![](https://www.lvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/lvc-news-campus-5.jpg.webp)
![LVC students in psychology seminar with Dr. Rachel Albert](https://www.lvc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/LVC_Fall2023_2023_11_07_0150-scaled.jpg.webp)
Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Build on any bachelor's degree with a master's degree that will help improve lives. LVC’s Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling will prepare you for a career in hospitals, private practice, or social service organizations.
Next start date: August 26, 2024
Learn More About the Program
LVC’s M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program objectives are aligned with the Pennsylvania State requirements for Licensure for Professional Counselors through a curriculum founded in excellence in teaching, high-performing student outcomes, and continuous improvements. Complete the program in as few as two years.
LVC’s CMHC program is designed to meet the educational requirements to be licensed as a professional counselor in Pennsylvania. Additional requirements to obtain licensure are mandatory, including but not limited to passing the state licensure exam and acquiring the requisite supervision hours. Students should consult the Pennsylvania State Licensing Board to determine the requirements to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC).
Students interested in licensure outside Pennsylvania can contact the American Counseling Association or the National Board of Certified Counselors to access licensure requirements for other states. The student is responsible for contacting the appropriate board for licensing and certification information.
Please consult Dr. Cynthia Vejar, CMHC Program Director, at vejar@lvc.edu for additional information.
The CMHC Program at LVC has submitted a self-study to CACREP. We are currently in the review process and will provide updates about the accreditation process as they become available.
Program Options: Hybrid vs. Fully Remote
Students combine different learning modalities, including the following: hybrid, online/asynchronous, and online/synchronous.
The hybrid courses include:
- 701/Orientation to Counseling
- 711/Group Dynamics
- 712/Career Counseling
- 733/Trauma Counseling
- 750/Assessment & Evaluation
- 802/Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (elective)
The online/asynchronous courses include:
- 601/Professional Standards & Ethics
- 620/Human Growth & Development
- 621/Social & Cultural Diversity
- 622/Diagnostic and Treatment Planning for Counselors
- 720/Theory & Helping Relationships
- 721/Advanced Counseling Techniques
- 751/Research Methods & Statistics
- 730/Cognitive Behavior Therapy
- 731/Addiction Counseling, and several electives
- 801/Stress Management (elective)
- 802/Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (elective)
- 803/Social Problems & Counseling (elective)
- 804/Crisis Intervention and Prevention (elective)
- 806/Family Counseling (elective)
- 807/Child and Adolescent Counseling (elective)
- 811/Grief Counseling (elective)
- 812/Trauma Seminar (elective)
- 814/Military and Police Counseling (elective)
- 816/Creative Arts in Counseling (elective)
The online/synchronous classes include:
- 870/Clinical Practicum
- 900/Clinical Internship I
- 901/Clinical Internship II
Benefits of completing the program as the hybrid option include the following:
- Hybrid classes include 50% of coursework that is in-person and 50% of coursework that is online. The in-person component of hybrid classes offers “real time” discussions, activities, and class exercises. For some students, the process of networking with instructors and classmates in person is extremely valuable. The online component of hybrid classes offers flexibility and accessibility.
- Online/asynchronous courses allow students to navigate the course with flexibility, and uphold the work-life balance, particularly when they are juggling many roles and responsibilities.
- Online/synchronous courses allow Practicum/Internship students to engage with each other and the course instructor in “real time,” which is conducive for group supervision that allows an exchange of feedback and dialogue about clinical-related matters. Simultaneously, the online/Zoom modality provides flexibility and accessibility.
Students take the entire program online, including online/asynchronous courses and online/synchronous courses. Some of the online/asynchronous courses are offered as their own sections. Other online/asynchronous courses include both synchronous and asynchronous students within the same class. Students intending to complete the fully remote option at a full-time pace can begin the program in the fall semester. Fully remote students studying at a part-time pace can begin the program in fall or spring.
