Mental Health Counseling Concentration
Clinical mental health counseling is the largest and most general counseling specialty – the track that leads to licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) or Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC). Graduates assess, diagnose, and treat mental health conditions in agencies, hospitals, and private practice.
This concentration is typically delivered as a 60-credit master’s specialization. Coursework is widely available online; practicum and internship hours are completed in person at clinical sites.
Quick Answers
What is a mental health counseling concentration?
It is the clinical specialty within counseling that prepares graduates to diagnose and treat mental health conditions and to pursue LPC or LMHC licensure. It is usually the default specialization in CACREP-accredited master’s programs.
What do mental health counselors earn?
Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors – the BLS occupation covering this specialty – earn a median $59,350 per year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Earnings vary by setting, state, and experience, and private practice can exceed agency pay.
Is this concentration available online?
Yes – the academic coursework is widely available online. College Scorecard data shows 71.9% of master’s-level counseling programs offer distance education. Practicum and internship hours are always in person, and some online programs add short campus residencies.
Back to Counseling Concentrations
At a Glance
- Focus area: Assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental health conditions
- Degree level: Master’s (typically 60 credits); the licensure-track specialty
- License path: LPC, LMHC, or equivalent – titles and requirements vary by state
- Career alignment: Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselor ($59,350 median, BLS OEWS, May 2025)
- Accreditation to look for: CACREP clinical mental health counseling
- Online availability: Coursework widely online; practicum and internship in person
For an overview of all degree paths, see the Counseling Program Guide.
What you typically study
| Course Topic | What You Learn |
|---|---|
| Counseling Theories | Major therapeutic approaches and evidence-based application |
| Psychopathology and Diagnosis | Classification and assessment of mental health conditions |
| Treatment Planning | Goal setting, intervention selection, and progress measurement |
| Group Counseling | Facilitating therapeutic groups and managing group dynamics |
| Crisis and Trauma Counseling | Crisis intervention, trauma-informed care, and safety planning |
| Multicultural Counseling | Clinical competency across cultures and identities |
| Ethics and Professional Practice | ACA Code of Ethics, confidentiality, and legal duties |
| Practicum and Internship | Supervised direct client hours in clinical settings |
The LPC/LMHC licensure path
The clinical mental health track follows the profession’s standard licensure sequence: a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling, supervised post-graduate clinical hours under an approved supervisor, and a passing score on the NCE or NCMHCE exam. License titles (LPC, LMHC, LCPC, LPCC) and supervised-hour requirements vary by state, so verify your state board’s rules before choosing a program. CACREP accreditation simplifies this – many boards align their education requirements with CACREP standards.
The full sequence is covered step by step in the master’s in counseling guide.
Where mental health counselors work
- Community mental health agencies and nonprofits
- Hospitals and integrated behavioral health clinics
- Substance abuse treatment programs (overlapping with the substance abuse concentration)
- Employee assistance programs
- Private practice, after full licensure
- Telehealth platforms, subject to state licensing rules
Questions to ask before choosing this concentration
- Is the program CACREP-accredited in clinical mental health counseling?
- Does the program publish a state-by-state licensure disclosure, and does it cover your state?
- How are practicum and internship placements arranged, and where have recent students trained?
- Does the credit total (ideally 60) meet your state’s requirement?
- What are the program’s exam pass rates and licensure outcomes?
How counseling concentrations compare
| Concentration | Typical License | Related BLS Occupation | Median Salary (May 2025) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mental Health Counseling | LPC / LMHC | Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselor | $59,350 |
| School Counseling | State certification | Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselor | $64,330 |
| Substance Abuse Counseling | State addiction credential | Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselor | $59,350 |
| Marriage and Family Therapy | LMFT | Marriage and Family Therapist | $66,940 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.
Find programs near you at counseling degrees by state, or compare the adjacent field through the counseling psychology concentration in our psychology silo.
Data verified: June 11, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.