Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Mental health counselors offer guidance to individuals, couples, families and groups who are dealing with issues that affect their mental health and well-being. Effective mental health counselors are as excellent of communicators as they are listeners. Possessing a strong compassion towards others allows a mental health counselor to form genuine connections with their clients. Through Grand View's program, you will further develop your understanding for client-counselor relationships and maintaining professional boundaries. With scientific evidence and research as your backing, you will be prepared to employ an informed approach to your practice.
Grand View University’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling graduate program provides a commitment to excellence and is devoted to training highly skilled counselors who are dedicated to serving the needs of individuals and their communities. The program prepares working professional students for fulfilling careers in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.
Our online, eight-week courses allow you to work around your schedule. Each week, you will be expected to review the course materials, participate in learning activities and complete required assignments. In addition to the course curriculum, you will be required to attend two in-person weekend residencies at Grand View University. Both on-campus and online classes are led by faculty who are practitioners, leaders and researchers in the field of counseling and whose work is prominent in the field.
Graduates prepare for licensure in Iowa as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) and licensure in other states with appropriate consultation and adjustment to the curriculum.
Grand View University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), a regional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Why Grand View?
- No GRE required.
- Students are able to transfer up to 12 credit hours of equivalent graduate work from regionally accredited schools. (B or better).
- 60 credit hour program.
- Spring and Fall cohorts.
- The MS in CMHC is designed to prepare graduates to qualify to sit for licensing exams and to meet the academic licensure requirements of many state counseling boards. (Although it is the individual’s responsibility to understand and comply with all state licensure requirements.)
- Online with two in-person weekend residencies; coursework involves substantial student-to-student and faculty-to-student engagement and interaction.
- Internships and practicums can be completed in your geographical area. The program entails substantial internship hours, per licensing requirements, to build counseling skills.
Admission and Program Requirements |
Admission Requirements
Application to the CHMC program and meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission. Admissions decisions for complete files will be done on January 15 for fall start. Any remaining completed applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis thereafter and placed on a waitlist until there is an opening in the fall class.
- A baccalaureate degree or a degree completion plan that meets the requirements of the program.
- Cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or greater (based on all hours attempted), or a GPA of 2.75 or higher in the last 60 hours of undergraduate studies.
- Complete the application for admission.
Submit the following:
- Personal Statement and Essay for following prompts:
The following essays should be typed and double-spaced.
Part I: Autobiographical Essay (750 words or less)
Describe your motivation and commitment to the counseling program at Grand View University. Include specific assets that you would bring to the University and the profession, as well as areas in which you would most like to grow academically and professionally. Identify your short and long term goals as a professional counselor.
Part II: Personal Reflection Essay (500 words or less)
The Professional Code of Ethics requires that counselors do not condone or engage in discrimination against individuals based on age, disability, ethnicity, race, religion, spirituality, gender, socio-economic, etc. Furthermore, counselors are aware of—and avoid imposing—their own values, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors. With these ethical expectations in mind, how will you begin the process of reflecting on and addressing any personal attitudes, beliefs, assumptions, or feelings that may prevent you from working with a client who has a different identity or a social status than your own?
- 2 Letters of Recommendation (either academic or professional).
- Professional Resume.
- Official transcript from Baccalaureate granting institution.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
The following requirements will be met after acceptance but prior to the start of classes:
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Course Requirements |
This is an online program with two in-person weekend residencies.
Requirements (60 credits)
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Professional Counseling Orientation
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3 credits |
Counseling Diverse Populations |
3 credits |
Human Growth & Development |
3 credits |
Career Counseling |
3 credits |
Counseling and Helping Relationships |
3 credits |
Group Counseling |
3 credits |
Assessment and Psychological Testing |
3 credits |
Diagnosis & Treatment Planning |
3 credits |
Research and Program Evaluation |
3 credits |
Psychopathology |
3 credits |
Counseling Theories |
3 credits |
Marriage/Couple and Family Therapy* |
3 credits |
Professional Ethics |
3 credits |
Addictions |
3 credits |
Crisis Intervention |
3 credits |
Introduction to Play Therapy and Techniques* |
3 credits |
Psychopharmacology |
3 credits |
Counseling Children and Adolescents* |
3 credits |
Counseling Practicum |
3 credits |
Internship I |
3 credits |
Internship II |
3 credits |
*Elective: Students must complete 2 of the 3 elective courses in order to fulfill the 60 credit hour program requirement.
View Course List
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