Mental Health Clinical and Counseling Psychology, Associate of Applied Science

The College designed the Mental Health Services programs to train mental health technicians, prevention specialists, and to prepare individuals to become substance use disorder counselors. Each program offers a practicum class that allows students to apply classroom skills in a treatment setting.

The Mental Health Clinical and Counseling Psychology, Associate of Applied Science (AAS), is a combination of the Mental Health Technician, Substance Use Disorder Counseling, and Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist certifications. The AAS ensures that you are trained on the spectrum of mental health and substance misuse from prevention to recovery! 

Substance Use Disorder Counseling 

Are you a compassionate, willing listener who is ready with support or a kind word during a difficult time? If so, San Jacinto College can give you the training you need to provide counseling and other specialized services to individuals and families suffering the devastating effects of substance abuse.

The San Jacinto College Substance Use Disorder Counseling program:

  • Prepares students to enter the field of human services and provide specialized services to individuals and their families experiencing the effects of substance abuse;
  • Teaches graduates to identify and administer appropriate assessments, diagnosis, and treatment of individuals who are, or have been, engaged in substance abuse;
  • Requires an internship class where students are placed into a substance abuse facility to apply knowledge learned in the program; and
  • Provides students with the necessary educational and practicum requirements toward becoming a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor (LCDC).

Chemical dependency is a problem that takes an enormous emotional and financial toll on society. This is an unfortunate issue, but the silver lining is that exceptional individuals, like you, are determined to reverse it. San Jacinto College can give you the training you need to become a vital part of the solution. We will prepare you to provide counseling and other specialized services to individuals and families suffering from the effects of substance abuse.

Once coursework is completed, students will need 4,000 hours (2 years) of supervised work experience and pass a state exam to obtain their LCDC.

Potential work opportunities include:

  • Hospitals,
  • Rehab centers,
  • Outpatient clinics,
  • Veteran’s affairs clinics,
  • Alternative schools,
  • Research facilities, and
  • Pain management clinics and counseling centers.

Mental Health Technician

Are you compassionate to others’ needs? Psychiatric aides and technicians observe and record patient behavior and present their findings to counselors, nurses, and other professional staff. They intervene in crisis situations, actively moderate client behavior, and assist with feeding, moving, and dressing patients as well as personal hygiene and activities of daily living. If this sounds like you, San Jacinto College’s Mental Health Technician path is for you.

The San Jacinto College Mental Health Technician program:

  • Is specifically designed to train mental health technicians, both psychiatric aides and technicians;
  • Prepares students to care for mentally ill individuals following physician instructions and hospital procedures;
  • Provides psychiatric aides and technicians with the skills to observe and record patient behavior and present their findings to counselors, nurses, and other professional staff; and
  • Offers training to intervene in crisis situations, actively moderate client behavior, and assist with feeding, moving, and dressing patients as well as personal hygiene and activities of daily living.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of our program will be able to work in substance abuse and mental health facilities in both private and nonprofit organizations and find opportunities in:

  • Hospitals,
  • In-patient psychiatric hospitals,
  • Out-patient hospitals,
  • Veteran affairs clinics,
  • Nursing homes,
  • Research facilities,
  • Pain management clinics,
  • Drug rehab centers, and
  • Counseling centers.

You can make a difference in your life by making a difference in the lives of others!

Earning Potential

Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselor: $46,8331

Psychiatric Technician: $36,6271 per year

1

Source: texaswages.com, median salary Gulf Coast region, 2021

For more information, students may contact 281-998-6350, x7146 or mentalhealthservices@sjcd.edu

Campuses

North Campus

San Jac Online

Information

The Mental Health Services program is designed to train mental health technicians, prevention specialists, and provide the educational and practicum requirements toward becoming a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor (LCDC).* Each program offers a practicum class that allows students to apply classroom skills in a treatment setting.

Students enrolling into San Jacinto College programs with external learning experiences (i.e., clinical, practicum, externship, cooperative, etc.) will be required to comply with the immunization requirements and policies of the clinical/external learning sites to engage in all clinical/external learning experiences. Vaccination requirements at clinical/external learning sites are implemented pursuant to the independent authority of such facilities and are not mandated by San Jacinto College. Failure to meet the immunization requirements mandated by clinical/external learning sites may limit a student’s ability to complete the program and/or may delay the student’s graduation date. San Jacinto College does not process exemptions, and students should address potential vaccination exemptions directly with the clinical/external learning site. 

