Degree Requirements: Bachelor's degree
Completion Time: 3 years
Earned Credits: 60
Students in our Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling will learn how to apply holistic and systemic perspectives to working with individuals, relationships, and groups in a variety of settings. This is achieved through an approach that focuses on the interconnectedness of all things.
Do you want to put your compassion to work facilitating the healing journeys of others?
To learn to do this effectively, we offer a training program that aligns with national training standards for the master’s in counseling program.
Saybrook’s hybrid online master’s in Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). CACREP accreditation assures that the content and quality of our program have been evaluated and meet standards set by the profession. Graduates from our CACREP-accredited online clinical mental health counseling programs are equipped with the skills and knowledge for competent practice.
Through a hybrid-online learning format that includes 700 hours of field experience, our Master’s Degree in Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling Specialization program prepares students for career opportunities in the broad field of clinical mental health counseling. Guided by faculty with years of experience in the field, students can complete their M.A. in Counseling without relocating. In this low-residency program, students become part of a cohort, interacting online and meeting at the beginning of each semester while attending Residential Conferences. Throughout the semester, students join their cohort through our online Canvas learning system to receive instruction from and ask questions of faculty. This 60-credit program includes three semesters of fieldwork: Practicum, Internship I, and Internship II.
Primary Faculty Members
- Jennifer Preston, Ph.D., NCC, LPC, Counseling Department Chair
- Hridaya Sivalingam, Ph.D., NCC, LCMHC, Practicum and Internship Coordinator
- Dominque Avery, Ph.D., NCC, LPC, LMHC, M.A. in Counseling Program Coordinator
- Kent Becker, Ed.D., LPC, LMFT, Program Faculty
- Aparna Ramaswamy, Ed.D, Ph.D., LCPC, ACS, Program Faculty
- Alfonso Ferguson, Ph.D., LPC, LMHC, ACS, NCC, Program Faculty
- Aja Burks, Ph.D., LMSW, Program Faculty
- Amanuel Asfaw, Ph.D., NCC, Program Faculty
- Kimberly M. Jayne, Ph.D., LPC (OR), NCC, RPT-S, Program Faculty
Our Master of Arts in Counseling faculty at Saybrook University are committed to preparing competent mental health professionals who inspire transformational change in individuals, families, and communities toward a just, humane, and sustainable world.
The Counseling Department has adopted a set of professional and personal qualities all students and faculty are expected to demonstrate. These qualities are directly linked to the mission and core values of Saybrook University and inform the related program objectives. The program learning outcomes were born directly out of the department’s core values. All members of the counseling community are expected to embody these qualities inside and outside of courses to the greatest extent possible. Upon completion of the counseling programs, students will demonstrate the associated learning outcomes.
Learn more about our M.A. in Counseling program outcomes by reviewing our Student Handbook or Annual Assessment Reports:
Graduates from this three-year (60-semester credit) program will have satisfied course requirements to apply for licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC), or Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC). As different states have different licensing requirements, we work with students from the very beginning to help them qualify for licensure in the state where they wish to practice. Learn more about the program’s alignment with state professional licensure requirements.
Learn more about our Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program through our Student Handbook.
Application to Saybrook University is open to students with a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution.
Our Financial Aid office is dedicated to helping identify the opportunities, understand the options, and make the choices that are right for you.
Saybrook University is accredited by the Senior Commission of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), a regional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and by the state of California. More program information can be found in our academic catalog.
Annual Program Related Student Outcomes
The Counseling Department is pleased to share the following student outcomes, to both meet ongoing CACREP requirements and to share the success of our graduates. 2022-2023 (summer 2022, fall 2022, spring 2023)
- 100% of graduates who took the exam in this window passed the exam on the first attempt (4 out of 4)
- 0% of graduates did not pass the exam on the first attempt (0 out of 4)
Job Placement Rates: This data is based on a 42% response rate to the survey. 6 out of 14 students responded to the most recent survey (summer 2022). Data will be collected again in summer 2024.
- 82% are employed within the mental health field
- 16% are currently seeking a position
More program information can be found in our academic catalog.
Residential Orientation
All new students in the M.A. in Counseling program begin their studies with a one-time, virtual orientation. The orientation will be a combination of Canvas orientation and virtual meeting ahead of the academic term start date.
Residential Conferences
All students of the Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and other Master’s in Counseling programs participate in two five-day-long required residential conferences per year (one at the beginning of the fall semester and one at the beginning of the spring semester) for the duration of the program. Activities during the required residential conferences are designed to expand further on the knowledge from coursework to practice clinical skills and to participate in professional development through lectures, workshops, invited talks, roundtables, courses, and seminars as well as formal and informal meetings and discussions with faculty, advisers, and peers. Although students complete most of their courses through distance learning, full attendance at all residential conferences is an academic requirement, and their completion is important for successful academic progress as well as allowing students to meet with faculty and co-learners in a stimulating face-to-face environment.
