Counseling Programs offered at The Chicago School, Dallas Campus
The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (TCSPP) started its story in 1979. A group of psychologists and educators founded it to advance psychological education in a nonprofit setting. The school has grown into a respected institution that now serves over 5,600 students at campuses nationwide, including Chicago, New Orleans, Southern California, Washington D.C., and Dallas.
The Dallas Campus is the newest member of The Chicago School family. It sits at the heart of Texas arts and culture and gives students excellent chances to train professionally and serve the community. Students can easily reach the campus at 2101 Waterview Pkwy in Richardson, Texas, from Dallas and nearby areas. Fresh renovations have added state-of-the-art classroom technology to the building. Its location near shopping and recreational areas helps students maintain a balanced life.
Students learn to apply theory in real-life settings with help from experienced faculty practitioners. The Dallas Campus helps create a forward-thinking approach to psychology and related behavioral sciences that matches today’s changing needs. Faculty members bring their years of hands-on experience to class. This helps students develop skills they need to succeed professionally.
The Dallas Campus specializes in counseling programs. Its M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). This program gives you the knowledge, skills, multicultural competence, and self-awareness that professional counselors need. Students learn to help with various emotional and psychological conditions. They also learn to promote mental wellness, prevention, and resilience in individuals and communities.
The Dallas location adds value beyond academics. The city has the country’s largest urban arts district. Hundreds of museums, public galleries, community theaters, and music venues await exploration. These cultural resources enhance the educational experience and offer new ways to understand human behavior and expression.
The Chicago School designs programs to prepare graduates to tackle global challenges. This foundation helps you make meaningful contributions to counseling and psychology while serving communities of all types.
What counseling programs does The Chicago School, Dallas offer?
The Dallas Campus offers a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) program that teaches you to help clients with various mental health challenges. The program has accreditation from the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). This accreditation will give a solid foundation in institutional settings, program mission, content, practicum experiences, faculty qualifications, and self-evaluation.
Students get a balanced mix of theory and hands-on experience through challenging coursework and supervised clinical training. The program focuses on three main areas:
- Ethical practice
- Multiculturalism/social justice
- Advanced clinical practice
This detailed training helps you develop skills to work with clients from different backgrounds, especially those in underserved communities. You’ll learn to help people dealing with depression, anxiety, grief, low self-esteem, stress, relationship difficulties, suicidal ideation, and life transitions.
The program has essential courses like Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy, Diagnosis of Mental Health Issues, and Lifespan Development. You’ll also get detailed training in ethics, research, program evaluation, diagnosis, prevention, counselor identity, assessment, advocacy, and multiculturalism.
After graduating, you can pursue several career paths in clinical mental health counseling. These include couples/family counseling, working in social service and mental health agencies, college counseling centers, non-profit organizations, or starting your own private practice. The job market looks promising – the counseling field is projected to grow by 19% from 2023 to 2033, which is by a lot more than other occupations.
Working professionals can complete the program in less than four years, including vital hands-on fieldwork experiences. This detailed education gives you everything you need to make a real difference as a mental health counselor.
Internships/Practicum at The Chicago School, Dallas
The Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at The Chicago School’s Dallas Campus puts field experience front and center. Your final year combines classroom knowledge with real-world practice through supervised clinical training.
The hands-on training starts with a practicum of 100 hours over a full semester. This includes 40 hours of face-to-face client counseling. You’ll then move on to two internship semesters. Each week, you’ll spend about 20-25 hours at your clinical site to complete 600 additional hours. This adds up to at least 700 total hours, with 280 hours (40%) focused on direct client services.
You’ll get great support through your journey:
- A licensed mental health provider at your site gives weekly supervision
- Faculty leads weekly seminar sessions on campus
- You receive detailed feedback on your progress through mid-term and final assessments
The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex has plenty of clinical placement options. The director of clinical training keeps a detailed list of approved sites. These sites meet The Chicago School’s strict requirements and CACREP standards. Sites differ by:
- Where they are in the Dallas-Fort Worth area
- Who they help (children, adolescents, LGBTQI+, trauma survivors, those with addictions)
- What type they are (hospitals, community agencies, residential treatment centers, private practices)
Field training is a vital checkpoint to make sure only qualified students become counselors. Your supervisors look at your technical skills and assess your attitude, professionalism, and ethical fitness to practice.
Think of this experience as a long job interview – it needs your full dedication. The good news is that faculty and training directors help match you with sites that fit your career goals. Each location gets careful screening to ensure quality supervision and varied counseling opportunities.
Students should know there’s a one-time $195 Experiential Learning Technology Fee.
What sets The Chicago School, Dallas apart?
The Dallas Campus stands out with features that make your educational experience exceptional. Students benefit from an outstanding 4:1 student-faculty ratio that creates opportunities for personal mentorship throughout their academic studies.
The Dallas CMHC program features a modern HyFlex teaching approach. Students complete 49% of each course online during the week and meet their instructors on campus every Saturday. This setup helps working professionals balance their commitments while getting the benefits of face-to-face learning.
The program takes pride in training students to serve areas that lack mental health providers. Recent data shows remarkable results: 68% of students complete the program, 91% pass their licensure exams, and 76.9% find jobs within a year after graduation.
The Dallas Campus focuses on developing clinical mental health counselors who:
- Represent their communities effectively
- Work competently in diverse trauma-informed interdisciplinary settings
- Excel in both clinic-based and telehealth services
- Meet mental health needs at every life stage
Students practice their skills in person at our newly renovated facility with advanced classroom technology. This approach helps them build both theoretical knowledge and practical skills effectively.
The campus location adds extra value to the academic experience. Based in Richardson/Plano, students enjoy easy access to shopping and recreation. The Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex also provides numerous internship possibilities.
CACREP accreditation shows the program’s commitment to meeting national counseling education standards. Combined with the practitioner-scholar faculty model, students get a unique education that connects theory with real-life application.
Next steps
Are you ready to start your educational experience at The Chicago School’s Dallas Campus? The application process is straightforward and involves several steps.
You should request program information and schedule a consultation with an admissions representative. Next, prepare your application documents and submit them through the applicant portal. Required materials include a $50 application fee, essay responses, resume, and three professional recommendation letters.
Complete your taxes before applying for financial aid to ensure accurate FAFSA processing. You may submit your FAFSA closer to your start date, but early submission helps avoid delays. Your materials will be reviewed after submission, and an interview might be scheduled if needed.
Accepted students must secure their place with a deposit by April 15. After this date, offers depend on availability. Space in counseling programs is limited, so early application gives you the best chance.
International students need extra time to complete the admissions process because of visa requirements. Admissions representatives can answer your questions through phone, email, or text messages throughout this process.
Your next steps after acceptance and deposit include completing orientation before classes begin. Each step brings you closer to a community that prepares counselors to create positive changes in their lives and communities.