Best Mental Health Counseling Programs

Students seeking one of the best mental health counseling programs can enroll in the master of arts in counseling degree at Northwestern University. This program offers online and in-person course options for a flexible learning experience. 

This 51-unit curriculum is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Courses include multicultural counseling and contemporary topics in counseling, and students experience a modern take on psychodynamic theory.

Applicants need a bachelor's degree from a regionally-accredited school, a statement of purpose, transcripts, and at least two letters of recommendation. 

Students pursuing a Ph.D. in counseling psychology with a health service focus can enroll in the University of Georgia's Ph.D. in counseling psychology program. Providing American Psychological Association (APA) accreditation and licensure eligibility for graduates in every U.S. state, UGA's Ph.D. program prepares learners for various careers from clinical to academic settings. 

UGA's curriculum, supervision, and training emphasizes a multicultural approach. Features include two courses in multicultural psychology and diversity within research and instruction. 

Applicants need a master's degree, GRE scores, unofficial transcripts, a statement of purpose, a resume, and three letters of recommendation. 

Johns Hopkins University offers a master of science in counseling program. This 60-credit full- or part-time program allows students up to five years to complete all coursework and internship hours.

This CACREP-accredited program includes two concentrations: clinical mental health counseling and school counseling. The clinical mental health focus features classes, such as diversity and social justice in counseling and addictions counseling. Coursework embraces a diverse approach to counseling. The school counseling focus prepares future educators for careers in urban school systems.

Applicants need a bachelor's degree with at least a 3.0 GPA, official transcripts, a resume, a personal statement, and two letters of recommendation. 

Boston College's Ph.D. in counseling psychology prepares students for licensure within multicultural settings. This APA-accredited program encompasses diverse social approaches to coursework, research, and clinical training, including critical perspectives on the psychology of race, class, and gender. 

This 54-credit, 24-course curriculum typically takes learners 5-6 years to complete, with a yearly start date in the fall. Students must also complete a practicum, which involves community placement prior to an internship. 

Admission requirements include a master's degree, a resume, a personal statement, three letters of recommendation, transcripts, and a 15-25 page writing sample. 

Learners seeking a Ph.D. in counseling that promotes an ecological perspective can enroll in the Ph.D. program in counseling psychology at Northeastern University. This program promotes the examination of behavior within physical and cultural settings, such as community, social, and familial influences. 

The 62-credit curriculum is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association. Students can complete the program in four years. 

Candidates need a master's degree in psychology or a similar area, with at least a 3.5 GPA. Three letters of recommendation and a personal statement are also required.

Students interested in a program that highlights research within counseling psychology can apply to the counseling psychology Ph.D. program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Accredited by the American Psychological Association, this program encourages students to immerse themselves in research, specifically with the faculty. 

Learners usually take five years to complete this program and can pursue licensure following a one-year internship. UW-Madison allows exceptional bachelor's-level students to apply, with a program completion average of six years. 

Admissions occur once a year for the fall semester. Requirements include three letters of recommendation, transcripts, a one to three page personal statement, and resume. 

Psychology students interested in a master's program that leads to doctoral studies can apply to the University of Pennsylvania's master of science in education in counseling and mental health services program. For licensure eligibility, students must pursue a subsequent program, as this program alone does not lead to licensure. 

Full-time students take one year to complete ten courses, which start every fall. Focusing on person-centered counseling across the life span, coursework includes human development and sociocultural foundations in counseling. 

Candidates need a bachelor's degree, transcripts, a resume, three letters of recommendation, and a 750-word statement of purpose. 

Students who wish to pursue a Ph.D. in psychology can enroll in the Ph.D. program in counseling psychology at Teachers College, Columbia University. Accredited by the American Psychological Association, this program focuses on sociocultural impacts within modern counseling. 

This 90-credit program starts once per year in the fall term and typically takes students five years to complete. Although the program requires full-time study, students with extenuating circumstances may request part-time enrollment during certain terms. 

Applicants need a bachelor's degree, transcripts, two letters of recommendation, a resume, a statement of purpose, scores from the general GRE test, and an academic writing sample. 

Psychology students interested in becoming licensed in Puerto Rico can apply to Albizu University's master of science in counseling psychology program. Students may take coursework at the Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, campus or study online. 

Accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, this 60-credit program takes learners two and a half years to finish. Maintaining a practitioner-scholar focus, students unite psychological theory with practical application. 

Applicants need at least a 3.0 GPA in undergraduate coursework, although a 2.5 GPA suffices in the case that students demonstrate a 3.0 GPA within psychology-based courses. Admission requirements also include transcripts, two letters of recommendation, a clean criminal record, and a vaccination certificate. 

New York University's Ph.D. in counseling psychology program emphasizes training and coursework on par with both professional teaching and counseling. Graduates are eligible for licensing.

Accredited by the American Psychological Association this 69-72 credit program commences each fall, offering a full-time courseload and a one-year internship. Students typically take around six years to complete the program.

Candidates need a bachelor's degree, a minimum of 18 prior psychology-related credits, a resume, a statement of purpose, three letters of recommendation, and transcripts.