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Graduate Programs Open House: Counseling Programs

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so let's see I am going to start off my

name is Dr Sher Castro Atwater I have

been counseling faculty for 20 years

this is my 20th year I'm very excited

about that um I am the program director

for the three Master's programs in

counseling and I'll let my assistant

director introduce themselves and then

our student

representative hi everyone I'm Dr Marian

Francis I am the assistant director who

has had and still has the pleasure of

working very closely with Dr Atwater

overseeing all the wonderful things that

we have going on in the counseling

programs I've also been teaching in the

programs for about six years now um

mostly in the internship phase which we

will talk Lots about today I am excited

to get to know you all and see you and

and if you're comfortable we would love

to see your lovely faces feel free to

turn your cameras on if not I I'm I put

makeup on today so I'm I'm you can watch

me all day if you'd like

and then last but not least we have a

student representative joining us today

Lauren yes hello everybody my name is

Lauren I am a second year student in the

lpcc track program I also am the

President of the counsiling graduate

student Association um which I hope you

all join if you decide to come to LMU um

I sh pronouns and just really excited to

be here and answer any questions you might

might

have all right well thank thank you uh

all for being here today so we have a

mix of people interested in our programs

today hopefully we have some LMU folks

we have some non LMU folks we have a mix

of of folks that are interested in um

you know becoming a professional

counselor and we're going to talk you

through the program um we're going to

talk you through admission requirements

um here student perspectives we're going

to little talk a little bit more about

program goals but let me share my screen

and let's begin by just asking us all

because we are counseling we always want

to start with a self-care activity um

and so very very quickly I'm going to

ask everybody uh to go to the zoom chat

function and as we're still admitting

just a couple folks go ahead and write

down your favorite relaxing go-to song

and in just a few minutes we'll create a

relaxation playlist for everybody to

take away and you can screenshot it um

what do you do to relax where is your

your go-to song uh something calming or easy

easy listening

listening

and I'll give you a second to do that

play around with the chat if you're not

as um familiar with zoom it's it should

be in the little bottom uh on the bar

that says chat and you'll click on it

and go on to the

right okay so who's going to get us

started is anyone's oh there we go thank

you thank you the Avatar's love from

Avatar the Last air bender oh here we go

now look at this it's like a waterfall

chat this is what I call a waterfall

chat everybody's sending their

relaxation song goto song and now in

just a few minutes we're going to have

the best playlist ever when we are

stressed out um so feel free to continue

to join add to the playlist feel free to

screenshot the songs use them as part of

your relaxation ritual oh I'm seeing

great ones okay Dr Francis there's some

that we have not seen in our last time

we did this I'm getting great ideas

awesome I'm adding them to the playlist

I know I I have to do mine too

too

um did did you do yours as well let's do that

that

um we're going to have to all everyone

who can and wants to all right well

thank you all for doing that um that

gives us a little bit of takeaway and

now we're going to dive into um our

program kind of overview and feel free

to save some questions if you have them

we are happy to answer Q&A um at the end

so just make sure you hang on to those

questions so that you can um make sure

you ask them at the end and of course

we're going to have a student

perspective section too where you can

ask students questions so welcome to our

program this is our brag sheet I won't

spend a lot of time on this but we are

very very proud of the program that we

have the offerings that we have we're

very different from some of the programs

uh regionally mostly um and we'll talk

about a little bit of the differences

but mostly we are a flexible program we

understand that a counselor is an

identity but that the setting that you

might engage in or want to work in might

change and it might differ so we offer

some flexibility in specialization

tracks so even if you come in thinking I

want to be a school counselor and you

change and you decide to add mental

health therapists to that you can you

have some opportunity to do that I know

a lot of programs um in the area we'll

ask you to pick one and stick with it so

um that is one of the things that our

program offers that we are very proud of

so we're going to go over who we are

program specializations just so you can

kind of figure out who you want to um

you know where you see yourself we're

going to go over what the program

coursework looks like um what

constitutes a full-time student what

that looks like um and then we're going

to talk about our uh program supports

including our student student voice our

counseling graduate student

Association and uh finally we'll end

going over some program requirements

deadlines for the application and if we

have time we'll do another ice Breer

activity all right so let's go ahead and

begin So This Is Us in a nutshell we

consider ourselves a family we have been

working alongside each other for several

years now um and so above the yellow

line you will see all of the full-time

faculty that have been uh dedicated to

our program um I introduced myself and

the rest of our faculty are always

joining us for a graduate open house if

they are not teaching but a lot of them

are teaching tonight so we have Dr Maya

Hoskin who is an assistant professor um

she will be on maternity leave in the

fall we just learned um which we're

excited about um I think she this is her

her third child yes uh this fall so

we're very excited about that um and

then we've got Dr Bill Parham who is a

professor and has been working for I

think he's been here over 12 years so he

um is interested in sports psychology so

if he's you know if you have any sports

psychologists or coaches um definitely

it's worth a trip to his office because

he's got all the Laker memorabilia

because he definitely is a um he's

actually the director first director of

mental health for the National

Basketball Association as a title that

he also holds in addition to being

full-time in the counseling program um

he also directs the center for trauma so

those of you who are interested in that

uh research uh he is always available

and all of us are we are just a an email

away we pride ourselves on small class

sizes and easy faculty student

communication so never hesitate to uh

contact any one of us if you're

interested in any of our work um or just

have general

questions Dr Estrada is an associate

professor in our program full-time he

does a lot of work on the

intersectionality of lgbtq and latinx population

population

um and then our latest uh visiting

Professor Dr Kat Blan Kat Blanco

Kathleen Blanco she um is the CWA

director so the child those of you who

are interested in adding on the child

welfare and attendance nine unit it's an

add-on authorization program to the PPS

credential for School counseling and

it's basically the equivalent of of of

kind of like a school social worker so

it gives you those wraparound services

with a focus on working with homeless

and Foster youth um and providing um

remediation andury services to students in

schools all right um I'm going to have

Dr Francis uh take over now and

introduce our amazing wonderful gifted

staff oh my pleasure uh to the left here

we have Dr Michael Soso many people love

to call him Dr Mike he is our current um

programs advisor and we are he's now

also going to become the director of

Student Success so he has been working

with us for many years has

overseen uh all the transitions of each

of our students coming up with the

perfect plan uh that kind of fits their

what their needs are at the time um he's

also help students you know transition

from one track to another if their

interests have changed over time an

amazing amazing student

adviser and then I'm right in the middle

if you recognize my smile looks the same

she's amazing too but I don't think

you're allowed to say that about

yourself so I'll say it for thank you

I'm amazing I'm just kidding I'm the

assistant director which I well a lot of

you came in afterwards so I'm the

assistant director I also teach in the

programs um and have done so for about

six years now I'm usually primarily

teaching the internship portion as a university

university

supervisor enjoying the process of

getting these students right out the

door and into the field it's amazing

I've written a bunch of letters

recommendations and have seen many of

our students get snatched up uh before

they even graduate so I've had the

pleasure of that and it's all thanks

also to um Miss Esther griel who is to

the right of me there with a lovely yet

another lovely smile uh she is our fiw

workk liaison who oversees all the

connections that needs to be made in

order to get our students in the field

for their internship so um yeah this is

our lovely

staff wonderful so we have all been

working together for quite a bit of time

but we are all 100% dedicated and here

for our students um we love what we do

and the students are the center of all

of that um and so yes recognize these

faces SC you know screenshot the emails

we are always available if you have

questions all right so a little bit

about our program um we pride ourselves

on having some very distinct program

goals um and highlights so the number

one thing that you're going to find in

our C our set of counseling programs we

really expect students to know thyself

before helping others so almost every

course involves a level of

self-reflection self-awareness personal

growth looking at your biases looking at

um you know your strengths and

identifying that um and merging that

with the content so you're not only

learning about counseling theories and

techniques and helping skills um and you

know how to communicate professionally

but you're turning that lens Inward and

looking at yourself we really strongly

believe that until you have done that

work on yourself it's really difficult

to be in community with others in a

professional counseling role um we don't

require that you have gone to individual

therapy yourself but we strongly

recommend that you have done that work

and we will do a lot of that work in our

courses as well we also recognize that

we are a helping profession this is a

professional degree program so unlike

getting a M's in physics or you know

theoretical uh philosophy right we um

are preparing a future counselors um so

when you graduate you will be employable

as a professional and as Dr Francis said

we are thrilled to get to that point

where we are writing letters of

reference and recommendation and I just

did two yesterday um for students that I

just remember starting and and it's just

such a wonderful um experience to get

students to that point how do we know

you're the right fit um in addition to

applying right with all of the letters

of reference and the 3.0 GPA and all of

those things that you would require we

also require a group interview and we do

that on purpose so that we see your

interactions with each other um but this

is all to make sure that you have the

professional competencies and

dispositions that are needed to be a

successful counselor if you are here 99%

of you are here because you've been told

you're a good listener you're a good

counselor you really relate to others

well um so this is going to be a

no-brainer but every once in a while

right it's just not the best fit so what

we have is a a candidate disposition

form where we look and ask you not only

uh to describe your own uh ratings on

these areas but also to get a faculty

member that um at the end of the first

semester has known you and your work um

and measure right how kind and caring

and punctual you are do you show

leadership skills are you responsible um

do you come to class on time right um so

all of those things that we are um

expected right to grow in the profession

and actually have an ethical

responsibility as faculty to make sure

that that we're turning out counselors

with the highest

professionalism um and then of course

what makes our program unique and why a

lot of folks come to us is because of

our ignatian pedagogy we are um grounded

in the Jesuit and marry Mount Traditions

um curio personalis care of the whole

person gives us a holistic view of the

individual we believe strongly that

everyone every one of us is a work in

progress right um and so we take a very

social justice Multicultural approach

and we like to joke that we you know we

did this long before it was fashionable

to add on those words um to entice folks

to our programs this was something that

um the Jesuit and Mary Mount Traditions

have long been steeped in right taking

care of the most vulnerable population

and so that's a a core part of our

program and all of our

curriculum you will see below that there

are three specializations or tracks

which we're going to take a look at in a

minute um we are preparing counselors to

serve in either higher education

settings maybe you want to be an

academic advisor or a college counselor

maybe you want to work in schools so

prek to 12 uh school counselors um and

alternative school settings right so

that would require that you do the

school counseling program and that's a

48 unit program um you can add on the

child welfare and attendance option for

an additional nine units as well and

then uh finally we have our most popular

program right now is the the clinical

counseling 60 unit program um adding on

the school counseling credential is an

option um and those are folks that are

interested in being mental health

therapist and if you add on the PPS a

school counselor as well maybe you want

to be you want to maximize your

employment opportunities um so we are a

professional graduate school so you can

tell all of your folks in your life

support systems you will be employable

upon graduation um which is you know

you'll have applied marketable

counseling skills and we really take

pride in training um the best of the

best we really believe that those folks

that are attracted to our program are

ones that are going to be the best

counselors and therapists out there

especially in a postco world when it is

very much in demand and very needed

all right so here's the kind of cheat

sheet for you um take a look and find

yourself we have several counseling

program options as I mentioned which one

is the best fit for you so take a moment

and you can see that we have everything

from a 41 unit program all the way up to

a 60 unit program and um we really do

not require that you come in and you

know say that you're going to be one

thing and stick with it you have up

until about a semester or a year before

field work before your internship to

decide you want to um you know add on a

program or shift programs right

sometimes life happens and so you maybe

originally wanted the 60 unit program

but um you know decide on the 48 um we

have most of our students to be honest

who are in these programs who end up in

the 60 units because they start talking

to their peers they start being exposed

to different um professional uh entities

and and just decide that oh while I'm

here I might want to add on as much as I

possibly can um so if you want to work

in higher ed like I mentioned you're

going to be interested in our guidance

and counseling and what that internship

looks like is a one semester internship

usually at a college or university um

some LMU offices offer our interns um uh

specific you know um opportunities and

then um if you're doing anything else

the PPS and school counseling with the

master's degree or the licensed

professional clinical counselor

eligibility then your internship or

fieldwork will be a a solid year so it's

usually in the in the Academic Year fall

through spring and you're looking at um

800 hours if you're going to work in a

school and get your PPS credential um so

that's about 25 to 30 hours a week for

that last year so one of the things we

ask in the interview is are you

financially prepared for it we have a

lot of students coming in full-time to

our program who also continue to work

full-time that is possible so sometimes

that's one of our big questions however

when you reach that internship that's

the point at which we have to drop down

from full-time work to do part-time work

to and make sure that we can get our

internship hours in um and Esther

gobrial our fieldwork leaz on walks you

through all of that she has a wonderful

orientation for everybody um she gives

you a lot of support and advice

um the field placement and then finally

if you are here and you're getting your

PPS credential we are one of the only

programs in Southern California that

offers a Saturday fully online 9unit

child welfare and attendance

authorization if you add this to your

school counseling credential you um

definitely have an LUSD and they're in

high demand um it's usually a salary

bump as well but it really allows you to

work um as a counselor not only in k 12

but in wraparound settings so that you

are working again with homeless youth

Foster youth where are students when

they're in school and how can we get

them the resources um a lot of times we

have wonderful bright students that just

um have barriers to learning and to to

even to be able to come to school right

and so you learn all about uh try

remediation programs um interventions

that help um with special

populations um all right so now I am

going to water if I may just on that

last slide so someone in the chat just

asked um can you do the PPS or the

school counseling with the lpcc with the

CWA absolutely it is one of the most

common options um that a lot of our

students opt in for where you get to do

the school counseling you get to be work

in the schools if if you could also work

in a private clinic or you could work at

a hospital you could work you know

higher ed then the CWA as well if you're

in that School counseling realm and you

have the PPS that CWA credential kind of

enhances it um and it's always tied to

that PPS so anytime you're working as a

part of a school um you're able to serve

those marginalized populations LUSD kind

of gives you a bump in in salary as well

so yes it is one of the most common

options is to kind of put it all in a

really nice delicious salad um so I just

wanted to read that question out loud

for everyone thank you so much that is a

wonderful question and one that we get a

lot and so um yes it is absolutely

possible and also um Dr Francis

mentioned Dr Mike he is a we have a

customized advisement so every semester

you're meeting one-on-one with your

advisor and they're walking you through

what that looks like semester to

semester maybe you want to take some

online classes so you're not here on

campus as much um the child welfare and

attendance program is offered Saturdays

online fully online now so that you can

get it all in so I think a lot of our

students wonder that well can we do it

all yes and we purposely kind of map out

your curriculum so that you can do that

um and the individual advisement is the

key is you know definitely important

because every one of our students has a

different um you know family

scenario uh work outcome I mean

everybody's you know a lot of commuter

students right and so we really want to

make sure that we get that individual

advisement we are not a cohort program

for that reason because we like to meet

our students where they are and have

give them that

flexibility um okay so the counseling

program this is kind of a little bit

what it looks like if you ever are

wondering um if you were to come to our

program and start in uh the fall or

summer we have fall start spring start

and summer one um but either whenever

you're starting you're starting with

introductory courses so you're looking

at foundations of counseling uh

counseling theories and techniques

helping skills um which are the B which

I i' love to teach that class because I

I always feel like everyone in their

mother should take this class as a

mandatory class for life um it's basic

communication skills making sure that

everything out of your mouth is is being

um labeled and understood um and is used

with intention uh lifespan development

and ethics so we do have um a certain

amount of trans credits so if you have

taken graduate courses that look like

these introductory courses and you we

take up to six units of transfer credits

as well um we do offer summer classes

but it is not uh mandatory we have

Believe It or Not LMU does this two

summer semesters I don't know how we do

that but we have two six week intensive

semesters so we'll go over that in a

little bit what that looks like but that

can speed up your um how long you're

with us um if you choose to take 1 Two

Three or even four classes in the summer

um and then some of us want to relax in

the summer and we don't necessarily want

to be um intensely involved and those

classes are intensive and they meet

twice a week instead of once a week so

they're much more intense um once you

get through the level one courses

whether you do that fall spring or

whether you choose to add some summer

classes these classes that are

intermediate require prerequisites so

these would be uh more advanced courses

uh courses like Multicultural counseling

social emotional functioning career

counseling and educational planning and

then of course uh the practicum or

culturally responsive counseling with

individuals this is all leading up to

your fieldwork internship experience one

of the common questions we get again is

do you just you know leave people on

their own to find their own internship

what does that look like um we pride

ourselves on having a dedicated

full-time fieldwork liazon so Esther

gobrial who you smiling face you saw is

one ful in helping you organize um she

gives you a list of of people to contact

uh by location so that you can maybe

find something closer to where you live

particularly since you're going to be

spending a lot of time at your fi work

site um and then we are there we are

there to help you as you graduate we are

there for letters of reference um and it

is you know just one of the highlights

to be able to walk people through the

program um from beginning to end we see

so much growth uh um Dr Francis anything

that came up in the chat or anything you

wanted to add Yes actually another

question came up [Music]

