216 R.I. Code R. 216-RICR-40-05-11.5

Current through December 26, 2024

Section 216-RICR-40-05-11.5 - Core Curriculum

11.5.1The Core Curriculum: Clinical Mental Health Counselors

A. An applicant needs to complete courses in each of the following eight (8) categories, in accordance with the minimum number of credits required in each category, for a total of thirty (30) credits:

1. Helping relationships and counseling theory (nine (9) credits minimum) (i.e., counseling and consultation theories including both individual and systems perspectives as well as coverage of relevant research and factors considered in applications; basic interviewing, assessment, and counseling skills; counselor or consultant characteristics and behaviors that influence helping processes including age, gender, and ethnic differences, verbal and nonverbal behaviors and personal characteristics, orientation, and skills; client or consultee characteristics and behaviors that influence helping processes including age, gender and ethnic differences, verbal and non- verbal behaviors and personal characteristics, traits, capabilities, and life circumstances; and ethical considerations, counseling processes, counseling theories, marriage and family counseling, family counseling, systems concepts).

2. Human growth and development (three (3) credits minimum) (i.e., theories of individual and family development and transitions across the life-span; theories of learning and personality development; human behavior including an understanding of developmental crises, disability, addictive behavior, psychopathology, and environmental factors as they affect both normal and abnormal behavior; strategies for facilitating development over the life-span; ethical considerations).

3. Social and cultural foundations (three (3) credits minimum) (i.e., multicultural and pluralistic trends including characteristics and concerns of diverse groups; attitudes and behavior based on such factors as age, race, religious preference, physical disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity and culture, family patterns, gender, socioeconomic status, and intellectual ability; individual family, and group strategies with diverse populations; and ethical considerations).

4. Groups (three (3) credits minimum) (i.e., principles of group dynamics including group process components, developmental stage theories, group members' roles and behaviors; group leadership styles and approaches including characteristics of various types of group leaders and leadership styles; theories of group counseling including commonalities, distinguishing characteristics, and pertinent research and literature; group counseling methods including group counselor orientations and behaviors, ethical standards, appropriate selection criteria and methods, and methods of evaluation of effectiveness; approaches used for other types of group work, including task groups, prevention groups, support groups, and therapy groups; and ethical considerations).

5. Lifestyle and career development (three (3) credits minimum) (i.e., career development theories and decision making models; career, avocational, educational and labor market information resources, visual and print media, computer based career information systems; career development program planning, organization, implementation, administration and evaluation; interrelationships among work, family, and other life roles and factors including multicultural and gender issues as related to career development; career and educational placement, follow-up and evaluation; assessment instruments and techniques relevant to career planning and decision making; computer based career development applications and strategies, including computer assisted career guidance systems; career counseling processes, techniques and resources including those applicable to specific populations; and ethical considerations).

6. Appraisal (three (3) credits minimum) (i.e., theoretical and historical bases for assessment techniques; validity including evidence for establishing content, construct and empirical validity; reliability including methods of establishing stability, internal and equivalence reliability; appraisal methods including environmental assessment, performance assessment, individual and group test and inventory methods; behavioral observations, and computer managed and computer assisted methods; psychometric statistics including types of assessment scores, measures of central tendency, indices of variability, standards errors, and correlations; age, gender, ethnicity, language, disability, and cultural factors related to the assessment and evaluation of individuals and groups; strategies for selecting, administering, interpreting, and using assessment and evaluation instruments and techniques in counseling; ethical considerations).

7. Research and program evaluation (three (3) credits minimum) (i.e., basic types of research methods to include qualitative and quantitative research designs; basic parametric and nonparametric statistics; principles, practices, and applications of needs assessment and program evaluation; uses of computer for data management and analysis; ethical and legal considerations in research).

8. Professional orientation (three (3) credits minimum) (i.e., history of the helping professions including significant factors and events; professional roles and functions including similarities and differences with other types of professionals; professional organizations; ethical standards; professional preparation standards, their evolution and current applications; professional credentialing including certification, licensure, and accreditation practices and standards, and the effects of public policy on these issues; and public policy processes including the role of the professional counselor in advocating on behalf of the profession and its clientele).

11.5.2The Core Curriculum: Marriage and Family Therapists

A. Minimum Requirements

Areas of Study	Course(s)	Semester Hours
I. Theoretical Foundations of Marriage and Family	2	6
Therapy II. Clinical Knowledge	6	18
III. Human Development and Family Relations	1	3
Total Required for Areas I, II, and III	9	27
IV. Ethics and Professional Studies	1	3
V. Research	1	3
VI. Graduate credit elective to enhance professional goals	1	3
Supervised Clinical Practice (five hundred (500) hours required for twelve (12) successive months) This may be done on-site or off-site	12

B. The marriage and family therapy core curriculum is based upon a systems/interactional understanding of peoples' lives. A total of nine courses (twenty-seven (27) semester or equivalent quarter hours) are to be obtained from Areas I, II, and III. A total of three (3) standard courses must be taken in areas IV, V and VI. You must have supervised clinical practice in Area VII. This may be done either on-site or off-site.

C. Area I: Theoretical Foundations of Marriage and Family Therapy

1. A minimum of two (2) courses (six (6) semester or equivalent hours) will be taken in Area I.

2. In Area I, students conceptualize and distinguish the critical epistemological issues in marriage and family therapy.

3. Students learn about the historical development, theoretical foundations, and contemporary conceptual directions of the field of marriage and family therapy.

