Program Overview

You have a passion for helping those who are hurting and finding answers for those who are searching. Learn how to touch lives in meaningful ways only a licensed mental health counselor can. We’ll help you achieve your goal to help those in need through clinical mental health counseling.
Today’s therapy job landscape involves looking through the lens of an individual's psyche. When researching mental health counseling programs, you need a degree that trains you to walk with clients as they navigate life's challenges. Lipscomb offers just that through our Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. In addition to our generalist track, we have specializations in play therapy and addiction, that fully prepare you to enter whichever field of counseling matches your interests.
Lipscomb’s small class sizes mean you'll get the personalized guidance necessary to advance. The curriculum is built around licensure expectations, and our 100 percent pass rate ensures you'll be prepared to excel. Study in the first faith-based, CACREP accredited program in Tennessee to arrive at the intersection of caring and competence.
For more information about accreditation, mission, goals, and policies of the program, see our documentation.
Program Statistics:
- Number of graduates in the past year: 34
- Completion Rate: 92%
- Licensure or certification examination pass rate: 100%
- Job placement rate: 91%
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Specializations:
Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program Outcomes
A Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Lipscomb equips you with imperative skills to help others in their mental health journey. This includes training to develop your ethical competence, grow dispositions essential to counseling such as empathy, engage in personal and professional growth, and embrace interprofessional collaboration.
Admissions Requirements
The following items are required to apply for the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program:
- Lipscomb University's online application
- Two letters of recommendation (at least one recommendation must be an academic or professional reference)
- Official transcripts from all schools in which a degree conferred was received.
- A Bachelor's degree (any major) with a 3.0 GPA. If your GPA is below a 3.0, please submit one of the following:
- GRE Scores
- A short explanation of your GPA (why and how you've grown)
- Transcripts of a completed master's degree
- Resume
- A 45-60 second video that answers the following question: What do you do for fun?
- A maximum of 3 pages, double-spaced essay. Please review our HERD dispositions on the Program Overview tab and consider them as you write your essay. In your paper, please highlight your strengths and potential areas of growth related to any (or all) of these dispositions. You may choose to address them in any way you desire. Please be sure your essay includes stories from your personal and/or professional life.
- Interview
The deadline for Spring 2024 will be October 15, 2023, and we will interview on Friday, November 10, 2023. The deadline for Fall 2024 will be March 1.
Courses
The Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is a 7-semester program. The following schedule is a typical first-year schedule which may vary slightly based on the chosen specialty:
First Semester:
- COUN 5113 - Introduction to Clinical Mental Health Counseling
- COUN 5203 - Introduction to Psychopathology and Adaptive Behavior
- COUN 5103 - Theories of Counseling and Personality
Second Semester:
- COUN 5903 - Introduction to Counseling Skills
- COUN 6603 - Trauma and Advanced Psychopathology
- COUN 5703 - Ethics and Professional Issues in Counseling
Third Semester:
- COUN 6053 - Multicultural Issues in Counseling
- COUN 6703 - Effective Counseling and Treatment Planning
- COUN 6303 - Substance Abuse Counseling or COUN 5213 Foundations of Substance Use Disorders Treatment (*replaces COUN 6303)
Course Options:
These are general, core credit courses offered for this M.S., along with the elective options:
When a student is ready to start integrating specializations into their schedule, they can pursue three paths - Generalist, Addiction or Play Therapy.
Addiction and Play Therapy tracks require specific electives (see accordions below). If you follow the Generalist track, you can choose any electives and follow the courses previously listed.
Addiction Specialization:
Students must apply and are admitted specifically into this specialization for a January start only. Students in this specialization complete the standard clinical mental health counseling coursework with the addition of specialized coursework and practicum/internship in substance use addiction at a local residential addictions program. You may apply for the addiction specialization and still be considered for the regular counseling track.
The M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with Addiction Specialization is designed to meet the academic requirements for Tennessee licensure as Licensed Professional Counselor with Mental Health Service Provider designation (LPC-MHSP) and Licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor (LADAC).
Play Therapy Specialization:
Students interested in this specialization complete specialized coursework and one internship in play therapy. Students admitted in either fall or spring semesters may choose this specialization.
The M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with Play Therapy Specialization is designed to meet the academic requirements for Tennessee licensure as Licensed Professional Counselor with Mental Health Service Provider designation (LPC-MHSP) and to meet partial requirements for credentialing as a Registered Play Therapist (RPT; check out Association for Play Therapy for more details regarding credential. http://www.a4pt.org/).
Tuition & Aid
Program tuition is currently $962* per credit hour.
*Note: The graduate tuition rates may increase annually, effective each summer semester.