[Music]

um is there a time threshold for when

graduate credits can be

applied yes so we have um well we we

take classes um within the usually I

think it's within the last five to seven

years um so you would that is something

that if you do have transfer credits Dr

Mike would be the person to contact once

you're admitted and you can share the

syllabi and say I think I already took a

counseling theories class does this

apply so that so we do take classes but

they have to be within the last five to

seven years I believe it's five um it

used to be seven um so if you're unsure

or if you want to see if that applies Dr

Mike would be the one to connect with

very good question thank you another

question is how long on average does

this program take yeah it that's another

great question varies tremendously on

you depends on you it depends on whether

you want to take summer classes it

depends on which program track so 41

unit Masters is very different from a 60

unit Masters right that's a difference

of several classes right and so um you

might want to take the summer and then

again map out semester by semester what

that would look like for you on average

if you're doing the 60 unit um lpcc PPS

and CWA we're looking at about 3 years

um if you're looking at the guidance and

counseling program we're looking at one

and a half to two maybe two years on

average I would say two to three years

depending on whether you utilize um the

two summers in between um very good

question anything else a last question

here is there an option to do the

program fully

online so our programs are not fully

online um we do believe in the in-person

experience especially for clinical

courses and for some of our work um you

know face tof face for counseling

however every single semester we offer

online classes so it is possible again

working with Dr Mike to say you know I'm

an hour away from campus I'd like to be

there just once a week or I'd like to

have a you know see if I can do the

semester you know with hybrid and online

options and we do offer those so um also

I would check with your adviser because

every once in a while we are given the

green light to put class sections online

fully which we weren't you know six

weeks prior so sometimes uh students

will say oh but on the schedule it says

classroom and um we'll say oh now it's

online right so always check with your

adviser semester to semester and then

you can kind of you know do that oh and

Lauren pipe in please yeah one thing I

really quickly wanted to say is that I

you know I love to be honest like online

stuff because I love to be in the house

that's just the reality of the situation

I do um but I do like the benefit of a

lot of these classes being in person I

really can't like understate that but

what I will say is there's actually a

handful of my classmates who commute

from like the Bay Area so they're on

campus one day a week often Wednesdays

um just taking their courses and heading

back so they definitely like work with

you to figure out what's going to make

it happen for you it's also that

calculation do you want to be commuting

from the northern part of state right like

uh that's kind of the calculation you

have to make and I always I'm like yall

are so brave for doing that but it's definitely

definitely

possible thank you Lauren that's the

very good point in fact we just we have

a student now who's in Orange County who

made it very clear like I want as many

online classes that they possibly can

get so your advisor will work with you

and say okay well you know this semester

you're in luck you can have all these

three online and then of course as you

get Pro you know progressively into the

program um your options will be you know

you'll have fewer and fewer classes to

take um and you might need to be here

one or two days a week um but we'll work

with you as much as possible and we

always offer online sections every

semester of certain

classes um okay I think we're getting to

this point uh where we're going to uh

allow Lauren a chance to speak um but

before we do I just want to uh highlight

uh what sometimes students say well what

makes you you know this is a Catholic

University what makes this different do

I have to to be you know religious is

this you do not have to be Catholic of

course to to join our program and our

you know ethical counselor

responsibilities all of that is not

rounded mandatorily in a Catholic

curriculum however what this does mean

is that you're going to see this at the

end of every syllabi and this is what we

call the ignatian pedagogi Paradigm what

it means is that every single time that

we're teaching a class we are wanting

you to experience that class most fully

we want to be a able to ask a lot of

reflection questions and have you

participate and evaluate your experience

um and all all of us as faculty

understand you have lived a full life up

to this point you have experiences that

uh we can learn from and that your

classmates can learn from and so we

really ask you to bring your full self

into um into all of the the program all

of the coursework um but we're really

looking at um not just giving you the

facts and the knowledge but making you

um you know pulling in on your on your

social conscience and your your feelings

of social justice um honing in and

encouraging that compassion right and

making sure we don't have compassion

fatigue because this is a difficult um

you know profession sometimes we burn

out um because we tend to be empaths or

we tend to be helping uh you know

gravitating towards helping others

sometimes at the expense of ourselves so

we do a lot of self-care practices and

make those things habits um and of

course we're focused on competency of

skills so it's not just knowledge we

understand that you're going to go out

into the world changing lives helping

others and we want you to be able to do

that successfully and so we follow this

pretty closely in all of our classes um

after a while you'll see it and you'll

just Breeze right by it because it's in

every syllabi but it's um it's

definitely a core part of our

curriculum all right I'm going to turn

it over to Lauren and Charles I'm not

sure do we have Charles here as well but

we're going to start with Lauren um and

we're going to have Lauren take it away

and introduce the counseling graduate student

student

association yes definitely and uh

Charles did let me know that um he is

out of town so he will be hopping on

today but I love that you just said

hopping on because he has his bunny ears

right here so that's perfect that was

great maybe it was subconscious very

frean of me right very p psychodynamic

but um but yeah I am just really pleased

to be able to talk to you all today I

really remember what it was like to be

you uh only two short years ago right so

the time really has flown um kind of my

journey I was in professional sales

doing like several hundred thousand to

million dollar deals with CEOs and CFOs

in Silicon Valley and I just reached

this moment where I said to myself does

my work have an impact if it does is

that impact good and I found myself

completely unable to answer those

questions had a small existential crisis

uh and decided to look at the people who

had helped me the most who had some

pretty uh serious traumas and mental

health issues during my undergraduate

career um and the people who got me

through that were the counselors I was

looking at my signature strengths right

and I was looking at the things I wanted

to do in the world and the purpose that

I wanted to have and counseling seemed

to make sense but when I went to kind of

look at what that meant like looking

into the different programs what

different licenses can you get like to

do different types of therapy like lmft

lpcc versus uh

LCSW there's not really any central

place for this and you have to really

find a lot of this information yourself

and what I say now is that information

in this field is held in people not

places um which is both beautiful and uh

deeply frustrating for me if you are a

Google whis um so even being here today

I wanted to commend you like this is a

great first step kind of on your way to

figuring out what you're going to do and

and how these different programs might

kind of fit into what it is you're

looking to do whether that is something

more purpose-based whether that is

catering to your signature strengths so

um so this

program uh I know there's not a lot of

information also on like how people come

out of these programs right and so I

have felt just like immensely supported

in this program and um

there the one thing I will say that I

hear unilaterally from people in the

field is that LMU students from these

programs are imp impeccably well trained

um so I I will I'll say coming here I

know it's not necessarily exactly easy

to figure out what's coming next but um

I've been really happy with my decision

here and so one of the things that I've

been able to do while being here is to

resurrect the counseling graduate

student Association since it ceased in

um during the co times obviously still

pending on that but um and what cgsa

does because the program does an

immensely powerful job of empowering us

academically and in many many ways like

professionally when it comes to jobs in

the field and those industry connections

what cgsa seeks to provide is more of a

sense of community right between

students like you might imagine this but

these programs really force you to take

some looks in here

um you'll be sitting in class learning

about something and you'll be like oh

look at those symptoms you're like oh I

do that you're like I have

symptoms so like that is a very uh I

would say daunting process and by being

around other people who get it and are

experiencing that as well and you know

it's anything from you know we do

socials or uh like we've done like some

picnics since and and that kind of stuff

too we recently put on a conference um

where graduate students were able to

present the research I presented a paper

on COC cybin for treatment resistant uh

depression in comparison with proac so

uh we kind of seek to sink into those

gaps that a program is kind of unable to

fill because it needs that student touch

that student voice um and it's been a

really lovely experience you can see all

of my um exec board here I get to work

really closely with uh doctors at water

and Francis which is just been an

incredible opportunity um and so if any

of y'all get in and wants to be in

cgsa please email me because like this

is my baby and we've really been able to

build a nice Community we have a Discord

Channel where we're all complaining

about how we can't um like how we're

like working to find our field fieldwork

placements AK complaining uh all the

time about everything so it's just nice

to have that space to do that together

he's like you for your life yeah you do

yeah um well again knowing all the Sun

that is all part of this worthwhile cost

of the incredible good we're going to

put into the world once we leave here so

thank you for coming to my TED Talk I

know that was a bit dense but I really

can't understate like how transformative

this program has been to me as a person

and a counselor but also um like it's

really nice to feel like I've also been

able to help transform in some ways the

program too like there's not a lot of

places I think you can really flash like

that and LMU provides that opportunity

for you know students like me which I

appreciate and Lauren thank you so much

for doing that for sharing that um if

you have questions uh please put them in

the Q&A um because I do want to

Spotlight the student that we have here

so I know sometimes there the questions

come up that faculty can't answer but

while we're waiting for any questions I

just want to say that Lauren is being

incredibly humble she glossed over um

they glossed Over The Graduate alumni

leaders and education conference it was

spectacular it was entirely online it

was so well organized so well attended

um graduate students alumni they had an

alumni panel um for you know people that

were once in your shoes and what are

they doing now and incredible student

presentation so um that's all thanks to

the the behind the-scenes work of Lauren

and and her teammates and and um cgsa

officers just doing a fantastic job so

it it's been an honor to work with you

um and to see all of the growth of the

of the cgsa it did it did take a nose

dive I'm not going to lie postco we had

we literally had to resurrected and

created recreated so um you see these

smiling wonderful creative individuals

you don't have to be an executive

officer it's free membership so you can

just join and show up to Taco night or

whatever they are you know uh planning

um but you can get as involved as you

want and as Lauren attested to as a

graduate student once myself for more

years than I car to remember I do wish

that I had had a Discord list to say

what's really going on and so I really

appreciate that that you know students

are finding those opportunities to

connect um particularly because we're

not a cohort program this is your chance

to really um and you will see a students

in your classes over and over again and

you'll get a chance to get to know them

but this is really a wonderful service

for the students and it's all thanks to

Lauren and and everyone who takes that

time to volunteer so absolutely and if

you would like to join you're welcome to

email me after you get your application

in and you get your interview done and

you get admitted into the program save

my email because uh this is a great

opportunity for all students to kind of

join Force you could only have so many

group texts going on right imagine you

just have this huge group text with

everyone um thank you Lauren she posted

our uh Instagram in the chat as well so

feel free to check that out and I'll

post our emails so you can have it

too wonderful thank you so much Lauren I

know you are very busy but if there's

any questions for Lauren now would be

the opportunity before we let her go on

to class and all of her great things

she's doing is there anyone else who has

a question you can either unmute to ask

Lauren or um post it in the chat or the

Q&A and one thing I just want to give a

cat to and like you know you you all

don't know them yet uh to know that like

doctors at water in Francis are like

just the most lovely validating honest

people ever if you feel like there's

something you want to ask a student that

you would prefer to ask out of this um

venue or maybe more privately I'm going

to put my email in the um chat just

shoot me an email um and I'll be candid

with you um like there are a lot of

challenges in this program right I think

it's good to really think seriously

about if you're going to go into any

helping profession right what that's

going to mean for you as a person and in

general so um like I'm here to answer

those questions very honestly um so that

you can make the decision that's right

for you like I will sing the Praises of

elu every day if this is the the work

you want to get into LMU is an

incredible place to do that but like I

know there's some maybe larger questions

about the field in general too that for

any of y'all if you decide LMU is right

for you or not I'm happy to help answer

because we can always use more

thoughtful intentional and compassionate

counselors in the field

so wonderful thank you so much Lauren

thank thank you for being here thanking

thank you for taking time out and I

promise we didn't bribe her to say those

nice things about us but we really do

app so thank you Lauren thanks everybody

for yeah oh as Lauren leaves we do we

still have a few more Logistics uh just

to go over I know a lot of questions are

coming up about deadlines and time slots

for for classes so just stay put but

thank you so much Lauren for for coming

we'll let we'll let you go as a being

the student that you are and uh thanks

yeah thanks so much and everyone best of

luck it's gonna you know you're gonna

end up in the place you're meant to be

um but you know if any of y'all that

have spmu like feel free to use me as a

resource uh going forward for that as

well but good luck everyone and have a

great rest year thank you

Lauren okay so we will get to the nitty

GD each uh Lauren mentioned challenges

it is a difficult program it's is you

know it's intensive it's M's level it's

got um some requirements that we're

going to go over um so what are you know

the common question what do the courses

look like how can I you know maintain my

full-time job and still come to class so

all classes are mandatory no class

should be missed so that's one thing to

know about us we are not like if you

breeed through undergrad and there were

you know 100 students in your lecture

and you showed up halfway through this

is not like that because class sizes are

very small because almost all classes

require partner work if you're not there

um your partner's let down so um we do

have a very strict attendance policy um

and that goes for Zoom fully online

classes as well when we're online we do

some asynchronous work or offline but we

do a lot of Zoom classes where you have

to be present so that's one thing to

know um is just that commitment now

classes are once a week in the fall and

spring so they're either held from 4:30

to 7 um that's a class one time slot or

7:15 to 9:45 so it is possible to take

two classes um and schedule them back

toback so you're here one day a week or

maybe one of them's online um and one of

them is in person so that is possible

and you should know that unlike

undergrad two classes is considered

full-time um at The Graduate level so

for financial aid purposes if you're

looking for financial aid as long as you

have two classes per semester you are

considered a full-time graduate student

um what this means and the reason that

our classes are off in the afternoons

it's busy we have a lot of students of

course that choose to work part-time or

full-time um and so they do work during

the day and they will come to class um

and sometimes you know if your work is 9

to5 you would work out with your

supervisor okay well one day a week I

have class at 4:30 so I have to leave a

little bit early but we do try to make

our classes a minimal so that you can

continue working up until your

internship year um summer semester like

I mentioned we have two summer semesters

so either uh classes for spring semester

end the beginning of may you have I

think one week off and then you start in

on intensive six week summer classes so

in summer classes are held six weeks

instead of 16 weeks so instead of coming

once a week they are offered twice a

week right so they are very intensive so

do consider um you know that we do uh

have students take advantage of summer

semester but they are intensive class

classes so taking two classes over

summer maybe you want to take one in

summer one and one in summer two or you

want to you know do two in summer one to

get them over with and then have a

little bit of a break uh summer 2

semester starts um the beginning of July

and it runs to Mid August and then of

course our fall semester starts very

late August so that's what it looks like

for fall and spring and then summer of

course looks different pretty much the

same schedule 4 to 7 and 710 to 1010 in

the um in the summer um and again we

continue to offer online classes every

semester so you just want to make sure

you check in advance with your advisor

um so that you're picking an online or

an inperson or we offer hybrid classes

as well um so the average class size uh

is around 15 to 20 students this is what

we pride ourselves on you are not ever

going to take a large lecture if you

come to our counseling programs um the

largest class is probably 24 25 students

um most commonly it's around 15 to 20

clinical classes are capped at 12 or 14

fieldwork classes are capped at 8 um so

course load of two is considered

full-time course load of three is

probably the typical your adviser will

say the first semester try two the you

know and then the second semester if

you're comfortable taking three and that

works with your work schedule then take

three never take four um I know some of

us um you know undergrad perfectionists

are used to four or five classes but

graduate levels very different so um we

do not allow you to take four classes

for a very good reason um it's just

impossible there's so much out of class

work time um that three classes is the

norm um two is fine as well everyone

begins on provisional status um and

every class must be taken with a b or

better in order to continue on to the

next academic term um in other words you

must have a 3.0 and maintain that 3.0

throughout the program to avoid being on

academic probation um and and uh in

addition as I mentioned it's not just

grades we're looking also at

dispositions so you will submit your

candidate disposition form at the end of

the first semester and again at right

before your internship just to make sure

that you are rating yourself and and

several helping dispositions um and that

your faculty is rating you in the same

way um so we want to make sure that you

have that self-awareness of what your

strengths are and areas that you might

want to work

on all right clinical training so a lot

of students say well how you know what

does this look like in terms of you know

what does being a counselor look like we

start you off with helping skills this

is where you are working clinically with

a peer you are recording your sessions

um and you are getting lots of feedback

and lots of practice and we have a motto

uh progress not Perfection we are not

looking for anyone who knows everything

especially in the beginning everybody's

nervous nobody likes to be recorded um

but you're working with your peers and

no prior counseling experience and

clinical experience is necessary then

once you're comfortable with that you

move on to group counseling and uh

individual counseling where you get your

first real volunteer client that you've

never met and we walk you through that

process again lots of clinical feedback

um that class is credit no credit for a

reason so that you're not feeling like

you're evaluated but you're getting a

lot of feedback on your growth and

skills as a counselor and then of course

you end with your internship and

depending on the program track you're in

you're either going to be in a school a

community agency or a higher education

setting we do not have a master's thesis

instead of that you're going to do a lot

of writing a lot of research papers in a

lot of classes so instead we do what

most national counseling programs do we

um offer a comprehensive examination

that you'll have to um pass in order to

graduate um we prepare you for this we

give you a practice exam we tell you

hang on to all your syllabi sometimes

people get to that point and they say

I'm worried I I'm not going to pass you

know I I need to study but just keep in

mind that every single class you're

taking is the studying you are learning

so much by the time you get to this

point that it should be a matter of

mostly review and we have uh dedicated

materials Dr Francis has been wonderful

and really revamping the comprehensive

preparation for the comp exam um so it

covers all core uh areas uh and it is

the national comprehensive uh

Examination for counseling programs the

cpce um then uh you know and it's

offered in the fall it's offered in the

spring it's offered in summer 1 we get a

common question around right now that

asks what if I fail do I have to take it

again we will look at all of your scores

in all 12 areas we will uh have a c off

score for each of the 12 um it is rare

that we've seen anyone fail all 12

usually there might be somebody who just