Prevention Specialist

The College is now offering a Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist Occupational Certificate. This 20-hour certificate prepares students to apply to be a Texas Certified Prevention Specialist (CPS). The curriculum is approved by the Texas Department of Health and Human Services.

The coursework, combined with the capstone experience at a prevention approved training center, enables students to work in the area of drug prevention in a variety of settings that include:

  • K-12 schools,
  • Juvenile justice settings (alternative schools or youth offender programs),
  • Local community coalitions, and
  • At-risk programs.

Once coursework is completed, students will need 2,000 hours (1 year) of prevention work experience and pass a state exam to obtain their license as a Certified Prevention Specialist (CPS).

Mental Health Technician 

The Mental Health Technician (Psychiatric Aide/Technician) Occupational Certificate prepares students to work with individuals with psychiatric or substance use disorders following physician instructions and hospital procedures. Psychiatric aides and technicians observe and record patient behavior and present findings to counselors, nurses, and other professional staff. They intervene in crisis situations, actively moderate client behavior, and assist with feeding, moving, and dressing patients as well as personal hygiene and activities of daily living.

Potential work opportunities include:

  • Aides within inpatient/outpatient psychiatric facilities,
  • Day treatment centers,
  • Counseling centers, and
  • Rehabilitation facilities.

Substance Use Disorder Counseling 

The Substance Abuse Counseling Occupational Certificate and Certificate of Technology prepare individuals to enter the field of human services and provide specialized services to individuals and their families experiencing the effects of substance abuse. Graduates will be able to identify appropriate assessments, diagnosis, and treatment of individuals who are, or have been, engaged in substance abuse. 

*Students who do not have an associate degree (or higher) in a behaviorally related field will not be eligible for full licensure in the state of Texas. A student can complete the Certificate of Technology or Occupational Certificate course work, enter the workforce as a counseling intern, and continue course work towards the Associate of Applied Science (AAS) before receiving their LCDC.

Associate of Applied Science (AAS)

A combination of the certificates and general education courses leads to an AAS in Mental Health Clinical and Counseling Psychology. An associate degree or higher is required for full LCDC licensure. 

Once coursework is completed, students will need 4,000 hours (2 years) of supervised work experience and pass a state exam to obtain their LCDC.

Potential Work opportunities include:

  • Hospitals,
  • Rehabilitation centers,
  • Outpatient clinics,
  • Veteran’s affairs clinics,
  • Alternative schools,
  • Research facilities, and
  • Pain management clinics and counseling centers.

In accordance with Texas House Bill 1508, the College informs all students in this program who may have a criminal background that a criminal history could keep graduates from being licensed by the state of Texas. Students with any questions about their background and licensure may speak with the Department Chair.  

Students may view the application and information packet on the Mental Health Services website.  

Plan of Study

3MH-PSYC

Plan of Study Grid
First TermCredits
PMHS 1305 Mental Health Technician 3
PSYC 2301 General Psychology 3
ENGL 1301 Composition I 3
SCWK 1303 Ethics for Social Service Professionals 3
DAAC 1311 Counseling Theories 3
 Credits15
Second Term
PSYT 2345 Principles of Behavior Management and Modification 3
SCWK 1313 Introduction to Social Work 3
PSYT 2331 Abnormal Psychology 3
PSYT 2301 Psychology of Group Dynamics 3
Language, Philosophy and Culture (Humanities) or Creative Arts (Fine Arts) 3
 Credits15
Summer Year One Term
PMHS 2366 Practicum-Mental Health Services Technician 3
 Credits3
Third Term
MATH 1314
College Algebra
or Contemporary Mathematics (Quantitative Reasoning)
3
DAAC 1317 Basic Counseling Skills 3
DAAC 2306 Substance Abuse Prevention I 3
DAAC 1304 Pharmacology of Addiction 3
 Credits12
Fourth Term
DAAC 2307 Addicted Family Intervention 3
DAAC 2341 Counseling Alcohol and Other Drug Addictions 3
SCWK 2301 Assessment and Case Management 3
ENGL 1302
Composition II
or Technical and Business Writing
3
 Credits12
Summer Year Two Term
DAAC 2366 Practicum - Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling 3
 Credits3
 Total Credits60

Capstone Experience: PMHS 2366 Practicum-Mental Health Services Technician and DAAC 2366 Practicum - Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling

Note: Students must pass each course listed in the degree or certificate for Mental Health Services with a grade of C or higher to be eligible to receive a degree or certificate.