Counseling Archives | ��

How WCU Can Help With Your Mental Health Counseling Practicum & Internship

�� — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 16:26:00 +0000

If you’re planning on becoming a clinical mental health counselor, a couple critical components of your graduate program will be your supervised clinical practicum and internship, which allow you to apply what you learned in your classes to real clinical settings.

Your clinical practicum and internship are where you get to see firsthand what your on-the-job duties of a clinical mental health counselor will look like, receive training and guidance from a seasoned licensed professional, and gain hands-on practice.

At ��, we believe in supporting the students in our Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program every step of the way, including through their practicum and internship experiences.

“We actually help students with finding the practicum site, and we help them with finding the site for their internship as well,” said Dr. Colleen Logan, Dean and Program Director of Counseling at WCU. “Even after graduation, we help them find employment where they can accrue the licensure hours that’s needed under an approved supervisor. Whenever students find out about the level of support we offer, it’s always a huge point of relief for them.”

Continue reading to learn more about WCU’s mental health counseling practicum and internship requirements and how our faculty can assist you.

Counseling Practicums & Internships at WCU

How many practicum and internship hours are required at WCU?

The MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at WCU requires each student to complete a total of 100 hours of supervised clinical practicum, which must include 60 direct hours and 40 indirect hours under the supervision of a site supervisor and a faculty supervisor. Students are usually at their internship site 10 hours per week, though the hours may vary.

Following this, students in the program must also complete 600 internship hours, which do not count toward the licensed professional counselor residency hours that they must acquire after graduation and before licensure. The internship hours must include 240 direct hours and 360 indirect hours. Students are usually at their internship site 20 hours per week, though the hours may vary.

Clinical and internship site placements must be approved by WCU in collaboration with the program’s fieldwork coordinator.

What will I do in my fieldwork practicum?

As part of your Fieldwork Practicum course requirements, you will participate in various activities that are commonly required of a professional counselor, including activities such as:

Intake interviews
Client assessments
Diagnosis
Prognosis
Treatment planning
Individual, group, and family counseling

Of these, direct individual and group counseling are required by the program. These practicum experiences allow students to see the key concepts of professional counseling they are learning through their coursework applied in real-life clinical settings. Students are able to learn through application of:

Theoretical knowledge and skills
Communication/counseling techniques
Multicultural and social justice counseling competencies
Professional dispositions

Teaching and learning through the student’s clinical practicum may be completed online, in-person, or through a blend of the two modalities.

What will I do in my internship?

Your internship is where you will gain more hands-on experience with direct clinical practice. Not only will you have the chance to interact more directly with clients, but you will get to practice case conceptualization, help develop clinically relevant interventions for groups, and much more.

You are required to have individual supervision with your site supervisor for a minimum of 1 hour per week in both your practicum and internship. You will have the opportunity to work with your assigned faculty member in a group setting in the course itself.

Similar to your practicum, teaching and learning for your internship may be completed online, in-person, or through a blend of the two modalities.

Your practicum and internship can be the same site under the same supervision, but doesn’t have to be.

Leveraging Partnership & Deep Industry Connections

While we cannot guarantee placements, we are committed to providing assistance and guidance wherever we can in the practicum and internship site selection process. Our instructors are veterans in the mental health counseling field who are well-connected within the industry.

Between WCU’s formal partnerships and our faculty’s personal networks, we leverage as many resources as we can to help connect our MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling students with strong fieldwork and internship opportunities that match program requirements as well as their interests.

We also offer students guidance along the way to help them overcome any hurdles they’re experiencing as they complete their supervised clinical practicum and internship hours.

“Coordinating clinical practicum placements and internships can be a really overwhelming process,” Dr. Logan said. “We have been able to take some of the stress off students by saying, ‘We’re here for you from the beginning of the program through your courses, through your immersive learning experiences, through fieldwork, and beyond. Because one day, you’re going to be our colleague.”