needs more help in one area so we will

um offer that um you will need to pass

that area that you didn't pass the first

time but we will provide that to you um

uh until you complete it so we will give

you a lot of support and um you can

retake those sections that are not

passed and still

graduate all right opportunities for

research and scholarships again a very

very common question um so informally

talk to us about your ideas um we each

have web pages we each are doing you

know active scholarship and research we

often present at conferences with

interested students if you're interested

in more of the teaching aspect and just

uh getting an a class as a teaching

assistant get an A in The Graduate

course email your full-time professor

and say I'm interested in being a TA um

and you know that's where you know a lot

of my Tas come from just it was a quick

email I took your helping skills class I

really enjoyed it um can I ta for you so

it really is um there's opportunity

unities to do that there's also raas and

gas not to be confused with ta so a

research assistant if you're more

interested in doing that route again

look at our web pages and we'll kind of

match you with somebody who's doing

current active research and has a

position for you um or graduate

assistant a ga position and those are

positions across campus um usually they

won't be housed in our program they'll

be for you know sometimes G are copying

final exams or they're doing things for

other departments but there's a Webb

page dedicated to um graduate uh

assistant work so if you're interested

and you want to move to oncampus work

sometimes students find that to be

easier um because they're already here

for class so um that is definitely an

option we also send a few students each

year to both side programs and PHD

programs Ed programs at times so

schedule an appointment with any

full-time faculty to discuss options we

also have an alumni panel every year

that we put together every may we always

try to grab it a current doctoral

student that was an alumni of our

program to tell you the ins and outs of

what that might look like if you want to

further your

education um scholarships fellowships

they are available Cassidy Alvarado

smiling face right here every year she

says there's not enough counseling

students coming to onif which is the

office of national International

fellowships on campus um so email her

once you're admitted not before she's

asked me to tell you that because she

gets confused and says oh wait you're

not I can't find you in the system if if

you are admitted definitely contact her

and ask about counseling program

fellowships there are scholarships and

fellowships available for those that are

specifically for the helping professions

um and sometimes they go unclaimed so we

really want to encourage all current

students to start there the school of

education also offers uh graduate

scholarships as

well all right and that will be I think

a you know financial aid is coming up so

uh you should definitely attend that

after this as well if you're interested

all right now the nuts and bolts

application deadlines we have a rolling

admissions program um we are very you

know much hard at work all year trying

to make sure that we process all of the

applications and uh we do that in a

timely fashion so if you are looking at

joining us this fall the application uh

deadline is June 15th um for summer one

if you were interested in starting as

early as miday of this year that uh

application deadline is this Friday if

you have just heard about us today and

you want that deadline extended we

anyone here is hearing me um please

email Dr Francis or myself or Cheryl

Hugo who's in Admissions and we will

make sure that we can follow you to

extend that deadline but again that

would only be for folks that wanted to

join us and apply and have an interview

for a miday start um much more common is

our fall start we usually have a a a

very robust admissions process and

application process but then a rather

large class uh entering in the fall so

that deadline is June 15th and then you

might also want to take some time and

reconsider and the if you wanted to

start in January our application

deadline is November 15th so um please

know that these are while they are hard

deadlines we do work with students if

there is something if there's a missing

letter of recommendation or you got most

of your appc materials in and want to be

considered please never just leave it an

unanswered question please reach out to

us um because sometimes there are things

that we can do all right

um admission requirements all right we

are a competitive program we do require

a personal statement of intent official

transcripts from all colleges and

universities you have ever attended

which can be kind of a pain if you have

taken especially High School classes

Community College classes in high school

we need those as well um so we'll ask

you for official transcripts uh we do

require a 3.0 GPA or better however I

will say this again there is a caveat

every once in a while especially in the

counseling professions we attract a lot

of students who have gone through things

in high school or college that maybe

prevented them from getting the GPA that

they wanted maybe their GPA overall in

college or you know wasn't what they

wanted because their freshman year was

very difficult transitioning um we

really do read the personal statement of

intent for that purpose if there is a

reason that you have a below 3.0 GPA if

it's significantly below we might ask

you to take a graduate level course um

and try to bump it up so that the last

90 units are 3.0 or better um or we and

or we want to see in your letter of

intent why that why that happened or

what your rationale is so in general en

the admission requirements you know 3.0

is the minimum but again there are

things that we want to hear from you if

if that is not the case for you two

letters of recommendation please make

them professional uh letters from either

faculty or supervisors no friends uh no

neighbors please uh and then a

certificate of clearance this is not

just unique to art program this is for

anyone entering um a School site so we

do need a certificate of clearance

that's something that um is offered it's

it's a you know process online your

advisor advisor will reach out and tell

you the process for that um but it's

just getting those live scam

fingerprinting and application to the

California Commission on teacher

credentialing and uh then of course the

California basic skills requirement so

this is a CEST this is a separate test

that you will need to take we do not

require the gr um which is unlike some

Master's programs in counseling um but

we do require the CEST and or equivalent

so if you have SAT scores or act scores

that are um wave this requirement please

talk to your adviser and provide

those um we this is a lot I know this is

a lot of information for everybody um we

do have a rolling admissions process

like I said so interviews are held all

year fall spring or summer and we do

have an online application but we also

have an information packet if this is a

lot for you and you just want to scroll

through um please request our

information packet um and that kind of

walks you through step by step

everything that's needed um and again if

you have difficulties meeting the

admissions uh application deadlines um

never feel like you're stuck please

always communicate with us and we'll see

what we can

do um I'm thinking that that might be

everything that we've got here but I

want to take a minute to stop share and

just ask if there are questions and I'm

seeing some in the chat so maybe Dr

Francis and I can kind of um

read those out loud I there has there

have been plenty of questions let's do

it really great questions I've answered

quite a few and because of time let's go

with uh if you can Dr Outwater answer is

it possible to obtain an internship

credential while enrolled in the program

yes it is very good question for those

of you who don't know you might uh get

an offer this doesn't happen typically

with school counselor interns but every

once in a while you you are a stellar

applicant for your internship and they

want to pay you and they want you to be

employed at the school district even

while you're in training that is

wonderful and we every year have a few

students who get those opportunities um

it's not typical in the school

counseling field again but every once in

a while there's a stien offered and so

you will be required to have an intern

credential where you um get a credential

from the state and it's not an advanced

credential it's not a graduate one it's

an intern one and I think there's a $65

application fee and you will get that

and that will allow you to get paid for your

your

internship very good question perfect

and then [Music]

[Music]

um if we can speak more on okay so

there's two

questions uh regarding s sat act C best

what if you've never took sat or act

because of covid and does a c best need

to be completed beforehand or by the

first semester yes okay so I'll I kind

of take those while I went so this sat

or act is not required it is the CEST

that's required which is typically a a a

you know an easier test and I think the

CTC is even looking now into ways to

wave that requirement if you've taken

certain um certain other tests right so

the SAT and ACT could be used to wave

the CEST but they're not required so the

CEST and the certificate of clearance or

COC they are both required um typically

we we require them upon on um uh

beforehand right before you start the

semester that is the requirement um for

whatever reason if you have difficulty

completing those um you reach out to

your adviser let them know where you are

in the process let's say you apply to

the program and that COC is still

pending or the certificate clearance is

pending or the CEST past results are

still pending um work with Dr Mike Dr

Mike will help you or whoever he's he's

now being promoted so there might be a

new adviser in his place um but he'll be

around to advise you on you know what

you need to do maybe your C best is

scheduled but it's after the start of

the semester that will be you know

something that you'd work out with the

adviser as long as you know we are in

communication with you um but typically

those things are done prior to the start

semester mostly because we do have some

classes where we will hold them on

nearby School sites if you're in the

school counseling track and so we want

to make sure that everybody has those

requirements to be in a school legally

and ethically to be able to you know uh

be fingerprinted before working with

students um yes certificate of clearance

is usually valid for five years um so if

you've already done it you just want to

make sure it's renewed every five years

and let's see other

questions I'm

seeing um I think we answered everyone

yeah um I had a question real quick

absolutely Nicole sure

um so for do you require shadowing hours um you know like for teaching sometimes

um you know like for teaching sometimes they would ask us to do shadowing hours

they would ask us to do shadowing hours before fieldwork so is or is it um all

before fieldwork so is or is it um all just during the fieldwork Year yes that

just during the fieldwork Year yes that is such a good question thank you Nicole

is such a good question thank you Nicole for that because um there is a there is

for that because um there is a there is there are might be people here that are

there are might be people here that are not psychology or sociology Majors so

not psychology or sociology Majors so there's kind of a two-part question I

there's kind of a two-part question I I'll kind of expand on so for anyone

I'll kind of expand on so for anyone that's not a psychology or sociology

that's not a psychology or sociology major do not be afraid to apply however

major do not be afraid to apply however please note that what we'll be looking

please note that what we'll be looking for like if you're coming from you know

for like if you're coming from you know like Lauren said she was in professional

like Lauren said she was in professional sales we have business we have

sales we have business we have accounting Majors who have an epiphany I

accounting Majors who have an epiphany I don't want to do this I want to be a

don't want to do this I want to be a counselor which is wonderful but we do

counselor which is wonderful but we do require some proof that you are that you

require some proof that you are that you know what you're you getting into and

know what you're you getting into and that you want um this field so usually

that you want um this field so usually if you're a non psych or social related

if you're a non psych or social related field major helping profession major in

field major helping profession major in an undergrad field we're looking for

an undergrad field we're looking for volunteer work or experience shadowing a

volunteer work or experience shadowing a school counselor or shadowing a mental

school counselor or shadowing a mental health therapist is ideal so we don't

health therapist is ideal so we don't require that um but if especially if

require that um but if especially if you're a non helping uh major helping

you're a non helping uh major helping profession major you that would be

profession major you that would be something that we're looking for um this

something that we're looking for um this could also be you know volunteering at

could also be you know volunteering at your church coaching mentoring youth or

your church coaching mentoring youth or you know in your community so we're

you know in your community so we're going to look to that particularly with

going to look to that particularly with non- psychology majors um what what have

non- psychology majors um what what have you done that shows us that you know

you done that shows us that you know that this is the profession for you um

that this is the profession for you um the other part of that question is that

the other part of that question is that once you get into our program there are

once you get into our program there are a 100 practicum hours required prior to

a 100 practicum hours required prior to your internship but don't worry we put

your internship but don't worry we put them all in our coursework almost all

them all in our coursework almost all but 10 of them are things that are

but 10 of them are things that are embedded so for example folks that are

embedded so for example folks that are taking counseling theories and

taking counseling theories and techniques the course I'm teaching right

techniques the course I'm teaching right now are getting that lab portion done in

now are getting that lab portion done in partner work work they're working

partner work work they're working clinically um sometimes you'll go out

clinically um sometimes you'll go out and you'll interview a counselor in the

and you'll interview a counselor in the community if you're in foundations of

community if you're in foundations of counseling uh and you interview usually

counseling uh and you interview usually the counselor that you want to be so if

the counselor that you want to be so if you're going to be a school counselor

you're going to be a school counselor you interview a school counselor mental

you interview a school counselor mental health therapist right higher academic

health therapist right higher academic adviser you know you're going to

adviser you know you're going to interview someone so there's a lot of

interview someone so there's a lot of practicum hours embedded in our

practicum hours embedded in our coursework already 10 of those are what

coursework already 10 of those are what we call your choice so 10 hours are your

we call your choice so 10 hours are your choice pre-counseling hours we highly

choice pre-counseling hours we highly recommend that you use those hours to

recommend that you use those hours to Shadow a counselor to interview them to

Shadow a counselor to interview them to talk to them um things that are not you

talk to them um things that are not you know in your to volunteer to coach do

know in your to volunteer to coach do something related um but those you have

something related um but those you have 10 that are your choice so you can also

10 that are your choice so you can also Shadow for those too uh

Shadow for those too uh 10 um and S did you sure Nicole I wasn't

10 um and S did you sure Nicole I wasn't sure if we had to um dedicate maybe 20

sure if we had to um dedicate maybe 20 30 hours a week prior to field work yes

30 hours a week prior to field work yes I wasn't sure oh yeah so we do that for

I wasn't sure oh yeah so we do that for you we embed it within the coursework

you we embed it within the coursework great thank you so much sure and sorora

great thank you so much sure and sorora I see your question your hand up um hi

I see your question your hand up um hi so um I'm sorry I I use my zoom for my

so um I'm sorry I I use my zoom for my sorority so my my name is

sorority so my my name is actually like I've never heard

actually like I've never heard that my name is actually LJ uh LJ

that my name is actually LJ uh LJ McKenzie Reno um so any who my question

McKenzie Reno um so any who my question was

was um it's about the GPA so with regards to

um it's about the GPA so with regards to GPA my last ending GPA would be at law

GPA my last ending GPA would be at law school I just graduated a year ago so um

school I just graduated a year ago so um are you will you be using that

are you will you be using that particular GPA or is it the GPA from

particular GPA or is it the GPA from undergrad so typically it's the one from

undergrad so typically it's the one from undergrad however you've taken last 90

undergrad however you've taken last 90 units it would be typically the the last

units it would be typically the the last 90 units that you've taken you know

90 units that you've taken you know you've had it for but we we start at the

you've had it for but we we start at the under God level um so that's typically

under God level um so that's typically where we go

where we go and then if you've had another master's

and then if you've had another master's degree or you have a law degree um that

degree or you have a law degree um that is also considered usually if your GPA

is also considered usually if your GPA is lower than 3.0 as undergrad we will

is lower than 3.0 as undergrad we will go to your master's program and and

go to your master's program and and that's also what we tell folks like you

that's also what we tell folks like you have a 2.8 and but your last 90 units

have a 2.8 and but your last 90 units included some graduate study and when we

included some graduate study and when we calculate just those it's above a 3.0 so

calculate just those it's above a 3.0 so that's usually how it works okay I just

that's usually how it works okay I just wanted to know because I I didn't know

wanted to know because I I didn't know whether or not if it was just solely

whether or not if it was just solely based upon the um

based upon the um undergrad

undergrad uh yeah no if it's if it's below 3.0 it

uh yeah no if it's if it's below 3.0 it would not be solely based on that we

would not be solely based on that we would then look at your master or your

would then look at your master or your for sure no problem and then last but

for sure no problem and then last but not least question uh so I did apply for

not least question uh so I did apply for the LA USD school board and they did

the LA USD school board and they did require the C best however because I

require the C best however because I have so many units the young lady was

have so many units the young lady was like no you don't need to take the Cs we

like no you don't need to take the Cs we need to go ahead and apply for the

need to go ahead and apply for the waiver so do that waiver also apply to

waiver so do that waiver also apply to you all okay if you have an accepted

you all okay if you have an accepted waiver for the Cs then that's good yeah

waiver for the Cs then that's good yeah we okay sounds good um is there any

we okay sounds good um is there any other question um and with regards to um

other question um and with regards to um I guess volunteer work or things of that

I guess volunteer work or things of that nature so I I'm a soci major um well I

nature so I I'm a soci major um well I was a soci major in my undergrad and so

was a soci major in my undergrad and so um we needed to do an internship and

um we needed to do an internship and mindes was working with uh families uh

mindes was working with uh families uh that were looking to um to be reun have

that were looking to um to be reun have reunification so um I worked as the uh

reunification so um I worked as the uh visitation Monitor and wrote the reports

visitation Monitor and wrote the reports for the family and um those reports went

for the family and um those reports went to the courts and then the courts

to the courts and then the courts decided whether the the family should be

decided whether the the family should be uh reunified or not so with that all

uh reunified or not so with that all being said is that something that you

being said is that something that you all are looking for with regards to

all are looking for with regards to working within the community and things

working within the community and things of that nature 100% absolutely that's

of that nature 100% absolutely that's something that you would you would talk

something that you would you would talk about in your letter of intent as a

about in your letter of intent as a reason that you know and also you know

reason that you know and also you know given your experience with the recent

given your experience with the recent law degree where do you see yourself

law degree where do you see yourself going so your letter of intent is your

going so your letter of intent is your opportunity to share with us your prior

opportunity to share with us your prior experiences and why you think this is a

experiences and why you think this is a good fit and so the experience you just

good fit and so the experience you just described exactly would be the volunteer

described exactly would be the volunteer and Community experience that we would

and Community experience that we would be expecting um and especially you know

be expecting um and especially you know you're a sociology major but if you

you're a sociology major but if you wen't you know if you're a business or

wen't you know if you're a business or accy major and you had experience along

accy major and you had experience along those lines that would that would

those lines that would that would definitely be something we' wanted we

definitely be something we' wanted we we' be for well thank you so much for

we' be for well thank you so much for answering my questions and uh I'll go

answering my questions and uh I'll go ahead and let everyone else get their

ahead and let everyone else get their questions in okay thank you LJ Haley

questions in okay thank you LJ Haley question hi um so I'm actually I'm still

question hi um so I'm actually I'm still completing my undergrad um and I'm just

completing my undergrad um and I'm just on here to get some information in

on here to get some information in advance but I was wondering um any

advance but I was wondering um any advice that you had um that I could do

advice that you had um that I could do before applying um that could make

before applying um that could make myself a more of a like competitive and

myself a more of a like competitive and qualified candidate for this program yes

qualified candidate for this program yes I would just say along the lines of what

