In order to become a counselor, you’ll need to complete a master’s degree in counseling. An MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) is an ideal degree to earn. Walden University offers an online CMHC master’s degree program. Walden’s MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree program is accredited by CACREP, the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, and has six diverse specializations to choose from, in addition to a General Program.
The first step in choosing a specialization that aligns with your aspirations and career goals is to understand the differences between them. Below is a brief introduction to each specialization within Walden’s clinical mental health counseling master’s program.
Six Types of Counseling
Addiction Counseling: What addiction counselors do: Addiction counselors address the unique emotional challenges of individuals and families as they find their way to hope and healing.
Where they work: These counselors provide services to clients in substance abuse treatment centers, health clinics, hospitals, community health centers, schools, businesses (often through employee assistance programs, also known as EAPs), correctional facilities, and other settings.
What you’ll learn: In addition to learning about the various types of addictive behaviors, in this specialization, you’ll study contemporary treatment and intervention models used to promote recovery.
Forensic Counseling: What forensic counselors do: Forensic counselors help determine the proper resolution of legal and criminal justice cases and the most effective treatment for offenders within the justice system.
Where they work: Forensic counselors may work in the courts or legal settings, in law enforcement agencies, at victim advocacy organizations, at domestic violence shelters or child care centers, in parole offices, at correctional facilities, or in behavioral health centers.
What you’ll learn: Through this specialization, you can build your knowledge of mental health law, enhance your competencies in conflict management and negotiation, and learn how those skills can be applied to resolve conflict situations within the criminal justice system.
Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling: What marriage, couple, and family counselors do: Couples and families can, at times, experience complex problems. Whether the issues stem from divorce, child rearing, family violence, or other problems, those affected often seek the help of a licensed counselor. Counselors can help their clients learn effective conflict-resolution methods, communication skills, stress-reduction techniques, problem-solving skills, intimacy-building exercises, and more.
Where they work: Many marriage, couple, and family counselors work in private practices, either independently or as part of a group practice. Others work for EAPs, community mental health centers, hospitals and medical clinics, nonprofit organizations, or faith-based organizations.
What you’ll learn: This specialization can prepare you with the skills and knowledge required to assess and treat couples and families in order to promote healthy family functioning. In your courses, you’ll learn about intergenerational influences, life-cycle dynamics, and the complexities of family structures.
Military Families and Culture: What military counselors do: Military counselors provide specialized mental health services to military service members, veterans, and their families. They may provide individual, group, couples, or family counseling. Military counselors can also assess and diagnose mental health issues.
Where they work: Military counselors work at military bases or facilities, in veterans hospitals or clinics, or at homeless shelters.
What you’ll learn: In this specialization, you’ll explore ways to help families cope with the complex emotional challenges of military life. You’ll examine the nuances of military culture as well as the common hardships associated with the military lifestyle—from prolonged separation and combat-related injuries to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Additionally, you’ll consider best practices for counseling active-duty military personnel, their spouses and children, and veterans.
Telehealth Counseling, Private Practice, and Supervision: What telehealth and private counselors do: Counselors who provide mental health services and counseling through video conferences, phone calls, or online chats rather than in-person sessions are known as telehealth counselors. Counselors who work independently or in a group practice with other counselors are described as working in private practice.
What clinical supervisors do: Clinical supervisors oversee counselors, providing support and guidance to mental health professionals and ensuring that their clients receive quality care.
Where they work: Telehealth counseling gives counselors the ability to provide counseling from anywhere with a phone or Wi-Fi connection. Counselors who work in private practice typically work from an office that they lease individually or in a group practice setting. A clinical supervisor works in healthcare settings such as health clinics or hospitals.
What you’ll learn: If you’d prefer the flexibility of working online or by phone, or if you see yourself setting up your own practice, the Telehealth Counseling, Private Practice, and Supervision specialization will help you prepare for your career. You’ll learn how to set up an independent practice and how to master telehealth counseling skills. Additionally, you’ll prepare for the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) Approved Clinical Supervisor credential.
Trauma and Crisis Counseling: What trauma and crisis counselors do: When recovering from trauma or disasters, individuals and communities need the help of professionals trained in trauma and crisis counseling. Trauma and crisis counselors help people who have experienced such events as a natural disaster, a terror attack, a violent crime, or the death of a loved one.
Where they work: Trauma and crisis counselors may work in private practice, on military installations, at police stations, at schools, for disaster aid organizations or humanitarian organizations, at mental health clinics, or at nonprofit organizations.
What you’ll learn: Through this specialization, you can gain the counseling skills to help individuals heal from trauma and to assist communities in managing crises. You will be able to master the theory, intervention strategies, and treatment models needed to counsel and support individuals and families in crisis and to help communities create effective crisis-management programs. Additionally, you’ll gain skills to train and support first responders.
How to Choose the Right Specialization in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
To choose the right specialization in clinical mental health counseling, be sure to do your research. Look at the curriculum for each specialization to see what courses you would take. Consider the type of work you’d do in that specialization, where you would work, and the type of clients you would work with.
Next, consider your interests, skills, values, and career goals. Perhaps you served in the military and you feel drawn to working with veterans. Maybe you’ve been affected by a family member’s substance-use disorder and you want to bring your life experiences to bear in a career in addiction counseling. Perhaps your heart goes out to people who’ve experienced earthquakes or hurricanes, and you want to work as a trauma and crisis counselor. Or maybe you want to combine your management experience with a counseling education and become a clinical supervisor. If you have a passion for a particular aspect of counseling, you can pursue it by choosing the right specialization.
If you’re unsure or if you’re interested in all aspects of counseling, you can choose the General Program. You can get the education to become a compassionate, competent counselor without selecting a specialization. As a licensed clinical mental health counselor, you may have the opportunity to work in a number of professional settings, including community mental health centers, private hospitals, correctional facilities, domestic violence centers, and more.1 Regardless of whether you choose the General Program or a specialization, Walden’s online graduate program will provide you with the tools for preventing, diagnosing, and treating mental health disorders.
As a counselor, you’ll be able to empower your clients to lead happier, more fulfilling lives. The MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program offered by Walden’s School of Counseling was developed to prepare you to qualify to sit for licensing exams and to meet the academic licensure requirements of many state counseling boards. You may wish to consider earning Walden’s MS Dual Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling. Upon successful graduation, you will have earned two degrees, each from a CACREP-accredited program, and you’ll be able to pursue licensure or certification as both a mental health counselor and a school counselor.
At Walden, an HLC-accredited university, you can earn your degree online while you continue to work full time. That means you can better maintain a work-life balance while you advance your skill set. With online learning, there’s no need to completely rearrange your schedule or commute to campus—you can take classes at whatever time of day works best for you as you earn your master’s degree and work toward the counseling career of your dreams.
Walden University is an accredited institution offering an MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program, as well as an array of other counseling degree programs and specializations online. Expand your career options and earn your degree in a convenient, flexible format that fits your busy life.
1Career options may require additional experience, training, or other factors beyond the successful completion of a degree program.
Note on Licensure
Walden University’s MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), which is a requirement for licensure in many states. The MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is designed to prepare graduates to qualify to sit for licensing exams and to meet the academic licensure requirements of many state counseling boards. Because no graduate program can guarantee licensure upon graduation, we encourage students to consult the appropriate agency to determine specific requirements. For more information about licensure, students should visit the National Board for Certified Counselors at www.nbcc.org/stateboard, the American Association of State Counseling Boards at www.aascb.org, and contact the appropriate licensing body. International students are encouraged to identify and contact their appropriate licensing body. Learn more about professional licensure.
Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, www.hlcommission.org