M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Application Deadlines

Spring: November 1
Cohorts are online only.

Fall: June 1
Cohorts are both online and on-campus.

Important Note: If admitted to an online program, you will be required to attend and successfully complete two on-campus, one-week residencies during the course of the program. These residencies are held in January and August.

Prerequisites

Master's applicants must:

• Hold a B.A. or B.S. from a regionally accredited college or university. Desirable degrees include those in counseling, psychology or related human behavioral fields. Other degree fields will also be considered.
• Have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA for all undergraduate coursework.

Admissions Requirements

Step 1: Apply to Regent University

Submit your application using the Regent University Online Application.

Note: If you are unable to complete our application due to a disability, please contact our Admissions Office at 757.352.4990 or admissions@regent.edu and an admissions representative will provide reasonable accommodations to assist you in completing the application.

Step 2: Submit Your Unofficial Transcripts

Submit your unofficial transcripts to regent.edu/items.

Upon submitting your application, you will receive an email requesting authorization for Regent University to obtain your official transcripts from your U.S. degree-granting institution. International transcripts must be evaluated by a NACES, AACRAO or NAFSA approved agency.

Step 3: Complete an Admissions Questionnaire

Please complete a brief admissions questionnaire based on your professional goals and interests. This should only take a few minutes to complete but please answer the questions completely and thoughtfully. This enables you to demonstrate your interest in the field of counseling. Once completed, it will be sent directly to an admissions counselor who will be in touch with you right away to help complete the rest of your application.

Step 4: Submit Your Resume

Submit a professional resume or curriculum vitae that highlights your professional experiences, any research or academic projects you have completed, and includes three references with contact information. References should be able to address questions related to character, as well as your interpersonal and relational skills. The resume should also include thorough job descriptions of each position held. Please upload your document to regent.edu/items.

Step 5: Submit Your Government-Issued ID

To ensure academic integrity, Regent University requires a copy of a government-issued ID. Please submit a scanned copy or photograph of it to regent.edu/items.

Step 6: Faculty Interview

Interviews for all licensure programs are by invitation only after review of the completed application. These required interviews are conducted online, and you must have both a webcam and microphone to participate. Your admissions counselor will provide information regarding interview days/times for you to register once your file is complete.

Applicants invited to the virtual interview should keep in mind that an interview does not assure admission. The School of Psychology & Counseling reserves the right to determine in its sole discretion whether a candidate is suitable for admission to the licensure program.

Please feel free to contact the Office of Admissions at 757.352.4990 or admissions@regent.edu should you have any further questions about the application process.

Note: All items submitted as part of the application process become the property of Regent University and cannot be returned.

*Rates are subject to change at any time.

The mission of the Counseling Department is to provide training in professional counseling, leadership, advocacy, and research with the integration of biblical principles consistent with professional standards of practice.

Goal A: Quality Curriculum

To deliver the high-quality education required by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).

Goal B: Faith Integration

To provide leadership in the integration of sound and ethical clinical practice, skills and techniques within the context of Biblically based values.

Goal C: Competent Students (Disaggregated by Program)

To graduate students who demonstrate proficient knowledge and skill in working with individuals and groups from a multicultural and pluralistic society in mental health service delivery modalities.

Goal D: Professional Dispositions

To graduate students who demonstrate professional dispositions consistent with the counseling profession.

Upcoming Residency Dates

Spring 2025:

• Residency A (On Campus) – Monday, January 6, 2025 - Friday, January 10, 2025. Residency A is scheduled for online students starting the M.A. Counseling Programs in Spring 2025.
• Residency B (On Campus) – Monday, January 6, 2025 - Friday, January 10, 2025. Residency B is for online students who started the M.A. Counseling Programs in the Spring of 2024.

Note: Pertinent residency and travel and lodging information will be emailed to students from the SPC Counseling Department after the Spring/Summer 2025 registration begins on Monday, September 30, 2024. Any questions regarding residency should be directed to Academic Services Manager, Linda Harrell at lindha5@regent.edu.

