Jobs for masters in clinical mental health counseling

Prepare for a Wide Range of Licensed Counseling Careers

• 22% job growth1
• 77,500 new jobs through 20311

As more people recognize the benefits of counseling and mental health services, employment in the field is on the rise – in fact, job outlook for mental health practitioners is growing much faster than the national average for all occupations. Community organizations, government agencies, and even the criminal justice system rely on trained mental health professionals to provide treatment and counseling programs for diverse populations.

The University of New Haven’s online M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program prepares you to advance your career as a Licensed Professional Counselor or National Certified Counselor in a variety of settings.* A concentration in forensic mental health gives you the opportunity to specialize your skills for an in-demand practice area.

Mental Health Clinician

$50,932/YEAR2

Mental health clinicians work with individuals or groups to treat and diagnose mental health conditions. They evaluate patients, guide them through counseling sessions, and assess progress over time. Mental health clinicians might work in hospitals, inpatient and outpatient facilities, or community agencies.

Substance Abuse Counselor

$48,520/YEAR1

Substance abuse counselors, also known as addiction counselors, serve clients with addiction in crisis or recovery contexts. They help them develop strategies to cope with substance abuse and receive the treatment they need. In many cases, these counseling professionals coordinate with psychologists, psychiatrists, or social workers to develop effective treatment plans.

Additional clinical mental health counseling jobs:

• Forensic psychologist
• Marriage and family therapist
• School or career counselor
• Social and community service manager

Request More Information

Our team of experts is here to answer your questions and provide additional details about online program offerings, financial aid, and more. Submit this form and we’ll contact you as soon as possible.

Program Outcomes: Become a Qualified Counseling Professional

When you complete the online M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program, you will be able to:

• Pursue clinical mental health counseling jobs in human services, counseling, and related fields.
• Pursue doctoral study.
• *Meet qualifications for certification as a Licensed Professional Counselor.
• Demonstrate competence in all eight core domains of counseling, as well as the concentration of clinical mental health counseling.
• Synthesize major theoretical concepts in the core counseling curriculum and your concentration area with fieldwork experience.
• Demonstrate, at a professional level, applied intervention skills.

Concentration Options

The forensic mental health concentration prepares students for counseling specifically focused on offenders or victims in forensic settings. You will learn how criminal justice relates to professional counseling through coursework in forensic assessment, abnormal psychology, law, and more.

Career Support

Our nationally-recognized Career Development Center can support you during your program and help you find a job after graduation.

Contact us at 203.479.4858 to learn more.

Career Development Center

Through interview prep, salary negotiation tips, and more, we’ll prepare you for the next step in your career.

Alumni Network

Access our active global network of more than 60,000 alumni to make meaningful professional connections.

One-on-One Support

Our dedicated faculty are committed to your success and provide the personal attention you need to thrive professionally and academically.

Assessments

Explore your strengths and make informed career decisions with the Focus 2 assessment tool.

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December 10, 2021

By Alaina Dunn, Assistant Vice President of Admissions, Palo Alto University

Earn Your Graduate Degree in-Person or Online

MA in Counseling Admissions Deadline Spring Start: March 5, 2023

Earning your Master of Arts in Counseling opens a wide range of career possibilities for a rewarding career. Each of our two master’s degree tracks – Clinical Mental Health and Marriage, Family, and Child – offers integrated training and nuanced skills, with a focus on cultural consciousness, personal reflection, and service to a vibrant, diverse client population.

Palo Alto University is one of just eight California higher education institutions with a Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Program (CACREP) accredited Master of Arts in Counseling program.

Counseling careers are in high demand – the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects mental health counseling job growth to expand by 25% over the next decade. And our graduates are incredibly successful, with licensure exam passage rights much higher than the California state average.

Career Avenues

For a Master’s in Counseling are broader than the counseling path.

For example, I have a Master’s in Counseling and a Master’s in Education, and I am an AVP of Admissions here at PAU. I love working with people, but clinical counseling just wasn't for me.

Training & Curriculum

PAU offers high-quality training that is flexible and more personalized than the other master's level degrees. Counseling is not a skill set you can learn by reading a book. You won't sit through one-dimensional lectures and "engage" through lengthy essays at PAU. Our courses go beyond theory, teaching real clinical interpersonal skills.

Whether on-campus or online via Zoom, students engage in our "flipped classroom" approach to instruction. Learners watch videos, read lessons, and write papers prior to class. During class time, you'll participate in interactive, small-group learning experiences through breakout sessions or Zoom Rooms.

Learn How to Apply

Together with your peers and the support of your instructor and teaching assistant, you'll engage in discussions and clinical role-plays, challenging each other, and exploring ways to expand your skills.

Our curriculum meets very high CACREP standards. We provide students with the highest level of educational experiences, as well as tools to excel on certification and licensure exams. For example, PAU graduates' pass rate for the California Board of Behavioral Sciences LMFT licensure exam is 20% higher than the state's average, and our PCC rates are 9% higher.

The MA in Counseling curriculum includes:

• 93 quarter credits required for degree completion
• 700 hours of counseling-related experience
• A minimum of 100 practicum hours
• Two 300-hour internships
• Degrees from CACREP programs are easily transferred from state to state for licensure programs. As a result, our program has drawn an increasing number of dedicated learners annually for the last seven years.

Upon graduation, you will be prepared to take the Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) and/or Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) examinations for licensure and certification in California or another state if you meet its educational qualifications. If you need more hours or coursework, we will help you achieve your goals. Learn more.

Visit our MA in Counseling Admissions Page to Learn More.

8 In-Demand Careers

Most students choose to enter the workforce straightaway after obtaining their MA in Counseling – the majority of counseling-related positions do not require a doctorate. With your MA, you'll find a number of fulfilling careers, depending on your chosen track. 

• Administrator: Admissions, business offices, clinical practices – you name it.
• Advocate: Give patients and underserved individuals a voice in challenges related to social inequities, cultural discrimination, and mental health-related injustices.
• Agency-based Counselor: Help clients manage personal or relationship challenges, including issues related to substance use.
• Clinical Counselor: See patients from all walks of life in a variety of clinical settings.
• College Campus Counselor: Help students, faculty, and staff navigate pressing and emerging challenges of daily life through the lens of higher education. 
• Educator: Give the gift of education with your learned and natural counseling skills.
• Mobile Crisis Clinician: Go to the people and areas that need your skills most, right now.
• Researcher: Explore best practices and how to improve standards of care.

• Agency or Private Practice
• Career and Guidance Counseling
• Health Maintenance Organizations
• Nonprofits
• Rehabilitation Facilities 
• Religious Organizations
• School Systems
• Social Services

Request more information to explore the benefits of a graduate degree from PAU or complete our online application today.

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