Lifelong learning is a major challenge for today's professionals. This home-study learning program offers a cost-effective means that allows learners to pace themselves in learning a body of knowledge in relation to their individual needs. A self-assessment questionnaire allows readers to assess their strengths and weaknesses in relation to the ongoing knowledge needed in comprehensive clinical mental health counseling. It provides a comprehensive review of theory and practice and answers questions that arise in the course of practice. The review begins with the fundamentals on theories of growth and development and has several chapters on direct clinical material, such as assessment; diagnosis; counseling modalities; and treatment planning. It also includes information on the mental status examination content and the history of the Diagnostic Statistical Manual system. Special treatment areas such as suicide; domestic violence; abuse; incest; treating particular populations; and psychopharmacology are detailed in separate sections. Research and evaluation and statistics and outcome studies are reviewed as a growing focus in all practice management. An assessment booklet containing a study log; a self-examination; an envelope to mail the exam for scoring and credit; and a program evaluation form accompany the manual. (Contains over 290 references.) (JDM)