WCU’s MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program

The MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at WCU is a 29-month, fully online program. Students learn from well-established leaders within the field of counseling and benefit from innovative learning tools designed to provide a rigorous and engaging educational experience entirely from a distance.

Learn more about our Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program.

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Cultural Competence in Counseling: A Pillar for Mental Health Counseling Education

�� — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 15:13:00 +0000

If you’re considering becoming a clinical mental health counselor, you need to learn about more than just mental health conditions and therapeutic techniques – it is essential that you also learn cultural competence in counseling.

Cultural competence is a critical skill set that is needed to effectively help clientele from diverse backgrounds improve their mental health and live happier, more fulfilling lives. Through cultural competence, mental health counselors use cultural awareness and knowledge to better understand and support their clients.

Here’s an overview of what it means to be a culturally competent counselor today and how practitioners can use this skill set to better meet the mental health needs of their clientele. It’s also important to choose a mental health counseling master’s program that teaches you how to become a culturally competent counselor.

What is cultural competence in counseling?

When a counselor has cultural competence, that mental health professional understands how a client’s cultural background shapes who they are as a person. They are also sensitive to the unique needs of that client based on their cultural identity, and they can provide counseling responses and therapies that are tailored to those needs.

In terms of cultural competence, a client’s cultural background can refer to a number of different things, including but not limited to their:

Race
Ethnicity
Religion
Socioeconomic status
Sexual orientation / gender identity

The American Psychological Association (APA) as “possession of the skills and knowledge that are appropriate for and specific to a given culture,” as well as the “ability to collaborate effectively with individuals from different cultures in personal and professional settings.”

According to the APA, maintaining cultural competence requires “recognition of the diversity both between and within cultures, a capacity for cultural self-assessment, and a willingness to adapt personal behaviors and practices.”

Culture is central to counseling in that it tells the story of how we adapt, cope, communicate, and connect. Omitting culture from the clinical process by treating everyone the same impairs the therapeutic relationship and case conceptualization, limiting the opportunity for positive outcomes.

Evolving Standards for Counseling Cultural Competencies: From MCC to MSJCC

The breakdown of what cultural competence in counseling entails has evolved over time. The was established in the early 1990s and expanded upon in subsequent decades to also focus on social justice, creating what is now the .

MCC framework

The MCC framework established can broken down into :

Awareness – The counselor’s awareness of how their own beliefs, attitudes, values, and worldviews impact how they engage with clients from other backgrounds
Knowledge – The counselor’s understanding of the beliefs, attitudes, values, and worldviews that are common to the underrepresented populations with which they work
Skills – The counselor’s skills that allow them to work effectively with diverse populations

With historical context, counselors can better understand the attitudes, behaviors, and values of certain groups of people, and they can help their clients address the impact of life experiences such as immigration, racism, oppression, stereotyping, and poverty.

MSJCC framework

The MSJCC conceptual framework builds on these ideologies but considers a greater range of diversity (intersection of identities) between both the client and the counselor. It also makes social justice a greater focal point in cultural competence, calling counselors to also consider how issues of power, privilege and oppression may affect the client.

The established by the Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development is broken down into a more complex system of quadrants, domains, and competencies. It also adds a fourth competency level to the MCC model: action.

Action refers to the counselor moving beyond simple understanding of cultural diversity and taking more intentional steps to address issues of social inequity, adapt their counseling strategies accordingly, and even serve as advocates for social justice.

Quadrants

Quadrant I: Privileged Counselor–Marginalized Client
Quadrant II: Privileged Counselor–Privileged Client
Quadrant III: Marginalized Counselor–Privileged Client
Quadrant IV: Marginalized Counselor–Marginalized Client

Domains

Counselor self-awareness
Client worldview
Counseling relationship
Counseling and advocacy interventions

Competencies

Attitudes and believes
Knowledge
Skills
Action

You can view the .