Online students in our master's counseling programs are required to participate in two week-long residencies from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (Eastern Time). Residency A provides networking and mentoring opportunities for students and facilitates discussion with faculty concerning relevant issues, course matriculation, licensure issues, and state/national exams. During Residency B, students will gain more intensive instruction in their specialty programs (Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Marriage, Couple & Family Counseling, and School Counseling.

During residency, students will begin a course that will be completed during the remainder of the fall semester. First-year students will receive an orientation to Regent and participate in sessions on graduate level writing and online learning technology. The School of Psychology & Counseling usually provides lunch and two breaks daily when courses are in session.

Students should consider the following residency costs: transportation, lodging, meals and textbooks purchased prior to residency. We discourage students from bringing their families during residency as the coursework is intensive and requires a considerable amount of study and preparation time, leaving no time for extracurricular activities.

Waiving of residency requirements will not be considered.

What is clinical mental health counseling?

Clinical mental health counseling involves solving problems faced by people, says the U.S. News & World Report. ¹ It includes diagnosing both emotional and mental disorders, and then helping individuals access required care by coordinating with psychiatrists and social workers.

“What I love most about the work that I do is just the opportunity to walk alongside with people,”² said Melanie Mosbarger, a mental health professional and graduate of Regent’s M.A. in Mental Health Counseling program, ’16. “We all have our journey and it’s hard to do this alone…You’re not alone. It’s important for us to build one another up while we’re sharing that testimony, because we’re all in this journey together,”² she added.

Clinical mental health counseling vs clinical psychology – what’s the difference?

Clinical psychology focuses more on cognitive testing and the assessment of neurological functions. Clinical psychologists hold doctoral degrees in the field, which may be a Ph.D. or a Psy.D. While a Ph.D. typically equips you to conduct research or teach, a Psy.D. concentrates on psychological services.

On the other hand, the fulcrum of clinical mental health counseling is counseling itself rather than cognitive assessments. Clinical mental health counselors typically hold a master’s degree and have completed an internship. ³ At Regent, you can be equipped for your career with courses on counseling skills, assessment techniques, addiction therapies, group counseling, multicultural counseling, and counseling and Christian thought. You can be prepared with the educational requirements for licensure in Virginia and in states with compatible requirements.

What does a clinical mental health counselor do?

The American Counseling Association estimates that licensed professional counselors (LPCs), also called licensed mental health counselors or licensed clinical professional counselors in some states, provide “mental health and substance abuse care to millions of Americans.”⁴

Clinical mental health counselors address mental health issues faced by individuals, help their families develop coping strategies, and build social awareness about the signs of such issues. Thus, they tackle the subject on multiple levels – individual, familial as well as social.

On the individual level, mental health counselors evaluate their clients’ mental health and treatment-readiness.³ They then build a treatment plan with the clients as well as their families. They empower individuals with skills that help to overcome problematic behaviors and work with them to identify roadblocks in their progress. Counselors are also trained to provide career counseling and lead groups and may refer clients to community resources for additional support.

As mental health issues affect not just individuals but also families, mental health counselors work with families to improve communication, solve family problems, and create healthy interactions between family members.

What can I do with a master’s in clinical mental health counseling?

A master’s in clinical mental health counseling and an internship would help you provide enhanced service as a mental health counselor. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “workers with psychology, clinical social work, mental health counseling, and similar master’s degrees can provide more services to their clients, such as private one-on-one counseling sessions, and they require less supervision than those with less education. Those interested should research their state’s educational requirements,” ³ it adds.

According to the American Counseling Association, licensed professional counselors diagnose and treat both mental and emotional disorders (including addictive disorders), use psychoeducational techniques aimed at preventing disorders, provide consultation, and research more effective treatments.⁴ Licensed clinical mental health counselors can pursue careers in private practice, community agencies, residential settings, or the VA. Graduates of Regent’s M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling program can also pursue careers as counselors at church counseling centers.

How can I become a licensed mental health counselor?

