What Can You Do with a Degree in Counseling Psychology?
Mental health has become a focal point of conversation as many Americans struggle with anxiety and depression. A 2023 survey of psychologists found that 41% of respondents experienced an increase in treatment duration amongst their patients. This survey also found that 52% of psychologists witnessed increased severity in patient symptoms over the previous year.
Mental health counselors help patients experience healthy and fulfilling lives through diagnosis and treatment. Communities across the country are experiencing mental health care professional shortages, thus creating openings for the next generation of practitioners. Aspiring counselors can serve communities in need by pursuing mental health counseling careers.
The Impacts of Mental Health Counseling
Millions of Americans seek counseling each year because they need expert guidance through mental health problems. Each treated patient contributes to a better life for that person, their loved ones, and their community. Licensed mental health counselors can make major impacts with their extensive diagnostic knowledge.
Counselors rely on talk therapy to identify the sources of patient distress and challenges. They lead mindfulness exercises, use exposure therapy, and provide coping mechanisms for stressful situations. Mental health practitioners also work with specialists and medical providers on multi-faceted approaches to serious mental health conditions.
Work Environments
The National Mental Health Services Survey identified 12,595 public and private facilities in 2020. Mental health counselors work in various environments to diagnose and treat psychological challenges. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) identified the most common practice areas including:
- Outpatient mental health and substance abuse centers (18%)
- Individual and family services (15%)
- Health practitioner offices (12%)
- State, local, and private hospitals (9%)
- Residential mental health and substance abuse facilities (9%)
Counselors may work for government agencies, school districts, and other public employers. Non-profit service providers and other private-sector organizations also need mental health counselors. There are also opportunities to work with patients in private practices run independently or with other counselors.
Mental Health Needs
No matter the setting, counselors encounter diverse patient needs in their daily work. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) estimated that 57.8 million adults and 7.7 million kids aged 6 to 17 experienced mental health problems in 2021. Counselors improve patient lives and communities by:
- Assisting the 19.7% of U.S. military veterans who experience mental health problems
- Helping the 21.1% of unhoused patients with serious mental health conditions
- Reducing the 40% higher risk of cardiovascular disease in people with depression
The most common problems treated by counselors in 2021 were anxiety disorders, major depressive episodes, and post-traumatic stress disorder. NAMI found that 7.6% of adults were diagnosed with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. Counselors also help patients with relationship challenges, smoking cessation, and uncertainties about major life decisions.
Outlook for Mental Health Counselor Careers
Research by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) found that 165 million Americans lived in Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs). These areas need more primary care, dental, and mental health practitioners to meet resident demands. HPSAs span many environments from densely populated cities to rural counties. KFF concluded that 8,326 new mental health practitioners were needed for adequate care.
A shortage of mental health counselors means a promising job market for new graduates. The BLS projected an 18% growth in counseling jobs between 2022 and 2032. This estimate means that 71,500 new counselors will join the workforce during that time with even more required to eliminate HPSA designations.
Steps to a Mental Health Counselor Career
A mental health counseling career may be right for you if you want to help and connect with people who are struggling. Aspiring mental health counselors should have clear views of becoming counselors before taking the first steps. There are three requirements to be met before you can work in counseling roles.
Education
A master’s degree in counseling psychology or a comparable discipline is required in most states. Graduate counseling programs prepare counselors through advanced lessons in clinical skills and hundreds of clinical hours. Applicants should search for competency-based programs accredited by the Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC).
The National Counselor Examination (NCE)
Graduates of counseling programs need to complete the NCE before achieving full licensure. The National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) developed the most recent version of the exam based on a survey of 16,000 counselors about job-related competencies. Future counselors answer multiple-choice questions in six areas:
- Areas of Clinical Focus
- Core Counseling Attributes
- Counseling Skills and Interventions
- Intake, Assessment, and Diagnosis
- Professional Practice and Ethics
- Treatment Planning
Exam takers complete 200 questions - 160 scored and 40 unscored - in testing periods of three hours and 45 minutes. The computerized testing system determines passing scores based on the difficulty levels of correctly answered questions. This process means the minimum passing score varies from year to year.
State Licensure
The final step toward a mental health counselor career is licensure in your state of practice. Every state has a licensing board with requirements set by state law and informed by professional standards. For example, New Jersey’s Professional Counselors Examiners Committee requires the following from Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC) applicants:
- Completion of an accredited master’s degree program with 60 credit hours
- A passing score on the NCE
The Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) license includes these requirements and a minimum of 4,500 post-graduate hours supervised by an experienced LPC. This license allows practitioners to work with clients without qualified supervision.
Ready to Get Started?
A degree, passing NCE score, and license open the door to a fulfilling counseling career. Future counselors start strong by learning from experienced faculty at a reputable university. Felician University’s Online Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology meets these expectations in an innovative format.
Earn a Counseling Psychology Degree at Felician University
The Online Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology offers flexible pathways to counseling careers. Part-time and full-time options are available with online coursework completed over 7 or 10 semesters.
Candidates learn the skills necessary for mental health counseling careers through 60-course credits. Faculty members with counseling experience bring real-world examples to classroom lessons. The curriculum covers topics including:
- Industrial, Org and Community Counseling
- Marital and Family Counseling
- Multicultural Perspectives in Counseling
- Psychopathology
Students receive help from Felician University in securing rotations within their communities. The Online MACP requires 100 practicum hours and 600 internship hours for completion with 900 internship hours recommended for professional preparation. This degree program readies graduates for mental health counselor licensure in New Jersey and states with comparable education requirements.
A reputation for academic excellence adds value to a Felician University degree. U.S. News & World Report placed the university in its Regional Universities North rankings. Three decades of online education and Aligned with MPAC further contribute to the Online MA’s value.
Find out more about how Felician University’s Online MA in Counseling Psychology can help with your counseling career.