Strategies for Applying Cultural Competence in Counseling Practice

To help ensure all clients feel fully seen and heard regardless of their backgrounds, practitioners can take actions such as the following to promote cultural competence within counseling:

Consider cultural values

It’s important to recognize the common values of a client’s cultural background. For example, it can be helpful to understand when a client’s culture heavily emphasizes the role of family in the individual’s decisions (a collective culture rather than an individualistic one and vice versa), as this could alter how the counselor helps your client analyze and approach a problem or need. In some cases, it may be helpful to use alternative strategies such as as part of the client’s counseling sessions.

Adjust communication style

Studies have shown that certain cultural groups may have when it comes to communication styles. While some cultures may value the use of familiar language and more personal connection with their counselors (such as a greater willingness for the counselor to share common experiences), others may prefer the counselor to maintain a more distant role as the “expert.” Meanwhile, some cultures may with a counselor while others may consider this off-putting.

Consider multidimensional identities and personalize treatment accordingly

Counselors should determine how belonging to one or more underrepresented group (i.e., an African-American, an African-American woman, or African-American woman who is part of the LGBTQ+ community) affects a client’s outlook and experiences, as well as social justice factors that may be at play such as challenges from racism, sexism, and/or gender discrimination. A culturally competent counselor will explore these challenges with the client and may choose to to better align with the client’s unique experiences and needs.

Understand that cultural competence is an ongoing journey

As the world changes and cultural and social dynamics continually evolve, it’s important for counselors to to learn about other cultures and experiences of diverse population groups. This can be done by taking courses, attending seminars, reading academic and non-academic literature, consulting with colleagues, and engaging with diverse communities to expand and deepen their understanding of other cultures.

Cultural Competence Training is Essential for Counseling Education

In a climate of ever-increasing diversity and heightened awareness around social justice, it is imperative for counselors to be equipped with the cultural competencies necessary to deliver quality and equitable mental health services — and it starts in counselor education.

As you search for a mental health counseling master’s program, make sure that the program includes education on cultural competence so you are prepared to meet the needs of diverse clientele.

��’s Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program provides education and training that helps prepare students to become culturally competent, trauma-informed, and stalwart advocates for social justice.

One of our program learning outcomes is to “Cultivate a Culturally Competent Identity,” which means the program helps students establish a professional identity as culturally competent clinical mental health counselors.

Through this outcome, students learn how to use the therapeutic relationship to promote healing, empowerment, and emotional and mental well-being while working effectively and affirmatively with diverse individuals, couples, families, and communities.

Here is a quick snapshot of the program details:

Program: Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Instruction Method: Online or Blended
Program Pace: 29 Months
Semesters: 6 Trimesters
Credits: 60 Credits

Learn more about the mental health counseling master’s program at WCU, including information about curriculum, tuition and financial aid, and admission requirements.

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Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner vs. Counselor: What’s the Right Path for You?

Courtney Eaves — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 23:57:34 +0000

If you want to work in the mental health field, you have many options — including a career as a psychiatric nurse practitioner or a mental health counselor. Both help people who need emotional support, but their education, training, and clinical focus set them apart.

In this article, we’ll compare the differences between a psychiatric nurse practitioner versus a counselor, so you can make a well-informed decision about your career path.

What Does a Psychiatric-Mental Health NP Do?

A psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) is an advanced practice registered nurse who specializes in mental health care. They assess, diagnose, and treat patients with mental health conditions.

A can include:

Evaluate and diagnose patients with psychiatric disorders, such as depression or schizophrenia
Order and interpret diagnostic tests
Develop treatment plans and prescribe medications
Provide psychotherapy to individuals, groups, and families
Collaborate with other healthcare providers to coordinate care
Offer guidance to patients and families on mental health treatments

What Does a Mental Health Counselor Do?

Mental health counselors support people with mental health challenges, like depression, anxiety, and grief. allow licensed professional counselors to diagnose mental health illnesses, but not all do. Unlike PMHNPs, mental health counselors can’t prescribe medications.

