Allied Health – Mental Health Counseling

Mental Health Counseling Allied Health Guide

What is Mental Health Counseling?

Clinical mental health counselors are highly skilled professionals who provide flexible, consumer-oriented therapy. They combine traditional psychotherapy with a practical, problem-solving approach that creates a dynamic and efficient path for change and problem resolution. Counselors provide treatment to individuals, families, couples, and groups across all ages. Mental health counselors treat clients with a variety of conditions including mental and emotional health issues and relationship problems. They provide support through engaging in assessments, treatment planning, crisis management, while taking a client-centered approach.

Undergraduate Prerequisite Coursework

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Abnormal Psychology
  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Research Methods I & II
  • Statistics
  • Psychology of Personality
  • Upper-level Psychology courses

This list covers the most frequently required prerequisites. Please see individual program websites for exact requirement information.

Education & Advanced Degrees

  • Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
  • PhD in Counseling
  • PhD in Counselor Education

Advanced Degree Requirements

  • Graduate Record Exam (GRE test scores)
  • References from related experiences such as internships or relevant organizations
  • Letters of recommendation (academic)

This is a list of the most frequently required admissions requirements. Please see individual program websites for exact requirement information.

Potential Workplace Settings to Explore

  • Counseling Agencies
  • Schools
  • Government
  • Rehabilitation clinics
  • Detention centers
  • Adoption agencies
  • Law enforcement agencies
  • Military and veteran services
  • Community settings
  • Mental health facilities
  • Homes

Career Resources

  • Join OneHop using your jhu.edu email address
    • Complete your profile
    • Search “Allied Health” in Groups to join the conversation!

OneHop Allied Health Professions Alumni Group

  • Join the OneHop Allied Health Professions Alumni Group where current students interested in allied health can connect with alumni allied health professionals.

Allied Health Professional Associations for Students

  • American Counseling Association
  • American Mental Health Counselors Association
  • National Board for Certified Counselors
  • Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs

Explore Allied Health Professions “Allied health encompasses a broad group of health professionals who use scientific principles and evidence-based practice for the diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of acute and chronic diseases; promote disease prevention and wellness for optimum health, and apply administration and management skills to support health care systems in a variety of settings.” – Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions (ASAHP, 2021)

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