A licensed mental health counselor, or LMHC, is a mental health professional that helps clients address specific issues. This might include things like mental health struggles and diagnoses, troublesome life events, and other hardships that impact one’s mental health. An LMHC is similar to a licensed professional counselor (LPC), as well as other mental health professionals. The schooling that an LMHC needs to receive involves learning about the behavior and psychology of people, causes of mental health concerns, and mental health treatment techniques.
To become an LMHC, one must earn a master’s degree and go through multiple hours of a practicum, then take a licensing exam. This process can be lengthy, but it is important to prepare someone for the career of helping care for a client’s mental health. Although it takes a lot of dedication, those who go through the process of becoming an LMHC may enjoy a variety of career options throughout the US, as jobs in the mental health field are often in demand.
Below is an overview of the median US income and career projection of a counseling career from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselor
- Median Annual Income: $53,710
- Job Outlook: 19% (much faster than average)
The above information is the median throughout the United States. While the career of a mental counselor typically requires a master’s degree, the above information includes careers under the title “counselor” that may only require a bachelor’s degree. Therefore, the income you can expect may increase if looking at the median income for only counselors with a master’s degree. The jobs of licensed individuals with a master’s degree often have different expectations from those with a bachelor’s degree. For example, if someone has a job with “counselor” in the title, but only has their bachelor’s degree, they won’t be providing diagnosis or treatment of mental illnesses, but an LMHC will.
Licensed mental health counselors work in a variety of places, including their own private practice. An LMHC improves the lives of those in their community through Veteran’s Agencies, public health organizations, schools, colleges, hospitals, rehab clinics, mental health organizations, non-profits, and much more. The job duties in these roles may be similar on the surface, but can differ based on the organization’s needs. As mentioned LMHCs can also open up their own private practice once they are fully licensed. This can have its own drawbacks and benefits.
The rest of this article will discuss all you need to know about what an LMHC is, and how to become one.
Why are LMHCs important?
Licensed mental health counselors are important because they improve the lives of those they work with. LMHCs are highly needed in the US. According to the Mental Health Foundation, 26% of adults in the US (one in four) experience a mental illness. They also cite the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI), reporting that 13.1 million people live with an ongoing mental illness such as bipolar disorder. Mental illness doesn;t just affect adults, however. The Mental Health Foundation goes on to report that 8 million children in the United States experience mental illness. Additionally, suicide is the second leading cause of death among people aged 10-34. However, most of those who died by suicide experienced a treatable mental health condition.
The above information is why LMCHs are so important. They play a big role in treating the mental illnesses that can be so hard to cope with. They can prevent suicide, self harm, and other crises. Helping people through their mental illnesses can not only improve the life of the individual, but also those around them, such as a person’s family and friends. The clinical knowledge of an LMHC can help the client develop long term coping mechanisms that they can use their entire life, even after they are finished with counseling.
What do LMHCs do?
A licensed mental health counselor is primarily responsible for helping people cope with mental illnesses and behavioral struggles. This is done through an evaluation, planning, and implementation process. First, the LMHC might meet with a client to get to know them. They will interview the client to find out why they want to attend therapy, what goals they are hoping to accomplish, and specifics about their struggles. Then, the LMHC may come up with a treatment plan, which outlines the goals and issues discussed, as well as a potential timeline for treating these things.
Not all LMHCs work with an individual one on one. Some might run group sessions. This could be with a client’s family to educate them or work through familial conflicts. Another type of group session that an LMHC sometimes runs is for strangers in a support group, such as those struggling with addiction. While providing therapy one-on-one or in group sessions, the LMHC will use therapeutic techniques that they learned in school and during their practicum to help work through the client’s emotions. They may simply listen to the client, or they may provide feedback or coping strategies and education.
Part of an LMHCs job is monitoring client progress. This is partially done through taking notes. There are certain guidelines detailing how to write these notes depending on the county and state where one works. It usually includes things like demographic information, diagnosis, presenting problem, safety concerns, and more.
Other duties of an LMHC may include:
- Collaborating with partnering organizations to ensure smooth service delivery for clients.
- Working with insurance agencies on billing.
- Researching for and providing resources to clients.
Careers Similar to LMHCs
The career of an LMHC is similar to other licensed mental health professionals, but each differs slightly. Some of the overlapping similarities between all of these careers include:
- Helping individuals through difficult circumstances or mental health issues.
- The requirement for each of these is at least a master’s degree and a licensing exam.
- The ability to provide mental health treatment and a diagnosis.
Note: some of the above may depend on the state. The main differences between these careers are the focus and who the educational institute is accredited by, as this can change the expectations for the students earning the degree.
The careers that are similar to an LMHC include:
- Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC): While an LPC and LMHC are very similar, their main differences have to do with the specifics of who they are trained to help. An LMHC’s clientele will primarily consist of those with mental illnesses. A licensed professional counselor may focus on mental health too, but they will also see clients that are going through marriage problems, life difficulties, or other issues. However, overall, the careers are essentially the same. Some states license counselors as an LPC, while others provide an LMHC license. You can find out the requirements for where you reside by looking at your state’s licensing board website. The same accrediting organizations oversee the universities providing education to both LMHCs and LPCs. The main one is the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT): An LMFT and an LMHC, much like LPCs, are almost interchangeable. One difference here is that an LMFT is more likely to focus on relationship dynamics when working with clients, while an LMHC is more likely to treat someone individually. However, each of them can do a combination of both. An individual might decide to go to an LMFT if they are having mental health struggles due to their dynamic with their family, while someone else might go to an LMHC if they are struggling with the negative effects of a mental illness. Both an LMFT and LMHC require a master’s degree, practicum, and taking the licensing exam. The main accrediting organizations for those who want to earn an MFT degree include: COAMFTE, CACREP, and WASC.
- Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW): An LCSW has the qualifications to provide therapy, but may receive less micro (small-picture) training in working with individuals, and instead be trained in more macro (big-picture) subjects. So, while a LMHC’s education may focus more on the individual, mental health, and behaviors, a LCSW may receive more education in things like sociology, public policy, and community resources. However, attending an accredited MSW program still qualifies someone with their master’s in social work to take the social work licensing exam to become a clinical therapist, although in title, they will still be called a social worker. The Council for Social Work Education is the sole accrediting body for social work master’s degree programs in the United States.
- Psychologist: Unlike the other careers mentioned above, becoming a psychologist requires getting a PhD instead of a master’s degree. That being said, certain psychology master’s degrees may qualify you to sit for the licensing exam. However, if that is your goal, you will want to be 100% certain that the psychology program you are looking into will prepare you for the exam. Start by looking at your state’s board of behavioral services to find their requirements for the clinical career you want. Otherwise, a clinical psychology career frequently requires a PhD or a PsyD. The PhD will focus more on research, while a PsyD prepares one for providing therapy to clients.
Counseling Areas of Specialization
According to the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), the following are some of the specialties within the realm of counseling. These specializations may be an option when you are in the master’s program, or it may be something that you choose to specialize in later down the line. Since each master’s in counseling program is different, you can explore different programs to find one that offers a specialization that fits within your interests.
Below are the most common counseling specialties. They can often overlap. A counselor who has been educated in the following specialities will likely have the option to either work for an organization, or open their own private practice.
- Addiction Counseling. This specialization prepares students to work with individuals facing struggles with addiction. The education can include how to prevent and treat addiction, as well as how to help the client recover and avoid relapsing.
- Mental Health Counseling. This specialization involves preparing students to understand a wide berth of mental health and behavioral disorders. These issues can be complex and cause a number of difficulties in a client’s life. The student will learn how to diagnose and treat mental health disorders as well as how to help a client navigate a diagnosis.