A can include:

Conduct assessments to evaluate clients’ mental health
Develop, implement, and review treatment goals with clients
Provide psychotherapy to individuals, couples, and families
Help clients develop healthy coping strategies
Document clients’ progress toward treatment goals
Refer clients to clinical specialists or other resources, like support groups, for additional help

Psych NP vs. Counselor: What Are the Biggest Differences?

While there’s definitely some overlap between psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners and mental health counselors, they also have plenty of differences. Comparing the education, training, and scope of a psychiatric nurse practitioner versus a counselor can help you decide which career path is best for you.

Education

To become a PMHNP, you’ll need a with a specialization in psychiatric-mental health nursing. Most graduate-level programs require you to be a licensed registered nurse (RN) with a bachelor’s degree in nursing. If you’re an RN with an associate degree or diploma in nursing, you can also find schools with an RN to MSN program specifically for psychiatric mental-health nursing.

As a mental health counselor, you’ll need to have at least a master’s degree in counseling. To enroll in a post-graduate counseling program, you usually need a bachelor’s degree in a related field, like psychology or social science.

Licensure and Certification

Both PMHNPs and mental health counselors need a license to practice. Psychiatric nurse practitioners must be licensed as an advanced practice registered nurse in the state where they work. They also need to earn board certification by passing the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner exam through the .

Each state has its own requirements for becoming a licensed counselor. require counselors to pass an exam and do a set number of counseling hours under clinical supervision.

Scope of Practice

Scope of practice is a major differentiator between these two mental health careers. PMHNPs can diagnose mental health conditions and provide holistic treatment, which may include both therapy and medication management. As nurses, PMHNPs use their clinical expertise to help improve patients’ overall mental and physical health.

In comparison, mental health counselors have a more limited scope of practice. Depending on where they work, counselors may need to refer clients to clinical specialists for diagnosis. They provide therapy to help clients manage mental health issues, but they don’t prescribe medications. Counselors mainly focus on helping people navigate emotional challenges and achieve personal growth.

Specialization

Both PMHNPs and counselors can specialize in areas of mental health. Some common specializations for psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioners include:

Child and adolescent mental health
Geriatric psychiatry
Forensics
Substance use disorders
Acute care

Mental health counselors might choose to :

Addiction and substance abuse
Rehabilitation
School counseling
Couples or family counseling
Post-traumatic stress

Workplace

Both nurse practitioners and counselors have the flexibility to work in many types of settings. in:

Hospitals
Private practices
Behavioral health or addiction clinics
Psychiatric mental health facilities

Counselors, on the other hand, may work in :

Inpatient and outpatient treatment centers
Residential treatment centers
Private practices
Schools
Hospitals

Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner vs. Counselor: How to Choose Your Path

As you can see, both nurse practitioners and counselors have an active, important role in supporting people’s mental health. Both careers can be incredibly rewarding, so how do you choose? As you make your decision, consider factors like these:

Your interests: A career as a PMHNP blends therapeutic and medical care, making it a good choice if you’re interested in both. If you prefer a therapy-focused role, becoming a mental health counselor may be a better fit.
Your background: If you’re already working as an RN, getting a master’s degree in psychiatric-mental health nursing may feel like a natural next step. Counseling programs accept students from a wider range of academic backgrounds.
Your patient preferences: PMHNPs often work with people who have severe or complex mental health conditions, such as psychosis, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. Mental health counselors help people facing a broad range of emotional challenges, like anxiety, stress, and depression. The types of patients you prefer to work with may influence your decision.

Prepare for Your Career in Mental Health at WCU

If you’re deciding whether to train for a career as a psychiatric mental-health nurse practitioner versus a counselor, the choice may come down to the type of care you want to provide.

PMHNPs provide both therapeutic and medical care, while counselors focus on using therapy to support people’s mental health needs. No matter which path you choose, you’ll have the opportunity to make a difference for people living with mental health conditions.