Dr. Jacqueline Smith, Chair of Regent University’s Counseling Department, Director of its clinical counseling programs, and a member of the CACREP Board of Directors, outlines the steps required by most states for counseling licensure:

1. Obtain a master’s degree in counseling. Ensure that the program:
   • Is accredited, either by a counseling-specific accrediting organization or by a regional graduate education accrediting body.
   • Involves 60 semester hours of graduate study, as required by most states.
   • Involves specific coursework required by the state.
   • Includes an internship.
2. Pass a comprehensive examination on counseling practice.
3. Gain the required hours of post-graduate supervised experience within a specified time period. Typically, states require individuals to accrue between 2,000 and 3,000 hours of supervised experience including a specific number of face-to-face supervision hours.

Regent’s 60-credit hour M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program provides the academic and supervised field experience necessary for someone seeking licensure to become a mental health counselor in Virginia as well as licensure in states which require licensure applicants’ to have counseling graduate degrees based on the CACREP model, even if full accreditation by CACREP is not required.

Is the master’s in mental health counseling online and accredited?

Yes! Regent offers the master’s in clinical mental health counseling program online as well as on campus, in Virginia Beach. So, you can select the option that works best for you. The program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).

“One thing that I really loved about Regent is that it opened up so many opportunities for further training and further education. I was able to partake in the trauma training courses and that really shaped a lot of where I was going and it led to why I even have this position, because out of that I was able to become a certified traumatologist,”² said alumna Melanie Mosbarger.

References

1. “Mental Health Counselor – Overview.” U.S. News & World Report.
2. “Melanie Mosbarger’s Regent Story.” Regent.edu
3. “Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors.” Occupational Outlook Handbook, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
4. “Who are Licensed Professional Counselors.” American Counseling Association.

Am I required to attend full time or may I go at my own pace?

Students may select from one of two progressions that allows them to take classes at a pace that works best for their own personal and professional schedules.

How many hours do you recommend a master’s student work per week?

Due to the number of hours you will be spending in and out of class studying, we suggest you work no more than 20 hours per week. There are a number of part-time graduate assistant positions available every semester at the university that allow for flexible schedules.

I didn’t major in psychology at the undergraduate level, what do I need to do to make up for this?

We do not require applicants to have majored in psychology at the undergraduate level. We do feel, however, that it is beneficial for applicants to have at least nine credit hours of psychology-related coursework. If you did not major or at least minor in psychology at the undergraduate level, you may want to consider taking additional undergraduate courses. Again, this is not a prerequisite for admission. Recommended courses include: Intro to Psychology, Research Methods/ Statistics, Personality Theory, Human Development, Abnormal Psychology, Psychological Test & Measurements, Social Psychology and Physiological Psychology.

How many applicants do you have each year and how many applicants are admitted?

Each year we admit and enroll about 60 students into the online Clinical Mental Health Counseling program and 20 in the Human Services Counseling program. Last year we received over 300 applications.

What is the average age of the students?

The average age of the entering class of master’s students in the online Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is 34. The average age of the entering class of the master’s students in the Human Services Counseling program is 40.

What is the path for licensure for graduates from your program?

Licensure is different in each state. However, the general standard for licensure is the completion of a 60 credit hour M.A. in Counseling with a major in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, School Counseling or Marriage, Couple & Family Counseling. Two years of supervision (post-degree) and a state licensure exam is what most states require to become licensed as a professional counselor or its equivalent. School Counseling licensure or certification is determined by the Board of Education in most states. (Usually, an M.A. in Counseling in School Counseling is sufficient.) Students should examine the requirements for licensure in the state or states they would like to practice in the future.

To review syllabi for specific courses offered within the Counseling Department please email the Academic Services Manager, Linda Harrell (lindha5@regent.edu).

• A.S. in Psychology
• B.S. in Psychology
• B.S. in Psychology – Clinical & Counseling Psychology
• M.A. in Human Services
• M.A. in Marriage, Couple & Family Counseling
• M.A. in Pastoral Counseling
• M.A. in School Counseling
• M.S. in Psychology
• Ph.D. in Counseling & Psychological Studies
• Ph.D. in Counselor Education & Supervision
• Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology