What to Expect When Earning a Counseling Degree from Walden

If you’re thinking about becoming a counselor, the first step is to earn a counseling degree. You’ll want to find a program that fits your goals and lifestyle and that provides the education you need to fulfill your passion for helping others. Walden University’s PhD and master’s degree counseling programs are designed for working adults who want to make a meaningful difference, whether you’re preparing for licensure as a professional counselor or aiming to become a leader, educator, or supervisor in the counseling field.

Who Should Consider a Walden Counseling Degree?

A counseling degree from Walden is a strong fit if you are looking for these five factors:

1. A CACREP-accredited program. Walden’s MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, MS in School Counseling, MS Dual Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling, and PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision programs are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). This specialized accreditation ensures that your program meets rigorous professional standards. It’s a requirement for licensure in many states.
2. Practical, skills-based training. You’ll gain practical skills in a Walden counseling degree program through innovative learning experiences. Master’s students participate in supervised field experiences after completing key coursework. Doctoral students complete internships and practicums that prepare them for teaching and supervision.
3. Flexible online learning. Continue working full time while you earn your degree. Our programs are structured to fit your life, allowing you to pursue your graduate degree without putting your career or personal commitments on hold.
4. A variety of specializations to choose from. Every Walden counseling degree offers multiple specializations so that you can focus your learning on the area of counseling you wish to work in. Addiction Counseling; Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling; and Telehealth Counseling, Private Practice, and Supervision specializations are options for all Walden counseling degrees, with additional specializations available for specific counseling degrees.
5. A diverse, mission-driven learning community. Prepare to support individuals, families, and communities. Walden’s strong academic support team is there to champion your success, inspire your growth, and keep you on track through graduation.

What It’s Like: The Student Experience at Walden

Walden, an accredited university, provides a fulfilling learning experience built on connection, professional growth, and practical application. Walden students can expect: 

• Engaging online coursework. Courses are interactive and grounded in current counseling research and best practices.
• Faculty mentorship. Walden’s faculty are experienced counseling professionals committed to student development.
• Hands-on practice. Virtual simulations, skills labs, and field experiences help new counselors gain confidence before working with clients.
• A supportive community. Many students are balancing careers, families, and school and find encouragement from peers in similar situations with similar goals.
• An inclusive environment. Walden emphasizes social change, multicultural competency, and ethical practice across all programs.

Program by Program: What to Expect 

MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Walden’s MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling prepares you to support adults, families, and communities in a range of clinical settings. The CACREP-accredited program features:

• A curriculum designed to help you meet academic requirements for licensure as a professional counselor, such as an LPC or LMHC (state requirements vary).
• Coursework that builds skills in assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, crisis response, and multicultural counseling.
• Specialization options including Trauma and Crisis Counseling, Play Therapy, Forensic Counseling, Rehabilitation Counseling, and Military Families and Culture.
• Field experiences to help you prepare for professional practice, with the support of experienced faculty mentors.

MS in School Counseling

Walden’s MS in School Counseling is designed for people who want to support students’ well-being, academic growth, and social-emotional development. The CACREP-accredited program features: 

• A curriculum that is aligned with standards set by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) national model.
• Coursework that focuses on child and adolescent counseling, counseling techniques, lifespan development, group counseling in schools, career counseling, and multicultural counseling.
• A range of specializations to choose from, including Crisis and Trauma, Play Therapy, Rehabilitation Counseling, and Military Families and Culture.
• Preparation for real-world practice through virtual simulations as well as field experience.

MS Dual Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling

If you want the flexibility to work in both school and clinical settings, Walden’s CACREP-accredited MS Dual Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling program broadens your professional capabilities. This comprehensive program offers the flexibility to pursue licensure in both mental health and school counseling, priming you to maximize your impact and your career possibilities. The CACREP-accredited program features:

• Dedicated, doctorally prepared faculty who bring real-world expertise to every course, helping you build the knowledge and confidence needed to thrive in both mental health counselor and school counselor roles.
• Coursework in child and adolescent counseling, lifespan development, group process and dynamics, assessment in counseling and education, and psychopharmacology.
• A variety of specializations, including Military Families and Culture, Play Therapy, Crisis and Trauma, and Rehabilitation Counseling.
• Skills-based simulations woven throughout the curriculum, giving you regular opportunities to practice core counseling skills, reflect on your approach, explore alternative strategies, and receive meaningful faculty feedback.
• Field experiences including counseling internships and school counseling internships.

PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision

For counselors who want to teach, supervise, lead, or conduct research, Walden offers a CACREP-accredited online PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision. This is the preferred credential for those who want to teach in CACREP-accredited counseling degree programs. Walden’s program features:

• Coursework that helps you gain the skills to guide future counselors through advanced training in counseling theories, teaching, clinical supervision, research, leadership, ethics, and social justice.
• A range of specializations to choose from, including Addiction Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and School Counseling.
• Internship experiences that prepare you to train and supervise counselors.
• Dissertation support, faculty mentorship, and Walden’s Doctoral Degree Coach™, which helps support you by tracking your milestones as you earn your PhD.

Your Journey Begins Here

Earning a counseling degree from Walden means joining a community dedicated to expanding access to mental health services and empowering the next generation of counselors. Whether you choose a master’s program or pursue your PhD, you can expect rigorous training, a flexible online learning platform, personalized support, and a curriculum that prepares you to serve individuals and communities.

If you’re ready to turn your passion for helping others into life-changing impact, explore Walden University’s online counseling degree programs today. Discover how you can become a compassionate, changemaking counselor.

Walden University is an accredited institution offering MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, MS in School Counseling, MS Dual Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling, and PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision degree programs online. Expand your career options and earn your degree in a convenient, flexible format that fits your busy life.

Notes on Licensure

MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling: 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/stateboardmap, 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.

MS in School Counseling: The MS in School 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 may also be a requirement to become licensed or certified as a school counselor in some states. In addition, some states require school counselors to have an existing teaching license or certification, and teaching experience, in order to be eligible for a school counseling certification/license. Learn more about professional licensure.

Further, many states require school counseling programs to be approved in at least one state, either their own or another state. The MS in School Counseling program is approved by the states of Minnesota and Ohio, and while this approval is accepted by the majority of states which require state approval, it may not be accepted by all states.

Walden is not approved to offer the school counseling degree in Arkansas, Iowa, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New Mexico, or Tennessee, so if you reside in one of these states, you will not be eligible for the dual degree.

PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision: Walden University’s PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision 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).

The PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision is not a licensure program and does not prepare an individual to become a licensed counseling professional.

Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, www.hlcommission.org.