The online/asynchronous courses include:
- 601/Professional Standards & Ethics
- 620/Human Growth & Development
- 621/Social & Cultural Diversity
- 622/Diagnostic and Treatment Planning for Counselors
- 701/Orientation to Counseling
- 711/Group Dynamics
- 712/Career Counseling
- 720/Theory & Helping Relationships
- 721/Advanced Counseling Techniques
- 730/Cognitive Behavior Therapy
- 731/Addiction Counseling, and several electives
- 733/Trauma Counseling
- 750/Assessment & Evaluation
- 751/Research Methods & Statistics
- 801/Stress Management (elective)
- 802/Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (elective)
- 803/Social Problems & Counseling (elective)
- 804/Crisis Intervention and Prevention (elective)
- 806/Family Counseling (elective)
- 807/Child and Adolescent Counseling (elective)
- 811/Grief Counseling (elective)
- 812/Trauma Seminar (elective)
- 814/Military and Police Counseling (elective)
- 816/Creative Arts in Counseling (elective)
The online/synchronous classes include:
- 870/Clinical Practicum
- 900/Clinical Internship I
- 901/Clinical Internship II
Benefits of completing the program as the fully remote option include the following:
- Online/asynchronous courses allow students to navigate the course with flexibility, and uphold the work-life balance, particularly when they are juggling many roles and responsibilities.
- Online/synchronous courses allow Practicum/Internship students to engage with each other and the course instructor in “real time,” which is conducive for group supervision that allows an exchange of feedback and dialogue about clinical-related matters. Simultaneously, the online/Zoom modality provides flexibility and accessibility.
- If students are completing the program from afar – including a non-commutable distance to Annville, PA, the fully remote option provides convenience and accessibility.
The M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program features an evidence-based curriculum, along with opportunities to get real-life experience through internships and a practicum. Check out some of our internship sites below.
-
Annville Psychological Services
-
Catholic Charities
-
Center for Hope and Healing
-
Everlasting Wellness Counseling
-
Horizon House Inc.
-
LVC Counseling Center
-
Maryland Treatment Centers – Mountain Manor
-
Milton Hershey School
-
Pennsylvania Counseling Services
-
WellSpan Health – Philhaven
Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) and Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) are two distinct fields within mental health care, each with its unique focus and methodologies, although they share several similarities. Both professions require rigorous training and licensure, and practitioners in both fields are committed to helping individuals improve their mental health and overall well-being.
Marriage and Family Therapy specifically focuses on relationships and family dynamics. MFTs are trained to observe and analyze interactions within families and couples, addressing issues from a systemic perspective. This means they consider problems within the context of the relational interactions among family members rather than individual psychopathology. Common issues dealt with include marital conflicts, parent-child conflicts, and extended family relationships. The goal of MFT is often to improve communication, resolve conflicts, and enhance the functioning of the family unit as a whole.
Clinical Mental Health Counseling, on the other hand, has a broader focus. CMHCs treat individuals with a wide range of mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, substance abuse, persistent and severe mental illnesses, and life stress, among others. While CMHCs are equipped to work with families and couples, their training also extensively covers individual therapy. Clinical mental health counselors may work in various settings such as hospitals, private practice, or community health agencies, and they often adopt a more holistic approach, considering both the psychological and environmental factors affecting an individual.
Both fields require a master’s degree, typically followed by postgraduate clinical work and state licensure. The training for both MFTs and CMHCs includes foundational coursework in psychotherapy and counseling, ethics, and specialized techniques relevant to their respective focuses.
Choosing between these two paths generally depends on one’s career goals and interests. If you are drawn to understanding and treating the complexities of interpersonal relationships within a family system, MFT might be the right path. However, if you prefer a broader scope of practice that allows you to address a wide variety of mental health issues in individuals, couples, families, and groups, CMHC might be more suitable.
Handbooks, Reports, & Statistics
Lebanon Valley College submitted its self-study for the M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program to The Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP) in 2023.
View our program handbook, practicum and internship handbook, annual reports, and vital statistics.