Licensure
In order to become licensed as a professional counselor, professional clinical counselor, or mental health counselor candidates must complete the degree, program, and/or coursework required by their chosen state. States also have licensing requirements beyond a program’s graduation requirements, including post-master’s supervised clinical experience, examination(s), background check, and application for license.
At the time of publication, the M.A. in Counseling hybrid online program meets degree and coursework requirements in 43 states and Washington, D.C. Minor program modifications may be necessary to meet coursework requirements in Indiana, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Saybrook’s Counseling program does not meet the licensure requirements of Kansas, North Dakota, Rhode Island, or Wisconsin.
The Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is aligned with the degree and coursework requirements of the California Board of Behavioral Sciences for registration and examination eligibility as a Professional Clinical Counselor (Business and Professions Code section 4999.33) Candidates for licensure must pass the relevant clinical examination and law and ethics examination. Additional post-master’s supervised experience is required and candidates must register with BBS as an APCC in order to accrue supervised experience. All candidates are also required to complete the application process, which includes fees and a background check. For further information about licensure in California, please visit the Board of Behavioral Sciences.
During the first semester, all students in our Master’s in Counseling programs complete a curriculum map to licensure to ensure that they complete the coursework requirements for their state. State professional licensing requirements are subject to change at any time. Students should contact the specific state licensing board directly to verify information regarding professional licensure. A list of state board contact information is available via the American Counseling Association.
COUN 2500 – Basic Counseling Skills
This course develops foundational clinical skills for professional work with individuals, couples, families, and groups. The course integrates humanistic theories and techniques with an emphasis on self-exploration toward cultivating the professional development of the counselor and psychotherapist. The course introduces foundations in clinical theory including stages of therapy, diagnostic assessment, and therapeutic intervention. The course focuses on therapeutic practices including skills in developing the therapeutic container and alliance, empathic listening and reflection, unconditional positive regard, recognition of boundaries and therapeutic frame, exploration of self, sensitivity to diversity and multicultural issues, and capacity to embody an authentic sense of self as a counselor and psychotherapist. 3 credits
COUN 2560 – Cultural Humility and Responsiveness
This course explores psychological approaches in social constructs and emphasizes the following factors in individual and family development: language, acculturation, economics, race, class, gender, sexual orientation, sociopolitical factors, child-rearing practices, family structure, religious traditions, cultural values, and attitudes. The course focuses on clinical issues of cultural competence in the context of ethics, laws, and regulations that define cultural awareness in counseling and psychotherapy. 3 credits
COUN 8153 – Internship 1
This is the second of three required 3-unit courses that continue the field placement training. Both the approved field placement and the internship course enrollment are required. Internship 1 is designed to provide students with a model for approaching crisis and critical issues in clinical work, while also providing an arena in which to compare and contrast field placement experiences with other students. Internship 1 focuses on professional development important in issues of cultural and spiritual diversity. Students share about their internship experience, drawing on their internship reflections, individual and group exercises, and regular online threaded discussions. Students develop case formulations to recognize issues in assessment, evaluation, and diagnosis, and review treatment models, interventions, and therapeutic outcomes. 3 credits
Is the Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling 100% online?
Largely, yes. However, the degree is offered through a hybrid-online format. The master’s in clinical mental health counseling degree is offered at Saybrook University in a completely virtual format, aside from the Residential Conferences that take place at the beginning of the semester. This allows students worldwide to access our skilled professors, resources, and the networking potential in this exceptional program.
How long does the master’s degree in counseling program take to complete?
The expected length of the program is three years, depending on the option to attend full time or part time. The flexibility of this program allows for wider accessibility and flexibility for students who are working and pursuing a degree at the same time.
Is a thesis required to complete the M.A. in Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Saybrook University?
There is no thesis required to complete this program at Saybrook University.
Is the program flexible for students who are working?
Yes! Saybrook’s Master’s in Counseling programs offer a flexible timeline for completion. Choose from part-time or full-time course loads depending on your schedule. This program is perfect for students who are working while completing the degree. Also, courses are offered online in an asynchronous format, providing even more flexibility.
“The Saybrook University CACREP accredited MA Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is committed to training counselors for work with clients within their broader social and cultural context, and with a full appreciation of the inseparable nature of spirit, body, and mind.”
—Jennifer Preston, Ph.D., NCC, LPC, Department of Counseling Chair