- Marriage and Family Counseling. In this specialization, students learn how to work with clients through navigating relationship dynamics. This includes context for how mental and emotional disorders impact these relationships.
There is also counseling that is related to helping people navigate careers and education, including:
- Career Counseling
- School Counseling
- College Counseling
However, the above type of careers may involve a different degree than mental health counseling. They might require you to earn a degree in school counseling instead.
Additionally, a master’s and license in counseling in addition to a doctoral degree in something like Counselor Education and Supervision can allow you to supervise and manage other counselors. In summary, there are many different types of specializations for a counseling degree, and figuring out which specialization you want combined with your degree of choice can help customize your learning and career experience.
How to Become an LMHC
The process to becoming a licensed mental health counselor can take 6-10 years total depending on several factors. This process includes earning an advanced degree and completing a practicum experience, plus taking a licensing exam. The length of the process is also determined by if you personally already have a degree. It also can be determined by if you enroll in a counseling degree program part time or full time.
The licensing process is ultimately determined by a state’s board of behavioral sciences. However, there is some consistency you can expect no matter where you live in the US. This process is outlined below.
1. Earn a bachelor’s degree.
Before earning a master’s degree, you will need to earn a bachelor’s degree. Your bachelor’s degree should be in something similar to counseling or something that will prepare you for your counseling program, like psychology, sociology, or social work. Maintaining a GPA of at least 3.0 or higher is important as well, so that you have as many options as possible when it comes to applying to the master’s of counseling program. If you already have a bachelor’s degree, you can look up the education and prerequisite requirements of the master’s program you’re interested in to see if you can apply right away.
2. Earn a master’s degree.
There are many different counseling master’s programs in the United States. You should consider several factors when going about making your decision about which program to enroll in. Some want to apply to counseling programs with no GRE requirement. For others, an affordable program is the priority. These are not mutually exclusive though. One of the most important considerations is applying to an accredited counseling program. This is because accreditation ensures that the program you’re applying for offers a high quality education. The main accrediting organization for counseling programs is the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
3. Complete supervised clinical hours.
Counseling and similar careers require candidates to complete a certain amount of internship hours. First, students will complete a certain number of hours while they are still in school. Then, after graduation, they will complete internship hours as well, under the supervision of a licensed counselor. The hourly requirement ranges from 2,000-4,000 hours depending on your state’s requirements. These requirements for the practicum and licensure vary by state.
4. Take your licensing exam.
Once you have completed the required practicum, you will be able to apply to take your licensing exam. The fees to apply for the exam, and the exam itself, cost between $100 and $200. To take the exam, you will register with the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC).
5. Apply for licensure.
After taking and passing the exam, you will be eligible to submit your exam scores to your state’s board along with any other application materials. Once you have sent the information, it may be a wait of several weeks before you receive confirmation that you have received your license. Afterwards, you can practice counseling independently within your state.
6. Maintain your license.
After receiving your license as a mental health counselor, you will still have some work to do over the years to maintain your license and knowledge in the subject matter to provide the best service to your clients. Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are a requirement of renewing your license. The number of CEUs that you are required to complete varies by state, as well as how often you need to renew your license, although it’s typically every two years. The Board of Behavioral Services has approved Vista Continuing Education as one provider of CEU’s.
Mental Health Counseling Program Accreditation
Accreditation is important for educational programs. The process of accreditation means that an institution or program has been assessed by the accrediting organization to ensure that the education being provided is innovative, up to date, and prepares students for counseling in a modern world. There are two types of accreditation: specialized and institutional. Specialized means that the accreditation focuses on educational programs within a university or other educational institute. Institutional accreditation means the organization is assessing the school itself.
The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) is one of the main specialized accrediting organizations for masters and doctoral counseling programs. Per the CACREP website, their vision is to promote leadership among counselors and promote excellence. This is done through assessing programs for accreditation. Accredited programs have to try and meet the core values of the accrediting body. Accrediting organizations tend to be made up of a board of directors, which consists of professionals in the field of counseling. These professionals work to develop the goals and values of the organization.
