Master of Science
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Earn Your Counseling M.S. in 18 Months*
Help counsel individuals and families with a specific set of problems or a mental health disorder when you graduate with a Clinical Mental Health Counseling master’s degree from JWU.
This 18-month, full-time program* helps prepare master’s-level clinicians and is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
With two cohort starts each year (fall or spring) and classes that meet in late afternoons and evenings, the program’s schedule has the flexibility to accommodate fieldwork placements during the day and on weekends.
Learn clinical skills by turning theoretical foundations into positive, ethical client interaction and intervention. The majority of courses are taught by full-time faculty with a wide range of expertise, including clinical, addictions, substance abuse, trauma and rehabilitation counseling.
This 60-credit program includes 12 core courses, 4 electives, a practicum and an internship. This clinical fieldwork puts professional knowledge into practice, starting with a 100-hour practicum and followed by an internship under the supervision of clinical professionals.
*A part-time option is available. Part-time students follow a study plan of two courses per semester, completing the program in three years.
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Counseling Programs Earn Prestigious CACREP Accreditation
JWU’s programs in Addiction Counseling and Clinical Mental Health Counseling have earned CACREP accreditation, the highest standard in the counseling profession.
“Achieving accreditation for our program is a testament to the dedication, hard work and excellence that our faculty, staff and students demonstrate every day,” said College of Arts & Sciences Dean Michael Fein.
“A degree from a CACREP-accredited program is widely recognized by licensing boards, community agencies, practitioners and national professional associations as a hallmark of excellence, making it a valuable credential for aspiring counselors,” noted program director Cheryl Almeida, Ph.D.
“Achieving accreditation for our program is a testament to the dedication, hard work, and excellence that our faculty, staff and students demonstrate every day.” DEAN MICHAEL FEIN
Individual states may require specific licensing or professional certification in addition to earning a degree in order to practice in the field. Review Licensure & Professional Certification Disclosures for more information.
“JWU’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is an exceptional opportunity to obtain a degree and meet field experience hours in 18 months. Outstanding instruction and expert clinical supervision is the cornerstone of our success.”PROFESSOR CHERYL ALMEIDA, PH.D.
Sample Courses
- Counseling Across the Lifespan
- Multicultural Counseling: Theories & Techniques
- Professional Orientation & Ethical Practice
- Individual Counseling Theories & Techniques I & II
- Mental Health Counseling for Families
- Counseling Internship I & II
- Advanced Neuroscience & Psychopharmacology
For a full course listing, view the JWU Catalog:
Career Options
- Community Services Clinician
- Behavioral Health Counselor
- Crisis Intervention Specialist
- Mental Health Counselor
- Substance Abuse Counselor
- Clinical Supervisor
- School Adjustment Counselors/Clinical Counselors
- Private Practice Clinician
Some professions may require additional study, background checks, certifications, licenses, exams and/or experience as required qualifications for employment. Students are responsible for verifying that they can meet the employment requirements of potential employers.
Core Counseling Faculty
Assistant Professor
As a dual licensed clinician who specializes in both mental health and substance use, Paulhus has experience working in a variety of settings, including home care, outpatient counseling, and crisis work.
Assistant Professor
Associate Professor Giresunlu’s research interests include counselor and supervisor development and practices in integrated behavioral health settings.
Associate Professor
Much of Assistant Professor Smarinsky’s clinical work has focused on trauma treatment and prevention in children and adolescents.
How Counseling Can Diminish Sports Performance Anxiety
Associate professors Jessica Paulhus and Yesim Giresunlu, core faculty in JWU Providence’s Counselor Education department, are using their backgrounds in counseling, athletics and martial arts to support student-athletes’ mental health and diminish performance anxiety. It’s part of a collaborative effort with JWU’s Athletics department and other individuals across the university.
During the 2023-24 academic year, the professors co-facilitated two training sessions for student-athletes where they outlined their findings and offered practical strategies for improving game performance.
Therapy that Leverages Nature’s Healing Properties
A member of JWU Providence’s Clinical Health Counseling program’s first graduating cohort, Danielle Gagnon ’16 M.S. uses nature as a synergistic component of her counseling strategy. Throughout her career, she has practiced experiential therapeutic modalities and integrating the healing nature of the outdoors, including wilderness therapy.
Gagnon currently practices in Utah, where she became a licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor. She has primarily worked with adolescents who have struggled with anxiety, depression, trauma, substance use and emotional regulation.
Gagnon has trained and is certified in many clinical modalities, including Brain Spotting, Trauma-Focused CBT and SMART Recovery; she is also Safe Zone-certified for working with the LGBTQ+ population. She believes these forms of therapy create a space to allow students to access negative memories or feelings and release them, allowing the brain and body to heal.
Program Data
JWU’s M.S. in Clinical Mental Health and Addiction Counseling programs are housed in the College of Arts & Sciences’ Counselor Education department.
Admissions Criteria
JWU Catalog: Graduate Admissions Requirements
Annual Report
2023-24 Annual Report: M.S. in Counseling (PDF)
Vital Statistics
Johnson & Wales University’s Master of Science in Counseling programs in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Addiction Counseling are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), 500 Montgomery Street, Suite 350, Alexandria, VA 22314, 703-535-5990.
Faculty Contact
Cheryl Almeida, Ph.D.
Director of Counselor Education Programs
401-598-2247
Email
