Online Master’s in Clinical Mental Health: Child and Adolescent Counseling Emphasis

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Overview

Prepare to Help Youth With Psychological, Emotional and Behavioral Issues

Children and adolescents can be susceptible to a wide range of psychological, emotional and behavioral issues.1 As a future clinical mental health counselor, you may decide to focus your practice on supporting the next generation by specializing in child and adolescent counseling.

Earn your Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with an Emphasis in Childhood and Adolescence Disorders at Grand Canyon University. You will have the opportunity to develop a strong foundation of knowledge and clinical skills that you can use to support children and young people at all developmental levels.

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Why GCU

Earn an MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Degree From GCU

Children and teens often experience problems that can affect their socioemotional health and behavioral patterns. Counseling can help those who are struggling with childhood and adolescence disorders, such as ADHD and eating disorders, and it can help those who may not have a diagnosable disorder but who are struggling all the same.1

When you become a child counselor, you can focus your practice on empowering kids and helping them cope with problems such as bullying and family dysfunction. At GCU, you can benefit from a broad curriculum that teaches you counseling theories and modalities suitable for children and teens. Your instructors will encourage you to develop strong communication skills and to explore ways of building rapport with your young clients.

All Clinical Mental Health Counseling Emphases

Marriage and Family Therapy
Christian Counseling
Trauma

Take Child and Adolescent Counseling Courses Online

GCU strives to accommodate the needs of our diverse student body. Working professionals can benefit from the convenience and flexibility that our online degree programs offer. You can earn your master’s in clinical mental health counseling online via our interactive e-learning platform, which enables you to connect with fellow learners and instructors and access your course material from anywhere. Our online learners enjoy the same quality instruction and comprehensive curriculum as our on-campus students.2


This Degree Is Offered Online

Coursework

Child and Adolescent Counseling Curriculum and Courses 

GCU’s clinical mental health child and adolescent counseling courses are offered by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. Explore psychological theories as they are applied specifically to children and adolescents. Areas of discussion include school and family life issues, child-parent relationships and developmental disorders.

Throughout this program, you will explore the following core topic areas:

  • The structure and dynamics of the family, including methods of family intervention and counseling
  • Children in families affected by domestic violence and abuse, including child abuse assessment and reporting
  • Theories of childhood and adolescent development
  • Assessments and treatments for young people affected by trauma, including parental substance abuse, family trauma and physical, mental, emotional and sexual abuse

Before graduating with your master’s in clinical mental health counseling, you are required to complete a practicum and two internships to gain hands-on supervised experience in a clinical setting.

Develop Skills in Child and Adolescent Counseling

Compassionate and ethical care is at the heart of a career in counseling those with childhood and adolescence disorders. When you work to become a child counselor with a focus in childhood and adolescent disorders at GCU, you will be encouraged to embrace traits such as empathy and servant leadership. GCU is a private Christian university with a focus on integrating spirituality, Christian ethics and the Christian worldview directly into the curriculum. You will have the opportunity to think critically, explore diverse perspectives and develop child and adolescent counseling skills as you progress through the program.

This master's degree focuses on developing the following competencies in counseling:

Clinical assessment

Diagnoses

Research methodologies

Trauma counseling

Treatment of childhood and adolescence disorders

Careers

Career Opportunities in the Field of Child and Adolescent Counseling

GCU’s MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with an Emphasis in Childhood and Adolescence Disorders meets the academic requirements for licensure in Arizona as a Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC) and a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). Requirements can vary from state to state. You are responsible for understanding the specific requirements for the state in which you plan to practice.

As a future mental health counselor who specializes in child and adolescent populations, you may work with clients who struggle with issues such as:

  • Homelessness
  • Childhood trauma
  • Bullying
  • Child abuse or neglect
  • Substance abuse disorders
  • Eating disorders

As a counselor who specializes in childhood and adolescence disorders, you can pursue work in a variety of settings, including:3

  • Hospitals and clinics
  • Private therapy practice
  • Social service agencies
  • Juvenile detention centers
  • Domestic violence and homeless shelters
  • Telehealth services
  • Schools
Accreditation

Accredited Clinical Mental Health Counseling Degree 

The courses in this program are designed to meet the academic requirements established by the National Board for Certified Counselors for the National Certified Counselor (NCC) credential, the Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CCMHC) credential and the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners. A master’s degree is a prerequisite for licensure in all 50 states.4

GCU is proud to be an institutionally accredited university by the Higher Learning Commission since 1968. This accreditation is a reflection of our mission to strive for academic excellence as we prepare students to tackle modern challenges in the workplace. The College of Humanities and Social Sciences shares the university’s commitment to upholding the principles and standards established by our accrediting bodies. 

Program Accreditation
University Accreditation
counselor listening to teen patients
FAQ

Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling FAQs

To learn more about child and adolescent counseling and educational opportunities at GCU, review our responses to commonly asked questions.

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Start Your Journey Today

Prepare to pursue a career to help empower children and adolescents to thrive. Fill out the form on this page to learn more about earning your master’s in clinical mental health counseling degree at GCU.

Apply Now

1 Cullinan, C. C., PhD. (2018, March). Nemours KidsHealth. Taking Your Child to a Therapist. Retrieved Dec. 8, 2023. 

2 COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 to 2022 may be atypical compared to prior years. Accordingly, data shown is effective September 2023, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors, retrieved on Dec. 8, 2023 

3 Online courses exclude programs with residencies and field experience.

4 Indeed. (2023, March 10). How To Become a Child Therapist. Indeed. Retrieved Dec. 8, 2023.

5 ACA. Licensure Requirements. American Counseling Association. Retrieved on Dec. 8, 2023.

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