Since 1985 the College has provided practical counseling skills training worldwide for personal growth, for service and helping professionals, and to prepare the public for entry to the counseling profession.
The College training manual Effective Counseling Skills provides the basic content for 'Intern Counselors' and the primary resource for 'Supervizing Counselors.'
What is the College and Registry of Mental Health Counseling? First established in 1985 as the Counselor Training Institute, the College has the purpose of raising public awareness of experiences that contribute to mental well-being and healthy relationships with self and others. The Registry is an international roster of diverse individuals committed to standards of professional counseling and to personal and professional development in counseling. How is the College different from other counseling associations and professional bodies? The inclusive universal scope of the College invites the general public to participate in the profession of counseling, as a means of achieving our unique shared vision. What is the vision of the College? The vision of the College is the realization of a society of optimal mental wellness by making counseling knowledge and skills available to members of the public. What is the philosophy and mission of the College? Rather than the sole property of certain professional groups, the special skills and knowledge of counseling are the right of every human being to acquire. Everyone does counseling by listening, helping, and offering guidance to friends, acquaintances, and family members. Counseling is a natural human activity, and therefore the primary mission of the College is to make this activity both intentional and effective in the life of every participant. How does the College accomplish the mission? The mission is achieved by engaging students and members in the community using group sessions, distance learning, and internet consultation, in the training and practice of counseling and by providing a structure for increasing proficiency in three levels of membership in the College: intern counselor, full counselor, and supervizing counselor. When can I begin seeing clients? In keeping with our vision, counselor training is accessible to the general public. The Mental Health Counsellor Training Course and Qualifying Examination allow the student to apply for "Intern" membership in the College. During the first year of supervision as an "Intern Counselor"you will learn counseling by experiencing counseling as a client and by doing counseling with clients seeking help. By experiencing counseling as a client of your supervizing counselor, you will be able to observe skills and statements used by your supervisor that can be applied to your sessions with your own clients. The sessions with your own clients will be recorded using your webcam or by writing down the dialogue and sending this to your supervisor who then returns feedback and suggestions on skills and approaches to use with your clients.
Is the course offered in a physical location? Yes. As an alternative to the online program, the course is offered as a one-week intensive in locations in North America from September to July and by invitation from local organizations. Tuition for the on-site course is $985, and this cost includes all text and materials as well as the Qualifying Examination completed separately. To inquire further, email collegemhc@gmail.com
What are the levels of participation in the College? Upon completion of a Qualifying Examination, the applicant can become an "Intern Counselor" actively participating as both a counselor and client in the context of supervision. After two years in good standing, the "Intern Counselor" can become a "Full Counselor." A second year of supervision is optional unless recommended by the supervizing counsellor. To review areas of counseling proficiency you will be evaluated on during supervision you can review the evaluation form here. A “Full Counselor” has demonstrated proficiency in counseling based on completion of the Qualifying Examination and recommendation of the "Supervizing Counselor," or in the case of applicants with prior experience: submission of a resume reflecting a minimum of 3 years of counseling experience, and two professional letters of reference from counselors who have met equivalent qualifications recognized by the College. A “Supervizing Counselor” has a minimum of 8 years of counseling experience or demonstrated expertise in selected subject areas, a resume reflecting supervizing or similar experience in a counseling or mental health capacity, and two relevant professional letters of reference from others in the mental health field. All levels of counselors must adhere to the Code of Ethics and Practice. What is the professional title or designation members may use beside their name? All members of the College use the designation "Registered Mental Health Counselor (RMHC)". Intern Counselors use the abbreviation "RMHC-I" while Full Counselors use "RMHC-F" and Supervizing Counselors use "RMHC-S".
What is the Qualifying Examination? This is an in-depth review of knowledge and skills based on the training and examination manual entitled, "Effective Counseling Skills: the practical wording of therapeutic statements and processes" available from Amazon.com. The open-book examination is a learning experience with full instructor support and consists of approximately 265 questions completed over an estimated two-week period. The applicant may contact the College for assistance and may request a time extension if needed. Applicants for “Intern Counselor” and “Full Counselor” are required to complete the examination.The exam fee is included in the tuition for the Mental Health Counsellor Training Course. The College examination is published on Amazon, and the exam description can be seen there.
