Master of Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Find meaning as a helping professional
Designed for working adults, the Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at Kentucky Wesleyan College provides advanced training in counseling theory, clinical practice, and human development. Our robust program emphasizes ethical decision-making, multicultural competence, and reflective clinical thinking, preparing graduates for licensure and leadership roles in community agencies, private practice, schools, and healthcare settings within the five available concentrations.
Master of Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program Features
The Kentucky Wesleyan MAC 3 year, 60-hour program designed for those who want to become highly skilled, highly competent mental health clinicians. Students complete the program in a hybrid model with both in-person and synchronous online courses, making it an ideal option for working adults. The program admits a small cohort each fall where students form impactful collaborative relationships.
The MAC at Kentucky Wesleyan stands out by offering the only cohort and primarily face-to-face program in the region. The program prepares students for licensure as professional counselors in Kentucky, Indiana and other states and offers three specializations: Marriage, Family, Couples & Children, Substance Abuse & Addictions, and Grief & Loss. Each specialization allows students to focus their MAC on developing specialty skills in their particular area of interest while preparing them for practice as general mental health counselors.
The program was developed to align with the Kentucky Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and the Indiana Behavioral Health and Human Services Licensing Board and is evaluated, approved, and assessed through Kentucky Wesleyan College’s standard academic governance processes. MAC program instruction is delivered by Kentucky Wesleyan faculty who have deep clinical experience and academic expertise, ensuring students benefit from both real-world experience and academic rigor.
The MAC program at Kentucky Wesleyan College is designed to provide students entry into a highly meaningful career in the rapidly expanding mental health profession. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for mental health and addictions counselors is expected to grow 17% through 2034 (compared to an average of 3% growth in other professional careers) with more than 43,000 new jobs each year nationally. Clinical mental health counselors earn an average of $72,000 according to ZipRecruiter.
Students choose the Kentucky Wesleyan MAC for its personal approach, flexible format, and practical outcomes. Small class sizes allow for meaningful faculty engagement, while the cohort model allows students to form close, meaningful relationships leading to lifelong friendships. By graduation, you will be prepared to enter the field as a licensed professional ready to enter the dynamic and diverse field of mental health.
If you want a master’s that offers high quality, hands on clinical training, relevant specialization options, and a clear path to professional growth, the Kentucky Wesleyan MAC will prepare you to be a highly competent mental health professional.
This program is pending approval by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
Program Concentrations
There are three concentrations available in the Kentucky Wesleyan MAC program:
Marriage, Family, Couples & Children
Substance Abuse & Addictions
Grief & Loss.
Career Paths
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) in Private Practice — Provide individual, couples, family, and group psychotherapy to clients across the lifespan in an independent or group practice setting
Community Mental Health Counselor — Deliver outpatient counseling, crisis intervention, and case management services through community mental health centers serving diverse and underserved populations
Substance Use Disorder Counselor — Assess, diagnose, and treat individuals struggling with addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders in residential, outpatient, or intensive outpatient settings
Integrated Behavioral Health Counselor — Embed within primary care medical practices to provide brief counseling, behavioral health screenings, and coordinated care for patients with combined physical and mental health needs
Crisis Counselor or Crisis Response Specialist — Work within hospital emergency departments, crisis stabilization units, or mobile crisis teams to provide immediate assessment and intervention for individuals in acute psychological distress
College or University Counseling Center Therapist — Support the mental health and wellness of college students by providing short-term counseling, outreach programming, and consultation within higher education settings
Courses You'll Take
The Three-Year Plan is a full-time program that enables students to complete the program in three years.
|
Term |
Course |
Credits |
|
Fall Year 1 |
|
|
|
COUN599 |
Orientation to the MAC |
0 |
|
COUN600 |
History & Philosophy of Mental Health Counseling |
3 |
|
COUN615 |
Lifespan Development |
3 |
|
COUN610 |
Counseling Techniques and Practices |
3 |
|
COUN610-L |
Counseling Techniques and Practices Lab |
0 |
|
|
|
9 |
|
Spring Year 1 |
|
|
|
COUN605 |
Theories of Counseling and Consultation |
3 |
|
COUN635 |
Assessment in Counseling |
3 |
|
COUN640 |
Psychopathology & Diagnosis |
3 |
|
|
|
9 |
|
Summer Year 1 |
|
|
|
COUN620 |
Lifestyle & Career Development |
3 |
|
|
Elective |
3 |
|
|
|
6 |
|
Fall Year 2 |
|
|
|
COUN618 |
Legal and Ethical Issues in Counseling |
3 |
|
COUN645 |
Research Methods and Program Evaluation |
3 |
|
COUN625 |
Social Justice & Diversity |
3 |
|
|
|
9 |
|
Spring Year 2 |
|
|
|
COUN630 |
Theory & Practice of Group Counseling |
3 |
|
COUN633 |
Advanced Techniques, Telecounseling & Billing |
3 |
|
COUN650 |
Crisis, Trauma & Addiction Counseling |
3 |
|
|
|
9 |
|
Summer Year 2 |
|
|
|
COUN638 |
Psychopharmacology & Substance Abuse |
3 |
Admissions Requirements
Admission requirements include a bachelor’s degree, personal goals statement, transcripts, and a criminal background check. GRE scores are not required unless the applicant has an undergraduate GPA below 3.0. This program is designed for working adults who are ready to embark on a career in health care.
How to Apply
How to Apply
- Submit your application here. Kentucky Wesleyan College does not charge an application fee.
- Upload a current resume/CV with your application.
- Send official university transcripts from schools you attended to Kentucky Wesleyan College.
International applicants
- International applicants who attended college outside of the United States are required to submit an English Proficiency test score.
- Transcripts from all institutions must be translated into English. We do not require a third-party transcript evaluation for international transcripts to submit an application.
Application Deadlines
Fall 2027 – application deadline May 1, 2027
Spring 2028 – application deadline September 1, 2027
Contact the MAC Program
Daniel R. Cruikshanks, Ph.D., LPC is the Director of the MAC Program
Daniel R. Cruikshanks, Ph.D., LPC
Professor of Psychology and Counselor Education
Program Requirements
The MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling requires a minimum of 60 credit hours of graduate coursework, typically completed in 36 months. Students complete 45 credits of core coursework sequentially as well as a minimum of 6 credits of electives in one of three Specialty Tracks. Students have the option of completing additional elective courses if they want to broaden their scope of practice. Finally, students complete 9 credits of field work including COUN 690 Practicum & Advanced Case Conceptualization (3 credit hours), COUN 695 INTERNSHIP 1 (3 credit hours), and COUN 696 INTERNSHIP 2 (3 credit hours).
