Clinical Mental Health Counseling Master’s Degree
Prepare for rewarding careers in clinical mental health counseling in a CACREP-accredited program with exceptional opportunities for research and field-based learning. The clinical mental health master’s degree program at Georgian Court University provides a holistic view of treatment with a strong emphasis on ethics and evidence-based learning—preparing you with the knowledge and skills to succeed in your chosen field.
CACREP Announcement
In 2022-23, 8 students earned their MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. This represents 62% of the cohort that started in F2020. 100% of the graduates are employed, and the cohort’s pass rate for the National Counselor Examination is 75%. View the Annual Report for CACREP.
Program Highlights
Degree
2.5–3 years
Delivery
Cost
Total credits
Time of entry
Master’s in
Clinical Mental
Health Counseling
Working as part of a small cohort, you’ll benefit from one-on-one mentoring by faculty, while building close connections with peers. You’ll also engage in a 100-hour practicum and a 600-hour internship that give you opportunities to apply your knowledge in the field. When you graduate (and complete the post-master’s supervised hours), you’ll be prepared to obtain licensure as a New Jersey Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC).
Apply your training
in the real world
If you’re interested in helping people with drug and alcohol addiction, we offer courses in addiction counseling, with specialized electives and experiential learning opportunities you can choose based on your goals. We also offer a Professional Counselor Graduate Certificate for students who have a master’s degree but need additional credits for licensure in New Jersey.
Clinical mental health counselors are licensed professionals who help people with a wide range of mental, emotional, and behavioral issues. They provide services that include assessing and diagnosing disorders, working with patients to develop coping skills and strategies, and referring patients to other health professionals for additional treatment and care. Empathy, compassion, ethics, and keen listening and communication skills are all essential qualities for clinical mental health counselors to build trust with clients and effect positive change.
Program Information
The Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is a 60-credit program designed for students who wish to pursue careers as a Licensed Professional Counselor and/or enter into a counselor education doctoral program. It is aligned with the standards of the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
Professional courses are open only to students formally admitted to the program.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| CMH5100 | Introduction to Counseling Skills | 3.0 |
| CMH5101 | Advanced Psychpathology&Diagnosis | 3.0 |
| CMH5200 | Multicultural Issues in Counseling | 3.0 |
| CMH5300 | Counseling Theories | 3.0 |
| CMH5301 | Clin Mntl Hlth Cnslng Interven | 3.0 |
| CMH5302 | Appraisal of the Individual | 3.0 |
| CMH5303 | Techniques of Group Counseling | 3.0 |
| CMH5400 | Lifespan Development | 3.0 |
| CMH5500 | Orgn Cnsling & Career Dev | 3.0 |
| CMH5600 | The Counseling Profession | 3.0 |
| CMH5700 | Applied Research Methods | 3.0 |
| CMH5800 | Practicum in Counseling | 4.0 |
| CMH5802 | Internship in Counseling I | 4.0 |
| CMH5804 | Internship in Counseling II | 4.0 |
| CMH6000 | Proseminar | 3.0 |
| or CMH5357 | Sem Addict Trtmnt & Prev | |
| Electives | ||
| Select 12 credits of electives | 12.0 | |
| Total Credits | 60.0 | |
Students intending to pursue doctoral training are strongly urged to register for CMH6001 Thesis Seminar I and CMH6002 Thesis Seminar II.
Students intending to be dually licensed as mental health counselors and addictions counselors are advised to select CMH5355 Introduction to Addictions Counseling, CMH5356 Treatment of Addictive Disorders, CMH5601 Psychopharmacology, and CMH5357 Sem Addict Trtmnt & Prev.
A comprehensive examination is required of all candidates, which consists of a national standardized test (the CPCE) and a case study. Students are allowed two opportunities to pass each section of the comprehensive examination. If a student passes one section and does not pass the other, he or she will not be required to retake the passed section. If a student fails to complete the comprehensive exam sections successfully after two attempts, the student may be subject to academic dismissal. Students who fail either section of the comprehensive examination must arrange to meet with their advisor or their program director within two weeks of results notification.
View the full curriculum and admission requirements.
Marni Elson-Victor, M.S.
Field Placement Coordinator and Instructor
Psychology and Counseling Department
School of Arts, Sciences, and Education
Mercedes Hall (104)
melson-victor@georgian.edu
732-987-2619
Harriett Gaddy, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Psychology and Counseling; Director of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program
School of Arts, Sciences, and Education
Farley Center
hgaddy@georgian.edu
Lori Nixon, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
School of Arts, Sciences, and Education
Farley Center, 110
lnixon@georgian.edu
732-987-2655
If you’re interested in our master’s in clinical mental health counseling, here are other programs at GCU you might want to explore:
Why Earn Your Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at GCU?
Our clinical mental health counseling program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). This means that our coursework and clinical hours meet the most rigorous standards for counseling professionals—which will help with licensure and increasing your chances of employment after graduation.
Here are more reasons to earn your master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling at GCU.
Clinical Experiences and Research
Participate in faculty-led research experiences that give you the chance to present your work nationally. You’ll also engage in supervised, onsite clinical experiences working with a variety of patients and needs. We have connected students to opportunities with facilities such as Bright Harbor Healthcare, Integrated Care Concepts, and Preferred Behavioral Health, working in a wide range of services from adolescent group work, to family therapy, to assisting with severe behavioral and mental health issues.
Personal Attention and Guidance
When you earn your master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling at GCU, expect plenty of individual attention and one-on-one support. We’re also great at linking you with the best opportunities for your specific interests and career goals, and our field placement coordinator (in addition to faculty) will work with you to identify specialty options. Our cohort model also fosters a strong sense of community and teamwork among students, who stay together from day one through graduation.
Addiction Counseling
According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, about 1 in 13 Americans needed treatment for substance use disorder in 2018. The CDC reports that drug overdose deaths have quadrupled since 1999, and that excessive alcohol use is responsible for more than 95,000 deaths in the United States each year. Skilled addiction counselors are in high demand, and can help save lives, families, and communities. Students intending to be dually licensed as mental health counselors and addictions counselors are advised to select CMH5355 Introduction to Addictions Counseling, CMH5356 Treatment of Addictive Disorders, CMH5601 Psychopharmacology, and CMH5357 Seminar in Addiction Treatment & Prevention. Our internship and practicum experiences offer opportunities to prepare you for this role.
What Can You Do With a Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling?
*Based on data for Summer 2019, Fall 2019, and Spring 2020 classes
Clinical Mental Health Counseling Jobs
As a clinical mental health counselor, you can serve many different populations, specializing in areas such as:
- addiction counseling,
- geriatric counseling,
- child counseling,
- marriage and family therapy,
- rehabilitation counseling, and
- social work.
Mental Health Counseling Salary
*Based on recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Iron Recovery and Wellness Center
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