4. Course content should not be isolated conceptually from clinical concerns; nor is it adequate for students to deal only with practical treatment issues without reference to theoretical literature.

D. Area II: Clinical Knowledge

1. A minimum of six (6) courses (eighteen (18) semester or equivalent quarter hours) will be taken in Area II.

2. Area II courses will provide students with a comprehensive survey and substantive understanding of the major models and clinical issues of marriage and family therapy.

3. Courses taught in Area II will address the applied aspects of marriage and family therapy practice.

4. Courses taught in Area II will focus on two (2) major interdependent components: diagnosis/assessment and treatment processes. Within the context of marital and family systems, students will learn to diagnose and treat both dysfunctional relationship patterns and nervous and mental disorders, whether cognitive, affective, or behavioral. Major marriage and family therapy assessment methods and instruments will be covered. Marriage and family therapy faculty will teach students to use appropriate major mental health assessment instruments within a systemic context.

5. Courses taught in Area II will emphasize the interface between the interpersonal and the intrapersonal. Courses will expose all students to issues of gender as they relate to marriage and family therapy theory and practice. Course content in this area will include sex discrimination and gender role stereotyping. Courses will also expose all students to issues of sexuality as they relate to marriage and family therapy theory and practice. Course content will include sexual orientation and sexual functioning.

6. Courses will expose all students to issues of ethnicity, race, socioeconomic status and culture as they relate to marriage and family therapy and practice. Course content will include social, educational, economic and behavioral factors.

7. Courses taught in Area II will educate students about a wide variety of presenting problems including, but not limited to, sexual abuse, intense stress, problems of life cycle transitions, sexual dysfunctions, substance abuse, suicide, and violence.

E. Area III: Human Development and Family Studies

1. A minimum of one (1) course (three (3) semester or equivalent quarter hours) will be taken in Area III.

2. In Area III, students learn about the developmental processes within the family context. Students will become conversant with the life cycle of the family and the process and modification of family structures over time (e.g., birth of the first child, adolescent sexual development, leaving home, etc.)

3. Courses taught in Area III will emphasize the interface between the interpersonal and the intrapersonal. Courses will expose all students to issues of gender as they relate to marriage and family therapy theory and practice. Course content in this area will include sex discrimination and gender role stereotyping. Courses will also expose all students to issues of sexuality as they relate to marriage and family therapy theory and practice. Course content will include sexual orientation and sexual functioning.

4. Courses will expose all students to issues of ethnicity, race, socioeconomic status and culture as they relate to marriage and family therapy and practice. Course content will include social, educational, economic and behavioral factors.

F. Area IV: Ethics and Professional Studies

1. A minimum of one (1) course (three (3) semester or equivalent quarter hours) will be taken in Area IV.

2. Area IV contributes to the development of a professional attitude and identity. Studies will include professional socialization and the role of professional organizations, licensure and certification, legal responsibilities and liabilities of clinical practice and research, family law, confidentiality issues, the AAMFT Code of Ethics, and interprofessional cooperation.

3. The content of course work will be specific to the practice and profession of marriage and family therapy. A generic course in ethics is inappropriate for Area IV.

G. Area V: Research

1. A minimum of one (1) course (three (3) semester or equivalent quarter hours) will be taken in Area V. In Area V, students gain an understanding of research methodology and data analysis, and learn to evaluate research in marriage and family therapy.

2. Course content will include both quantitative and qualitative research.

H. Area VI: Graduate Elective

A minimum of one (1) course (three (3) semester or equivalent quarter hours) will be taken in Area VI. Additional elective courses will augment students' specialized interest and background in marriage and family therapy. Additional courses may be chosen from coursework offered in a variety of disciplines.

I. Area VII: Supervised Clinical Practice

1. Students are required to spend a minimum of five hundred (500) face-to-face hours with clients. Programs will document a student's satisfactory completion of the five hundred (500) hour requirement before awarding a degree. A minimum of one hundred (100) hours of supervision is required in the supervised clinical practicum. A minimum twelve (12) successive months of supervised clinical practice is required.

2. Although students may treat individual clients, at least two hundred fifty (250) hours (fifty percent (50%) of the five hundred (500) direct client contact hours) must be completed with couples or families physically present in the room.

3. Preparation for clinical practice includes any necessary remediation for previous clinical deficiencies.

4. Clinical training will integrate didactic with clinical material. A practicum is a part-time clinical experience completed concurrently with didactic coursework. A practicum typically results in five to ten (5 - 10) direct client hours per week. It also includes such activities as supervision, staff meetings, community relations, and record keeping.

5. Direct client contact is defined as face-to-face (therapist and client) therapeutic meetings. Activities such as brief telephone contact, case planning, observation of therapy, record keeping, travel, administrative activities, consultation with community members or professionals, or supervision, are not considered direct client contact.

6. Assessments may be counted as direct client contact if they are face-to-face processes that are more than clerical in nature and focus.

7. Both individual or dyadic and group supervision of the student's clinical practice are required. Individual or dyadic supervision will occur at least once (1) per week over a period of one (1) or more years.

216 R.I. Code R. 216-RICR-40-05-11.5

Amended effective 5/15/2023