Skip to Content
College of Education
Dept of Counseling, Leadership, Adult Education & School Psychology

Informed Consent

Professional Counseling Program Requirements and Expectations

 

The expectations of the counseling curriculum are that you will explore and recognize the effect that your personal beliefs, values, issues, emotions, and behaviors have on your ability to function as a counseling professional. The various methods, courses, practica, and internships will require that you develop and demonstrate your counseling skills as you work with other students in role-play scenarios and with clients in actual counseling sessions. You will be asked to examine your behaviors, beliefs, and emotions in relation to your counseling activities and experiences consistently and systematically.

1) The course content and experiential activities in the Professional Counseling Program are designed to afford students the opportunity to advance their personal, intellectual, and professional development. Throughout the program of study, you will be expected to receive and integrate feedback concerning your personal, academic, and professional strengths, limitations, and performance in a manner that accords with the professional standards.

  1. The Professional Counseling Performance Evaluation form provides the specific criteria regarding these program standards. Observations and feedback received from faculty, supervisors, peers, and clients will be considered in this evaluation. You will be expected to incorporate this feedback in a mature and professional manner.
  2. The 2014 American Counseling Association Code of Ethics provides the foundation for our ethical standards. Section F.9.b states that faculty members:

“…1) assist students in securing remedial assistance when needed, 2) seek professional consultation and document their decision to dismiss or refer students for assistance, and 3) ensure that students have recourse in a timely manner to address decisions to require them to seek assistance or to dismiss them and provide students with due process according to the institutional policies and procedures.”

  1. If, in the professional judgment of a faculty member, a student’s behavior is deemed substandard, unethical, illegal, and/or professionally unbecoming at any time during the course of training, a student may be referred for faculty review. At that time the Program Standards Committee will be called to review the performance, record, and behavior of the student and to make recommendations to the Chair of the Department. The Graduate Catalog contains the Department’s and Program’s policies on Student Fitness and Performance, including Program Standards, Student Fitness and Performance, and the Review Process.

2) The counseling program involves both didactic and experiential investment on the part of the student as well as participation in an active professional orientation and development process. Thus, it is distinctly different from undergraduate academic experiences and most conventional graduate programs. For this reason, students are urged to limit their enrollment to no more than 9 graduate credit hours in the interest of effective assimilation and optimal balance of curricular and extra-curricular activities. Enrolling in more than 9 hours per semester requires special permission by the Program Coordinator. If a student is found to have enrolled in more than 9 hours without permission, the student will be notified of a breach of policy and have the opportunity to drop classes to again be within policy protocol.

3) A course grade of “B” or better must be obtained in this program for all courses required for graduation to earn credit for the course. A 3.0 GPA must be maintained to progress in and graduate from the program. Please see the Graduate College’s Course Grades and Probation and Suspension standards.

4) I understand that criminal background checks are required for LPC and LMFT licensure and certification as a school counselor. I also understand that based on information recorded in my criminal history, I may be ineligible for issuance of a certification or license upon my completion of the Professional Counseling Program. If I have a criminal history, I understand that I should request a Preliminary Criminal History Evaluation from the Texas Education Agency (for aspiring school counselors), Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors, or the Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists; schedule an appointment for free legal counseling services through Texas State University’s Attorney for Students http://attorney.dos.txstate.edu/ ; and disclose this information to the appropriate professional body: either the Texas State Office of Educator Preparation, Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors, or the Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapists.

My signature on this form verifies that I have read the form and all hyperlinked documents – including but not limited to the ACA Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice and that I agree to adhere to these expectations and standards if accepted by the Professional Counseling Program. I agree to read the Professional Counseling Program: Student Handbook prior to beginning classes. My signature confirms my understanding and willingness to participate fully in the courses and to adhere to the principles and requirements as described.

 

Please download, print, sign, and upload this document as part of your Admissions Application Portfolio.