Mental Health Counselor (MHC)/Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)

  • Mental Health Counselor (MHC)/Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)

Counselors in mental health or behavioral medicine advise individuals about how to deal with and overcome emotional, mental and social problems.

Specializations

Substance Abuse/AODA (Alcohol & Other Drug Abuse) Counselor – Substance abuse counselors work with individuals and families dealing with substance abuse problems.

Work Activities/Work Locations

Mental health counselors work in hospitals, behavior medicine facilities, prisons, rehabilitation centers, clinics, and other institutions. They work closely with other specialists including psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers. They provide individual and group therapy sessions and monitor the patient’s activities and progress during treatment. They also may refer patients to other resources and support services. Counselors may work evenings to accommodate clients’ schedules.

Getting Started

Mental health counselors usually need a master’s degree in mental health counseling or in psychology or social work. To become certified, counselors must earn their master’s degree and complete certain requirements including: acquiring post master’s experience, passing a written exam, and confirmation of supervised clinical experience. 

Educational Institutions

Concordia University
Lakeland College
Marquette University
Mount Mary College
Nicolet Area Technical College
University of Wisconsin – Madison
University of Wisconsin – Platteville
University of Wisconsin – Stout
University of Wisconsin – Superior
University of Wisconsin – Whitewater
Viterbo University

Alcohol and Other Drug Alcohol Counselor
Alverno College
Chippewa Valley Technical College
Fox Valley Technical College
Gateway Technical College
Moraine Park Technical College
Northcentral Technical College
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College
University of Wisconsin – Stout
Waukesha County Technical College

Child And Adolescent Counseling
University of Wisconsin – Stout

Community Counseling
Lakeland College

Eating Disorders
University of Wisconsin – Stout

Gerontological Counseling
University of Wisconsin – Stout

Higher Education Counseling
Lakeland College

Human Development
University of Wisconsin – Green Bay

Marriage and Family Therapy
Edgewood College
University of Wisconsin – Stout
Univeristy of Wisconsin – Whitewater

Mental Health Certificate
University of Wisconsin – Parkside

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
Alverno College

School Counselor
Concordia University
Lakeland College
Mount Mary College
University of Wisconsin – Stout
University of Wisconsin – Whitewater

Substance Abuse Counselor
Edgewood College
Fox Valley Technical College
Nicolet Area Technical College
Northcentral Technical College
University of Wisconsin – Platteville
University of Wisconsin – Stout
Viterbo University

Graduate Program offered in Madison, Waukesha, and Wausau
Southern New Hampshire University

Hospitals with Associated Educational Programs

Veterans Administration Medical Center, Milwaukee

 

American Association of State Counseling Boards (AASCB)
305 N. Beech Circle
Broken Arrow, OK, 74012
918/994-4413
www.aascb.org/aws/AASCB/pt/sp/home_page

American Counseling Association
6101 Stevenson Ave.
Alexandria, VA, 22304
800/347-6647
www.counseling.org

American Mental Health Counselors Association
675 North Washington St., Suite 470
Alexandria, VA, 22314
800/326-2642 or 703-548-6002
www.amhca.org

Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs
1001 N. Fairfax St., Suite 510
Alexandria, VA, 22314
703/535-5990
www.cacrep.org/template/index.cfm

National Board for Certified Counselors
3 Terrace Way, Suite D
Greensboro, NC, 27403-3660
336/547-0607
www.nbcc.org

 

Career Outlook

Number Employed in 2014 (Wisconsin): 1,720
Number Employed in 2014 (U.S.): 134,500
Expected Employment in 2024 (U.S.): 160,900
Percent Employment Growth (2014-2024): 20%
Expected Annual Openings: 5,450
Median Salary in 2014 (Wisconsin): $44,790

Salary information is located at Career One Stop

Wisconsin AHEC Health Careers Information Center provides the most current salary information available from CareerOneStop. CareerOneStop will have a lapse between when the information is gathered and when it is released.