Online MA in Counseling: Clinical Mental Health
Counseling Specialization
Promote Mental Health in a Variety of Clinical Settings
25% Career Growth1
LPC Licensure Preparation
No On-Campus Residencies
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- Duration 3.5 years
- Cost per Credit $981
- Credit Hours 60
Program Benefits
- Hands-on learning approach
- Prepare for licensure exams
- Internships and practicums provide real-world settings
- Fosters cultural competence to better serve the needs of diverse communities
Promote Change to Optimize Mental Health With a Master’s in Counseling
As you seek to better understand the clients you serve, an advanced degree in clinical mental health counseling can help you gain the insight you need to improve outcomes. Our Lady of the Lake University’s (OLLU) Master of Arts in Counseling degree prepares you for a career in the mental health field delivering the skills, techniques, and strategies to help you make a difference in the lives of others.
The hands-on experiences from practicums and internships will prepare you with real-world skills to make a difference among clients of all ages and cultures. A convenient online format and expert faculty for support will ensure your success as a student.
Representation Matters
As a designated Hispanic Serving Institution, OLLU has one of the highest percentages of Hispanic student enrollment in the nation and has been ranked as a Top 100 Producer of Graduate Degrees among minorities by Diverse Issues in Higher Education Magazine.
Our Master of Arts in Counseling program strives to cultivate a greater number of counselors who share the cultural identities of the diverse communities they serve.
Learn MoreCareer Outlook: Meet the Rising Need
Counselors in the areas of mental health, substance abuse and behavioral disorders can expect 22-percent career growth between 2018 and 2028.2 The top 10 percent of counselors with this focus earn an annual median salary of $72,990.2
When you complete this specialization, you will be prepared to work in a variety of settings, including public and private clinics, rehabilitation facilities and government agencies that support social services.
You will also be eligible to sit for the National Counselor’s Examination and the Texas Jurisprudence Examination and apply to become a Licensed Professional Counselor. If you live outside of Texas, be sure to review licensure requirements for your state.*
CAREERS IN COUNSELINGCurriculum: Foundational Theory Meets Hands-On Practice
Build a working familiarity with counseling roles and settings, etiology, nomenclature and service delivery modalities. Understand theory, principles, models and documentation formats. Plus, master the day-to-day realities of mental health practice, including intake interviews, evaluations, caseload management and assessment of treatment.
Online classwork is mostly asynchronous, allowing you to complete your studies on a schedule that best suits your life. This curriculum is designed to give you an education that meets the highest standards for the counseling profession.
Course Spotlight: COUN 8317 Interventions with Abnormal Behaviors
Review mental health service delivery modalities within the continuum of care and explore evidence-based strategies and interventions, including psychopharmacological approaches indicated in the treatment of mental disorders.
SEE ALL COURSESCourse Spotlight: COUN 8370 Couple and Family Counseling
Explore theoretical foundations and skill development for counseling couples and families while providing key concepts, techniques, strengths-based approaches, therapeutic process, and consultation skills with families and parents.
Available Specializations
Focus your counseling degree on the area you’re passionate about with one of three specializations.
Military Student Support
Our Lady of the Lake University is proud to support you as you balance your education with your personal and military service commitments. Our online programs offer the flexibility you need to conference with faculty members, study, and access course materials from wherever your busy life takes you. We also accept a variety of military education benefits to ensure the degree program you want is within reach.
Get SupportFrequently Asked Questions
If you have a question we don’t cover here, request more information or call 855-275-1082.
- the School Counseling concentration in 3.5 years
- the Clinical Mental Health Counseling and the Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling concentrations in 3–3.5 years.
Total tuition estimates are as follows and do not include the cost of books and fees:
- School Counseling specialization, $58,860
- Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling specializations, $58,860
Our program recognizes the importance and value of CACREP accreditation for counseling programs, their graduates and the counseling profession. In preparation for submitting our self-study to the CACREP Board, we are in the process of developing, modifying and evaluating our program to meet CACREP standards. We hope to submit our self-study to the CACREP Board soon which will then begin the review process of our program by CACREP. The review process is comprehensive and lengthy, and it could be a year or more after we submit our self-study before we know the results of our application and whether or not our program is eligible for CACREP accreditation.
Yes. You can choose from the Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling, and School Counseling specializations.
The program requires 600 hours of internship experience and 100 hours of practicum experience for all specializations.
*Students outside of Texas are responsible for knowing their specific state requirements for LPC licensure.
NOTE: Applicants seeking licensure are encouraged to review all applicable eligibility requirements related to the respective occupational license per the Texas occupations code HB 1508.
Sources:
- Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors : Occupational Outlook Handbook: : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (bls.gov).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (2019 September 4). Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors. Occupational Employment Statistics. Retrieved October 29, 2019, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/substance-abuse-behavioral-disorder-and-mental-health-counselors.htm.