At ��, we’re ready to support you in whatever direction you choose. For aspiring psychiatric nurse practitioners, we offer a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) – PMHNP program, an RN to MSN – PMHNP program, and PMHNP Post-Master’s Certificate — all available online.

If you’re interested in mental health counseling, check out our Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program — which can be completed in less than 2.5 years.

Ready to start your career in mental health? Contact us to schedule an information session today!

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WCU’s Guide to a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Courtney Eaves — Wed, 05 Jul 2023 14:02:00 +0000

Considering becoming a mental health counselor? If so, you’ll join a profession of profound importance and impact.

Before we dive into what the career of a mental health counselor entails and what the typical educational path looks like for this role, let’s gain some understanding of how the counseling industry as we know it today came to be.

History of the Mental Health Counseling Profession
Why Are Mental Health Counselors Needed?
What Does a Clinical Mental Health Counselor Do?
Where Do Clinical Mental Health Counselors Work?
What Type of Degree Do You Need?
How Long Does It Take to Become a Counselor?
What Subjects Are Covered in a Mental Health Counseling Master’s Program?
What Are the Clinical Mental Health Counselor Licensure Requirements?
About Our MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program
How to Get Started

History of the Mental Health Counseling Profession

The of mental health is fairly recent. Its earliest known application was in the 1790s in Paris, where a physician named forbade corporal punishment of asylum inmates and demanded their release from chains and inhumane confinement. Pinel pioneered new thinking that gave rise to the modern definitions of mental illness as byproducts of social and psychological stresses, as well as genetics, rather than “demonic possession.”

Under the name, vocophers, professional precursors to counselors support individual and community career development during reconstruction

This time period coincides with the emergence of the study of consciousness by Wilhelm Wundt, the practice of psychoanalysis by Sigmund Freud, and career counseling theory by Frank Parsons. Alfred Alder then laid the foundation for modern practice through his attention to the whole client, the role of the family system/belonging/how one grapples with power (or the lack thereof) on one’s personality, advancing the idea that instead of viewing clients through a lens of pathology, they could be viewed as a whole that is discouraged and has developed ways of coping with living that have expired in their usefulness. Most essential was the combination of counseling and parent education to upgrade the dynamics of a family system, noting that the symptoms one experiences reflect expired coping. This is the foundation of the strengths-based, developmental, cognitive, humanistic, and constructivist frameworks that have followed.

It should be noted that a clear training distinction between psychologist and counselors began to emerge in the 1950s framed around both professional identity and notions of what constituted adequate training for school counselors. This movement divided counseling psychology into two parts: counseling psychologists and counselor educators/professional counselors/school counselors (West, Bubenzer, Brooks, & Hackney, 1995).

Later, psychiatrists and promoted a client-centered approach in which the client is treated as a partner in the process, as opposed to a patient solely on the receiving end of treatment. As of the early 1970s, however, the profession of clinical mental health “counselor” remained loosely defined against its professional cousins: psychologist and social worker with regard to standards, accreditation, and licensure. Clinical Mental health counselors finally received recognition and definition in 1976, with the formation of the .

In the time since Phillipe Pinel redefined the way we view mental health, we have seen a healthcare profession emerge that addresses the mental health needs not just of individuals, but of couples, families, groups, and even entire populations. Among mental health professions, counselors are particularly known for their attention to communities, functioning as emotional and behavioral regulators of them. Through this now firmly entrenched and recognized profession, counselors provide critical clinical care that serves the mental health of individuals and communities.

Why Are Mental Health Counselors Needed?

Under the name, vocophers, professional precursors to counselors support individual and community career development during reconstruction

What Does a Clinical Mental Health Counselor Do?

Mental health counselors are trained to treat individuals struggling with mental health concerns (i.e., psychological distress, psychological disorders, psychological aspects of medical disorders), but they also treat couples, families, groups and organizations. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ description of , treating patients involves evaluation (both of a patient’s mental health and readiness for counseling), helping patients identify the issues that are negatively affecting their mental health, as well as the teaching them coping strategies they can use to overcome challenges in day-to-day life.

