Mission Statement

Lindsey Wilson College Mission Statement

The mission of Lindsey Wilson College is to serve the educational needs of students by providing a living-learning environment within an atmosphere of active caring and Christian concern where every student, every day, learns and grows and feels like a real human being.

School of Professional Counseling Mission Statement

The mission of the Lindsey Wilson College School of Professional Counseling is to provide a practitioner-based, community-centered, student-focused mental-health preparation program hallmarked by academic integrity, professional competence, and sound ethical principles.

Conceptual Framework

Program Goals

1. The Human Services and Counseling program will provide students with a foundational knowledge base and skills for entry-level positions within the helping professions.

2. The Human Services and Counseling program will provide a capstone experience whereby students may apply, under supervision, helping skills to a human services field placement, thereby gaining experience while exploring vocational choices.

3. Provide graduate level education and skill development in clinical counseling.

4. Provide a graduate program distinguished by academic excellence in accordance with educational requirements for professional entry-level credentials in the area of counseling.

5. Develop in students the value of advocating in the best interest of supporting mental health initiatives, the mentally ill and their families, and the education and professional parity of mental health professionals.

6. Provide a state-of-the-art practice-oriented program designed to build an applied, theoretical knowledge base while assisting students in the development of professional/clinical practice.

7. Provide specialized instruction and training in individual adult counseling, marriage and family counseling, adolescent counseling, play therapy counseling, substance abuse counseling, and mental health counseling as indicated by student interests and aptitudes.

8. To provide local, weekend-based programs that offer a guaranteed course sequence leading expeditiously to the baccalaureate degree in Human Services and Counseling and the master's degree in Counseling and Human Development in areas with needs for professionals with these credentials.

Program Objectives

1. To provide students with a foundational overview of the human services field through an introduction course.

2. To provide students with clinical skills appropriate for a bachelor's-level human services helper through a case management course

3. To provide students with an understanding of and respect for cultural differences, in particular those in Appalachia and Southern Kentucky

4. To provide theoretical and social interaction through an experiential foundation for individual and group counseling through course work

5.  To provide an understanding of the stages and issues throughout the life span through a course in development.

6.  To develop an understanding of assessment, diagnosis and treatment of abnormal behavior within the context of culture and individual differences through course work and DSM-IV-TR training.

7. To introduce the student to the utilization of assessment instruments and develop a working language to understand the impact of assessment on careers in the human services field through an assessment course.

8.  To provide a solid value base which will enable a student to function in a professional, ethical and legal manner through course work.

9.  To provide necessary basic research skills to enable the student to comprehend and evaluate quantitative and qualitative research studies in APA style through course work.

10.  Each student in the Human Services program will take Practicum I following Human Services coursework which entails 120 clock hours of field experience whereby students learn to make application of knowledge and skills learned throughout the program and develop a clinical experience portfolio.

11.  Each student in the Human Services program will take Practicum II which entails 120 clock hours of field experience, a human services comprehensive exam, a mock career interview, a career portfolio and a clinical experience portfolio.

12. Each student in the Human Services program will take Practicum III which entails 120 clock hours of field experience, a human services comprehensive exam, a mock career interview, a career portfolio and a clinical experience portfolio.

13. Offer all coursework necessary to fulfill licensure requirements for a licensed professional counselor in the state of Ohio.

14.  Employ a four semester-long field practicum and internship experience utilizing both individual and small-group supervision where students can apply, within their proven levels of competence, clinical skills necessary to apply efficacious counseling interventions.

15.  Provide a capstone clinical experience.

16. Identify areas of need for mental health professionals.

17. Identify and coordinate programs through community partners

18. Format and implement SPC courses and instruction into the weekend model while maintaining academic rigor and excellence in instruction.

19. Partner with local human services and mental health agencies for field placements, internship opportunities, and qualified supervision of students.

Community Campus Initiative

The current community campus initiative expands the Lindsey Wilson College commitment to services and education by extending both bachelors and graduate degrees to Appalachian and other areas

• In spite of improved higher educational opportunities, on-going needs assessment continues to indicate a severe shortage of credentialed mental health professionals throughout areas of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Appalachia, and bordering states.
• This shortage has grown to such import that the Kentucky General Assembly passed legislation (HB 843) in the 2001 General Session ordering a statewide assessment and remediation plan of the commonwealth's mental health needs. The remediation plan was funded and continued by the 2002 General Assembly.

• As expected, the shortage of mental health professionals, especially in the Appalachian areas, was confirmed as a paramount concern.

• It was determined that stakeholders must find ways to "grow our own professionals" who are committed to Appalachia.

• Due to its mission, geographic location, and programmatic strengths, Lindsey Wilson College has been approached by several community mental health agencies to assist in addressing this serious shortage of professionals.

• In response, a plan was developed by Lindsey Wilson College to open community campus sites which would utilize the existing strength of the community college system by offering he bachelors degree to students who have completed or are near completion of their Associates course work, and the masters degree.

• The resulting model is locally offered, weekend-based programs that will offer a guaranteed course sequence leading expeditiously to the bachelor's degree, then to the masters.