Masters Mental Health Counseling Online – Explore today’s top accredited schools for online mental health counseling programs, learn about admission requirements and costs, and learn about career options after graduation.
An online master’s degree in mental health counseling can open up many opportunities, including obtaining a license to practice anywhere in the United States. This degree also provides the necessary skills to help people emotionally, mentally, therapeutically and behaviorally. But which schools have what you’re looking for in a program: the right curriculum, flexible online programs, and a cost structure that’s right for you? Start with a comprehensive 2023 top-rated online master’s in mental health counseling, then dive into the programs themselves to begin your journey today.
Masters Mental Health Counseling Online
To be included in this ranking, colleges had to meet the following criteria based on state data provided by the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
Mental Health Services
After creating a list of eligible colleges, OMD’s data analysis team assigned weights and ranked colleges based on a combination of affordability, access to online learning, and student support scores.
Each OMD ranking uses the most recent data from the Integrated Higher Education Data System (IPEDS), which colleges and universities across the country report in surveys to the U.S. Department of Education.
Students seeking a career in mental health can achieve their goal with a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from Texas Tech. This program emphasizes the role of telemedicine as a telemedicine delivery method and is one of the first counseling education programs in the United States to train practitioners in clinical counseling skills and telemedicine techniques. Texas Tech’s program was designed for students who currently work full-time, so students can only take classes online. Upon graduation, students can earn a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC), apply for a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) license in most states, and obtain a telemedicine certificate.
New England College’s Master of Clinical Counseling in Mental Health provides students with the education necessary to apply for licensure as a professional counselor in their home states. During 24 months, students acquire skills in helping people with various mental and emotional disorders. The NEC program includes extensive field experience, and students are assigned to clinical placements based on their talents and career goals. During these internships, participants receive mentorship from the host organization, an NEC faculty member, and the clinical coordinator and director of the MS-CMHC program. To better meet the personal and professional needs of students, this program is offered 100% online.
Mental Health Counseling/coaching
At Catawba College, graduate students can prepare for the National Counselor Examination (NCE) and gain clinical hours and hands-on skills to support the mental health needs of others. The program’s 60 credit hours are presented as 45 hours of classroom instruction and 15 hours of clinical client service experience. This MHS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is offered online only and prepares graduates for provisional counseling licensure in North Carolina and other states with similar standards. After completing the NCE, students can apply to become Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors (LCMHCA). Graduates can work in hospitals and health care systems, school districts, colleges and universities, and in private practice.
Montreat College offers a blended Master of Clinical Mental Health Counseling program to meet students’ flexible learning needs. This program works as a combined sit-down and online model. Students attend classes in person on odd-numbered weeks and complete asynchronous online coursework on even-numbered weeks. All components of the in-person course are held at Montreat Asheville or Charlotte University. During training, candidates acquire competencies in the history and development of counseling, theory and ethical practice, and work with a variety of clients. Upon graduation, students will meet the state of North Carolina’s licensure professional education requirements and be prepared for professional practice in private, public, public, and other mental health settings.
At East Carolina University, students can earn an online master’s degree in counselor education to advance their careers. ECU’s master’s program is ideal for students who want to work in various fields of education and social services. Students are encouraged to develop personal approaches to their professional practice and are given the freedom to plan elective research that is relevant to their professional interests. The program offers three areas of specialization: school counseling, clinical mental health counseling, or student and college counseling. After earning a master’s degree, students are eligible to apply for a school counseling license or a professional counselor license. Courses are offered online only to allow students to balance the demands of life and study.
Want to learn more about some of the best online mental health master’s degree programs available today? Learn about curriculum, pricing, courses and more with these three spotlights.
M.a. In Clinical Mental Health Counseling
New York University offers a two-year online master’s degree in counseling psychology. You can register full-time or part-time to complete 60 hours of coursework. The NYU degree combines core coursework with internship opportunities to help students understand group dynamics, ethical issues, theory and process, and abnormal psychology. Electives also offered include bereavement counseling, marriage and family counseling, addictions counseling, career counseling, and more.
Each student participates in a counseling lab to gain basic counseling skills and improve self-awareness and understanding. The laboratory is a prerequisite for the internship, and the internship is a prerequisite for any internship. Students must obtain a New York clinical license in counseling psychology to legally practice. NYU is accredited by the MPCAC (Council for Master’s in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation) until 2025.
Johns Hopkins University offers a two-year online master’s degree program in counseling designed to help students become advocates in the field of counseling. There is also a specialization focused on clinical mental health. Students must complete 60 credits of coursework and 600 hours of practicum over five years.
Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, a minimum GPA of 3.0, and at least two letters of recommendation. Students can expect to learn how to assess needs, set goals and counsel people from different backgrounds and ethnicities. They will also learn how to facilitate group work in mental health settings and acquire the skills needed to evaluate and apply evidence-based practice.
A Guide To Psychotherapy Vs Counseling From Grace College
The University of Massachusetts, Boston offers a two-year master’s degree in mental health that prepares students to meet Massachusetts state licensure requirements. Students must complete 60 hours of coursework online and attend a 2-week course at Boston University in person. The degree provides the knowledge and skills required for the internship in the first semester and the internship requirements in the second year.
This degree helps students identify and work with people from diverse backgrounds and develop the skills and values needed to work as mental health counsellors. They can also choose a concentration of their choice.
One of the biggest benefits of earning a master’s degree in mental health counseling online is the opportunity to obtain a license to practice counseling. A bachelor’s degree does not give that. Additional benefits include the following.
Students pursuing a master’s degree in mental health counseling can expect to learn about substance abuse, human development, human personality, abnormal psychology, group counseling, trauma and suicide, assessment and testing, ethics, and more. They explore how to identify, assess, and counsel individuals from diverse populations and families. Students also learn about prevention, treatment, and program management options. Many courses also include a basic understanding of psychopharmacology and how it affects the mental health of patients.
Online Masters Degree In Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Most master’s programs in mental health counseling allow you to choose a concentration or specialization. Different schools offer different concentrations. Below are five different concentrations to give you an idea of the options available.
Appropriate accreditation is a critical element to consider when choosing an online master’s degree in mental health counseling. You can usually find out what accreditations a school has on their website. If you can’t find it, call and ask.
Accrediting organizations for mental health counseling programs are the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) and the Council for Accreditation of Postgraduate Education and Counseling Psychology (MPCAC). Others, such as the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), are also worth investigating.
First and foremost, when it comes to accrediting an online master’s degree in mental health counseling, make sure the institution you choose has program accreditation that will allow you to obtain a license.
What Do Mental Health Counselors Do? Role & Responsibilities
There are many job opportunities for someone with a master’s degree in counseling psychology. This includes working as a counselor in a clinic, a staff therapist at a police station, a school counselor, or a counselor in private practice. Some of the best careers for those with a master’s degree in mental health counseling are listed below.
Whether a person has a physical, mental or emotional disability, they need creative solutions. This is where a rehabilitation consultant comes to the rescue. Rehabilitation counselors work in various community and government agencies to help people with disabilities live better lives.
Mental health counselors focus on helping individuals, groups, and families with mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety, OCD, eating disorders, and personality disorders. Mental health counselors typically practice cognitive behavioral therapy, psychodynamic therapy, humanistic theory, or a combination of these.
Many students have more needs
Most Affordable Online Counseling Degrees For 2023
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