Where Do Clinical Mental Health Counselors Work?

The need for mental health counselors is widespread, and the environments in which they work are diverse. Examples of common work environments for mental health counselors include:

Hospitals
Private practice
Outpatient mental health centers
Residential mental health facilities
Individual and family service agencies
Offices of other health practitioners

In addition to traditional health settings like clinics, mental health counselors may opt to treat clients through nonprofits or even private practice.

(Sources: and Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs ())

What Type of Degree Do You Need to Become a Clinical Mental Health Counselor?

While by state and the specific type of counseling role, mental health counselors usually need a master’s degree and an internship followed by licensure. To apply to a clinical mental health counseling master’s program, you first need a completed bachelor’s degree. Some programs require your undergraduate degree be in a related field such as psychology. WCU’s Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program does not require a specific type of bachelor’s degree for admission.

How Long Does It Take to Become a Clinical Mental Health Counselor?

Once you enroll in clinical mental health counseling school, most programs take 2.5 to 3 years to complete. The length of the program depends upon the school. (WCU’s comprehensive MS In Clinical Mental Health Counseling program can be completed in less than 2.5 years.)

Once you graduate, you’ll typically need to complete a certain number of supervised hours as a licensed professional counseling intern (LPCI), with the requirements varying by state. You’ll then need to pass your licensure exam(s) before you can begin independent practice (more on licensure below).

What Subjects Are Covered in a Mental Health Counseling Master’s Program?

Curriculums vary by program, but a clinical mental health counseling program will typically include coursework in counseling research and methodology, clinical practice, culture and population counseling, research, and psychopathology. We invite you to view WCU’s MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling curriculum for a comprehensive look at the courses that are offered in our program.

Here is a sampling of the topics you will study in our program:

Counseling theories and interventions
Multicultural counseling
Tests and clinical assessments
Crisis and trauma response and intervention
Psychopathology
Group counseling
Addictions counseling
Couples and family counseling
Human sexuality
Methodologies of research design and program evaluation
Clinical practicum

What Are the Clinical Mental Health Counselor Licensure Requirements?

The is the specialty licensure test for clinical mental health counselors. It is administered by the (NBCC) and is required for clinical mental health licensure in most states. In addition to the NCMHCE, the NBCC administers the certification for counselors of all types. These exams are designed to test the skills and knowledge needed to provide effective counseling.

Many states have , so it’s important to do your research and prepare for each test that you will need to pass as well as the requirements you need to complete in order to begin practice.

About Our MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program

��’s Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program offers flexibility as you can choose to earn your degree online or in a blended format (a mix of online and on-campus study). We do not require your bachelor’s degree to be in a related field, and with the program taking 29 months to complete (less than 2.5 years), you’ll be able to streamline your path to graduation and build the knowledge and skills you need to go out and make a difference.

An education at WCU is student-centric, and our mental health counseling master’s program is designed for comprehensive, versatile learning that emphasizes intersectionality and mental health advocacy.

As a student in WCU’s clinical mental health counseling master’s program, you will benefit from:

A combination of classroom (virtual or in-person) learning and clinical practicum experiences
Engaging educational content that leverages innovative learning tools such as original video content and virtual simulations
A curriculum that prioritizes relationship, both in counselor training and in relationship-building with classmates and faculty
Opportunities for online and blended program students alike to experience hands-on, in-person learning through weekend-long, on-site intensives (OSIs) that occur on campus, as well as local events (such as seminars and roundtable discussions) that occur in or near student’s local communities.
Job placement assistance and a full scope of career support services that are available for life

How to Get Started

Mental health counseling is a meaningful career path that can have a profound effect on the people and populations you serve. If you’re ready to take the first step, we invite you to learn more about our mental health counseling master’s program.

You can also complete the form on this page to request further information and connect with our admissions team. A representative will help you get started on your path to making a difference!

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