A master’s in clinical mental health counseling can prepare you to take the respective state licensure exam, provided you meet all other requirements for the state in which you plan to practice.^{(See disclaimer 1 )}Within the mental health counseling field, there are a variety of emphasis areas you may be interested in, such as Christian mental health counseling.

If you feel called to serve others who need support navigating life’s difficulties, mental health counseling may be an ideal career path for you. Becoming a counselor can be a rewarding role, as it may enable you to make a positive impact on the lives of others. By empowering your clients to live their lives with purpose, you can fulfill yours.

Professional counseling is a way to guide others through challenging emotions, life circumstances and the effects of unbalanced mental health. A professional counselor works collaboratively with a client to identify obstacles, develop goals and work toward personal growth.

Counselors aim to support a client’s socioemotional and mental health, and overall well-being by providing a safe, non-judgmental space to discuss concerns. They may help their clients with:

• Learning coping skills for stress and anger
• Working through grief and loss
• Navigating major life events, such as job loss, relocation or divorce
• Improving interpersonal relationships
• Working toward addiction recovery
• Managing the symptoms of anxiety, depression or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

Mental health counselors may also meet with clients’ family members to help them understand what their loved one is going through and how best to support them at home. They may facilitate individual, couple, family or group counseling sessions.

Clinical Mental Health Counseling vs. Mental Health Counseling

These two terms are commonly used interchangeably and are comparable in several ways. However, there are some subtle differences including, clinical mental health counseling requires completion of a graduate degree, supervised field experience and state licensure. In contrast, mental health counseling may be used more broadly and can apply to professionals who are not licensed as clinical counselors. 

Before deciding to enroll in a master’s in clinical mental health counseling degree, exploring a wide variety of mental health careers is beneficial. 

Mental Health Counselors

A mental health counselor is also known professionally as a licensed professional counselor (LPC). After earning a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling, you must pass the state licensure exam and complete all other requirements in your state to become an LPC.

An LPC can deliver counseling services to individuals, families, and groups of clients. Some of their responsibilities include administering intake assessments, discharge planning, offering referrals and additional resources.

An LPC can provide a broad range of therapy interventions, including:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)
• Interpersonal therapy (IPT)
• Mindfulness activities
• Family systems therapy

Christian Mental Health Counselor

Faith can play a significant role in a client’s well-being. Some individuals may prefer to speak with a counselor who integrates faith within counseling. A Christian mental health counselor is an LPC who provides counseling services grounded in faith practices.

These professionals may provide the same range of therapies as other LPCs, but with an eye toward nurturing spiritual well-being using biblical teachings. A Christian mental health counselor offers a Christian perspective when helping their clients navigate difficult life circumstances.

Many counselors work with diverse client populations. Their clients may experience the effects of substance use, trauma and divorce. Counselors may choose to specialize in one or several specified areas in the field.

The emphases offered by GCU’s Clinical Mental Health program include the following:

Trauma Counseling

Trauma emphasis is a largely impactful area of counseling that addresses a wide range of emotional and mental needs. Trauma-focused therapy, helps individuals come to terms with adverse experiences, such as child abuse, combat, assault, sexual and domestic violence, life-threatening medical diagnoses and other life-changing experiences. Whether someone has personally experienced trauma or has witnessed it happening to others, trauma can have long-term effects on mental health. 

Counselors who provide trauma therapy may work with those who have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or another type of trauma disorder. Some interventions specific to trauma include narrative exposure therapy (NET), CBT and EMDR.

Marriage and Family Counseling

Aspiring counselors might decide to earn a counseling degree with a marriage and family therapy emphasis. This area of specialization explores strengthening interpersonal relationships to overcome familial conflicts such as poor communication and frequent arguments. It focuses on problem-solving and healthy family dynamics. 

Child and Adolescent Counseling

Learning to cope as a child or a teenager is difficult. They are exposed to family dysfunction, bullying, poor self-esteem and additional plights. Counselors who focus on child and adolescent counseling must develop a strong rapport and a trusting relationship with their young clients, and they must create a safe space for coping with strong emotions. 

Through counseling, children and adolescents can learn coping skills and life skills. Counselors may work collaboratively with families and schools to help their clients thrive across different environments.

The requirements to become a clinical mental health counselor vary from state to state. It is important to check the requirements specific to the state in which you plan to work. Generally, future counselors can expect to need a master’s degree in counseling, as well as supervised field experience hours, and a passing score on the state licensure exam.^{(See disclaimer 1)}

Grand Canyon University welcomes future counselors who are eager to help others overcome trials and lead more fulfilling lives. At our private Christian university, there are several clinical mental health counseling programs to choose from, including the Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with an Emphasis in Christian Counseling degree.

The courses in GCU’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling programs are designed to meet the academic requirements of the National Board for Certified Counselors and Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners. Upon graduation, you may be prepared to take the licensure exam. Candidates may also need to fulfill other state requirements to become a licensed counselor.^{(See disclaimer 1)}

With online and evening classes available, GCU strives to make graduate education more flexible and accessible to future mental healthcare professionals. Fill out the form on this page to connect with a university counselor today and explore the wide variety of clinical mental health counseling programs available.