I would just say along the lines of what we just mentioned the more interest and

we just mentioned the more interest and experience that you have along the

experience that you have along the counseling realm Community work working

counseling realm Community work working with families working with youth working

with families working with youth working with um adults that you know in some

with um adults that you know in some kind of mentoring or coaching or

kind of mentoring or coaching or counseling capacity um teaching you know

counseling capacity um teaching you know teaching capacity would work those

teaching capacity would work those things should be uh you know focused on

things should be uh you know focused on and highlighted and this would include

and highlighted and this would include you know working in volunteer work

you know working in volunteer work community service Church um spiritual

community service Church um spiritual work anything like that that you can do

work anything like that that you can do I would definitely take this time to

I would definitely take this time to really invest in um and again of course

really invest in um and again of course over 3.0 GPA is what we would hope that

over 3.0 GPA is what we would hope that you would graduate with so those those

you would graduate with so those those things are really what would make you

things are really what would make you competitive yeah great thank you sure

competitive yeah great thank you sure and then I'll kayin just one second

and then I'll kayin just one second Gabby I see a question is there an issue

Gabby I see a question is there an issue if we graduated with our ba over 5 years

if we graduated with our ba over 5 years ago absolutely not we have students that

ago absolutely not we have students that have come back um you know midcareer we

have come back um you know midcareer we have student uh candidates that are in

have student uh candidates that are in their 30s and 40s and um it's you know

their 30s and 40s and um it's you know always a joy because they bring a level

always a joy because they bring a level of experience that um other students

of experience that um other students might not have and so um there's no

might not have and so um there's no issue with that at all um it would just

issue with that at all um it would just be if you were trying to transfer

be if you were trying to transfer courses than anything over 5 years we

courses than anything over 5 years we wouldn't take as a transfer because it's

wouldn't take as a transfer because it's considered too long of a time and new

considered too long of a time and new knowledge has has you know taken its

knowledge has has you know taken its place um so I hope that answered your

place um so I hope that answered your question Gabby and then kayn

question Gabby and then kayn question hello um I just had one a

question hello um I just had one a couple quick questions one I know um you

couple quick questions one I know um you guys mentioned like the interview um

guys mentioned like the interview um process and this might have been

process and this might have been answered earlier but I am currently

answered earlier but I am currently completing my undergrad I'm out of state

completing my undergrad I'm out of state so I'm from Los Angeles but completing

so I'm from Los Angeles but completing um um my my undergrad in a school in

um um my my undergrad in a school in Illinois so I don't know if the

Illinois so I don't know if the interview was in person or if there was

interview was in person or if there was like an online um option for students

like an online um option for students who aren't physically in the Los Angeles

who aren't physically in the Los Angeles area you are in lack they're all virtual

area you are in lack they're all virtual they're all over zo yeah yeah so if you

they're all over zo yeah yeah so if you are invited to an interview and also if

are invited to an interview and also if you're invited to an interview know that

you're invited to an interview know that we have looked over all of your

we have looked over all of your materials we've read your letter of

materials we've read your letter of intent we want you to be there that's

intent we want you to be there that's kind of the final step in making sure

kind of the final step in making sure that you you know are a good fit and and

that you you know are a good fit and and chance to ask questions of us as well so

chance to ask questions of us as well so very good but they're all over Zoom yes

very good but they're all over Zoom yes okay thank you um and second one was

okay thank you um and second one was roughly like how many students are

roughly like how many students are admitted per like term like what's like

admitted per like term like what's like the incoming class of like the fall

the incoming class of like the fall would look like yes we we usually our

would look like yes we we usually our biggest admissions group is usually in

biggest admissions group is usually in the fall and I would say we have

the fall and I would say we have anywhere um I would have to say postco

anywhere um I would have to say postco we have taken a more robust approach

we have taken a more robust approach because we know that there is a high

because we know that there is a high demand for counselors so we are looking

demand for counselors so we are looking anywhere between 45 and 50 for the fall

anywhere between 45 and 50 for the fall uh it is a pretty big program um that's

uh it is a pretty big program um that's our kind of capacity uh sometimes we

our kind of capacity uh sometimes we have you know we're more selective and

have you know we're more selective and we take fewer but we are definitely open

we take fewer but we are definitely open and have the capacity to take up to that

and have the capacity to take up to that amount um in the fall we generally have

amount um in the fall we generally have a smaller group um in the spring just

a smaller group um in the spring just because it's a little more unusual to

because it's a little more unusual to start in January but we do offer that um

start in January but we do offer that um but yeah our biggest group is real

but yeah our biggest group is real roughly around I would say about 40

roughly around I would say about 40 incoming for fall okay thank you

incoming for fall okay thank you sure any other questions that we have

sure any other questions that we have from

from anybody I think that just about covered

anybody I think that just about covered it I'm going to go ahead and put my

it I'm going to go ahead and put my email in the chat and Dr Francis I think

email in the chat and Dr Francis I think you've already done that but if you

you've already done that but if you haven't we're going to do that for you

haven't we're going to do that for you all and please do not hesitate to

all and please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions after you

might you know have a question right as if you're like me right as we finish

if you're like me right as we finish you're going to be like oh yeah that's

you're going to be like oh yeah that's that the question I wanted so go ahead

that the question I wanted so go ahead and feel free to email me anytime

and feel free to email me anytime thank you all so much for your

thank you all so much for your participation one thing I want to do is

participation one thing I want to do is make sure that you all know that after

make sure that you all know that after this we do have these options so please

this we do have these options so please feel free to go to the financial aid if

feel free to go to the financial aid if you're interested in that at 6:00 career

you're interested in that at 6:00 career and professional development at 6:30 and

and professional development at 6:30 and then again on Tuesday uh for any

then again on Tuesday uh for any International students at 7 all right

International students at 7 all right thank you all so much it's been such a

thank you all so much it's been such a pleasure take care

okay I'm gonna stop the recording

recording okay so let's see I am going to start

okay so let's see I am going to start off my name is Dr Sher Castro Atwater I

off my name is Dr Sher Castro Atwater I have been counseling faculty for 20

have been counseling faculty for 20 years this is my 20th year I'm very

years this is my 20th year I'm very excited about that um I am the program

excited about that um I am the program director for the three Master's programs

director for the three Master's programs in counseling and I'll let my assistant

in counseling and I'll let my assistant director introduce themselves and then

director introduce themselves and then our student

our student representative hi everyone I'm Dr maryan

representative hi everyone I'm Dr maryan Francis I am the assistant director who

Francis I am the assistant director who has had and still has the pleasure of

has had and still has the pleasure of working very closely with Dr Atwater

working very closely with Dr Atwater overseeing all the wonderful things that

overseeing all the wonderful things that we have going on in the counseling

we have going on in the counseling programs I've also been teaching in the

programs I've also been teaching in the programs for about six years now um

programs for about six years now um mostly in the internship phase which we

mostly in the internship phase which we will talk Lots about today I am excited

will talk Lots about today I am excited to get to know you all and see you and

to get to know you all and see you and if you're comfortable we would love to

if you're comfortable we would love to see your lovely faces feel free to turn

see your lovely faces feel free to turn your cameras on if not I I'm I put

your cameras on if not I I'm I put makeup on today so I'm I'm you can watch

makeup on today so I'm I'm you can watch me all day if you'd

me all day if you'd like and then last but not least we have

like and then last but not least we have a student representative joining us

a student representative joining us today

today Lauren yes hello everybody my name is

Lauren yes hello everybody my name is Lauren I am a second year student in the

Lauren I am a second year student in the lpcc track program I also am the

lpcc track program I also am the President of the counseling graduate

President of the counseling graduate student

student Association um which I hope you all join

Association um which I hope you all join if you decide to come to LMU um I use sh

if you decide to come to LMU um I use sh pronouns and just really excited to be

pronouns and just really excited to be here and answer any questions you might

here and answer any questions you might have all right well thank you uh all for

have all right well thank you uh all for being here today so we have a mix of

being here today so we have a mix of people interested in our programs today

people interested in our programs today hopefully we have some LMU folks we have

hopefully we have some LMU folks we have some non LMU folks we have a a mix of of

some non LMU folks we have a a mix of of folks that are interested in um you know

folks that are interested in um you know becoming a professional counselor and

becoming a professional counselor and we're going to talk you through the

we're going to talk you through the program um we're going to talk you

program um we're going to talk you through admission requirements um here

through admission requirements um here are student perspectives we're going to

are student perspectives we're going to little talk a little bit more about

little talk a little bit more about program goals but let me share my screen

program goals but let me share my screen and let's begin by just asking us all

and let's begin by just asking us all because we are counseling we always want

because we are counseling we always want to start with a self-care activity um

to start with a self-care activity um and so very very quickly I'm going to

and so very very quickly I'm going to ask everybody uh to go to the zoom chat

ask everybody uh to go to the zoom chat function and as we're still admitting

function and as we're still admitting just a couple folks go ahead and write

just a couple folks go ahead and write down your favorite relaxing go-to song

down your favorite relaxing go-to song and in just a few minutes we'll create a

and in just a few minutes we'll create a relaxation playlist for everybody to

relaxation playlist for everybody to take away and you can screenshot it um

take away and you can screenshot it um what do you do to relax where is your

what do you do to relax where is your what's your go-to song uh something

what's your go-to song uh something calming or easy

calming or easy listening

listening and I'll give you a second to do that

and I'll give you a second to do that play around with the chat if you're not

play around with the chat if you're not as

as um familiar with zoom it's it should be

um familiar with zoom it's it should be in the little botom uh on the bar that

in the little botom uh on the bar that says chat and you'll click on it and

says chat and you'll click on it and then go on to the

then go on to the right okay so who's going to get us

right okay so who's going to get us started is anyone's oh there we go thank

started is anyone's oh there we go thank you the Avatar's love from Avatar The

you the Avatar's love from Avatar The Last Airbender oh here we go now look at

Last Airbender oh here we go now look at this it's like a waterfall chat this is

this it's like a waterfall chat this is what I call a waterfall chat everybody's

what I call a waterfall chat everybody's sending their relaxation song goto song

sending their relaxation song goto song and now in just a few minutes we're

and now in just a few minutes we're going to have the best playlist ever

going to have the best playlist ever when we are stressed out um so feel free

when we are stressed out um so feel free to continue to join add to the playlist

to continue to join add to the playlist feel free to screenshot the songs use

feel free to screenshot the songs use them as part of your relaxation ritual

them as part of your relaxation ritual oh I'm seeing great ones okay Dr Francis

oh I'm seeing great ones okay Dr Francis there's some that we have not seen in

there's some that we have not seen in our last time we did this I'm getting

our last time we did this I'm getting great ideas awesome I'm adding them to

great ideas awesome I'm adding them to the playlist I know I I have to do mine

the playlist I know I I have to do mine too

too um did did you do yours as well let's do

um did did you do yours as well let's do that

that um we're going to have to all everyone

um we're going to have to all everyone who can and wants to all right well

who can and wants to all right well thank you all for doing that um that

thank you all for doing that um that gives us a little bit of takeaway and

gives us a little bit of takeaway and now we're going to dive into um our

now we're going to dive into um our program kind of overview and feel free

program kind of overview and feel free to save some questions if you have them

to save some questions if you have them we are happy to answer Q&A um at the end

we are happy to answer Q&A um at the end so just make sure you hang on to those

so just make sure you hang on to those questions so that you can um make sure

questions so that you can um make sure you ask them at the end and of course

you ask them at the end and of course we're going to have a student

we're going to have a student perspective section two where you can

perspective section two where you can ask students questions so welcome to our

ask students questions so welcome to our program this is our brag sheet I won't

program this is our brag sheet I won't spend a lot of time on this but we are

spend a lot of time on this but we are very very proud of the program that we

very very proud of the program that we have the offerings that we have we're

have the offerings that we have we're very different from some of the programs

very different from some of the programs uh regionally mostly um and we'll talk

uh regionally mostly um and we'll talk about a little bit of the differences

about a little bit of the differences but mostly we are a flexible program we

but mostly we are a flexible program we understand that a counselor is an

understand that a counselor is an identity but that the setting that you

identity but that the setting that you might engage in or want to work in might

might engage in or want to work in might change and it might differ so we offer

change and it might differ so we offer some flexibility in specialization

some flexibility in specialization tracks so even if you come in thinking I

tracks so even if you come in thinking I want to be a school counselor and you

want to be a school counselor and you change and you decide to add mental

change and you decide to add mental health therapists to that you can you

health therapists to that you can you have some opportunity to do that I know

have some opportunity to do that I know a lot of programs um in the area will

a lot of programs um in the area will ask you to pick one and stick with it so

ask you to pick one and stick with it so um that is one of the things that our

um that is one of the things that our program offers that we are very proud of

program offers that we are very proud of so we're going to go over who we are

so we're going to go over who we are program specializations just so you can

program specializations just so you can kind of figure out who you want to um

kind of figure out who you want to um you know where you see yourself we're

you know where you see yourself we're going to go over what the program

going to go over what the program coursework looks like um what

coursework looks like um what constitutes a full-time student what

constitutes a full-time student what that looks like um and then we're going

that looks like um and then we're going to talk about our uh program supports

to talk about our uh program supports including our student voice our

including our student voice our counseling graduate student

counseling graduate student Association and uh finally we'll end

Association and uh finally we'll end going over some program requirements

going over some program requirements deadlines for the application and if we

deadlines for the application and if we have time we'll do another ice Breer

have time we'll do another ice Breer activity all right so let's go ahead and

activity all right so let's go ahead and begin so this is us in a nutshell we

begin so this is us in a nutshell we consider ourselves a family we have been

consider ourselves a family we have been working alongside each other for several

working alongside each other for several years now um and so above the yellow

years now um and so above the yellow line you will see all of the full-time

line you will see all of the full-time faculty that have been uh dedicated to

faculty that have been uh dedicated to our program um I introduced myself and

our program um I introduced myself and the rest of our faculty are always

the rest of our faculty are always joining us for a graduate open house if

joining us for a graduate open house if they are not teaching but a lot of them

they are not teaching but a lot of them are teaching tonight so we have Dr Maya

are teaching tonight so we have Dr Maya Hoskin who is an assistant professor um

Hoskin who is an assistant professor um she will be on maternity leave in the

she will be on maternity leave in the fall we just learned um which we're

fall we just learned um which we're excited about um I think she this is her

excited about um I think she this is her her third child yes uh this fall so

her third child yes uh this fall so we're very excited about that um and

we're very excited about that um and then we've got Dr Bill Parham who is a

then we've got Dr Bill Parham who is a professor and has been working for I

professor and has been working for I think he's been here over 12 years so he

think he's been here over 12 years so he um is interested in sports psychology so

um is interested in sports psychology so if he's you know if you have any sports

if he's you know if you have any sports psychologists or coaches um definitely

psychologists or coaches um definitely it's worth a trip to his office cuz he's

it's worth a trip to his office cuz he's got all the Laker me abilia because he

got all the Laker me abilia because he definitely is a um he's actually the

definitely is a um he's actually the director first director of mental health

director first director of mental health for the National Basketball Association

for the National Basketball Association as a title that he also holds in

as a title that he also holds in addition to being full-time in the

addition to being full-time in the counseling program um he also directs

counseling program um he also directs the center for trauma so those of you

the center for trauma so those of you who are interested in that uh research

who are interested in that uh research uh he is always available and all of us

uh he is always available and all of us are we are just a an email away we pride

are we are just a an email away we pride ourselves on small class sizes and easy

ourselves on small class sizes and easy faculty student communication so never

faculty student communication so never hesitate to uh contact any one of us if

hesitate to uh contact any one of us if you're interested in any of our work um

you're interested in any of our work um or just have general

or just have general questions Dr Estrada is an associate

questions Dr Estrada is an associate professor in our program full-time he

professor in our program full-time he does a lot of work on the

does a lot of work on the intersectionality of lgbtq and latinx

intersectionality of lgbtq and latinx population um and then our latest uh

population um and then our latest uh visiting Professor Dr Klan Kat Blanco

visiting Professor Dr Klan Kat Blanco Kathleen Blanco she um is the CWA

Kathleen Blanco she um is the CWA director so the child those of you who

director so the child those of you who are interested in adding on the child

are interested in adding on the child welfare and attendance nine unit it's an

welfare and attendance nine unit it's an add-on authorization program to the PPS

add-on authorization program to the PPS credential for School counseling and

credential for School counseling and it's basically the equivalent of of of

it's basically the equivalent of of of kind of like a school social worker so

kind of like a school social worker so it gives you those wraparound services

it gives you those wraparound services with a focus on working with homeless

with a focus on working with homeless and Foster youth um and providing um

and Foster youth um and providing um remediation insury services to students

remediation insury services to students in

in schools all right um I'm going to have

schools all right um I'm going to have Dr Francis uh take over now and

Dr Francis uh take over now and introduce our amazing wonderful gifted

introduce our amazing wonderful gifted staff oh my pleasure uh to the left here

staff oh my pleasure uh to the left here we have Dr Michael Soso many people love

we have Dr Michael Soso many people love to call him Dr Mike he is our current um

to call him Dr Mike he is our current um programs advisor and we are he's now

programs advisor and we are he's now also going to become the director of

also going to become the director of Student Success so he has been working

Student Success so he has been working with us for many years has

with us for many years has overseen uh all the transitions of each

overseen uh all the transitions of each of our students coming up with the

of our students coming up with the perfect plan uh that kind of fits their

perfect plan uh that kind of fits their what their needs are at the time um he's

what their needs are at the time um he's also help students you know transition

also help students you know transition from one chart to another if their

from one chart to another if their interests have changed over time an

interests have changed over time an amazing amazing student

amazing amazing student advisor and then I'm right in the middle

advisor and then I'm right in the middle if you recognize my smile looks the same

