Immersive and practical training to prepare the next generation of mental health professionals.
The mission for the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at The Chicago School’s downtown Chicago Campus is a Transformational, Community-Based Counseling Program committed to educational experiences that provide training in mental health counseling for a variety of clinical settings, such as: couples/family counseling, social service and mental health agencies, college counseling centers, non-profit organizations, and private practice. Focusing on three core areas of ethical practice, multiculturalism/social justice, and advanced clinical practice, the program prepares students to work in a variety of settings, especially those in underserved communities. Students also graduate with documented training in telehealth delivery, prepared to serve clients across Illinois and beyond without geographic limitation.
The Master of Arts Clinical Mental Health Counseling program on The Chicago School’s downtown Chicago Campus offers a comprehensive curriculum that combines academic study with hands-on clinical training. You will be equipped to deliver effective counseling services to individuals facing various mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, grief, stress, relationship difficulties, and suicidal thoughts.
You will benefit from a transformative learning experience that can accommodate your personal commitments as you pursue the M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree. The program provides personalized advising, meaning you’ll be assigned a dedicated faculty member to guide you throughout your academic journey.
What You'll Learn: Core Competency Areas
After you graduate from the Clinical Mental Health Counseling M.A., you will be equipped to embark on your career with an expansive toolkit of competencies such as:
- Counselor identity
- Ethical and professional issues
- Diversity and multiculturalism
- Diagnosis, assessment, and treatment planning
- Methods of research and program evaluation
- Advocacy and social justice
- Telehealth counseling competency and ethics
Telehealth Training at the Chicago Campus
The Chicago Campus program prepares graduates to deliver counseling both in person and through telehealth platforms. Illinois requires insurers to reimburse telehealth mental health services at parity with in-person sessions under the Illinois Insurance Code, making remote delivery a standard, billable modality for licensed counselors practicing in the state.
Students complete their 700 hours of supervised fieldwork, 100 practicum hours, and 300 hours each in Internship I and II at approved clinical sites throughout the Chicago metro area, many of which now integrate telehealth into their service delivery.
The Chicago Campus' M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, meeting their standards with regard to institutional settings, program mission and objectives, program content, practicum experiences, student selection and advising, faculty qualifications and workload, program governance, instructional support, and self-evaluation.
COURSE SYLLABUS REQUEST
If you are interested in reviewing any of the syllabi of the courses in the Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program, you may request them by sending an email to [email protected].
Dr. Dana Laughlin, M.A., NCC, LCPC
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion the program prepares students to:
Professional Practice
- Program prepares students to demonstrate contextual knowledge and application of the principles of mental health, wellness, and human development including prevention, education, consultation, intervention, and advocacy.
- Program prepares students to demonstrate knowledge and application of strategies for addressing diverse clients’ career development and employment opportunities in a global economy.
- Program prepares students to demonstrate knowledge and application of the helping process with diverse clients; counseling theories and techniques; prevention, education, and consultation; wellness models; counselor self-understanding; and the change process.
- Program prepares students to demonstrate knowledge and application of group development, dynamics, theories, techniques, therapeutic factors, and how they contribute to the design and facilitation of groups in a culturally relevant manner.
- Program prepares students to demonstrate knowledge and application of culturally and developmentally appropriate clinical assessment, diagnosis, and evaluation practices for diverse mental health service recipients in mental health service settings
Diversity
- Program prepares students to demonstrate an intersectional lens of cultural competence in counseling with individuals, groups, and families from diverse cultural backgrounds as well as the ability to advocate for equity and social justice in the promotion of mental health on the behalf of clients, the community, and the profession of counseling.
Professional Behavior
- Program prepares students to demonstrate knowledge and application related to ethical professional counseling practice, establish a professional counselor identity, and engage in effective interdisciplinary practice.
Scholarship
- Program prepares students to critically evaluate and utilize research, evidence-based practices, and program evaluation to inform the practice of clinical mental health counseling with diverse client populations.
Admissions Requirements
- Application
- Application fee ($50)
- Bachelor’s degree from an institutionally accredited university
- GPA of 3.0 or higher is required
- Official transcripts from all schools where a degree was earned
- It is recommended that transcripts are submitted from all schools where credit was received to enhance their applications.
- Essay: The mission of the program is to equip students with the knowledge, skills, practices, and values of the counseling profession: empowerment, resilience, optimal development, multicultural competence, and holism, in order to promote the well-being of individuals, families, and the diverse systems that support them. In a two-page essay address the following:
- How you would contribute to the fulfillment of the program’s mission given your personal and professional characteristics and accomplishments, your academic background, and your experience, and
- Upon successful completion of the program, how do you see yourself contributing to the profession as a clinical mental health counselor?
