A career in clinical mental health counseling is a great way to get started in the counseling field. As the nation continues to shine more light on the need for mental health awareness, initiatives, and interventions – the demand for certified, licensed clinical mental health counselors will continue apace, branching into many different disciplines, specializations, and focus points.
Students who enroll in the University of Providence’s Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program graduate with the competencies to take on the emerging challenges in mental health. Furthermore, students will retain command of leading counseling strategies with an emphasis on applying professional, ethical, and culturally sensitive care.
Why Choose a Career in Counseling?
Earning a counseling degree will open doors to a variety of careers in clinical mental health counseling. Graduates of a clinical mental health counseling program who go on to pass the National Certification Exam through the National Board for Certified Counseling can expect a robust selection of career opportunities in professional counseling, including private and clinical practice avenues A career in clinical mental health counseling can be specialized to include specific populations, focus areas, diagnostic approaches, and treatment methodologies.
Examples of potential counseling career paths include:
- Rehabilitation counseling
- Family counseling
- Multicultural counseling
- Early childhood/adolescent counseling
- Marriage and relationship counseling
Key Clinical Mental Health Counseling Skills
A career in clinical mental health counseling offers more than just conducting therapy or counseling sessions. There are many skills, including administrative, clinical and communication-center focuses, required in the field. There is a lot to know and understand behind the scenes in preparing for clients, ensuring compliance with the state, and staying up to date on the latest trends and practices in the field. Chief amount these is understanding diagnosis and treatment practices for patients, proper documentation and evaluation needs and communication practices.
Common skills and concepts in clinical mental health counseling include:
- Competencies in diagnosis and assessment
- Evaluating the mental health needs of clients and patients
- Evidence-based counseling techniques
- Communication and listening skills
- Interpersonal skills
- The development of therapeutic relationships
- The development of mental health diagnoses and treatment plans
- Interacting in a culturally sensitive context
UP’s Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program Overview
The University of Providence’s Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is designed to prepare students for the National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE) through the necessary educational courses and supervision requirements. The program combines online didactic and in-person coursework exciting internship opportunities and concentrations.
Comprehensive Coursework
Through the clinical mental health counseling program, students will complete 60-credit hours of coursework specializing in the clinical mental health counseling scope of practice.
Courses are completed in multiple formats, each unique to the subject matter material. Course formats include a mixture of asynchronous, online, and in-person face-to-face.
Those navigating the curriculum can expect to take courses focused on professional ethics, counseling theories and techniques, research methods, spirituality, multicultural competence, standardized testing, evidence-based practices, crisis planning, and more.
Paired with the clinical mental health counseling curriculum are required practicum and internship experiences. These required hours provide students with exposure to a potential career in clinical mental health counseling while offering them the opportunity to apply their skills and competencies in a real-world setting. Through the internship and practicum experience, students grasp a stronger understanding of the mental health counseling field.
National Certification Preparation
Students who enroll in the clinical mental health counseling program will not only graduate as professional ethical, and culturally competent mental health counselors, but with the proper competencies to prepare for the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) in order to receive their accreditation of counseling or licensure as professional counselors (LPC/LCPC) through the NCE.
Concentration Enhancements
In addition to the core curriculum, the clinical mental health counseling program offers two enrollment specific concentrations for students to choose from. UP’s optional concentrations provide students with the opportunity to pursue six additional credits in advanced training and skill development in clinical rehabilitation counseling or addiction counseling.
Completion of a concentration enhancement in addition to the core clinical mental health counseling curriculum will prepare graduates for work in the specialized field of addiction and rehabilitation recovery as a counselor or adjacent role.
Cohort-Learning Style
The clinical mental health counseling program is delivered through a cohort-style model of learning. Through this model, students are able to gain a sense of community and individual attention as they progress through the program alongside their intake cohort.
Through the cohort-style model, students are able to foster connections with their classmates and develop a unique academic relationship with their classmates. These factors and more contribute to the 90% retention rate for the program.
Healthcare Partnerships & Incentives
UP is committed to providing educational opportunities and incentives for currently employed healthcare professionals seeking to enhance or advance their career in the healthcare field.
Through partnerships with organizations like Providence Health & Services, Providence Caregivers and their eligible dependents can receive special tuition incentives and benefits such as direct-pay and more when applying to UP’s clinical mental health counseling program. Additionally, eligible healthcare professionals of any organization can receive tuition incentives applied as part of the Healthcare Professional Tuition Incentive.
These incentive programs and partnerships provide healthcare workers with the opportunity to take the first step toward a career in clinical mental health counseling.
Start the Journey toward a Career in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at UP
The University of Providence’s Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree program prepares students for exciting careers as professional mental health counselors.
Learn more about the program by requesting more information or visiting the program page.
