Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Huntington University’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling program provides Christ-centered counselor training, equipping counselors to engage diverse cultural contexts through the cultivation of clinical skills, critical thinking, and academic excellence.  

Our program seeks to develop the personhood of the counselor through a dynamic process of engaging leadership and students in a variety of contexts, one’s own faith and relationship with Christ, and nurturing an emerging counselor identity through personal development and relationships with others.   

Counselors are people with the training, calling, and desire to stand with others throughout the challenges of life.They are people who love helping others process life's complexities, find balance in relationships, and foster good mental health. If this sounds like someone you want to be, a Master of Arts degree in clinical mental health counseling from Huntington University can help you get there. 

Program Details

CMHC Department Mission Statement

Huntington University’s CMHC program provides Christ-centered counselor training, equipping counselors to engage diverse cultural contexts through the cultivation of clinical skills, critical thinking, and academic excellence.  

 

Our program seeks to develop the personhood of the counselor through a dynamic process of engaging leadership and students in a variety of contexts, one’s own faith and relationship with Christ, and nurturing an emerging counselor identity through personal development and relationships with others.   

MACMHC Program Objectives:

The objectives of the HU CMHC program are:

To provide students with experiential and didactic learning opportunities to acquire the necessary knowledge, skills, and dispositions to work with clients within a multicultural and pluralistic society and to:

1. Accurately apply the codes of ethics to a wide range of counseling dilemmas, clients, and contexts (Professional Counseling Orientation & Ethical Practice)

2. Demonstrate a keen awareness of the social and cultural foundations of individuals, families and diverse groups, emphasizing the application of proficient cross-cultural counseling skills (Social & Cultural Diversity).

3. Apply cognitive, personality and moral developmental concepts, theories, and optimal development strategies over the human lifespan (Human Development).

4. Understand and implement theories, approaches and assessments for lifelong career development, including career decision-making and the intersection of work with mental well-being, relationships, and other life roles and factors (Career Counseling).

5. Understand counseling theories, apply a model or models to their practice/context and demonstrate proficient counseling skills for working with a broad range of clients (Counseling & Helping Relationships).

6. Demonstrate an understanding of group dynamics, individual roles and behavior, processes, interventions and stages, and effectively apply counselor group leadership skills (Group Work).

7. Apply the principles of measurement and assessment, including selecting, administering, scoring and interpreting client evaluation methods. (Assessment).

8. Utilize a variety of foundational research methods, designs, statistical procedures, needs assessments, and program evaluations designed to improve counselor effectiveness (Research).

9. Develop an emerging professional identity as a mental health counselor through personal, reflective development, relationships with others, and professional growth opportunities. (Professional Identity of Clinical Mental Health Counselor)

10. Develop an understanding of the contextualization of the Christian faith into evidence-based, ethical and individual counseling practice (Integration).

11. Move towards an understanding of one’s own relationship with Jesus Christ and deepen attachment to God and others through self-awareness and relationships (Spiritual Formation).

Upcoming Start Dates

The upcoming program start dates are August 20, 2023. 

Online Course Format

Huntington University’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling program can be completed anywhere with access to a computer and reliable internet. Most courses hold three synchronous sessions over seven-weeks. Synchronous courses meet in the evening Eastern Time and the program's three-year course plan is designed to accommodate full-time employment. When classes do not meet synchronously, students engage in online asynchronous discussions and learning opportunities. Practicum and internship courses meet on a weekly basis for an hour and a half over the course of three 14-week semesters and do not have synchronous requirements. 

Admission Requirements

Required Information:

1.    A completed graduate program application.
2.    Two recommendation forms, preferably including at least one academic reference.
3.    A professional résumé summarizing your life and work experiences.
4.    Official transcripts from the college or university awarding the highest degree you have completed. These transcripts must arrive via mail or electronic submission directly from the college/university. An undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 is desired.
5.    All prerequisite coursework with a minimum grade of a C or better. Students who have not met prerequisites may be accepted on a conditional basis, provided they complete prerequisites within the first year of graduate study. All prerequisites are available at Huntington University. 
•    Biblical studies - 3 credit hours
•    Psychology - 3 credit hours from Intro or General Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, Clinical Psychology, or Personality Theories/Theories of Counseling.
6.    Complete the Counseling Application Questionaire

Mailing Address: 
Huntington University Graduate Programs
2303 College Avenue
Huntington, IN 46750

Tuitions, Financial Aid and Scholarships

At Huntington University, success is part of the affordability equation. Tuition and fees are established each spring for the succeeding year. The current graduate tuition and fees list is available here.

Contact our admissions team to review scholarship opportunities and discount partnerships

The Office of Financial Aid is here to help with the process of paying for graduate school.

Courses in Counseling

Your coursework will include a mix of lecture and practical clinical experience. A full list of the courses required for the Master of Arts degree in clinical mental health counseling is available here.

Registration, Advising and Academic Policies

Registration for graduate students is open until one week prior to the first day of class. All students are registered by the Office of Graduate and Online Programs. More details about the registration process are available on the Registration and Advising page.

More information about the expectations for academic performance and integrity are available on the Academic Policies page.

Graduation Requirements

All graduate clinical mental health counseling students must complete the following to be eligible for graduation and to meet the educational requirements for licensure.
•    45 credit hours of foundation coursework
•    6 credit hours of mental health concentration
•    9 credit hours of clinical training
•    Submit an application for graduation form by December 1 of the academic year of graduation
•    Attend the commencement exercises for the conferral of the degree
This is a total of 60 credit hours, which includes 700 hours of clinical experience (required for licensure). Half of these hours must be direct client contact.

All graduate programs must be completed within seven years. Failure to complete the program within the allotted seven years may result in a need to retake classes.
 

Huntington University Annual Report of Comprehensive Assessment Process/Modifications 2022

Access our ANNUAL REPORT OF  THE COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT PROCESS and RESULTING PROGRAM MODIFICATIONS  2022  Huntington University Clinical Mental Health Counseling here.

Christian Difference

A Christ-centered counseling program brings something extra to the table because we acknowledge that living life in light of the Kingdom affects every area of life, including counseling and relationships.

Online Plus Practical Experience

Our online format means you can complete coursework from wherever you are geographically. We'll also work with you to set up clinical experiences in your area so that you can start applying what you learn in class to the clinic setting.

Intensive

Your experience will begin with a three-day intensive on our Huntington, Indiana, campus. The intensive is your chance to experience group counseling for yourself so that you are better able to help others.

Student Outcomes 2022

​​​​​

Acceptance Rates

# of Graduates

Completion Rates*

Examination Pass Rates>

Employment Rates"

100% Spring

96% Fall

       15

     86%

 100%

     100%

*Graduation Rate: This gives the percentage of first-time graduate students enrolled in a Fall or Spring semester who graduate from the University within six years. This data was reported from the beginning year of 2017-2018.


>These number represent responses to alumni surveys (graduated 2022), and those who have taken the NCE.


“ These numbers represent the responses to alumni surveys indicating the number of graduates who entered the profession who obtained employment within 0 and 6 months after graduation

Interested in learning more?

If you have any questions, please contact graduate@huntington.edu or (800) 600-4888.

Request Information Apply

Licensure Standards

Huntington University's Master of Arts degree in clinical mental health counseling (60 credit hours) meets or exceeds all of Indiana's standards for licensure as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC). Not an Indiana resident? Review Huntington University's program licensure assessment by state

Not ready for a full Master’s Degree?

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Add HU’s Counseling Credential to your resume.