Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology

Clinical Mental Health Counseling, MA

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Overview

The Master of Arts in Counselor Education with a Clinical Mental Health Counseling concentration at Western Michigan University prepares you to support others while advancing your own professional goals. Designed for individuals committed to ethical practice, self-reflection, and meaningful service, the program integrates theory, research, and hands-on clinical training. You will develop the skills needed to work effectively with diverse populations while emphasizing cultural responsiveness, advocacy, and evidence-based counseling approaches.

Upon completion of the program, you will have fulfilled the academic requirements to apply for the Limited License Professional Counselor (LLPC) in Michigan. Graduates must submit an application for licensure and complete additional requirements, including a criminal background check. The LLPC credential allows graduates to begin practicing under supervision in a variety of mental health, community, and clinical settings, providing a strong foundation for long-term professional growth.

Meet Dwane

A master's student and veteran pursuing his passion for mental health.

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Attend an informational session!

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Learn more about the program by attending one of our virtual information sessions. These sessions offer the opportunity to meet with a faculty member—and occasionally a current student—to gain a deeper understanding of the program structure, coursework, and application process. Participants are encouraged to ask questions and engage in conversation about how the program can support their professional goals.

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Why apply?

Specialize and Stand Out
Offered through WMU’s Department of Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology, the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program allows you to specialize while gaining skills that make you highly marketable across a wide range of counseling and mental health fields.
Comprehensive, Career-Ready Curriculum
Coursework includes research methods, group dynamics, testing and assessment, counseling theories and techniques, ethics and professional issues, multicultural counseling, lifespan and career development, psychopathology, substance use and recovery-oriented systems of care, and foundations of clinical mental health counseling.
Preparation Across Disciplines
This master’s program goes beyond traditional training by preparing you to work effectively across disciplines, settings, and populations with confidence and adaptability.
Hands-On Clinical Experience
Build confidence and competence through supervised practicum and internship experiences that connect classroom learning to real-world counseling practice.
Commitment to Cultural Responsiveness
Develop the skills to work effectively with diverse populations while honoring identity, context, and lived experience.

Program of Study

The Clinical Mental Health Counseling 60-hour program trains students to appropriately assess clients so that the correct diagnosis can be made to ensure that the most effective evidence-based counseling intervention is selected to help clients reduce the impact of mental and emotional disorders. As reliable and valid assessments must first be used with clients to make the correct diagnosis and ensure that the most effective counseling intervention is selected, CMHC students are trained in many types of assessments by taking two assessment classes. Because students will work with diverse clients, students learn strategies for identifying and eliminating barriers, prejudices, and processes of intentional and unintentional oppression and discrimination. The program includes a 100-hour practicum and a 600-hour internship in a clinical mental health setting. This option leads to licensure as a professional counselor.

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Career opportunities

Graduates in this program will be prepared to work in a variety of professional counseling settings. The program meets the educational requirements for licensed professional settings including substance abuse, career counseling, multicultural affairs, and a variety of other traditional counseling settings.

Industry highlights

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of mental health counselors is projected to grow about 17% from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations.