply counseling and MFT theories and techniques to promote the well-being of children, adults, couples, and families.

2. Integrate issues of diversity, social justice, and the recovery model into organizational and clinical settings.

a. Demonstrate the ability to integrate an awareness of how diversity issues affect assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and research. Dimensions of diversity include gender, age, sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, national origin, religion, physical ability, and socio-economic status.

b. Demonstrate the ability to integrate principles of the recovery model, including social justice, to assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and research.

3. Develop communication and relationship skills that foster effective working relationships with clients, supervisors, and colleagues.

a. Demonstrate professional attitudes, conduct, and communication in the classroom, research, and experiential and training environments as well as in interactions with faculty, staff, and students.

b. Exhibit relationship skills that include the ability to listen and communicate effectively, sensitivity to multicultural diversity, respect for others, self-reflection, self-awareness, awareness of impact on others, and openness to feedback.

4. Develop a professional identity as critical thinkers, effective problem solvers, and ethical providers of mental health services.

a. Demonstrate the ability to integrate the best available research with clinical judgment to increase the effectiveness of interventions.

b. Demonstrate the ability to apply legal, ethical, and professional standards of practice to organizational and clinical settings.

c. Participate in professional organizations, qualify for internship status and subsequent licensure, and develop a plan for ongoing professional development.