What are mental health counselors?
Mental health counselors provide treatment to individuals, families, couples, children, and groups. They treat clients with a variety of conditions, including anxiety, depression, grief, low self-esteem, stress and suicidal impulses. They also help with mental and emotional health issues and relationship problems.
In the UWS Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) program, students will learn the basic principles of trauma-informed care, including safety, trustworthiness, transparency, support, mutuality, empowerment, and awareness of cultural impact. Our online CMHC program includes a master’s degree and a graduate certificate program. Sports and performance psychology students can specialize in CMHC when earning their doctoral degree. The Ed.D. program is a hybrid format, meaning it is online with in-person requirements.
About the Clinical Mental Health Counseling online program
The 100% online Master of Science in clinical mental health counseling program, which can be taken independently or as a specialization in our Doctor of Education (EdD) in Sport and Performance Psychology program, emphasizes a systems-based approach in which students consider the influence of families, groups, teams, and organizations on individual mental health and performance. CMHC courses utilize mental health-trained actors who portray clients as part of a unique standardized patient program prior to clinical coursework.
The clinical mental health counseling master’s program, part of the college of graduate studies, supports the mission of UWS with its focus on holistic wellness – the importance of functional improvement of the emotional, physical, social, spiritual, and intellectual components of the self. Our CMHC degree is infused with course content that emphasizes curiosity about methods of treatment that trains students to properly refer to several types of providers and utilizes scientific information to support the value of the holistic approach.
Mission
To educate and prepare the next generation of professional counselors and leaders who, through commitment, excellence, and engagement, will have a meaningful and sustained impact in their communities. Such impact is accomplished by actively and diligently affirming the dignity and self-worth of all persons.
Accreditation
The Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at the University of Western States is accredited by the Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC) for the period of March, 2025 through March, 2033.
Master of Science (MS)
- You want a counselor license.
- You want to apply for clinical licensure in your state.
- You want to start working as a professional counselor within two or three years.
- You want to want to learn to assess, diagnose, plan treatment and treat mental health disorders.
FAST FACTS
| PROGRAM | Master of Science | |||
| FORMAT | Online | |||
| LENGTH | 8-12 quarters (2-3 years) | |||
| CREDITS | 90 quarter (60 semester) | |||
| ENTRY TERM | April and October | |||
| TUITION | $663 per credit hour |
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)
- You want a counselor license.
- You want to apply for clinical licensure in your state.
- AND, you are interested in a degree that allows you to earn a master’s and doctorate in a shorter timeframe than you could earn them separately.
- AND, you are interested in a degree that prepares you for multiple income streams as a sport and performance consultant, clinical counselor, educator, athletic director or sport program administrator.
- AND, you are currently working in the field of sport and performance as an athletic trainer, consultant, coach, administrator or think you might want to teach or work in an administrative capacity in a mental health agency and need a clinical license.
- You may be interested in CMPC® (clinical mental performance consultant) certification.
FAST FACTS
| PROGRAM | Ed.D.-SPP, CMHC Specialization | |||
| FORMAT | Online blended | |||
| LENGTH | 16 quarters (4-5 years) | |||
| CREDITS | 148 quarter | |||
| ENTRY TERM | April and October | |||
| TUITION | $793 per credit hour |
Graduate Certificate
- You already hold a professional license in counseling or other applied mental health degree
- You want to take the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Exam
- You want to deepen your understanding of rehabilitation counseling
FAST FACTS
| PROGRAM |
Graduate Certificate |
|||
| FORMAT | Online | |||
| LENGTH | 4 quarters (1 year) | |||
| CREDITS | 30 quarter | |||
| ENTRY TERM | April, October, and January | |||
| TUITION | $663 per credit hour |
UWS and the CMHC program honor and value the dimensions of diversity that each community member brings – both seen and unseen. These dimensions of diversity include race/ethnicity, culture, gender, gender expression and identity, age, class, sexual orientation, nationality, religion, ability, and more. Our goal is for faculty, staff, and students to represent our increasingly diverse society so that individuals feel a sense of belonging, and have equitable opportunities to advance professionally. As a program, we focus on understanding equity gaps and attending thoughtfully to diversity, equity, and inclusion in all our practices – including hiring and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Graduate Degree
Q: What are the admissions requirements for the master’s of clinical mental health counseling program?
A: To be admitted into the UWS clinical mental health counseling online programs, prospective students must have a bachelor’s degree (or foreign equivalent). Because this is an online program, students must also have access to a reliable computer and internet access. For further information about the UWS admissions requirements, please visit our admissions information page.
Q: Can I dual major with a Doctor of Education in Sport and Performance Psychology and a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling?
A: Yes! You can work towards your Ed.D. in Sport and Performance Psychology by specializing in your clinical mental health counseling master’s program.
Q: Is the CMHC master’s program fully online?
A: University of Western States only offers an online master’s CMHC degree in addition to face-to-face internship requirements.
Q: Does the online clinical mental health counseling program prepare students for the counselor exam?
A: Yes, the Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling curriculum prepares graduates to sit for the National Counselor Examination and the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination. All students are required to determine which test is needed to meet their licensure requirements for the state in which they wish to practice.
Q: Does the CMHC program accept international students?
A: No. While UWS welcomes international students into many of its academic programs, the clinical mental health counseling master’s program cannot admit students who reside outside the United States. This program is designed to prepare students for counseling licensure within the U.S., and UWS cannot guarantee that it meets international licensure requirements.
Q: Can I use my VA benefits for the online CMHC program?
A: Yes, if you are a veteran, active military personnel, in the Reserves, or a National Guard member, you may be eligible to apply your Veterans Benefits to the clinical mental health online programs.
Q: Can I transfer into the online CMHC master’s program?
A: Yes, if you are transferring from another school, whether it is in the United States or a different country, your application will be considered for the online CMHC program.
Q: What is the difference between counseling and psychology?
A: Counseling assesses and diagnoses common stressors or triggers in patients, and clinical psychology is the assessment and diagnosis of advanced psychological conditions with the application of personalized treatment plans.
To become a counselor, you must earn a master’s degree, as a clinical psychologist must earn a doctoral degree. Both professionals must obtain professional licensure.