if you recognize my smile looks the same she's amazing too but she I don't think

she's amazing too but she I don't think you're allowed to say that about

you're allowed to say that about yourself so I'll say it for you thank

yourself so I'll say it for you thank you I'm amazing I'm just kidding um I'm

you I'm amazing I'm just kidding um I'm the assistant director which I well a

the assistant director which I well a lot of you came in afterwards so I'm the

lot of you came in afterwards so I'm the assistant director I also teach in the

assistant director I also teach in the programs um and have done so for about

programs um and have done so for about six years now I'm usually primarily

six years now I'm usually primarily teaching the internship portion as a

teaching the internship portion as a university

university supervisor enjoying the process of

supervisor enjoying the process of getting these students right out the

getting these students right out the door and into the field it's amazing

door and into the field it's amazing I've written a bunch of letters

I've written a bunch of letters recommendations and have seen many of

recommendations and have seen many of our students get snatched up uh before

our students get snatched up uh before they even graduate so I've had the

they even graduate so I've had the pleasure of that and it's all thanks

pleasure of that and it's all thanks also to um Miss Esther gobrial who is to

also to um Miss Esther gobrial who is to the right of me there with a lovely yet

the right of me there with a lovely yet another lovely smile uh she is our

another lovely smile uh she is our fieldwork liaison who oversees all the

fieldwork liaison who oversees all the connections that needs to be made in

connections that needs to be made in order to get our students in the field

order to get our students in the field for their internship so um yeah this is

for their internship so um yeah this is our lovely

our lovely staff wonderful so we have all been

staff wonderful so we have all been working together for quite a bit of time

working together for quite a bit of time but we are all 100% dedicated and here

but we are all 100% dedicated and here for our students um we love what we do

for our students um we love what we do and the students are the center of all

and the students are the center of all of that um

of that um and so yes recognize these faces SC you

and so yes recognize these faces SC you know screenshot the emails we are always

know screenshot the emails we are always available if you have

available if you have questions all right so a little bit

questions all right so a little bit about our program um we pride ourselves

about our program um we pride ourselves on having some very distinct program

on having some very distinct program goals um and highlights so the number

goals um and highlights so the number one thing that you're going to find in

one thing that you're going to find in our coun our set of counseling programs

our coun our set of counseling programs we really expect students to know

we really expect students to know thyself before helping others so almost

thyself before helping others so almost every course involves a level of

every course involves a level of self-reflection self-awareness personal

self-reflection self-awareness personal growth looking at your biases looking at

growth looking at your biases looking at um you know your strengths and

um you know your strengths and identifying that um and merging that

identifying that um and merging that with the content so you're not only

with the content so you're not only learning about counseling theories and

learning about counseling theories and techniques and helping skills um and you

techniques and helping skills um and you know how to communicate professionally

know how to communicate professionally but you're turning that lens Inward and

but you're turning that lens Inward and looking at yourself we really strongly

looking at yourself we really strongly believe that until you have done that

believe that until you have done that work on yourself it's really difficult

work on yourself it's really difficult to be in community with others in a

to be in community with others in a professional counseling role um we don't

professional counseling role um we don't require that you have gone to individual

require that you have gone to individual therapy yourself but we strongly

therapy yourself but we strongly recommend that you have done that work

recommend that you have done that work and we will do a lot of that work in our

and we will do a lot of that work in our courses as well we also recognize that

courses as well we also recognize that we are a helping profession this is a

we are a helping profession this is a professional degree program so unlike

professional degree program so unlike getting a MERS in physics or you know

getting a MERS in physics or you know theoretical uh philosophy right we um

theoretical uh philosophy right we um are preparing a future counselors um so

are preparing a future counselors um so when you graduate you will be employable

when you graduate you will be employable as a professional and as Dr Francis said

as a professional and as Dr Francis said we are thrilled to get to that point

we are thrilled to get to that point where we are writing letters of

where we are writing letters of reference and recommendation and I just

reference and recommendation and I just did two yesterday um for students that I

did two yesterday um for students that I just remember starting and and it's just

just remember starting and and it's just such a wonderful um experience to get

such a wonderful um experience to get students to that point how do we know

students to that point how do we know you're the right fit um in addition to

you're the right fit um in addition to applying right with all of the letters

applying right with all of the letters of reference and the 3.0 GPA and all of

of reference and the 3.0 GPA and all of those things that you would require we

those things that you would require we also require a group interview we do

also require a group interview we do that on purpose so that we see your

that on purpose so that we see your interactions with each other um but this

interactions with each other um but this is all to make sure that you have the

is all to make sure that you have the professional competencies and

professional competencies and dispositions that are needed to be a

dispositions that are needed to be a successful counselor if you are here

successful counselor if you are here 99% of you are here because you've been

99% of you are here because you've been told you're a good listener you're a

told you're a good listener you're a good counselor you really relate to

good counselor you really relate to others well um so this is going to be a

others well um so this is going to be a no-brainer but every once in a while

no-brainer but every once in a while right it's just not the best fit so what

right it's just not the best fit so what we have is a a candidate disposition

we have is a a candidate disposition form where we look and ask you not not

form where we look and ask you not not only uh to describe your own uh ratings

only uh to describe your own uh ratings on these areas but also to get a faculty

on these areas but also to get a faculty member that um at the end of the first

member that um at the end of the first semester has known you and your work um

semester has known you and your work um and measure right how kind and caring

and measure right how kind and caring and punctual you are do you show

and punctual you are do you show leadership skills are you responsible um

leadership skills are you responsible um do you come to class on time right um so

do you come to class on time right um so all of those things that we are um

all of those things that we are um expected right to grow in the profession

expected right to grow in the profession and actually have an ethical

and actually have an ethical responsibility as faculty to make sure

responsibility as faculty to make sure that that we're turning out counselors

that that we're turning out counselors with the highest professional

with the highest professional um and then of course what makes our

um and then of course what makes our program unique and why a lot of folks

program unique and why a lot of folks come to us is because of our nation

come to us is because of our nation pedagogy we are um grounded in the

pedagogy we are um grounded in the Jesuit and Mary Mount Traditions um

Jesuit and Mary Mount Traditions um curia personalis care of the whole

curia personalis care of the whole person gives us a holistic view of the

person gives us a holistic view of the individual we believe strongly that

individual we believe strongly that everyone every one of us is a work in

everyone every one of us is a work in progress right um and so we take a very

progress right um and so we take a very social justice Multicultural approach

social justice Multicultural approach and we like to joke that we you know we

and we like to joke that we you know we did this long before it was fashionable

did this long before it was fashionable to add on those words um to entice folks

to add on those words um to entice folks to our programs this was something that

to our programs this was something that um the Jesuit and Mary Mount Traditions

um the Jesuit and Mary Mount Traditions have long been steeped in right taking

have long been steeped in right taking care of the most vulnerable populations

care of the most vulnerable populations and so that's a a core part of our

and so that's a a core part of our program and all of our

program and all of our curriculum you will see below that there

curriculum you will see below that there are three specializations or tracks

are three specializations or tracks which we're going to take a look at in a

which we're going to take a look at in a minute um we are preparing counselors to

minute um we are preparing counselors to serve in either higher education

serve in either higher education settings maybe want to be an academic

settings maybe want to be an academic advisor or a college counselor maybe you

advisor or a college counselor maybe you want to work in schools so prek to 12 uh

want to work in schools so prek to 12 uh school counselors um and alternative

school counselors um and alternative school settings right so that would

school settings right so that would require that you do the school

require that you do the school counseling program and that's a 48 unit

counseling program and that's a 48 unit program um you can add on the child

program um you can add on the child welfare and attendance option for an

welfare and attendance option for an additional nine units as well and then

additional nine units as well and then uh finally we have our most popular

uh finally we have our most popular program right now is the the clinical

program right now is the the clinical counseling 60 unit program

counseling 60 unit program um adding on the school counseling

um adding on the school counseling credential is an option um and those are

credential is an option um and those are folks that are interested in being

folks that are interested in being mental health therapists and if you add

mental health therapists and if you add on the PPS a school counselor as well

on the PPS a school counselor as well maybe you want to be you want to

maybe you want to be you want to maximize your employment opportunities

maximize your employment opportunities um so we are a professional graduate

um so we are a professional graduate school so you can tell all of your folks

school so you can tell all of your folks in your life support systems you will be

in your life support systems you will be employable upon graduation um which is

employable upon graduation um which is you know you'll have applied marketable

you know you'll have applied marketable counseling skills and we really take

counseling skills and we really take pride in training um the best of the

pride in training um the best of the best we really believe that those folks

best we really believe that those folks that are attracted to our program are

that are attracted to our program are ones that are going to be the best

ones that are going to be the best counselors in therapists out there

counselors in therapists out there especially in a postco world when it is

especially in a postco world when it is very much in demand and very

very much in demand and very needed all right so here's the kind of

needed all right so here's the kind of cheat sheet for you um take a look and

cheat sheet for you um take a look and find yourself we have several counseling

find yourself we have several counseling program options as I mentioned which one

program options as I mentioned which one is the best fit for you so take a moment

is the best fit for you so take a moment and you can see that we have everything

and you can see that we have everything from a 41

from a 41 program all the way up to a 60 unit

program all the way up to a 60 unit program and um we really do not require

program and um we really do not require that you come in and you know say that

that you come in and you know say that you're going to be one thing and stick

you're going to be one thing and stick with it you have up until about a

with it you have up until about a semester or year before field work

semester or year before field work before your internship to decide you

before your internship to decide you want to um you know add on a program or

want to um you know add on a program or shift programs right sometimes life

shift programs right sometimes life happens and so you maybe originally

happens and so you maybe originally wanted the 60 unit program but um you

wanted the 60 unit program but um you know decide on the 48 um we have most of

know decide on the 48 um we have most of our students to be honest who are in

our students to be honest who are in these programs who end up in the 60

these programs who end up in the 60 units because they start talking to

units because they start talking to their peers they start being exposed to

their peers they start being exposed to different um professional uh entities

different um professional uh entities and and just decide that oh while I'm

and and just decide that oh while I'm here I might want to add on as much as I

here I might want to add on as much as I possibly can um so if you want to work

possibly can um so if you want to work in higher ed like I mentioned you're

in higher ed like I mentioned you're going to be interested in our guidance

going to be interested in our guidance and counseling and what that internship

and counseling and what that internship looks like is a one semester internship

looks like is a one semester internship usually at a college or university um

usually at a college or university um some LMU offices offer our interns um uh

some LMU offices offer our interns um uh specific you know um opportunities and

specific you know um opportunities and then um if you're doing anything else

then um if you're doing anything else the PPS and School counseling with the

the PPS and School counseling with the master's degree or the licensed

master's degree or the licensed professional clinical counselor

professional clinical counselor eligibility then your internship or

eligibility then your internship or field work will be a a solid year so

field work will be a a solid year so it's usually in the in the Academic Year

it's usually in the in the Academic Year fall through spring and you're looking

fall through spring and you're looking at um

at um 800 hours if you're going to work in a

800 hours if you're going to work in a school and get your PPS credential um so

school and get your PPS credential um so that's about 25 to 30 hours a week for

that's about 25 to 30 hours a week for that last year so one of the things we

that last year so one of the things we ask in the interview is are you

ask in the interview is are you financially prepared for it we have a

financially prepared for it we have a lot of students coming in full-time to

lot of students coming in full-time to our program who also continue to work

our program who also continue to work full-time that is possible so sometimes

full-time that is possible so sometimes that's one of our big questions however

that's one of our big questions however when you reach that internship that's

when you reach that internship that's the point of which we have to drop down

the point of which we have to drop down from full-time work to do part-time work

from full-time work to do part-time work to and make sure that we can get our

to and make sure that we can get our internship hours in um and Esther

internship hours in um and Esther gobrial our field work leaz on walks you

gobrial our field work leaz on walks you through all of that she has a wonderful

through all of that she has a wonderful orientation for everybody um she gives

orientation for everybody um she gives you a lot of support and advice um the

you a lot of support and advice um the field workor placement and then finally

field workor placement and then finally if you are here and you're getting your

if you are here and you're getting your PPS credential we are one of the only

PPS credential we are one of the only programs in Southern California that

programs in Southern California that offers a Saturday fully online 9unit

offers a Saturday fully online 9unit child welfare and attendance

child welfare and attendance authorization if you add this to your

authorization if you add this to your school counseling credential you um

school counseling credential you um definitely have an LUSD and they're in

definitely have an LUSD and they're in high demand um it's usually a salary

high demand um it's usually a salary bump as well but it really allows you to

bump as well but it really allows you to work um as a counselor not only in K12

work um as a counselor not only in K12 but in wraparound settings so that you

but in wraparound settings so that you are working again with homeless youth

are working again with homeless youth Foster youth where are students when

Foster youth where are students when they're in school and how can we get

they're in school and how can we get them the resources um a lot of times we

them the resources um a lot of times we have wonderful bright students that just

have wonderful bright students that just um have barriers to learning and to to

um have barriers to learning and to to even to be able to come to school right

even to be able to come to school right and so you learn all about uh try

and so you learn all about uh try remediation programs um interventions

remediation programs um interventions that help um with special

that help um with special populations um all right so now I am

populations um all right so now I am going out water if I may just on that

going out water if I may just on that last slide so someone in the chat just

last slide so someone in the chat just asked um can you do the PPS or the

asked um can you do the PPS or the school counseling with the lpcc with the

school counseling with the lpcc with the CWA absolutely it is one of the most

CWA absolutely it is one of the most common options um that a lot of our

common options um that a lot of our students opt in for where you get to do

students opt in for where you get to do the school counseling you get to be work

the school counseling you get to be work in the schools if if you could also work

in the schools if if you could also work in a private clinic or you could work at

in a private clinic or you could work at a hospital you could work you know

a hospital you could work you know higher ed then the CWA as well if you're

higher ed then the CWA as well if you're in that school counseling realm and you

in that school counseling realm and you have the PPS that CWA credential kind of

have the PPS that CWA credential kind of enhances it um and it's always tied to

enhances it um and it's always tied to that PPS so anytime you're working as a

that PPS so anytime you're working as a part of a school um you're able to serve

part of a school um you're able to serve those marginalized populations LUSD kind

those marginalized populations LUSD kind of gives you a bump in in salary as well

of gives you a bump in in salary as well so yes it is one of the most common

so yes it is one of the most common options is to kind of put it all in a

options is to kind of put it all in a really nice delicious salad um so I just

really nice delicious salad um so I just wanted to read that question out loud

wanted to read that question out loud for everyone thank you so much that is a

for everyone thank you so much that is a wonderful question and one that we get a

wonderful question and one that we get a lot and so um yes it is absolutely

lot and so um yes it is absolutely possible and also um Dr Francis

possible and also um Dr Francis mentioned Dr Mike he is a we have a

mentioned Dr Mike he is a we have a customized advisement so every semester

customized advisement so every semester you're meeting one-on-one with your

you're meeting one-on-one with your advisor

advisor and they're walking you through what

and they're walking you through what that looks like semester to semester

that looks like semester to semester maybe you want to take some online

maybe you want to take some online classes so you're not here on campus as

classes so you're not here on campus as much um the child welfare and attendance

much um the child welfare and attendance program is offered Saturdays online

program is offered Saturdays online fully online now so that you can get it

fully online now so that you can get it all in so I think a lot of our students

all in so I think a lot of our students wonder that well can we do it all yes

wonder that well can we do it all yes and we purposely kind of map out your

and we purposely kind of map out your curriculum so that you can do that um

curriculum so that you can do that um and the individual advisement is the key

and the individual advisement is the key is you definitely important because

is you definitely important because every one of our students has a

every one of our students has a different um you know family

different um you know family scenario uh workout come I mean

scenario uh workout come I mean everybody's you know a lot of commuter

everybody's you know a lot of commuter students right and so we really want to

students right and so we really want to make sure that we get that individual

make sure that we get that individual advisement we are not a cohort program

advisement we are not a cohort program for that reason because we like to meet

for that reason because we like to meet our students where they are and have

our students where they are and have give them that

give them that flexibility um okay so the counseling

flexibility um okay so the counseling program this is kind of a little bit

program this is kind of a little bit what it looks like if you ever are

what it looks like if you ever are wondering um if you were to come to our

wondering um if you were to come to our program and start in uh the fall or

program and start in uh the fall or summer we have fall start spring start

summer we have fall start spring start and summer one um but either whenever

and summer one um but either whenever you're starting you're starting with

you're starting you're starting with introductory courses so you're looking

introductory courses so you're looking at foundations of counseling uh

at foundations of counseling uh counseling theories and techniques

counseling theories and techniques helping skills um which are the B which

helping skills um which are the B which I I love to teach that class because I I

I I love to teach that class because I I always feel like everyone in their

always feel like everyone in their mother should take this class as a

mother should take this class as a mandatory class for life um it's basic

mandatory class for life um it's basic communication SK

communication SK making sure that everything out of your

making sure that everything out of your mouth is is being um labeled and

mouth is is being um labeled and understood um and is used with intention

understood um and is used with intention lifespan development and ethics so we do

lifespan development and ethics so we do have um a certain amount of transfer

have um a certain amount of transfer credits so if you have taken graduate

credits so if you have taken graduate courses that look like these

courses that look like these introductory courses and you we take up

introductory courses and you we take up to six units of transfer credits as well

to six units of transfer credits as well um we do offer summer classes but it is

um we do offer summer classes but it is not uh mandatory we have Believe It or

not uh mandatory we have Believe It or Not LMU does this two summer semesters I

Not LMU does this two summer semesters I don't know how we do that but we have

don't know how we do that but we have two six- week intensive semesters so

two six- week intensive semesters so we'll go over that in a little bit what

we'll go over that in a little bit what that looks like but that can speed up

that looks like but that can speed up your um how long you're with us um if

your um how long you're with us um if you choose to take one two three or even

you choose to take one two three or even four classes in the summer um and then

four classes in the summer um and then some of us want to relax in the summer

some of us want to relax in the summer and we don't necessarily want to be um

and we don't necessarily want to be um intensely involved in those classes are

intensely involved in those classes are intensive and they meet twice a week

intensive and they meet twice a week instead of once a week so they're much

instead of once a week so they're much more intense um once you get through the

more intense um once you get through the level one courses whether you do that

level one courses whether you do that fall spring or whether you choose to add

fall spring or whether you choose to add some summer classes these classes that

some summer classes these classes that are intermediate require prerequisites

are intermediate require prerequisites so these would be uh more advanced

so these would be uh more advanced courses uh courses like Multicultural

courses uh courses like Multicultural counseling social emotional functioning

counseling social emotional functioning career counseling and educational

career counseling and educational planning and then of course uh the

planning and then of course uh the practicum or culturally responsive

practicum or culturally responsive counseling with individuals this is all

counseling with individuals this is all leading up to your fieldwork internship

leading up to your fieldwork internship experience one of the common questions

experience one of the common questions we get again is do you just you know

we get again is do you just you know leave people on their own to find their

leave people on their own to find their own internship what does that look like

own internship what does that look like um we pride ourselves on having a

um we pride ourselves on having a dedicated full-time fieldwork liaison so

dedicated full-time fieldwork liaison so Esther gobrial who you smiling face you

Esther gobrial who you smiling face you saw is wonderful in helping you organize

saw is wonderful in helping you organize um she gives you a list of of people to

um she gives you a list of of people to contact uh by location so that you can

contact uh by location so that you can maybe find something closer to where you

maybe find something closer to where you live particularly since you're going to

live particularly since you're going to be spending a lot of time at your fi

be spending a lot of time at your fi work site um and then we are there we

work site um and then we are there we are there to help you as you graduate we

are there to help you as you graduate we are there for letters of reference um

are there for letters of reference um and it is you know just one of the

and it is you know just one of the highlights to be able to walk people

highlights to be able to walk people through the program um from beginning to

through the program um from beginning to end we see so much

end we see so much growth um Dr Francis anything that came

growth um Dr Francis anything that came up in the chat or anything you wanted to

up in the chat or anything you wanted to add Yes actually another question came

add Yes actually another question came up

up [Music]

