Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Gordon’s clinical mental health counseling master’s program is psychology-based and hybrid, designed for students pursuing professional licensure or advanced preparation in ministry and helping professions. You’ll receive personal mentorship from experienced faculty as you develop the knowledge, clinical skills, and confidence to care for the whole person and serve others with excellence.

The Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling offers two concentrations: a 60-credit licensure concentration and a 36-credit non-licensure concentration. Both emphasize clinical formation through psychological depth, supervision, and hands-on preparation. You will study the foundations of assessment, diagnosis, and intervention so you understand not only what to do in clinical practice, but why it works.

Learn more about admission, residencies, and tuition →

Why study clinical mental health counseling at Gordon College?

Psychology-based. Personally mentored. Purposefully called.

As a Christian college, Gordon welcomes students of all backgrounds into a learning community where psychological science, ethical practice, and faith-informed perspectives enrich the preparation of helping professionals.

You’ll receive personal mentorship from experienced faculty as you develop the knowledge, clinical skills, and confidence to care for the whole person and serve others with excellence.

Flexible hybrid format for graduate counseling students

Gordon’s hybrid counseling master’s program uses a synchronous choice model, allowing students to attend the same course either online or in person.

The program can be completed in two years through daytime and evening courses, with a part-time evening schedule available for students balancing graduate study with work, ministry, family, or other responsibilities.

A Counseling Master’s Degree with two concentrations

Gordon’s M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling gives students two ways to prepare for meaningful work in counseling, psychology, human services, ministry, and related helping professions.

Unlike standard counseling degrees housed outside psychology departments, Gordon’s curriculum integrates clinical counseling, psychological science, assessment, and supervised fieldwork into a coherent professional formation. Whether you plan to pursue licensure or strengthen your work in a non-licensure setting, you will gain the psychological knowledge, practical counseling skills, and ethical foundation to serve others well.

60-Credit Licensure Concentration

The 60-credit licensure concentration is Gordon’s LMHC master’s program, designed for students who want to pursue professional counseling or master’s-level psychology licensure. Students choose between two licensure pathways: clinical mental health counseling or a master’s-level psychologist. 

Clinical Mental Health Counseling Pathway

This licensed mental health counselor degree pathway prepares students to practice as licensed mental health counselors and therapists.

• Licensure alignment: The curriculum is designed to satisfy the core content areas required by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) and most state boards.
• Exam preparation: Coursework supports preparation for the NCMHCE or NCE.
• Clinical fieldwork: Gordon students complete a 100-hour practicum and a 600-hour internship.
• National portability: The 60-credit structure is designed for broad eligibility across jurisdictions.

Master’s-Level Psychologist Pathway
This pathway offers focused preparation in psychological assessment, diagnosis, and the application of psychological science in clinical and human service settings.

• Psychological assessment: Training includes cognitive, personality, and clinical assessment.
• Diagnostic reasoning: Students develop competence in case conceptualization and DSM-based diagnosis.
• Applied psychological science: Coursework connects psychological research with practical skills used in clinical work.
• Licensure alignment: The curriculum is designed to fulfill academic requirements mandated by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB) and state boards of psychology for master’s-level practitioners, such as licensed psychological associates.
• Exam preparation: Coursework provides the theoretical and empirical foundation required for the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP).

36-Credit Non-Licensure Concentration for Applied Psychology and Helping Professions

Designed for pastors, chaplains, educators, human services professionals, healthcare workers, and nonprofit leaders, the 36-credit non-licensure concentration provides a rigorous grounding in psychological science, counseling theory, and applied practice for students whose professional goals do not require clinical licensure.

• Psychologically informed practice: Build skills in referral, relational care, and support across helping professions
• Pastoral care and chaplaincy: Integrate psychological literacy with spiritual formation and care
• Applied professional settings: Deepen existing practice in human services, education, healthcare, and nonprofit leadership
• Transferable foundation: Students who later decide to pursue licensure may transfer to the 60-credit concentration, with all completed coursework counting toward the fuller degree