undergraduate
Mental health counseling
Best schools with mental health counseling
What is a mental health counseling major?
Mental health counseling programs prepare individuals to provide evaluations, referrals, and short-term counseling services to help people prevent or remediate personal problems, conflicts, and emotional crises. Concentrations include human development, psychopathology, individual and group counseling, personality theory, career assessment, patient screening and referral, observation and testing techniques, interviewing skills, professional standards and ethics, and applicable laws and regulations.
of students said a highlight of this major was the exposure to diverse perspectives.
of students found this major to be difficult.
of students said they were motivated to select this major because it fit their passion & interest.
of students and alumni plan on being or are currently employed in an occupation related to this major.
How much do mental health counseling majors make?
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This data isn't currently reported, but we're working on it!
How popular is mental health counseling as a major?
Each year, around 25 students obtain a bachelor’s degree and around 100 students obtain an associate degree in mental health counseling. In 2021, 33 students received a bachelor's degree and 81 students received an associate degree. This is 12% fewer mental health counseling majors than there were in 2020. Mental health counseling is a relatively uncommon major within health professions.
Advice from mental health counseling majors
Share your experienceBe open to perspectives and understanding that not everyone is the same and you will thrive if you listen and meet clients where they are.
Stay ahead that way you don’t fall behind on assignments. Also appreciate everything you have the opportunity to learn.
For students pursuing a major in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, I would advise you to carefully consider if this is the profession you are truly passionate about. This field demands a high level of commitment and dedication to the goal of helping others. Be prepared for extensive reading, active participation in discussions with both peers and professors and dedicated study time. Additionally, I recommend giving your best effort in all aspects of your coursework and practical experience. Embrace constructive criticism and view it as an opportunity to learn and grow from your mistakes. In this challenging but rewarding field, your commitment, resilience, and willingness to continually improve will be essential to your success.
Don’t give up. It’s worth all the hard work and time.
Mental Health Counseling is a very rewarding field. Not only do you get to help others improve their overall wellbeing, but you get the satisfaction of knowing that your extensive knowledge of the field helps others live more meaningful lives. It’s also fun to be able to evaluate yourself and those around you, as taking the time to get to know yourself better can help you become an even better counselor. Just be ready to do a lot of reading and research, as this field focuses on case studies and extensive papers. If psychology fascinates you, and you have the empathy, compassion, and listening skills of a great counselor, then this field is right for you!