Flexible Preparation for Dedicated Counselors
Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Online (MS)
Become a counselor people can count on through a low-residency program.
Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (Online)
When people face grief, anxiety, relationship challenges, and other difficult moments, counselors help them find a way forward. The University of Lynchburg’s online MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling prepares you to support individuals, couples, and families across mental health care settings. Graduates of this program meet the educational requirements for licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor in Virginia.
Designed with working adults in mind, this 60-credit-hour CACREP-accredited clinical mental health counseling program allows you to complete your coursework online through a combination of synchronous and asynchronous classes while balancing your career and family. Full-time students typically earn their degree in two to three years.
While enrolled in the program, you’ll also complete biannual, focused residencies on Lynchburg’s campus. These face-to-face experiences give you time to practice counseling techniques, strengthen your assessment skills, and build relationships with the faculty and classmates you’ve come to know online along with your fellow residential students.
Your preparation moves beyond coursework through 700 hours of supervised clinical experience. You’ll begin with a one-semester, 100-hour practicum that includes 40 hours of direct client contact. Two semesters of supervised internship follow, totaling 600 hours and 240 hours of direct work with clients.
Why Choose the Online Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program at Lynchburg?
Our program, designed by experienced counselors for aspiring mental health professionals, combines the strength of real-world clinical experience with academic rigor and innovation. By choosing Lynchburg’s master’s degree in counselor education, you’re diving into a transformative educational environment with seasoned faculty, rooted in a student-centered approach, and informed by current research and therapeutic practices.
Distinctive Features of Lynchburg's online Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program
Transform your passion into professional expertise with our comprehensive and hands-on clinical mental health counseling program.
Clinical Experience
At Lynchburg, we believe in learning by doing. You’ll gain 700 hours of supervised clinical experience. Our counseling practicum and internships offer you invaluable hands-on experience in real-world counseling settings, reinforcing the skills and knowledge you gain in the classroom.
Eligible as Licensed Professional Counselors in Virginia
Graduates of the University of Lynchburg’s online clinical mental health counseling program meet the educational requirements for licensure as a LPC in Virginia. Upon completion of the program, you will be eligible to apply for LPC residency in Virginia. Having this license opens up a wide range of career opportunities and helps you establish yourself as a qualified and competent professional.
Emphasis on Multicultural Competence
Our program is committed to diversity and multicultural competence. We provide you with the tools you need to understand and meet the unique needs of diverse populations, ensuring you can provide culturally sensitive and competent care.
Faculty Who Are Practicing CliniciansItem #9
All of our counseling faculty maintain active clinical practices. You’ll learn from practicing counselors who bring current, real-world experiences and questions into the virtual classroom, not just theory from a textbook.
Professional Identity and Ethical Practice
We prioritize the development of your professional identity as a counselor. Our rigorous courses on ethics and the professional role of counselors help shape you into a responsible practitioner, ready to face the complex ethical dilemmas of the profession.
Promoting Wellness and Resilience
We view mental health counseling through a wellness and resilience perspective. Our coursework enables you to not only help your clients manage mental health challenges but thrive despite them.
Research and Evidence-based Practice
The integration of research and practice is a key pillar of our program. We encourage students to understand and engage in research and ensure they can critically evaluate and apply research findings in their practice.
Robust Curriculum
Our curriculum is designed to ensure you have a strong foundation in the field of mental health counseling. From basic counseling theories to specialized areas such as LGBTQ+ considerations and trauma-informed counseling, you’re equipped with a comprehensive knowledge base that will serve you in any clinical setting.
Small By Design
Small classes, by design, provide a personalized and supportive learning environment in the University of Lynchburg’s clinical mental health counseling program. With a low student-to-faculty ratio, students receive individualized attention and guidance from experienced faculty members, resulting in an engaging, interactive learning experience. This approach helps students develop meaningful connections with faculty and peers and fosters a sense of community within the program.
Counselor Education Mission Statement
The students and faculty of the Counselor Education Program at the University of Lynchburg are a diverse community of learners deeply committed to creating a positive impact on the communities where we work and live. We prepare professional counselors to be independent and curious learners, culturally-responsive and self-reflective practitioners, and highly ethical professionals. In support of the evolving needs of the diverse clientele counselors serve, the Counselor Education Program emphasizes training innovative counselors who can maintain a clear professional identity while working collaboratively in settings where counseling is an integral aspect of interdisciplinary missions.
Curriculum and Resources
2026-27 Academic Year Information
The curriculum is designed to include all content areas and clinical experiences required for initial licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Virginia. Graduates are eligible to apply for licensure upon conferral of their degree.
Students must take the following required courses:
- COUN 601-O Professional Identity and Function of Clinical Mental Health Counselors (Online) (3 hrs.)
- COUN 602-O Counseling Across the Lifespan (Online) (3 hrs.)
- COUN 605-O Counseling Theories (Online) (3 hrs.)
- COUN 609-O Research in Counseling (Online) (3 hrs.)
- COUN 610-O Career Development (Online) (3 hrs.)
