Masters of counseling online programs

Since the program is designed to help students obtain mental health licensure, the practicum and internship must be at a program approved site located within the United States. The counseling faculty are national leaders in their respective areas of research. Counseling faculty are also involved at the state and national levels regarding clinical mental health counseling issues.

They are counselor-scholar-advocates who bring a wealth of experience to the online classroom. By using our website, you agree to our cookie policy. Safe Start Health Check. See a full list of our Review Network contributors. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.

Through proper assessment, diagnosis, and treatment, counselors provide insight and support for people struggling with relationships, mental health disorders, addictions, career choices, and other challenges.

Pursuing a master's in counseling online leads graduates to fulfilling careers as counselors in the fields of marriage and family, substance addiction, mental health, and career guidance.

The growing acceptance of counseling as a form of healing and personal advancement has led to employment growth that far exceeds the national average. Our master's in counseling program guide offers a comprehensive look into career opportunities, how to choose a program, and admission requirements.

An online master's in counseling prepares graduates to help a diverse group of people in a variety of settings, including hospitals, schools, and private practice. Succeeding in this career requires empathy, patience, and strong interpersonal and communication skills. Most online master's degrees in counseling require 60 credits and take years to complete.

Practica and internships provide the experience required for state-specific and occupation-specific licensure. While progressing through their program, students will acquire some level of training for a multitude of counseling subjects, such as addiction counseling and mental health counseling, regardless of the specialization chosen.

Students should still pursue programs that align with their area of interests and should consider specializations when choosing a program.

Some schools offer the following specializations in counseling:. This specialization provides students with the skills required to evaluate and treat individuals with addictions. This concentration prepares students for a career as a licensed professional clinical counselor or marriage and family therapist. This concentration teaches students about the impact, prevention, and treatment of traumatic stress. This specialization focuses on faith-based fundamentals and prepares students to work in Christian ministries or churches.

An online master's in counseling program builds upon a student's undergraduate education, focusing on advanced skills. While coursework varies, most programs include core courses in assessment and testing, group counseling, ethical practice, and cultural diversity. The following section delves into typical classes in an online master's in counseling program. This course covers group dynamics and counseling techniques specific to small groups.

Lessons explore how to engage group members and evaluate relationships within a group setting. Additional topics include the stages of group therapy and how to evaluate the effectiveness of group counseling. Students learn the skills and theories needed to evaluate and counsel people from diverse populations. Covered topics include social identification, ethnicity, gender roles, and advocacy.

Degree-seekers also learn about their role in promoting social justice. This course focuses on the legal and ethical issues specific to counseling practices. Coursework covers topics such as confidentiality and malpractice.

Students investigate state-specific licensure standards and professional organizations. Degree-seekers learn the impact of trauma and crisis intervention procedures. Covered topics include assessing and preventing suicide risk, and a counselor's role in an emergency management response team. This course provides an overview of counseling practices for alcohol and drug addiction.

Covered topics include step facilitation and other models of recovery, at-risk populations, and available community resources. Learners also analyze the history, philosophy, and clinical practice theories of marital and family therapy and examine the fundamental therapeutic concepts and skills needed to work with couples and families. Must be taken during the first quarter by learners who have been admitted to the MS in Marriage and Family Therapy degree program and the Systemic Couple and Family Therapy graduate certificate.

Cannot be fulfilled by transfer. Learners in this course examine the ethical and legal responsibilities framing marriage and family therapy and apply the criteria for state licensure. This course is a comparative study of the prominent schools of thought within the field of marriage and family therapy.