[Music] um is there a time threshold for when

um is there a time threshold for when graduate credits can be

graduate credits can be applied yeah yes so we have um well we

applied yeah yes so we have um well we we take classes um within the usually I

we take classes um within the usually I think it's within the last five to seven

think it's within the last five to seven years um so you would that is something

years um so you would that is something that if you do have transfer credits Dr

that if you do have transfer credits Dr Mike would be the person to contact once

Mike would be the person to contact once you're admitted and you can share the

you're admitted and you can share the syllabi and say I think I already took a

syllabi and say I think I already took a counseling theories class does this

counseling theories class does this apply so that so we do take classes but

apply so that so we do take classes but they have to be within the last five to

they have to be within the last five to seven years I believe it's five um it

seven years I believe it's five um it used to be seven um so if you're unsure

used to be seven um so if you're unsure or if you want to see if that applies Dr

or if you want to see if that applies Dr Mike will be the one to connect with

Mike will be the one to connect with very good question thank you another

very good question thank you another question is how long on average does

question is how long on average does this program take yeah it that's another

this program take yeah it that's another great question varies tremendously on

great question varies tremendously on you depends on you it depends on whether

you depends on you it depends on whether you want to take summer classes it

you want to take summer classes it depends on which program track so 41

depends on which program track so 41 unit Masters is very different from a 60

unit Masters is very different from a 60 unit Masters right that's a difference

unit Masters right that's a difference of several classes right and so um you

of several classes right and so um you might want to take the summer and then

might want to take the summer and then again map out semester by semester what

again map out semester by semester what that would look like for you on average

that would look like for you on average if you're doing the 60 unit um lpcc PPS

if you're doing the 60 unit um lpcc PPS and CWA we're looking at about three

and CWA we're looking at about three years um if you're looking at the

years um if you're looking at the guidance and counseling program we're

guidance and counseling program we're looking at one and a half to two maybe

looking at one and a half to two maybe two years on average I would say two to

two years on average I would say two to three years depending on whether you

three years depending on whether you utilize um the two summers in between um

utilize um the two summers in between um very good question any anything else a

very good question any anything else a last question here is there an option to

last question here is there an option to do the program fully

do the program fully online so our programs are not fully

online so our programs are not fully online um we do believe in the in-person

online um we do believe in the in-person experience especially for clinical

experience especially for clinical courses and for some of our work um you

courses and for some of our work um you know face tof face for counseling

know face tof face for counseling however every single semester we offer

however every single semester we offer online classes so it is possible again

online classes so it is possible again working with Dr Mike to say you know I'm

working with Dr Mike to say you know I'm an hour away from campus I'd like to be

an hour away from campus I'd like to be there just once a week or I'd like to

there just once a week or I'd like to have a you know see if I can do the

have a you know see if I can do the semester you know with hybrid and online

semester you know with hybrid and online options and we do offer those so um also

options and we do offer those so um also I would check with your adviser because

I would check with your adviser because every once in a while we are given the

every once in a while we are given the green light to put classes sections

green light to put classes sections online fully which we weren't you know

online fully which we weren't you know six weeks prior so sometimes uh students

six weeks prior so sometimes uh students will say oh but on the schedule it says

will say oh but on the schedule it says classroom and um we'll say oh now it's

classroom and um we'll say oh now it's online right so always check with your

online right so always check with your adviser semester to semester and then

adviser semester to semester and then you can kind of you know do that oh and

you can kind of you know do that oh and Lauren pipe in please yeah one thing I

Lauren pipe in please yeah one thing I really quickly wanted to say is that I

really quickly wanted to say is that I you know I love to be honest like online

you know I love to be honest like online stuff because I love to be in the house

stuff because I love to be in the house that's just the reality of the situation

that's just the reality of the situation I do um but I do like the benefit of a

I do um but I do like the benefit of a lot of these classes being in person I

lot of these classes being in person I really can't like understate that but

really can't like understate that but what I will say is there's actually a

what I will say is there's actually a handful of my classmates who commute

handful of my classmates who commute from like the Bay Area so they're on

from like the Bay Area so they're on campus one day a week often Wednesdays

campus one day a week often Wednesdays um just taking their courses and heading

um just taking their courses and heading back so they definitely like work with

back so they definitely like work with you to figure out what's going to make

you to figure out what's going to make it happen for you it's also that

it happen for you it's also that calculation do you want to be commuting

calculation do you want to be commuting from the northern part of the state

from the northern part of the state right like uh that's kind of the

right like uh that's kind of the calculation you have to make and I

calculation you have to make and I always I'm like yall are so brave for

always I'm like yall are so brave for doing that but it's definitely

doing that but it's definitely possible thank you Lauren that's the

possible thank you Lauren that's the very good point in fact we just we have

very good point in fact we just we have a student now who's in Orange County who

a student now who's in Orange County who made it very clear like I want as many

made it very clear like I want as many online classes that they possibly can

online classes that they possibly can get so your advisor will work with you

get so your advisor will work with you and say okay well you know this semester

and say okay well you know this semester you're in luck you have can have all

you're in luck you have can have all these three online and then of course as

these three online and then of course as you get Pro you know progressively into

you get Pro you know progressively into the program um your options will be you

the program um your options will be you know you'll have fewer and fewer classes

know you'll have fewer and fewer classes to take um and you might need to be here

to take um and you might need to be here one or two days a week um but we'll work

one or two days a week um but we'll work with you as much as possible and we

with you as much as possible and we always offer online sections every

always offer online sections every semester of certain

semester of certain classes um okay I think we're getting to

classes um okay I think we're getting to this point uh where we're going to uh

this point uh where we're going to uh allow Lauren a chance to speak um but

allow Lauren a chance to speak um but before we do I just want to uh highlight

before we do I just want to uh highlight uh what sometimes students say well what

uh what sometimes students say well what makes you you know this is a Catholic

makes you you know this is a Catholic University what makes this different do

University what makes this different do I have to be you know religious is this

I have to be you know religious is this you do not have to be Catholic of course

you do not have to be Catholic of course to to join our program and our you know

to to join our program and our you know ethical counselor responsibilities all

ethical counselor responsibilities all of that is not rounded mandatorily in a

of that is not rounded mandatorily in a Catholic curriculum however what this

Catholic curriculum however what this does mean is that you're going to see

does mean is that you're going to see this at the end of every syllabi and

this at the end of every syllabi and this is what we call the ignatian

this is what we call the ignatian pedagogi Paradigm what it means is that

pedagogi Paradigm what it means is that every single time that we're teaching a

every single time that we're teaching a class we are wanting you to experience

class we are wanting you to experience that class most fully we want to be able

that class most fully we want to be able to ask a lot of reflection questions and

to ask a lot of reflection questions and have you participate and evaluate your

have you participate and evaluate your experience um and all all of us as

experience um and all all of us as faculty understand you have lived a full

faculty understand you have lived a full life up to this point you have

life up to this point you have experiences that uh we can learn from

experiences that uh we can learn from and that your classmates can learn from

and that your classmates can learn from and so we really ask you to bring your

and so we really ask you to bring your full self into um into all of the the

full self into um into all of the the program all of the coursework um but

program all of the coursework um but we're really looking at um not just

we're really looking at um not just giving you the facts and the knowledge

giving you the facts and the knowledge but making you um you know pulling in on

but making you um you know pulling in on your on your social conscience and your

your on your social conscience and your your feelings of social justice um

your feelings of social justice um honing in and encouraging that

honing in and encouraging that compassion right and making sure we

compassion right and making sure we don't have compassion fatigue because

don't have compassion fatigue because this is a difficult um you know

this is a difficult um you know profession sometimes we burn out um

profession sometimes we burn out um because we tend to be empaths or we tend

because we tend to be empaths or we tend to be helping uh you know gravitating

to be helping uh you know gravitating towards helping others sometimes at the

towards helping others sometimes at the expense of ourselves so we do a lot of

expense of ourselves so we do a lot of self-care practices and make those

self-care practices and make those things habits um and of course we're

things habits um and of course we're focused on competency of skills so it's

focused on competency of skills so it's not just knowledge we understand that

not just knowledge we understand that you're going to go out into the world

you're going to go out into the world changing lives helping others and we

changing lives helping others and we want you to be able to do that

want you to be able to do that successfully and so we follow this

successfully and so we follow this pretty closely in all of our classes um

pretty closely in all of our classes um um after a while you'll see it and

um after a while you'll see it and you'll just Breeze right by it because

you'll just Breeze right by it because it's in every syllabi but it's um it's

it's in every syllabi but it's um it's definitely a core part of our

definitely a core part of our curriculum all right I'm going to turn

curriculum all right I'm going to turn it over to Lauren and Charles I'm not

it over to Lauren and Charles I'm not sure do we have Charles here as well but

sure do we have Charles here as well but we're gonna start with Lauren um and

we're gonna start with Lauren um and we're gonna have Lauren take it away and

we're gonna have Lauren take it away and introduce the counseling graduate

introduce the counseling graduate student

student association yes definitely and uh

association yes definitely and uh Charles did let me know that um he uh is

Charles did let me know that um he uh is out of town so he will be hopping on

out of town so he will be hopping on today but I love that you just said

today but I love that you just said hopping on because he has his bunny ears

hopping on because he has his bunny ears right here so that's perfect that was

right here so that's perfect that was great maybe it was subconscious very

great maybe it was subconscious very frud end of me right very psych

frud end of me right very psych psychodynamic but um but yeah I am just

psychodynamic but um but yeah I am just really pleased to be able to talk to you

really pleased to be able to talk to you all today I really remember what it was

all today I really remember what it was like to be you uh only two short years

like to be you uh only two short years ago right so the time really has flown

ago right so the time really has flown um kind of my journey I was in

um kind of my journey I was in professional sales doing like several

professional sales doing like several hundred thousand to million dollar deals

hundred thousand to million dollar deals with CEOs and CFOs in Silicon Valley and

with CEOs and CFOs in Silicon Valley and I just reached this moment where I said

I just reached this moment where I said to myself does my work have an impact if

to myself does my work have an impact if it does is that impact good and I found

it does is that impact good and I found myself completely unable to answer those

myself completely unable to answer those questions had a small existential crisis

questions had a small existential crisis uh and decided to look at the people who

uh and decided to look at the people who had helped me the most through I had

had helped me the most through I had some pretty uh serious traumas and

some pretty uh serious traumas and mental health issues during my

mental health issues during my Underground graduate career um and the

Underground graduate career um and the people who got me through that were the

people who got me through that were the counselors I was looking at my signature

counselors I was looking at my signature strengths right and I was looking at the

strengths right and I was looking at the things I wanted to do in the world and

things I wanted to do in the world and the purpose that I wanted to have and

the purpose that I wanted to have and counseling seemed to make sense but when

counseling seemed to make sense but when I went to kind of look at what that

I went to kind of look at what that meant like looking into the different

meant like looking into the different programs what different licenses can you

programs what different licenses can you get like to do different types of

get like to do different types of therapy like lmft LBCC versus uh

therapy like lmft LBCC versus uh LCSW there's not really any central

LCSW there's not really any central place for this and you have to really

place for this and you have to really find a lot of this information yourself

find a lot of this information yourself and what I say now is that information

and what I say now is that information in this field is held in people not

in this field is held in people not places um which is both beautiful and uh

places um which is both beautiful and uh deeply frustrating for me if you are a

deeply frustrating for me if you are a Google whis um so even being here today

Google whis um so even being here today I wanted to commend you all like this is

I wanted to commend you all like this is a great first step kind of on your way

a great first step kind of on your way to figuring out what you're going to do

to figuring out what you're going to do and and how these different programs

and and how these different programs might kind of fit into what it is you're

might kind of fit into what it is you're looking to do whether that is something

looking to do whether that is something more purpose-based whether that is

more purpose-based whether that is catering to your signature strengths so

catering to your signature strengths so um so this program

um so this program uh I know there's not a lot of

uh I know there's not a lot of information also on like how people come

information also on like how people come out of these programs right and so I

out of these programs right and so I have felt just like immensely supported

have felt just like immensely supported in this program and um there the one

in this program and um there the one thing I will say that I hear

thing I will say that I hear unilaterally from people in the field is

unilaterally from people in the field is that LMU students from these programs

that LMU students from these programs are Impe impecably well trained um so I

are Impe impecably well trained um so I I will I'll say coming here I know it's

I will I'll say coming here I know it's not necessarily exactly easy to figure

not necessarily exactly easy to figure out what's coming next but um I've been

out what's coming next but um I've been really happy with my decision here and

really happy with my decision here and so one of the things that I've been able

so one of the things that I've been able to do while being here is to resurrect

to do while being here is to resurrect the counseling graduate student

the counseling graduate student Association since it ceased in um during

Association since it ceased in um during the co times uh obviously still uh

the co times uh obviously still uh pending on that but um and what cgsa

pending on that but um and what cgsa does because the program does an

does because the program does an immensely powerful job of empowering us

immensely powerful job of empowering us academically and in many many ways like

academically and in many many ways like professionally when it comes to jobs in

professionally when it comes to jobs in the field and those industry connections

the field and those industry connections what cgsa seeks to provide is more of a

what cgsa seeks to provide is more of a sense of community right between

sense of community right between students like you might imagine this but

students like you might imagine this but these programs really force you to take

these programs really force you to take some looks in here um you'll be sitting

some looks in here um you'll be sitting in class learning about something and

in class learning about something and you'll be like oh look at those symptoms

you'll be like oh look at those symptoms you're like oh I do that you're like I

you're like oh I do that you're like I have

have symptoms so like that is a very uh I

symptoms so like that is a very uh I would say daunting process and by being

would say daunting process and by being around other people who get it and

around other people who get it and experiencing that as well and you know

experiencing that as well and you know it's anything from you know we do

it's anything from you know we do socials or uh like we've done like some

socials or uh like we've done like some picnics since and and that kind of stuff

picnics since and and that kind of stuff too we recently put on a conference um

too we recently put on a conference um where graduate students were able to

where graduate students were able to present their research I presented a

present their research I presented a paper on uh coc cybin for treatment

paper on uh coc cybin for treatment resistant uh depression in comparison

resistant uh depression in comparison with proac so uh we kind of seek to sink

with proac so uh we kind of seek to sink into those gaps that a program is kind

into those gaps that a program is kind of unable to fill because it needs that

of unable to fill because it needs that student touch that student voice um and

student touch that student voice um and it's been a really lovely experience you

it's been a really lovely experience you can see all of my um exec board here I

can see all of my um exec board here I get to work really closely with uh

get to work really closely with uh doctors at water and Francis which has

doctors at water and Francis which has just been an incredible opportunity um

just been an incredible opportunity um and so if any of y'all get in and want

and so if any of y'all get in and want to be in

to be in cgsa please email me because like this

cgsa please email me because like this is my baby and we've really been able to

is my baby and we've really been able to build a nice Community we have a Discord

