Advance Your Career with a Counseling and Mental Health Degree
Are you passionate about helping others navigate life's challenges and mental health concerns? Beal University's counseling and mental health degree programs equip you with the knowledge, skills, and certifications required to become an effective mental health counselor. Our flexible counseling degree programs—available both in-person and online—accommodate working professionals while maintaining the highest educational standards. At Beal University, located at 99 Farm Rd in Bangor, Maine, we understand that pursuing a mental health counseling degree is a significant investment in your future. Our mission is to prepare you not just with theoretical knowledge, but with the hands-on skills, supervised practicum experience, and industry connections that employers value. From bachelors in mental health programs to advanced masters in counseling degrees, we offer flexible pathways to professional success. Discover how a counseling degree from Beal University can open doors to a rewarding career helping individuals, families, and communities.
Understanding the Comprehensive Landscape of Counseling and Mental Health Degree Programs
A counseling and mental health degree is a specialized educational program designed to prepare professionals for careers in mental health services, individual counseling, group therapy, and community mental health work. Counseling psychology programs and clinical mental health counseling degrees emphasize understanding human behavior, developmental psychology, abnormal psychology, and the intersection of mental health with social factors. Whether pursuing an associate degree mental health counseling, a bachelor's in mental health, or a master's degree in mental health counseling, students gain expertise in evaluating diverse client presentations and creating culturally responsive treatment approaches.
The counseling degree requirements by state vary, but most jurisdictions require a minimum of a master's degree in counseling for licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) or Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC). Online counseling education has become increasingly popular, allowing working professionals to pursue how to become a mental health counselor while maintaining employment and family commitments. These programs address the essential question many aspiring professionals ask: what degree do i need for counseling? The answer is typically a master's degree, though some entry-level positions accept bachelor's graduates for limited roles under supervision.
The mental health career options for counseling graduates are diverse and growing, with demand for qualified mental health counselors increasing across hospitals, private practice, schools, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies. The counseling career path often begins with entry-level positions, transitions to specialized certifications, and may culminate in private practice ownership or supervisory roles. Mental health counselor credentials vary by state, but counselor certification requirements typically include completion of an accredited degree, supervised clinical hours (ranging from 2,000 to 4,000 hours depending on state), and passing a comprehensive examination.
Key Benefits of Beal University's Counseling Programs
- Receive training aligned with CACREP standards, ensuring your credentials are nationally recognized and respected by employers across all healthcare and education sectors.
- Access flexible online counseling education options that allow you to maintain employment and family responsibilities while pursuing your master's in counseling or bachelor's in mental health degree.
- Benefit from experienced faculty with active clinical practices, bringing real-world expertise in clinical mental health counseling, school counseling, and specialized therapeutic approaches directly into the classroom.
- Complete supervised practicum and internship experiences in established mental health agencies, schools, and counseling centers throughout Maine, building your professional network and gaining practical clinical hours.
- Gain the knowledge and credentials needed to answer the critical question: how to become a mental health counselor, with clear pathways to employment and professional development.
These benefits translate into real-world advantages when you're navigating the mental health career options available to counseling graduates. The combination of rigorous academics, supervised clinical practice, and ongoing mentorship creates a comprehensive counseling degree program that honors both the art and science of mental health counseling.
How Beal University Delivers Exceptional Mental Health Degree Programs
The first step in pursuing your professional counseling degree is understanding the application process and program requirements specific to your educational goals—whether that's a bachelor's in mental health, master's degree in mental health counseling, or advanced specialization. Once enrolled, you'll begin with foundational courses in counseling theories, human development, psychology, and research methods, building the conceptual framework for clinical mental health counseling practice. Our admission process includes transcripts review, personal statements, and conversations about your motivation for entering the mental health counselor training field.
Throughout your online counseling education or on-campus studies at our Bangor facility, you'll progress through a carefully sequenced curriculum that integrates theory with practice. Practicum and internship experiences form the cornerstone of our approach, with students completing 600-1,000 supervised clinical hours in real-world settings. Advanced students work toward completing their required clinical hours while building case conceptualization skills, therapeutic presence, and professional judgment necessary for independent practice. Upon graduation, you'll have the credentials, experience, and professional network needed to launch your counseling career path with confidence and competence.
Industry Expertise and Specialized Knowledge in Mental Health Counseling Education
Beal University's counseling faculty and leadership bring decades of combined experience in clinical mental health counseling, school counseling, addiction treatment, trauma-informed care, and community mental health services. Our expertise extends to understanding the diverse mental health career options available to counseling graduates, from private practice and hospital settings to schools, nonprofits, and government agencies. The faculty at Beal University regularly engage with professional organizations, attend continuing education events, and maintain active clinical caseloads, ensuring that their teaching integrates current best practices in individual therapy, group counseling, family systems work, and crisis intervention.
Our success is demonstrated through high licensure exam pass rates, strong employer feedback about graduate competence, and consistent career placement outcomes for our counseling degree graduates.
Common Questions About Counseling and Mental Health Degrees
Timeline expectations vary: a master's degree in mental health counseling typically takes 2-3 years full-time, while online counseling education programs may extend to 3-5 years when studying part-time. Prospective students also consider counseling degree salary and job outlook, and research consistently shows positive employment prospects and competitive compensation for licensed professional counselors and mental health counselors. {The choice between best online counseling degree programs and traditional on-campus options depends on your personal learning style, schedule, and career timeline, but quality accredited counseling degrees deliver equivalent credentials regardless of format.
Students should expect rigorous academics that challenge them intellectually, practical skills training that builds clinical confidence, and mentorship relationships with experienced professionals who understand the mental health career options and counseling career path available in today's market.
Why Choose Beal University for Your Counseling and Mental Health Degree
Our institutional commitment to mental health counselor training is reflected in every aspect of our programs—from faculty selection and curriculum design to practicum partnerships and licensure preparation support. For over two decades, Beal University has been preparing counselors, school counselors, and mental health professionals who make meaningful differences in their communities. Students who choose Beal University for their counseling and mental health degree benefit from an institution that understands both the academic requirements for licensure and the human qualities that make truly exceptional counselors.
The combination of our physical location, online options, experienced faculty, and strong community partnerships creates unique advantages for students pursuing a mental health degree or professional counseling degree from Beal University.
Begin Your Counseling Career Path Now
Your journey toward becoming a certified, licensed mental health counselor begins with a single conversation with the admissions team at Beal University. Don't let another semester pass wondering how to become a mental health counselor—reach out today to learn about our accredited counseling degrees, flexible program formats, and proven pathways to professional success. Contact Beal University now to schedule a consultation with an admissions counselor, request detailed program information, or discuss your specific counseling career goals and timeline. We're here to answer your questions about professional counseling degree options and help you take the next step toward a rewarding career in mental health counseling.
Call (207)-307-3900 to schedule your consultation and discover how Beal University can prepare you for success in the mental health counseling profession.
Beal University
99 Farm Rd, Bangor, ME 04401, United States
Phone: (207)-307-3900
counseling degree salary and job outlook