MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

The MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program prepares students to identify and address the need for culturally and contextually relevant counseling and social change for individuals, communities, and society.

Learning Outcomes

The following Learning Outcomes are common to all MS in counseling programs. The competent and confident counseling professional will:

Analyze the different roles and settings of a counselor.
Apply sound ethical and legal practices in the work of a counselor.
Analyze cultural development theories and models.
Examine empirically based theories of human development.
Evaluate approaches of career development appropriate to diverse needs and life experiences.
Examine appropriate evidence-based counseling practices for prevention and intervention.
Apply essential counseling skills across multiple settings.
Select group facilitation strategies that are culturally and ethically relevant.
Analyze assessment procedures to support planning for appropriate counseling interventions.
Evaluate research methods commonly used in the counseling profession.

Graduates of the MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program will also be able to:

Evaluate effective treatment strategies for addressing the needs of mental health clients.
Choose appropriate diagnostic intervention processes to meet a broad range of mental health issues.
Assess the impact of biological/neurological mechanisms on mental health.
Develop strategies for interfacing with outside stakeholders (i.e., the legal system and behavioral health professionals).

Specializations (Optional)

General Program
Addiction Counseling
Forensic Counseling
Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling
Military Families and Culture
State Education - MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (only for students with specific state requirements)
Trauma and Crisis Counseling

Degree Requirements

90 total quarter credits for General Program
Foundation course (1 cr.)
Core courses (80 cr.)
Field experience: (9 cr.: 100-hour practicum; 600-hour internship)
Optional specialization courses (10 cr.)
Optional State Education Specialization (only for students with specific state requirements)
Professional Development Plan, licensure plan
2 Pre-Practicum Labs (6 weeks online with 4 days of face-to-face or virtual synchronous sessions)
Group Lab (9 weeks online with 14 hours of live synchronous group)

Core Curriculum (General Program)

The MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling consists of core coursework; two 4-day pre-practica, which include a 4-day face-to-face or virtual synchronous experience; a practicum; an internship; and the completion of a capstone. Core courses must be taken in the order presented. Additional courses may be taken at the end of the program of study to provide breadth and depth of learning.

Foundation Course (1 cr.)

COUN 6101 - Foundations for Graduate Study in Counseling♦

Core Courses (80 cr.)

Pre-Practicum Labs

Each pre-practicum includes online course content integrated with a 4-day, face-to-face or virtual synchronous residential requirement.

3 weeks online
4 days face-to-face or virtual synchronous sessions (see the Pre-Practicum Calendar)
2 weeks online

Field Experience (9 cr.)

Course Sequence

Students undertake courses in the following sequence.

Quarter	Course	Credits
1	COUN 6101 - Foundations for Graduate Study in Counseling♦	1 cr.
1	COUN 6100 - Introduction to Mental Health Counseling♦	5 cr.
2	COUN 6722 - Theories of Counseling♦	5 cr.
2	COUN 6316 - Techniques in Counseling♦	5 cr.
	Eligible to take Pre-Practicum 1 - CPLB 601L (must be completed before COUN 6720)
3	COUN 6306 - Ethics and Legal Issues in Counseling♦	5 cr.
3	COUN 6723 - Multicultural Counseling♦	5 cr.
4	COUN 6360 - Assessment in Counseling and Education♦	5 cr.
4	COUN 6215 - Lifespan Development♦	5 cr.
	Must complete Pre-Practicum 1 before moving forward
5	COUN 6720 - Diagnosis and Assessment♦	5 cr.
	COUN 6250 - Group Process and Dynamics♦	5 cr.
	GRPL 6100 - Group Lab	0 cr.
	Eligible to take Pre-Practicum 2 - CPLB 602L (must be completed before COUN 6730)
6	COUN 6626 - Research Methodology and Program Evaluation♦	5 cr.
6	COUN 6726 - Couples and Family Counseling♦	5 cr.
7	COUN 6753 - Career Counseling♦	5 cr.
7	COUN 6785 - Social Change in Action: Prevention, Consultation, and Advocacy♦	5 cr.
	Must complete Pre-Practicum 2 before moving forward
8	COUN 6730 - Counseling Addictive Disorders♦	5 cr.
8	COUN 6743 - Psychopharmacology♦	5 cr.
9	COUN 6336 - Crisis, Trauma, and Disaster Response♦	5 cr.
9	COUN 6671 - Counseling Practicum	3–5 cr.
10	COUN 6682A - Counseling Internship I	3–5 cr.
11	COUN 6682B - Counseling Internship II	3–5 cr.
	Optional specialization courses may be taken in Quarters 10 and 11	10 cr.

Accreditation

Walden University’s MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) as a mental health counseling program under the 2016 standards. CACREP is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and a requirement for licensure in many states.

Note on Licensure

The Walden University Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) program is designed to prepare graduates to practice as a licensed professional counselor (LPC) or licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) in many states. However, the requirements for licensure as a LPC or LMHC vary greatly from state to state. Each state board that is responsible for regulating the practice of professional or mental health counseling has its own academic requirements and issues its own license to practice as a LPC or LMHC in that state.

Walden CMHC graduates may apply for licensure as a professional counselor, such as the LPC or LMHC, in most states. However, each state issues its own credential for an individual to be permitted to practice as a licensed professional or mental health counselor in that state. While Walden enrollment specialists can provide general information relating to the state-by-state educational requirements for mental health or professional counseling licensure or certification, it remains the student’s responsibility to understand, evaluate, and comply with all requirements relating to field education experiences, licensing or certification, authorization, or endorsement for the state in which she or he resides. Walden makes no representations or guarantee that completion of its coursework or programs will permit an individual to obtain state licensure, certification, authorization, endorsement, or other state credential. Licensure eligibility determinations are ultimately determined by the appropriate state board that issues the credential to practice.

Prospective students enrolling in licensure-leading programs are advised that relocation to another state may impact the student’s ability to complete field experiences and/or to obtain professional licensure, certification, or other credential in another state. Prospective students are advised to carefully review, evaluate, and understand the requirements of the applicable licensure board in the state in which they intend to relocate.