Careers in mental health counseling are among the most rewarding, as these professionals see how their knowledge and skills help clients experience better well-being. Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota offers two graduate programs for students who wish to earn a master’s degree and pursue advanced opportunities in mental health counseling. Our M.A. in Counseling and Psychological Services and M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy programs empower you to pursue a range of counselor careers. Learn more about these potential career paths.
Careers in Mental Health Counseling: Paths You May Follow
What draws you to psychology? Is it diagnosing and treating mental health disorders? Maybe you want to help couples or families navigate challenges. You might have a special interest in the field of mental health counseling, such as helping individuals overcome substance use disorders. The master’s degree programs at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota can help you realize these career aspirations.
Possible career paths to pursue include:
LPCs and LPCCs
Two similar roles include licensed professional counselor (LPC) and licensed professional clinical counselor (LPCC). Both can assess and diagnose mental health disorders and create personalized treatment plans. In addition to mental and emotional disorders, counselors work with individuals experiencing symptoms from trauma, interpersonal relationship concerns, and psychosocial stressors. They might also assist with the social implications of these disorders through services such as career counseling. Some LPCs or LPCCs might work with families or groups.
Where these career paths differ is licensure requirements, which vary from state to state. In Minnesota, LPCCs must obtain 4000 hours of post-degree practice, indicating the higher-level clinical focus for these mental health professionals.
Substance Abuse Addiction Counselor
As communities experience challenges with substance use disorders, the need for licensed alcohol and drug counselors (LADCs) is becoming more apparent than ever. The 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) indicates that 48.7 million people (17.3%) aged 12 and older had a substance use disorder within the past year.
A LADC is a mental health professional who has gained specialized training and holds the proper credentials to provide counseling to individuals with substance use disorders. They use evidence-based techniques for assessing a client’s substance use disorder and creating a customized treatment plan. They may host one-on-one therapy appointments with a client or group sessions. LADCs also have training in crisis intervention and educate communities about substance use disorders and their impact, plus ways to prevent addiction.
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFTs) seek to understand mental health disorders in a broader context. Although these professionals feature the word marriage in their job titles, the role is better understood as a couple or family counselor.
A key term for LMFTs is relationships. They strive to view their clients in the context of relationships, such as with family members, partners, and co-workers/bosses. They also consider the systematic aspects that influence experiences, such as belief systems and community. Even a person’s experience in their body can impact their mental health, including their diet and exercise.
An LMFT believes a that their clients are a product of relationship systems and developing solutions through this lens can bring about lasting change. LMFTs work with all types of individuals, couples, families and children because all individuals maintain relationships in some capacity.
Advance Your Career in Mental Health Counseling with a Master’s Degree
What career path is most appealing to you? With the many careers in mental health counseling to explore, it helps to find graduate programs that prepare you for these and related roles. Consider the programs at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota:
M.A. in Counseling and Psychological Services
Offered online and at the Minneapolis campus, our M.A. in Counseling and Psychological Services program meets the educational requirements for students pursuing LPC or LPCC licensure. The curriculum is taught by experienced faculty and incorporates a 700-hour practicum for students to gain hands-on experience in a real-world environment.
This master’s degree program also opens doors to other opportunities. Students can pursue the Dual Track: M.A. in Counseling and Psychological Services and Graduate Certificate in Addiction Studies program. You can train for LPCC and LADC licensure. Another pathway is to apply for the Doctor of Psychology in Counseling Psychology (Psy.D.) program before completing the master’s degree program. If accepted, you can transition to the Psy.D. program after about one year of full-time coursework at the master’s level. This option can move you closer to achieving your career goals in less time.
M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy
The M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy at the Minneapolis campus offers coursework led by practicing LFMTs who understand the current needs and trends in the profession. Students gain hands-on experience with 300 hours of clinical work and learn how to operate ethically and compassionately while responding to the diverse needs of clients in multicultural communities.
Enroll Today at SMUMN
Guided by Lasallian Catholic values, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota seeks to inspire students to ethical lives of service and leadership. Our graduate programs enable adult learners to further their educations and advance their careers while helping them stand out from others in their fields. Request information for more about careers in mental health counseling and how our master’s degree programs help lead to them. Apply for admission today.