- COUN 611-O Crisis Counseling (Online) (3 hrs.)
- COUN 614-O Counseling Techniques (Online) (3 hrs.)
- COUN 615-O Clinical Mental Health Counseling Practicum (Online) (3 hrs.)
- COUN 620-O Group Counseling Procedures and Techniques (Online) (3 hrs.)
- COUN 630-O Marriage and Family Counseling (Online) (3 hrs.)
- COUN 640-O Abnormal Behavior (Online) (3 hrs.)
- COUN 645-O Substance Use Counseling, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Addictive Disorders (Online) (3 hrs.)
- COUN 660-O Evaluation and Assessment (Online) (3 hrs.)
- COUN 665-O Cross-Cultural Counseling (Online) (3 hrs.)
- COUN 670-O Legal and Ethical Issues in Counseling (Online) (3 hrs.)
- COUN 687-O Clinical Mental Health Counseling Internship (Online) (3 hrs.)
- COUN 697-O Clinical Mental Health Counseling Internship II (Online) (3 hrs.)
- Two supervised counseling experiences: Practicum, totaling a minimum of 100 hours in one semester/term in a clinical mental health agency setting; and Internship, totaling a minimum of 600 hours across two semesters/terms in a clinical mental health agency setting.
Students must take nine hours of electives. Choose from:
- COUN 618-O Counseling Children and Adolescents (Online) (3 hrs.)
- COUN 621-O Alternative Counseling Theories and Techniques (Online) (3 hrs.)
- COUN 622-O Advanced Counseling Theories and Techniques (Online) (3 hrs.)
- COUN 623-O Counseling Military Personnel, Veterans, and their Families (Online) (3 hrs.)
- COUN 625-O Professional Identity and Function of School Counselors (Online) (3 hrs.)
- COUN 661-O Sexuality in Counseling (Online) (3 hrs.)
- COUN 662-O LGBT Considerations in Counseling (Online) (3 hrs.)
- COUN 663-O Trauma-Informed Counseling and Care (Online) (3 hrs.)
- COUN 669-O Special Topics in Counseling (Online) (3 hrs.)
- COUN 678-O Adventure-Based Counseling (Online) (3 hrs.)
- COUN 683-O Dynamics of Play Therapy (Online) (3 hrs.)
- COUN 695-O Independent Study (Online) (3 hrs.)
- SPED 600-O Foundations and Legal Aspects of Special Education (3 hrs.)
Students must complete a two-part Summative Assessment:
- COUN-COMP: Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE) National Exam
- COUN-PORT: Capstone Portfolio
Total Hours Required: 60
Program-specific Resources
Apply to Lynchburg’s counseling graduate program
The admissions process for the clinical mental health counseling graduate degree is designed to evaluate your preparedness for the rigors of graduate study and your potential to contribute to the field of counseling.
Application Deadlines
- Summer:Â May 1
- Fall: July 31
- Spring:Â Nov. 30
How to Apply for the Online M.S. in Counseling
- Complete the online application. This is your first step toward becoming a student at the University of Lynchburg.
- Submit your official transcripts. We require an official transcript from the college or university where your bachelor’s degree was awarded.
- Submit an essay. This essay gives us insight into your motivation for pursuing a career in clinical mental health counseling.
- Submit two letters of recommendation. Ideally, these should come from individuals who can speak to your potential as a counselor.
- Attend a personal interview. Once we have received all of your application materials, you will be invited to an interview. This will give you the opportunity to discuss your educational and career goals with us.
Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Online (MS) Faculty
Sara W. Bailey, PhD, LCMHC (NC), NCC
Associate Professor of Counseling, Program Director for the Master of Science in Counseling ...
Faculty Contact
Baylee Leazer ’21 MEd, LPC
Instructor, Counseling ...
Heather Summers, PhD, NCC
Assistant Professor of Counselor Education ...
Sarah Dixon, PhD
Assistant Professor of Counselor Education ...
Sommer A Garrett, PhD, LPC/S (SC)
Assistant Professor ...
As a Lynchburg MS in Counseling student, you'll:
Build the clinical skills to walk with clients through grief, anxiety, trauma, and change.
Learn from faculty who are practicing counselors and bring that experience into every class.
Join a small community of future counselors who will know your name and your story.
“I’m proud to be a graduate of this program and owe the faculty so much for my successes in the counseling field."
- Dylan Elliott ’16 ’19 MEd
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs
The online Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at the University of Lynchburg is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, or CACREP.
Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs
500 Montgomery St., Suite 350
Alexandria, VA 22314
 703.535.5990
Graduate Tuition
Below is an overview of the cost of the program:
Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Online (MS)
$
630
Cost Per Credit Hour
-
Credit Hours: 60
-
Estimated Cost of Completion: $37,800
Financial Aid
The cost figures provided are estimates and may vary based on factors such as the duration of your enrollment, specific classes taken, and any future changes to tuition or fees.
Students will be responsible for costs associated with their transportation, lodging, and food while on residencies.Â