- Resume
- Three Letters of Recommendation
- Admissions Interview
Each applicant is reviewed holistically, taking factors such as personal and professional experience and accomplishments into consideration. Applicants are encouraged to contact the Office of Admissions to discuss their unique qualifications.
Applicant Notification
The Chicago School reviews applications on a rolling basis. Once review begins, complete applications will be considered by the Admission Committee and applicants will be notified regarding the admission decision. The Chicago School does not share information or provide any feedback regarding admission decisions.
Send materials to:
Admissions Operations
c/o The Chicago School
203 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 1900
Chicago, IL 60601
For electronic delivery, send to [email protected].
Accreditation & Licensure
Accreditation
The M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling program in Chicago is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). To learn more about The Chicago School's institutional and programmatic accreditations, visit our Accreditation page.
Licensure
For information on whether a program at The Chicago School meets or does not meet licensure eligibility requirements for the state in which you wish to be licensed, please visit our licensure disclosures page.
CMHC Chicago Core Faculty/Staff Roles
Dr. Dana Laughlin, Ed.D., MA, NCC, LCPC
Department Chair
Dr. Jeff Strozier, PhD, LCPC
Director of Clinical Training
Dr. Linda D. Robinson, Psy.D
Director of Clinical Training
Dr. Keiana Winters, Ph.D., LCPC, ACS, CCTP-II
Department Faculty
Fieldwork Opportunities
Practicum and Internship
Practicum and internship, sometimes referred to as field training or applied professional practice experiences, provides for the application of theory and the development of counseling skills under supervision. These experiences offer opportunities for students to counsel and provide other professional services to diverse clientele in their communities. Each student is responsible for identifying potential practicum/internship sites. Students are encouraged first to assess their counseling and professional interests, training needs, and goals (e.g., populations, settings, clinical presentations, and professional activities of interest). Then, students will tap into their existing personal and professional networks to learn of sites that provide clinical mental health counseling services. In addition, they may: conduct internet searches; consult the websites of local, state and national professional organizations; network with other human services organizations in their communities; and/or talk with the CMHC director of clinical training to brainstorm additional routes to site development.
Practicum (100 hours)
Typically, students complete their practicum and internship at the same site. Students at approved sites that have integrated telehealth delivery will also gain direct exposure to remote session protocols and platform-based clinical work during their practicum hours. During the practicum course, students complete a supervised practicum experience at an approved site with an approved clinical supervisor for a minimum of 100 hours. The practicum course consists of the on-site clinical counseling supervised experience, and students must participate in group supervision, which meets weekly throughout the entirety of the semester, as well as coursework. Students will practice foundational counseling skills and, over time, integrate more advanced skills through practice in classes, supervised recorded sessions, and direct service at their sites. Moreover, the practicum experience often focuses on the personal qualities needed to develop genuine and effective counseling relationships with a wide range of clientele. As such, students learn self-assessment skills as well as how to understand clients’ worldviews.
Internship I (300 hours)
After successfully completing the practicum course, students will enroll in Internship I. During the 14-week Internship I course, students complete the next level of supervised internship experience at an approved site with an approved clinical supervisor, for a minimum of 300 hours to further develop their individual and group counseling skills. The Internship I course consists of the on-site clinical counseling supervised experience, and students must participate in site and group supervision, which meets weekly throughout the semester, as well as coursework.
Internship II (300 hours)
Following successful completion of Internship I, students will enroll in Internship II. During the 14-week Internship II course, students complete a more advanced level of supervised Internship experience at an approved site with an approved clinical supervisor, for a minimum of 300 hours to further develop their individual and group counseling skills. The Internship II course consists of the on-site clinical counseling supervised experience, and students must participate in site and group supervision, which meets weekly throughout the semester, as well as coursework. The internship is intended to reflect the comprehensive work experience of a clinical mental health counselor, and students will participate in the full range of roles and responsibilities available at their sites.
Note the practicum and internship experiences are conducted under the direction of a qualified on-site supervisor, and the minimum total number of hours accrued is 700 (i.e., 100 practicum hours + 300 Internship I hours + 300 Internship II hours = 700 total hours). An advanced internship course is available to students needing a full year of field work or 900 hours of internship to complete the necessary coursework for counseling licensure in certain states.
Transfer of credit for the practicum/internship is not granted and practicum/internship requirements are never waived. Further details regarding practicum and internship are available from the CMHC director of clinical training.