The Master’s in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC) is another specialized accrediting organization for counseling programs within the United States. This organization specifically strives for professional psychology and counseling practice on a scientific level. The values of the organization are ensuring that students provide services that are culturally responsive.
While CACREP provides accreditation to both masters and doctoral programs, MPCAC only provides them to master’s programs. Another difference between the two is that MPCAC focuses on both counseling and psychology programs, while CACREP focuses only on counseling.
LMHC Licensure vs Certification
A licensure and certificate are not the same credential, but an LMHC candidate may consider pursuing both to meet their goals and increase their qualifications and knowledge. The American Counseling Association states that licensure is a legal status. It is related to state regulations, which work to ensure the welfare of the citizens. Licensure means that the LMHC has been approved by state regulations to provide mental health care. The process of licensure takes dedication, including multiple hours of an internship and education, alongside an exam. This process was outlined in a previous section.
On the other hand, a counseling certificate is voluntary, and is used to boost your credentials along with providing you with additional knowledge in a specific subject area. Earning a certificate can be helpful, but does not allow someone to provide counseling in itself. However, someone might earn a certificate in a subject they are interested in, such as LGBT issues, mental health, substance use, and more.
How to Find the Best Counseling Program
To become an LMHC, you have to first earn a master’s degree. Finding a good program can be helpful, but finding the right one might be daunting. Considering the below factors might help you decide which university and counseling program will work best for you.
Online vs In-Person Programs
Attending an online program allows students to attend school when they might not have otherwise been able to. This can be because of work commitments, family, or other responsibilities. Some students may do better attending class and doing work in an online environment. Online counseling programs usually involve completing homework in a digital environment and watching either a recorded or live class. However, in person programs can benefit extroverted people or those who generally thrive and can pay better attention in an actual class. Consider the best one for you and if your program of choice offers your ideal option. Both in person and online programs require
In-State vs Out-of-State Programs
Considering the location of the program is important. A program that’s within your residential state is likely to be more affordable than one that is out of your state. This is because of taxes. If you go to a university in your state, you’re considered to have already contributed towards some of the cost through taxes. However, an out of state program might be more beneficial to someone who is going to move to that state in the future, or has features you can’t find in your state. There is also a difference between private and public universities, with public state universities having the lowest cost.
Accreditation
Counseling programs in the US have been accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs and Master’s in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council. The importance of accreditation has been outlined in previous sections, but essentially, it ensures the quality of the program you want to attend. Not all programs are accredited, so you will want to ensure they are before applying.
Directory of Mental Health Counseling Programs
If you want to find counseling programs but don’t know where to start, check out the below directories.
How to Afford a Mental Health Therapy Degree
A big consideration of attending graduate school for many is the cost. There are a few strategies that you can look into for some extra funds towards your education. These strategies are below.
General Funding: FAFSA
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is an application that you should fill out each year that you are in school. The application takes into account information about your income and assets, as well as your family size, to determine if you qualify for federal grants and loans. Grants are helpful because you don’t have to pay them back. However, federal loans can also be helpful to many, because they tend to offer a lower interest rate than private loans. The FAFSA website contains information to guide you along your journey, including how to fill out the FAFSA and any information on public loan forgiveness.
Scholarships
Like grants, scholarships also don’t require you to pay them back. These are earned by following certain writing prompts to create an essay or demonstrating academic success. Organizations like the NBCC Foundation provide scholarships. There are also websites such as Scholarships.com where you can search with a filter to find just the kind of scholarship you need. Additionally, another source of scholarships is the university itself. You can look through the program website of your choice to see if they offer scholarships to their students, or call their financial aid office and ask about what is available.
Resources to Become an LMHC
- Mental Health Counseling Programs
- American Counseling Association
- Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
- Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC)
- Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
- 5 Internet Resources for Master’s in Counseling Students
- Bureau of Labor Statistics – Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors (How to Become One)
