Clinical Mental Health Counseling Master of Science
Becoming a counselor
Earn your clinical mental health counseling (CMHC) and fulfill the educational requirements to become a licensed mental health counselor. Take classes on campus, or with our online synchronous degree option. If you choose to complete your degree online, two courses require completion on campus. Courses can typically be completed over two separate weekend experiences at Lynn.
In the program, you'll learn how to work with a variety of clients in substance abuse treatment centers, community mental health agencies and educational settings. Study personality theory, psychopathology and human sexuality, and review legal and ethical issues in counseling. Plus, gain experience with mental health agencies through networking and internships. After graduating, register with the state of Florida to complete two years of supervised clinical hours and pass the national exam to become a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) or nationally certified counselor (NCC). Review the mission statement, goals and objectives.
This master's program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
The Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP) requests that programs make information about our applicants, students, graduates and program available to our stakeholders. Take a moment to review the summary of the program evaluation results.
2023–24: Vital statistics
- Currently enrolled students: 71
- Number of graduates (2023–24): 30
- Program completion rate: 100%
- Employment and doctoral program placement rate: 82%
- NCMHCE and NCE: 75% pass rate (n=14/20)
The crisis, resilience and first responder trauma (CRAFT) concentration prepares future counselors with a trauma-informed foundation to support clients experiencing single, chronic, developmental, systemic and occupational traumas.
The CRAFT concentration focuses on three pillars:
- Supporting clients impacted by crises
- Building resilience in the face of trauma
- Effectively counseling first responders
Why choose the CRAFT concentration?
Cultural responsiveness is at the core of this concentration as the understanding of how the traumas intersect with race, gender, sexuality, economics and more. These ideas are vital to training effective clinicians.
Counselors completing this concentration will gain clinical experiences working in trauma-focused sites with some of the most resilient and vulnerable among us, including:
First responders: Fire service, law enforcement, emergency communications workers)
Medical professionals: Emergency room nurses, doctors, staff, counselors, social workers
People living in poverty: Unhoused (situationally or long-term), immigrants or refugees)
People experiencing sociocultural trauma: Race, gender, sexuality, religion/spirituality
Community leaders and organizers: School personnel, clergy, advocates
Internship and employment opportunities: Students in the fieldwork phase of the clinical mental health counseling program commit to providing direct and indirect clinical services at a variety of site placements. Community partners host practicum and internship opportunities for students for one full year and several employ students post-graduation.
Community partners:
- Center for Child Counseling
- Lifeskills of South Florida
- The Faulk Center for Counseling
- Renfrew Center for Eating Disorders
- Community Partners of South Florida
- Caron Renaissance, Florida
National partners:
- The Quell Foundation
- The National Board for Certified Counselors
- Academic Resilience Consortium
- Association for Counselor Education & Supervision
International partners:
- International Registry of Counsellor Education Programs
- International Committee for Adlerian Summer School & Institutes
- International Association on Resilience & Trauma Counseling
At a glance
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Master of Science
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My time in Lynn’s clinical mental health counseling program can only be described as transformative. My experiences made me a great counselor in the making and an even better person.Chelsea Sherwood '22
Courses
Browse the curriculum, course descriptions and requirements for the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program.
This course covers a variety of therapeutic techniques and interventions across modern and post-modern therapy paradigms. The focus will be on enhancing knowledge of theoretical frameworks for therapy models and their associated techniques. Issues related to assessment, case conceptualization, treatment planning, cultural responsiveness and outcome evaluation will be examined. v.2025
This course provides an overview of counseling theories and practices in mental health. The course also covers the conceptualization of clients' presenting issues, emphasizing how to integrate theory into effective counseling interventions. Students will explore a variety of counseling theories and learn how to apply them in simulated practice. v.2025
This course will deepen students' understanding of diagnostic practices, focusing on the development of skills needed for accurate diagnoses. It will provide a working knowledge of diagnostic categories and criteria from the latest diagnostic classification systems, such as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) and the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). Additionally, the course will explore diverse perspectives on diagnosis and treatment. Students will learn key principles and models of bio-psychosocial case conceptualization and gain proficiency in writing diagnostic formulations. v.2025
Career opportunities
Earn your master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling and leave with a valuable skillset that you can apply to a career in counseling right away. Plus, after graduating, you can register with the state of Florida to complete two years of supervised clinical hours and pass the national exam to become a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) or nationally certified counselor (NCC).
Career preparation services
We empower students to utilize all the career preparation resources to find the job they’ve always dreamed of.
Cost and aid
Estimated tuition
| Fee name | 2024-2025 |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $650 per credit |
| Total | $39,000 |
Costs are based on completion of 60 total credits. Some programs and courses may have additional costs.
Fund your education
Attending Lynn can be more reasonable than you may think. Explore financial aid opportunities and see how much you can save.
View funding optionsGraduate Application deadlines
Fall entry
- Apply by March 1.
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Contact us
Reach out to our Admission team
| Phone | +1 561-237-7900 |
|---|---|
| [email protected] | |
| Online | lynn.edu/admission |
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Student Ambassadors
Our ambassadors offer valuable insight to prospective students and families on life at Lynn. See their stories and connect with them today.
I chose Lynn because of the size of the school. Outside of class, I love playing basketball,swimming and walking my dog. After graduation, I would like to do private counseling.
Egon Ruhek '26
Slavonski Brod, Croatia,
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
[email protected]
I chose Lynn for its location and I like psychology/counseling. Outside of class, I love reading, running, and cooking. I want to become a therapist after graduation.
Lily Koch '25
Langenbrettach, Germany,
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
[email protected]
I chose Lynn for my master's because it feels like home, and it let me grow so much. Outside of class, I am a swimmer, and I also love to do music and art. After graduation, I would like to be an art therapist or anything that makes me happy.
Luna Mertins '25
Friedberg, Germany,
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
[email protected]
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