build a nice Community we have a Discord Channel where we're all complaining

Channel where we're all complaining about how we can't um like how we're

about how we can't um like how we're like working to find our field fieldwork

like working to find our field fieldwork placements AK complaining uh all the

placements AK complaining uh all the time about everything so it's just nice

time about everything so it's just nice to have that space to do that together

to have that space to do that together he's like you find for your life yeah

he's like you find for your life yeah you do yeah um well again knowing all

you do yeah um well again knowing all this sun that this all part of this

this sun that this all part of this worthwhile cost of the incredible good

worthwhile cost of the incredible good we're going to put into the world once

we're going to put into the world once we leave here so thank you for coming to

we leave here so thank you for coming to my TED Talk I know that was a bit dense

my TED Talk I know that was a bit dense but I really can't understate like how

but I really can't understate like how Transformers this program has been to me

Transformers this program has been to me as a person and a counselor but also um

as a person and a counselor but also um like it's really nice to feel like I've

like it's really nice to feel like I've also been able to help transform in some

also been able to help transform in some ways the program too like there's not a

ways the program too like there's not a lot of places I think you can really

lot of places I think you can really Splash like that and LMU provides that

Splash like that and LMU provides that opportunity for you know students like

opportunity for you know students like me which I

me which I appreciate and Lauren thank you so much

appreciate and Lauren thank you so much for doing that for sharing that um if

for doing that for sharing that um if you have questions uh please put them in

you have questions uh please put them in the Q&A um because I do want to

the Q&A um because I do want to Spotlight the student that we have here

Spotlight the student that we have here I know sometimes there the questions

I know sometimes there the questions come up that faculty can't answer but

come up that faculty can't answer but while we're waiting for any questions I

while we're waiting for any questions I just want to say that Lauren is being

just want to say that Lauren is being incredibly humble she glossed over um

incredibly humble she glossed over um they glossed Over The Graduate alumni

they glossed Over The Graduate alumni leaders and education conference it was

leaders and education conference it was spectacular it was entirely online it

spectacular it was entirely online it was so well organized so well attended

was so well organized so well attended um graduate students alumni they had an

um graduate students alumni they had an alumni panel um for you know people that

alumni panel um for you know people that were once in your shoes and what are

were once in your shoes and what are they doing now and incredible student

they doing now and incredible student presentation so um that's all thanks to

presentation so um that's all thanks to the the behind the scenes work of Lauren

the the behind the scenes work of Lauren and and her teammates and and um cgsa

and and her teammates and and um cgsa officers just doing a fantastic job so

officers just doing a fantastic job so it it's been an honor to work with you

it it's been an honor to work with you Lauren um and to see all of the growth

Lauren um and to see all of the growth of the of the cgsa it did it did take a

of the of the cgsa it did it did take a nose dive I'm not going to lie postco we

nose dive I'm not going to lie postco we had we literally had to resurrect it and

had we literally had to resurrect it and create it recreate it so um you see

create it recreate it so um you see these smiling wonderful creative

these smiling wonderful creative individuals you don't have to be an

individuals you don't have to be an executive officer it's free membership

executive officer it's free membership so you can just join and show up to Taco

so you can just join and show up to Taco night or whatever they are you know uh

night or whatever they are you know uh planning um but you can get as involved

planning um but you can get as involved as you want and as Lauren attested to as

as you want and as Lauren attested to as a graduate student once myself for for

a graduate student once myself for for more years than I care to remember I do

more years than I care to remember I do wish that I had had a Discord list to

wish that I had had a Discord list to say what's really going on and so I

say what's really going on and so I really appreciate that that you know

really appreciate that that you know students are finding those opportunities

students are finding those opportunities to connect um particularly because we're

to connect um particularly because we're not a cohort program this is your chance

not a cohort program this is your chance to really um and you will see a students

to really um and you will see a students in your class over and over again and

in your class over and over again and you'll get a chance to get to know them

you'll get a chance to get to know them but this is really a wonderful service

but this is really a wonderful service for the students and it's all thanks to

for the students and it's all thanks to Lauren and and everyone who takes that

Lauren and and everyone who takes that time to volunteer so absolutely and if

time to volunteer so absolutely and if you would like to join you're welcome to

you would like to join you're welcome to email me after you get your application

email me after you get your application in and you get your interview done and

in and you get your interview done and you get admitted into the program save

you get admitted into the program save my email because uh this is a great

my email because uh this is a great opportunity for all students to kind of

opportunity for all students to kind of join Force you could only have so many

join Force you could only have so many group text going on right imagine you

group text going on right imagine you just have this huge group text with

just have this huge group text with everyone um thank you Lauren she posted

everyone um thank you Lauren she posted our uh Instagram in the chat as well so

our uh Instagram in the chat as well so feel free to check that out and I'll

feel free to check that out and I'll post our emails so you can have it

post our emails so you can have it too wonderful thank you so much Lauren I

too wonderful thank you so much Lauren I know you are very busy but if there's

know you are very busy but if there's any questions for Lauren now would be

any questions for Lauren now would be the opportunity before we let her go on

the opportunity before we let her go on to class and all of her great things

to class and all of her great things she's doing is there anyone else who has

she's doing is there anyone else who has a question you can either mute to ask

a question you can either mute to ask Lauren or um post it in the chat or the

Lauren or um post it in the chat or the Q&A and one thing I just want to give a

Q&A and one thing I just want to give a caveat to and like you know you all

caveat to and like you know you all don't know them yet uh to know that like

don't know them yet uh to know that like doctors Atwater and Francis are like

doctors Atwater and Francis are like just the most lovely validating honest

just the most lovely validating honest people ever if you feel like there's

people ever if you feel like there's something you want to ask a student that

something you want to ask a student that you would prefer to ask out of this um

you would prefer to ask out of this um venue or maybe more privately I'm going

venue or maybe more privately I'm going to put my email in the um chat just

to put my email in the um chat just shoot me an email um and I'll be candid

shoot me an email um and I'll be candid with you um like there are a lot of

with you um like there are a lot of challenges in this program right I think

challenges in this program right I think it's good to really think seriously

it's good to really think seriously about if you're going to go into any

about if you're going to go into any helping profession right what that's

helping profession right what that's going to mean for you as a person and in

going to mean for you as a person and in general so um like I'm here to answer

general so um like I'm here to answer those questions very honestly um so that

those questions very honestly um so that you can make the decision that's right

you can make the decision that's right for you like I will sing the Praises of

for you like I will sing the Praises of el mu every day if this is the the work

el mu every day if this is the the work you want to get into LMU is an

you want to get into LMU is an incredible place to do that but like I

incredible place to do that but like I know there's some maybe larger questions

know there's some maybe larger questions about the field in general too that for

about the field in general too that for any of y'all if you decide LMU is right

any of y'all if you decide LMU is right for you or not I'm happy to help answer

for you or not I'm happy to help answer because we can always use more uh

because we can always use more uh thoughtful intentional and compassionate

thoughtful intentional and compassionate counselors in the field

counselors in the field so wonderful thank you so much Lauren

so wonderful thank you so much Lauren thank you for being here thanking thank

thank you for being here thanking thank you for taking time out and I promise we

you for taking time out and I promise we didn't bribe her to say those nice

didn't bribe her to say those nice things about us but we really

things about us but we really do so thank you Lauren thanks everybody

do so thank you Lauren thanks everybody for yeah oh as Lauren leaves we do we

for yeah oh as Lauren leaves we do we still have a few more Logistics uh just

still have a few more Logistics uh just to go over I know a lot of questions are

to go over I know a lot of questions are coming up about deadlines and time slots

coming up about deadlines and time slots for for classes so just stay put but

for for classes so just stay put but thank you so much Lauren for for coming

thank you so much Lauren for for coming we'll let we'll let you go as being the

we'll let we'll let you go as being the student that you are and uh thanks yeah

student that you are and uh thanks yeah thanks so much and everyone best of luck

thanks so much and everyone best of luck it's gonna you know you're gonna end up

it's gonna you know you're gonna end up in the place you're meant to be um but

in the place you're meant to be um but you know if any of y'all that have spmu

you know if any of y'all that have spmu like feel free to use me as a resource

like feel free to use me as a resource uh going forward for that as well but

uh going forward for that as well but good luck everyone and have a great rest

good luck everyone and have a great rest of thank you

of thank you Lauren okay so we will get to the

Lauren okay so we will get to the nitty-gritty uh Lauren mentioned

nitty-gritty uh Lauren mentioned challenges it is a difficult program

challenges it is a difficult program it's is you know it's intensive it's

it's is you know it's intensive it's Master's level it's got um some

Master's level it's got um some requirements that we're going to go over

requirements that we're going to go over um so what are you know the common

um so what are you know the common question what do the courses look like

question what do the courses look like how can I you know maintain my full-time

how can I you know maintain my full-time job and still come to class so all

job and still come to class so all classes are mandatory no class should be

classes are mandatory no class should be missed so that's thing to know about us

missed so that's thing to know about us we are not like if you breeed through

we are not like if you breeed through undergrad and there were you know 100

undergrad and there were you know 100 students in your lecture and you showed

students in your lecture and you showed up halfway through this is not like that

up halfway through this is not like that because class sizes are very small

because class sizes are very small because almost all classes require

because almost all classes require partner work if you're not there um your

partner work if you're not there um your partner's let down so um we do have a

partner's let down so um we do have a very strict attendance policy um and

very strict attendance policy um and that goes for Zoom fully online classes

that goes for Zoom fully online classes as well when we're online we do some

as well when we're online we do some asynchronous work or offline but we do a

asynchronous work or offline but we do a lot of Zoom classes where you have to be

lot of Zoom classes where you have to be present so that's one thing to know um

present so that's one thing to know um is just that commitment now classes are

is just that commitment now classes are once a week in the fall and spring so

once a week in the fall and spring so they're either held from 4:30 to 7:00 um

they're either held from 4:30 to 7:00 um that's a class one time slot or 7:15 to

that's a class one time slot or 7:15 to 9:45 so it is possible to take two

9:45 so it is possible to take two classes um and schedule them back toback

classes um and schedule them back toback so you're here one day a week or maybe

so you're here one day a week or maybe one of them's online um and one of

one of them's online um and one of them's in person so that is possible and

them's in person so that is possible and you should know that unlike undergrad

you should know that unlike undergrad two classes is considered full-time um

two classes is considered full-time um at The Graduate level so for financial

at The Graduate level so for financial aid purposes if you're looking for

aid purposes if you're looking for financial aid as long as you have two

financial aid as long as you have two classes per semester you are considered

classes per semester you are considered a full-time graduate student um what

a full-time graduate student um what this means and the reason that our

this means and the reason that our classes are offered in the afternoons is

classes are offered in the afternoons is because we have a lot of students of

because we have a lot of students of course that choose to work part-time or

course that choose to work part-time or full-time um and so they do work during

full-time um and so they do work during the day and they will come to class um

the day and they will come to class um and sometimes you know if your work is 9

and sometimes you know if your work is 9 to5 you would work out with your

to5 you would work out with your supervisor okay well one day a week I

supervisor okay well one day a week I have class at 4:30 so I have to leave a

have class at 4:30 so I have to leave a little bit early but we do try to make

little bit early but we do try to make our classes a minimal so that you can

our classes a minimal so that you can continue working up until your

continue working up until your internship year um summer semester like

internship year um summer semester like I mentioned we have two summer semesters

I mentioned we have two summer semesters so either uh classes for spring semester

so either uh classes for spring semester end the beginning of may you have I

end the beginning of may you have I think one week off and then you start in

think one week off and then you start in on intensive six- week summer classes so

on intensive six- week summer classes so in summer classes are held six weeks

in summer classes are held six weeks instead of 16 weeks so instead of coming

instead of 16 weeks so instead of coming once a week they are offered twice a

once a week they are offered twice a week right so they are very intensive so

week right so they are very intensive so do consider um you know that we do uh

do consider um you know that we do uh have students take advantage of summer

have students take advantage of summer semester but they are intensive classes

semester but they are intensive classes so taking two classes over summer maybe

so taking two classes over summer maybe you want to take one in summer one and

you want to take one in summer one and one in summer two or you want to you

one in summer two or you want to you know do two in summer one to get them

know do two in summer one to get them over with and then have a little bit of

over with and then have a little bit of a break uh summer 2 semester starts um

a break uh summer 2 semester starts um the beginning of July and it runs to Mid

the beginning of July and it runs to Mid August

August and then of course our fall semester

and then of course our fall semester starts very late August so that's what

starts very late August so that's what it looks like for fall and spring and

it looks like for fall and spring and then summer of course looks different

then summer of course looks different pretty much the same schedule 4 to 7 and

pretty much the same schedule 4 to 7 and 710 to 1010 in the um in the summer um

710 to 1010 in the um in the summer um and again we continue to offer online

and again we continue to offer online classes every semester so you just want

classes every semester so you just want to make sure you check in advance with

to make sure you check in advance with your adviser um so that you're picking

your adviser um so that you're picking an online or an inperson or we offer

an online or an inperson or we offer hybrid classes as well um so the average

hybrid classes as well um so the average class size uh is around 15 to 20

class size uh is around 15 to 20 students this is what we pride ourselves

students this is what we pride ourselves on you are not ever going to take a

on you are not ever going to take a large lecture if you come to our

large lecture if you come to our counseling programs um the largest class

counseling programs um the largest class is probably 24 25 students um most

is probably 24 25 students um most commonly it's around 15 to 20 clinical

commonly it's around 15 to 20 clinical classes are capped at 12 or 14 fieldwork

classes are capped at 12 or 14 fieldwork classes are capped at 8 um so course

classes are capped at 8 um so course load of two is considered fulltime

load of two is considered fulltime course load of three is probably the

course load of three is probably the typical your adviser will say the first

typical your adviser will say the first semester tried two you know and then the

semester tried two you know and then the second semester if you're comfortable

second semester if you're comfortable taking three and that works with your

taking three and that works with your work schedule then take three never take

work schedule then take three never take four um I know some of us um you know

four um I know some of us um you know undergrad perfectionists are used to

undergrad perfectionists are used to four or five classes but graduate level

four or five classes but graduate level is very different so um we do not allow

is very different so um we do not allow you to take four classes for a very good

you to take four classes for a very good reason um it's just impossible there's

reason um it's just impossible there's so much out of class work time um that

so much out of class work time um that three classes is the norm um two is fine

three classes is the norm um two is fine as well everyone begins on provisional

as well everyone begins on provisional status um and every class must be taken

status um and every class must be taken with a b or better in order to continue

with a b or better in order to continue on to the next academic term um in other

on to the next academic term um in other words you must have a 3.0 and maintain

words you must have a 3.0 and maintain that 3.0 throughout the program to avoid

that 3.0 throughout the program to avoid being on academic probation um and uh in

being on academic probation um and uh in addition as I mentioned it's not just

addition as I mentioned it's not just grades we're looking also at

grades we're looking also at dispositions so you will submit your

dispositions so you will submit your candidate disposition form at the end of

candidate disposition form at the end of the first semester and again at right

the first semester and again at right before your internship just to make sure

before your internship just to make sure that you are rating yourself and and

that you are rating yourself and and several helping dispositions um and that

several helping dispositions um and that your faculty is rating you in the same

your faculty is rating you in the same way um so we want to make sure that you

way um so we want to make sure that you have that self-awareness of what your

have that self-awareness of what your strengths are and areas that you might

strengths are and areas that you might want to work

want to work on all right clinical training so a lot

on all right clinical training so a lot of students say well how you know what

of students say well how you know what does this look like in terms of you know

does this look like in terms of you know what does being a counselor look like we

what does being a counselor look like we start you off with helping skills this

start you off with helping skills this is where you are working clinically with

is where you are working clinically with a peer you are recording your sessions

a peer you are recording your sessions um and you are getting lots of feedback

um and you are getting lots of feedback and lots of practice and we have a motto

and lots of practice and we have a motto uh progress not Perfection we are not

uh progress not Perfection we are not looking for anyone who knows everything

looking for anyone who knows everything especially in the beginning everybody's

especially in the beginning everybody's nervous nobody likes to be recorded um

nervous nobody likes to be recorded um but you're working with your peers and

but you're working with your peers and no prior counseling experience in

no prior counseling experience in clinical experience is necessary then

clinical experience is necessary then once you're comfortable with that you

once you're comfortable with that you move on to group counseling and uh

move on to group counseling and uh individual counseling where you get your

individual counseling where you get your first real volunteer client that you've

first real volunteer client that you've never met and we walk you through that

never met and we walk you through that process again lots of clinical feedback

process again lots of clinical feedback um that class is credit no credit for a

um that class is credit no credit for a reason so that you're not feeling like

reason so that you're not feeling like you're evaluated but you're getting a

you're evaluated but you're getting a lot of feedback on your growth and

lot of feedback on your growth and skills as a counselor and then of course

skills as a counselor and then of course you end with your internship and

you end with your internship and depending on the program track you're in

depending on the program track you're in you're either going to be in a school a

you're either going to be in a school a community agency or a higher education

community agency or a higher education setting we do not have a master's thesis

setting we do not have a master's thesis instead of that you're going to do a lot

instead of that you're going to do a lot of writing a lot of research papers in a

