M.S./Ed.S. in Mental Health Counseling

 

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The Mental Health Counseling Program is a 72 credit hour program that consists of 5 full semesters of academic coursework, practica, and internship (typically completed in two years). The program is fully accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), and graduates are eligible for licensure in Florida and other states as a mental health counselor. Graduates of the program practice in a variety of settings, including independent practice, community agencies, managed behavioral health care organizations, hospitals, the military, hospice care, employee assistance programs, student counseling centers, prisons, and substance abuse centers. The program emphasizes working with persons with the full range of mental health problems. Students are also exposed to prevention, early intervention and promoting wellness with normal populations.

Mental health counselors are highly skilled professionals who engage in a variety of services, including diagnosis and assessment, psychotherapy, treatment planning and utilization review, brief and solution-focused counseling, alcoholism and substance abuse treatment, consultation, prevention, and program evaluation. The majority of graduates find employment in the health care field soon after graduation. The outlook is very promising for mental health counselors nationwide. The U.S. is facing an increasing number of contemporary problems that will continue to require well-trained practitioners in the mental health field. To compare the mental health counseling profession with other counseling professions, visit the Occupational Outlook Handbook.