MS Clinical Mental Health Counseling

The Master of Science (M.S.) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is a specialty track within the Graduate Counseling program located at the Western Carolina University instructional site at Biltmore Park-Asheville. Upon completion of the degree, graduates are eligible for licensure as a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate (LCMHC-A). The Counseling program is nationally CACREP-accredited.

The M.S. in Mental Health Counseling is a 60-hour program that utilizes the traditional classroom setting along with practical experience. Some of the issues covered in the classroom include: professional orientation, human growth and development, cross-cultural counseling, ethical and legal issues, crisis intervention, assessments and diagnostics, and individual and group counseling, among others. Outside of the classroom, students will engage in 750 hours of hands-on learning during two field-placement experiences. 

The M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling prepares you to work in diverse settings such as mental health facilities, substance recovery centers, schools, community and four-year college counseling centers, non-profit organizations, private practice, and more. This important work gives you the opportunity to help individuals cope with or overcome various mental and emotional issues. The Counseling program is intentionally designed to give you the skills you need for employment you wish to pursue in the counseling field.