Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Wichita State University's M.Ed. in Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling track, is designed to prepare students for licensure by the Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board (Licensed Professional Counselor - LPC) and certification by the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC).

Clinical mental health counseling courses are offered by face-to-face, hybrid, and online. At minimum, 50% of courses in the program will require attending courses on campus.

Completing a M.Ed. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling prepares the student to find a career in clinics, hospitals, school-based mental health program, and private practice. This degree will focus on the development of your ability to use: addiction counseling, mental health counseling, career counseling, marriage and family counseling, children and adolescent counseling, grief and loss counseling, and play therapy.

Students seeking to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Kansas must submit a completed application packet to Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board (700 S.W Harrison St. Ste 420, Topeka, Kansas 66603-3929. Phone: 785-296-3240). The Board makes all decisions regarding licensure eligibility. The MEd in Counseling, Clinical Mental Health track, meets the academic course work requirements stipulated by the Board for licensure as an LPC.

Students must pass the LPC Board's licensure examination to be licensed. The exam is the National Counselor Exam (NCE). Additional information is available at www.nbcc.org.

The M.Ed. in Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling track consists of 60 graduate hours.  All syllabi are provided for prospective, current and past students, but it should be noted that each is subject to modification by the individual instructor when the course is taught. The courses include:

• CESP 803 Counseling Theory (3)
• CLES 806 Foundations of Mental Health Counseling (3)
• CESP 824 Techniques of Counseling (3)
• CLES 805 Professional and Ethical Issues in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (3)
• CLES 860 CMHC Practicum (3) [CMHC & Sports Counseling only]
• CLES 802 Human Growth and Development for Counselors (3)
• CESP 821 Multicultural Issues in Counseling (3)
• CESP 835 Psychopathology and the DSM (3)
• CESP 815 Career Development (3)
• CESP 825 Group Counseling Techniques (3)
• CLES 810 Research Methods and Program Evaluation (3)
• CESP 847 Addiction Counseling (3)
• CESP 822 Assessment in Counseling (3)
• CLES 952 Clinical Mental Health Counseling Internship (taken as two 3-credit-hour semesters or as one 6-credit-hour semester)
  • CLES 952A CMHC Internship I (3) & CLES 952B CMHC Internship II (3)
  • CLES 952C CMHC Internship (6)

When applying for admission to the Master's in Education, Counseling program, you must submit to the Graduate School:

• A completed graduate school application
• Official transcripts with 3.00 GPA for the last 60 hours

Once the Graduate School forwards the application to the Department, it will request:

1. A statement of professional goals
2. A résumé
3. The names, addresses and phone numbers of three professional references to provide reference information

Upon receipt of this information, the departmental screening committee will make recommendations concerning admission decisions for the master's program in counseling.

Application Process
You can view the progress of your admission status by navigating to Step 5 here. Click here for information on how you will be notified of your admission decision.

Upon admission and prior to their first semester, all students admitted to the Counseling program must clear a criminal background check. Click here for instructions.

In order to meet CACREP accreditation requirements, all clinical mental health counseling supervisors must show proof of receiving some form of supervision training.  If you have not received supervision training, or cannot provide proof of receiving supervision training, please Click Here for instructions.