of writing a lot of research papers in a lot of classes so instead we do what

lot of classes so instead we do what most national counseling programs do we

most national counseling programs do we um offer a comprehensive examination

um offer a comprehensive examination that you'll have to um pass in order to

that you'll have to um pass in order to graduate um we prepare you for this we

graduate um we prepare you for this we give you a practice exam we tell you

give you a practice exam we tell you hang on to all your syllabi sometimes

hang on to all your syllabi sometimes people get to that point and they say

people get to that point and they say I'm worried I I'm not going to pass you

I'm worried I I'm not going to pass you know I I need to study but just keep in

know I I need to study but just keep in mind that every single class you're

mind that every single class you're taking is the studying you are learning

taking is the studying you are learning so much by the time you get to this

so much by the time you get to this point that it should be a matter of

point that it should be a matter of mostly review and we have uh dedicated

mostly review and we have uh dedicated material Dr Francis has been wonderful

material Dr Francis has been wonderful and really revamping the comprehensive

and really revamping the comprehensive preparation for the comp exam um so it

preparation for the comp exam um so it covers all core uh areas uh and it is

covers all core uh areas uh and it is the national comprehensive uh

the national comprehensive uh Examination for counseling programs the

Examination for counseling programs the cpce um then uh you know and it's

cpce um then uh you know and it's offered in the fall it's offered in the

offered in the fall it's offered in the spring it's offered in summer 1 we get a

spring it's offered in summer 1 we get a common question around right now that

common question around right now that asks what if I fail do I have to take it

asks what if I fail do I have to take it again we will look at all of your scores

again we will look at all of your scores in all 12 12 areas we will uh have a cut

in all 12 12 areas we will uh have a cut off score for each of the 12 um it is

off score for each of the 12 um it is rare that we've seen anyone fail all 12

rare that we've seen anyone fail all 12 usually there might be somebody who just

usually there might be somebody who just needs more help in one area so we will

needs more help in one area so we will um offer that um you will need to pass

um offer that um you will need to pass that area that you didn't pass the first

that area that you didn't pass the first time but we will provide that to you um

time but we will provide that to you um uh until you complete it so we will give

uh until you complete it so we will give you a lot of support and um you can

you a lot of support and um you can retake those sections that are not

retake those sections that are not passed and still

passed and still graduate all right opportunities for

graduate all right opportunities for research and scholarships again a very

research and scholarships again a very very common question um so informally

very common question um so informally talk to us about your ideas um we each

talk to us about your ideas um we each have web pages we each are doing you

have web pages we each are doing you know active scholarship and research we

know active scholarship and research we often present at conferences with

often present at conferences with interested students if you're interested

interested students if you're interested in more of the teaching aspect and just

in more of the teaching aspect and just uh getting an a class as a teaching

uh getting an a class as a teaching assistant get an A in The Graduate

assistant get an A in The Graduate course email your full-time professor

course email your full-time professor and say I'm interested in being a TA um

and say I'm interested in being a TA um and you know that's where you know a lot

and you know that's where you know a lot of my Tas come from just it was a quick

of my Tas come from just it was a quick email I took your helping skills class I

email I took your helping skills class I really enjoyed it um can I ta for you so

really enjoyed it um can I ta for you so it really is um there's opportunities to

it really is um there's opportunities to do that there's also Aras and gas not to

do that there's also Aras and gas not to be confused with ta so a research

be confused with ta so a research assistant if you're more interested in

assistant if you're more interested in doing that route again look at our web

doing that route again look at our web pages and we'll kind of match you with

pages and we'll kind of match you with somebody who's doing current active

somebody who's doing current active research and has a position for you um

research and has a position for you um or Gra graduate assistant a ga position

or Gra graduate assistant a ga position and those are positions across campus um

and those are positions across campus um usually they won't be housed in our

usually they won't be housed in our program they'll be for you know

program they'll be for you know sometimes G are copying final exams or

sometimes G are copying final exams or they're doing things for other

they're doing things for other departments but there's a web page

departments but there's a web page dedicated to um graduate uh assistant

dedicated to um graduate uh assistant work so if you're interested and you

work so if you're interested and you want to move to oncampus work sometimes

want to move to oncampus work sometimes students find that to be easier um

students find that to be easier um because they're already here for class

because they're already here for class so um that is definitely an option we

so um that is definitely an option we also send a few students each year to

also send a few students each year to both Society programs and PHD programs

both Society programs and PHD programs Ed programs at times so schedule an

Ed programs at times so schedule an appointment with any full-time faculty

appointment with any full-time faculty to discuss options we also have an

to discuss options we also have an alumni panel every year that we put

alumni panel every year that we put together every may we always try to grab

together every may we always try to grab it a current doctoral student that was

it a current doctoral student that was an alumni of our program to tell you the

an alumni of our program to tell you the ins and outs of what that might look

ins and outs of what that might look like if you want to further your

like if you want to further your education um scholarships fellowships

education um scholarships fellowships they are available Cassidy Alvarado's

they are available Cassidy Alvarado's smiling face right here every year she

smiling face right here every year she says there's not enough counseling

says there's not enough counseling students coming to to onif which is the

students coming to to onif which is the office of national International

office of national International fellowships on campus um so email her

fellowships on campus um so email her once you're admitted not before she's

once you're admitted not before she's asked me to tell you that because she

asked me to tell you that because she gets confused and says oh wait you're

gets confused and says oh wait you're not I can't find you in the system if

not I can't find you in the system if you are admitted definitely contact her

you are admitted definitely contact her and ask about counseling program

and ask about counseling program fellowships there are scholarships and

fellowships there are scholarships and fellowships available for those that are

fellowships available for those that are specifically for the helping professions

specifically for the helping professions um and sometimes they go unclaimed so we

um and sometimes they go unclaimed so we really want to encourage all current

really want to encourage all current students to start there the school of UC

students to start there the school of UC education also offers uh graduate

education also offers uh graduate scholarships as

scholarships as well all right and that will be I think

well all right and that will be I think a you know financial aid is coming up so

a you know financial aid is coming up so uh you should definitely attend that

uh you should definitely attend that after this as well if you're interested

after this as well if you're interested all right now the nuts and bolts

all right now the nuts and bolts application deadlines we have a rolling

application deadlines we have a rolling admissions program um we are very you

admissions program um we are very you know much hard at work all year trying

know much hard at work all year trying to make sure that we process all of the

to make sure that we process all of the applications and uh we do that in a

applications and uh we do that in a timely fashion so if you are looking at

timely fashion so if you are looking at joining us this fall the application uh

joining us this fall the application uh deadline is June 15th um for summer one

deadline is June 15th um for summer one if you were interested in starting as

if you were interested in starting as early as miday of this year that uh

early as miday of this year that uh application deadline is this Friday if

application deadline is this Friday if you have just heard about us today and

you have just heard about us today and you want that deadline extended we

you want that deadline extended we anyone here is hearing me um please

anyone here is hearing me um please email Dr Francis or myself or Cheryl

email Dr Francis or myself or Cheryl Hugo who's in Admissions and we will

Hugo who's in Admissions and we will make sure that we can follow you to

make sure that we can follow you to extend that deadline but again that

extend that deadline but again that would only be for folks that wanted to

would only be for folks that wanted to join us and apply and have an interview

join us and apply and have an interview for a miday start um much more common is

for a miday start um much more common is our fall start we usually have a a a

our fall start we usually have a a a very robust admissions process and

very robust admissions process and application process but then a rather

application process but then a rather large class uh entering in the fall so

large class uh entering in the fall so that deadline is June 15th and then you

that deadline is June 15th and then you might also want to take some time and

might also want to take some time and reconsider and the if you wanted to

reconsider and the if you wanted to start in January our application

start in January our application deadline is November 15th so um please

deadline is November 15th so um please know that these are while they are hard

know that these are while they are hard deadlines we do work with students if

deadlines we do work with students if there is something if there's a missing

there is something if there's a missing letter of recommendation or you got most

letter of recommendation or you got most of your application materials in and

of your application materials in and want to be considered please never just

want to be considered please never just leave it an unanswered question please

leave it an unanswered question please reach out to us um because sometimes

reach out to us um because sometimes there are things that we can do all

there are things that we can do all right

right um admission requirements all right we

um admission requirements all right we are a competitive program we do require

are a competitive program we do require a personal statement of intent official

a personal statement of intent official transcripts from all colleges and

transcripts from all colleges and universities you have ever attended

universities you have ever attended which can be kind of a pain if you have

which can be kind of a pain if you have taken especially High School classes

taken especially High School classes Community College classes in high school

Community College classes in high school we need those as well um so we'll ask

we need those as well um so we'll ask you for official transcripts uh we do

you for official transcripts uh we do require a 3.0 GPA or better however I

require a 3.0 GPA or better however I will say this again there is a caveat

will say this again there is a caveat every once in a while especially in the

every once in a while especially in the counseling professions we attract a lot

counseling professions we attract a lot of students who have gone through things

of students who have gone through things in high school or college that maybe

in high school or college that maybe prevented them from getting the GPA that

prevented them from getting the GPA that they wanted maybe their GPA overall in

they wanted maybe their GPA overall in college or you know wasn't what they

college or you know wasn't what they wanted because their freshman year was

wanted because their freshman year was very difficult transitioning um we

very difficult transitioning um we really do read the personal statement of

really do read the personal statement of intent for that purpose if there is a

intent for that purpose if there is a reason that you have a below 3.0 GPA if

reason that you have a below 3.0 GPA if it's significantly below we might ask

it's significantly below we might ask you to take a graduate level course um

you to take a graduate level course um and try to bump it up so that the last

and try to bump it up so that the last 90 units are 3.0 or better um or we and

90 units are 3.0 or better um or we and or we want to see in your letter of

or we want to see in your letter of intent why that why that happened or

intent why that why that happened or what your rationale is so in general the

what your rationale is so in general the admission requirements is you know 3.0

admission requirements is you know 3.0 is the minimum but again there are

is the minimum but again there are things that we want to hear from you if

things that we want to hear from you if if that is not the case for you two

if that is not the case for you two letters of recommendation please make

letters of recommendation please make them professional uh letters from either

them professional uh letters from either faculty or supervisors no friends uh no

faculty or supervisors no friends uh no neighbors please uh and then a

neighbors please uh and then a certificate of clearance this is not

certificate of clearance this is not just unique to our program this is for

just unique to our program this is for anyone entering um a School site so we

anyone entering um a School site so we do need a certificate of clearance

do need a certificate of clearance that's something that um is offered it's

that's something that um is offered it's it's a you know process online your

it's a you know process online your advisal visor will reach out and tell

advisal visor will reach out and tell you the process for that um but it's

you the process for that um but it's just getting those live scam

just getting those live scam fingerprinting and application to the

fingerprinting and application to the California Commission on teacher

California Commission on teacher credentialing and uh then of course the

credentialing and uh then of course the California basic skills requirement so

California basic skills requirement so this the C best this is a separate test

this the C best this is a separate test that you will need to take we do not

that you will need to take we do not require the gr um which is unlike some

require the gr um which is unlike some Master's programs in counseling um but

Master's programs in counseling um but we do require the CEST and or equivalent

we do require the CEST and or equivalent so if you have SAT scores or ACT scores

so if you have SAT scores or ACT scores that are um wave this requirement please

that are um wave this requirement please talk to your adviser and provide

talk to your adviser and provide those um we this is a lot I know this is

those um we this is a lot I know this is a lot of information for everybody um we

a lot of information for everybody um we do have a rolling admissions process

do have a rolling admissions process like I said so interviews are held all

like I said so interviews are held all year fall spring or summer

year fall spring or summer and we do have an online application but

and we do have an online application but we also have an information packet if

we also have an information packet if this is a lot for you and you just want

this is a lot for you and you just want to scroll through um please request our

to scroll through um please request our information packet um and that kind of

information packet um and that kind of walks you through step by step

walks you through step by step everything that's needed um and again if

everything that's needed um and again if you have difficulties meeting the

you have difficulties meeting the admissions uh application deadlines um

admissions uh application deadlines um never feel like you're stuck please

never feel like you're stuck please always communicate with us and we'll see

always communicate with us and we'll see what we can

what we can do um I'm thinking that that might be

do um I'm thinking that that might be everything that we've got here but I

everything that we've got here but I want to take a minute to stop share and

want to take a minute to stop share and just ask if there are questions and I'm

just ask if there are questions and I'm seeing some in the chat so maybe Dr

seeing some in the chat so maybe Dr Francis and I can kind of um read those

Francis and I can kind of um read those out loud I there has there have been

out loud I there has there have been plenty of questions he let's do it

plenty of questions he let's do it really great questions I've answered

really great questions I've answered quite a few because of time let's go

quite a few because of time let's go with uh if you can Dr Outwater answer is

with uh if you can Dr Outwater answer is it possible to obtain an internship

it possible to obtain an internship credential while enrolled in the program

credential while enrolled in the program yes it is very good question for those

yes it is very good question for those of you who don't know you might uh get

of you who don't know you might uh get an offer this doesn't happen typically

an offer this doesn't happen typically with school counselor interns but every

with school counselor interns but every once in a while you are a stellar

once in a while you are a stellar applicant for your internship and they

applicant for your internship and they want to pay you and they want you to be

want to pay you and they want you to be employed at the school district even

employed at the school district even while you're in training that is

while you're in training that is wonderful and we every year have a few

wonderful and we every year have a few students who get those opportunities um

students who get those opportunities um it's not typical in the school

it's not typical in the school counseling field again but everyone once

counseling field again but everyone once in a while there's a stien offered and

in a while there's a stien offered and so you will be required to have an

so you will be required to have an intern credential where you um get a

intern credential where you um get a credential from the state and it's not

credential from the state and it's not an advanced credential it's not a

an advanced credential it's not a graduate one it's an intern one and I

graduate one it's an intern one and I think there's a $65 application fee and

think there's a $65 application fee and you will get that and that will allow

you will get that and that will allow you to get paid for your

you to get paid for your internship very good question perfect

internship very good question perfect and then

and then um if we can speak more on okay so

um if we can speak more on okay so there's two

there's two questions uh regarding sat act C best if

questions uh regarding sat act C best if you've never took sat or act because of

you've never took sat or act because of covid and does a CEST need to be

covid and does a CEST need to be completed beforehand or by the first

completed beforehand or by the first semester yes okay so I'll I kind of take

semester yes okay so I'll I kind of take those one by one so this sat or act is

those one by one so this sat or act is not required it is the C best that's

not required it is the C best that's required which is typically a a a you

required which is typically a a a you know an easier test and I think the CTC

know an easier test and I think the CTC is even looking now into ways to wave

is even looking now into ways to wave that requirement if you've taken certain

that requirement if you've taken certain um certain other test right so the SAT

um certain other test right so the SAT and ACT could be used to wave the CEST

and ACT could be used to wave the CEST but they're not required so the CEST and

but they're not required so the CEST and the certificate of clearance or COC they

the certificate of clearance or COC they are both required um typically we we

are both required um typically we we require them upon um uh beforehand right

require them upon um uh beforehand right before you start the semester that is

before you start the semester that is the requirement um for whatever reason

the requirement um for whatever reason if you have difficulty completing those

if you have difficulty completing those um you reach out to your adviser let

um you reach out to your adviser let them know where you are in the process

them know where you are in the process let's say you apply to the progam

let's say you apply to the progam program and that COC is still pending or

program and that COC is still pending or the certificate clearance is pending or

the certificate clearance is pending or the C best past results are still

the C best past results are still pending um work with Dr Mike Dr Mike

pending um work with Dr Mike Dr Mike will help you or whoever he's he's now

will help you or whoever he's he's now being promoted so there might be a new

being promoted so there might be a new adviser in his place um but he'll be

adviser in his place um but he'll be around to advise you on you know what

around to advise you on you know what you need to do maybe your C best is

you need to do maybe your C best is scheduled but it's after the start of

scheduled but it's after the start of the semester that will be you know

the semester that will be you know something that you'd work out with the

something that you'd work out with the adviser as long as you know we are in

adviser as long as you know we are in communication with you um but typically

communication with you um but typically those things are done prior to the start

those things are done prior to the start semester mostly because we do have some

semester mostly because we do have some classes where we will hold them on

classes where we will hold them on nearby School sites if you're in the

nearby School sites if you're in the school counseling track and so we want

school counseling track and so we want to make sure that everybody has those

to make sure that everybody has those requirements to be in a school legally

requirements to be in a school legally and ethically to be able to you know U

and ethically to be able to you know U be fingerprinted before working with

be fingerprinted before working with students um yes certificate of clearance

students um yes certificate of clearance is usually valid for 5 years um so if

is usually valid for 5 years um so if you've already done it you just want to

you've already done it you just want to make sure it's renewed every 5 years and

make sure it's renewed every 5 years and let's see other

let's see other questions I'm

questions I'm seeing um I think we answered most one

seeing um I think we answered most one yeah um I had a question real quick

yeah um I had a question real quick absolutely Nicole sure um so for do you

absolutely Nicole sure um so for do you require shadowing hours um you know like

require shadowing hours um you know like for teaching sometimes they would ask us

for teaching sometimes they would ask us to do shadowing hours before field work

to do shadowing hours before field work so is or is it um all just during the

so is or is it um all just during the fieldwork Year yes that is such a good

fieldwork Year yes that is such a good question thank you Nicole for that

question thank you Nicole for that because um there is a there is there are

because um there is a there is there are might be people here that are not

might be people here that are not psychology or sociology Majors so

psychology or sociology Majors so there's kind of a two-part question I'll

there's kind of a two-part question I'll kind of expand on so for anyone that's

kind of expand on so for anyone that's not a psychology or sociology major do

not a psychology or sociology major do not be afraid to apply however please

not be afraid to apply however please note that what we'll be looking for like

note that what we'll be looking for like if you're coming from you know like

if you're coming from you know like Lauren said she was in professional

Lauren said she was in professional sales we have business we have