Clinical mental health counseling is an effective method of incorporating psychotherapy, practical problem resolution, and crisis management into a holistic system designed to support human dignity and generate positive outcomes in mental health treatment.
Becoming a counselor is a complex and emotional process. In addition to standard academic learning, counselor education involves a personal journey in which students bring their whole and authentic selves to the learning process. The Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree encourages students to explore their own learning and emotional journey through seeking their own personal counseling experience.
The Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling will prepare the student to excel as a mental health counselor in a variety of clinical settings, from educational, corporate, and healthcare institutions to local nonprofits, community agencies, and private practice. Our two year program will provide students with the face-to-face interaction and hands-on learning opportunities necessary to hone their counseling skills, while engaging with expert faculty, who are dedicated to their success. As a graduate of UNC Charlotte's counseling program, students can confidently and competently begin making a positive impact in the lives of individuals, couples, families, and their community as a clinical mental health counselor.
Our program is accredited by the Councils for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Professions (CACREP), which ensures the quality of our curriculum, the experience of our instructors, and the academic and experiential rigor of our program in preparing our students for their future professions.
From the first course, students will be trained to develop their cultural competency skills and learn to work with a diverse client population. This will enable future counselors to connect with and advocate for individuals from various religious, socioeconomic, ethnic, gender identity, sexual orientation, and racial backgrounds to provide the therapeutic and practical problem resolution counseling they need to lead healthier, happier lives.
Students can tailor their degree program to align with their interests by incorporating elective courses in areas such as: grief and loss counseling, crisis counseling, counseling and spirituality, counseling adolescents, play therapy, and many others. Students can even elect to perform an independent research study for course credit, under the guidance of a faculty member, in any relevant topic for which courses are not available. Students can also earn (if interested) a certificate in disciplines such as Play Therapy, Gerontology, and Addictions while completing their degree.