Students registered in this program incur a one-time $195 Experiential Learning Technology Fee.
Sample Courses
Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy
The course reviews basic theories, principles, and techniques of counseling and psychotherapy, as well as applications to a variety of therapeutic settings. The course also focuses on personal theory construction, bias embedded in theory, and cultural diversity.
Diagnosis of Mental Health Issues
This course addresses the general principles of etiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental and emotional disorders. Major definitions and descriptions of psychological phenomena as categorized and classified by the DSM diagnostic system are covered. This course includes models of mental status assessment as well as the application of how cultural factors influence mental health.
Lifespan Development
This course examines typical development from infancy through advanced age, focusing on the development of perceptual and cognitive processes, psychosocial roles, and familial interpersonal processes. Current clinical approaches are examined from diverse theoretical viewpoints and in light of recent research findings. Cultural diversity and individual differences are integral to this course.
Telehealth and Technology in Counseling
This course prepares students to deliver ethical, effective counseling through telehealth platforms. Topics include regulatory frameworks for remote practice, platform security and HIPAA compliance, adapting therapeutic techniques for virtual settings, and identifying client populations for whom telehealth is clinically appropriate.
Career Pathways
The Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at The Chicago School is committed to educational experiences that provide training in mental health counseling for a variety of clinical settings, such as:
- Couples/family counseling
- Social service and mental health agencies
- College counseling centers
- Non-profit organizations
- Private practice
- Telehealth and hybrid counseling practice
Focusing on three core areas of ethical practice, multiculturalism/social justice, and advanced clinical practice, the program prepares students to work with a range of diverse clientele, including those within underserved communities.
Graduates pursuing telehealth practice are equipped to reach underserved populations across Illinois without geographic limitation, an increasingly critical capacity in a state where rural and suburban mental health access gaps remain significant.
Clinical Mental Health Counseling FAQs
What are Common Clinical Mental Health Counseling Jobs Post-Graduation?
TheBureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors to grow 19% from 2023 to 2033, significantly faster than the average for all occupations. In Illinois, the most common licensure path for CMHC graduates is the Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) credential, which qualifies holders to practice independently in clinical, agency, private practice, and telehealth settings. Graduates from this program work across hospital systems, community mental health centers, private practice, college counseling centers, and increasingly in telehealth platforms serving clients statewide.
Why Should I Get My Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in Chicago?
The city is home to more than 200 community mental health centers, federally qualified health facilities, and hospital systems; the availability of internship opportunities is considerably greater than in most markets. Graduates seeking LCPC licensure in Illinois complete their supervised hours in this environment, developing clinical networks and professional relationships before graduation. For students who want in-person training with the option to provide telehealth services after licensure, the Chicago Campus program covers both options.
Is the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Masters Only Offered in Chicago?
No, the M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) is offered online, in Washington D.C. and Dallas in addition to Chicago.
Are The Chicago School’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling Graduate Programs accredited?
Yes, The Chicago Campus’ M.A. in CMHC is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs. Learn more about how we gained accreditation status for this program.
Can I Provide Telehealth Counseling With An M.A. In Clinical Mental Health Counseling From Chicago?
Yes. The LCPC license you pursue after completing this program authorizes you to provide counseling via telehealth platforms under Illinois law. That distinction matters in practice: Illinois requires insurers to reimburse telehealth mental health services at parity with in-person sessions, so telehealth is a billable, sustainable part of an independent counseling practice, not a secondary option. Graduates who want to formalize that expertise can pursue the Board Certified TeleMental Health Provider (BC-TMH) credential through the National Board for Certified Counselors after licensure.
Chicago Student Experience
The Chicago Campus is located right on the Chicago River in the heart of the Windy City. Attending school in a metropolitan location like Chicago gives you the chance to immerse yourself in a culturally vibrant city overflowing with opportunities to network with working professionals and with national and international organizations.
Chicago is also home to some of the nation’s finest dining, entertainment, museums, and a mental health job market where the Illinois Department of Employment Security consistently ranks counseling among the highest-demand health occupations in the Cook County metro area.
Programmatic Assessment Reports
Financing Your Education
The Chicago School is dedicated to keeping our professional degree programs accessible to anyone regardless of financial status. In addition to the scholarships that may be available, our Financial Aid Department will provide you with information to determine what financial arrangements are right for you.
Mental & Behavioral Health Professionals Tuition Rate
The Mental and Behavioral Health Professionals Tuition Rate has been established to support mental and behavioral health professionals who aim to better serve their clients and the community through advanced education and training. Students may be eligible for special tuition rates and/or additional institutional aid.
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