M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling

In-person

Counselor listens to client

Grow your knowledge of yourself and the world with life-changing learning. Bushnell University’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling program provides you with a distinctive learning experience and prepares you with the skills necessary to be a successful and impactful Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) while preparing you to be a culturally informed mental health counselor who integrates current, evidence-based interventions and techniques to foster client wellness and relationships.

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Financial Aid

Credits 60 | Cost/Credit $800 | Completion 28 Months | Format In-Person | Starts Every August

Contact

Carrie Gillies
Admission Counselor

541-684-7259
cgillies@bushnell.edu

Mindi Barta, M.A., LPC, NCC
Interim Program Director

541-349-7464
mbarta@bushnell.edu

 

Why Choose Bushnell?

Graduates of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program meet the academic standards leading to Oregon licensure as a professional counselor (LPC). LPCs offer counseling services to individuals or groups in private practice and agency settings. These services may be in the areas of personal-social concerns, educational programs, and career decisions. Counseling services include the use of recognized best practices, counseling techniques, appraisal/assessment methods, and current research.

You will gain a solid foundation of counseling skills, procedures, and theories. Building upon that base, you’ll be encouraged to develop a theoretical orientation to counseling that matches your own personality and value system. Students implement and refine this personal approach to counseling in their second year by seeing clients in the Bushnell Counseling Center. All Practicum and Internship students receive individual and group supervision from qualified supervisors throughout the program.

Program Overview

The Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) program at Bushnell University is a great option for students who want to pursue a career in mental health counseling and community and social services. Here is a sampling of why students choose the CMHC program:

  • Comprehensive coursework: The CMHC program covers a wide range of topics, including counseling theory, lifespan and development, individual and group work, and multicultural humility. This comprehensive coursework prepares students to work with diverse populations and handle a variety of mental health issues.
  • Licensure preparation: Graduates of the CMHC program meet the academic standards leading to Oregon licensure as a professional counselor (LPC). This means that students who complete the program are well-prepared to pursue licensure and begin their careers as mental health counselors.
  • Success rate: The CMHC program at Bushnell University boasts a 92% licensure exam success rate. This high success rate is a testament to the quality of the program and the preparation that students receive.
  • Bushnell University’s Counseling Center offers low-cost, confidential counseling to adults in the community. Sessions are provided by graduate students working towards their CMHC degree, which gives students practical experience as they develop their counseling skills.

Program Format

This 60-credit hour program offers in-person and online courses and is designed to be completed in 28 months. Some of your classes will be onsite during the evening hours and some of your classes will be offered online.

In addition to class time, students have an opportunity for direct client contact at Bushnell University’s operational onsite counseling clinic.

Program Objectives

Upon completion of the Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Program, candidates will be able to:

  • Develop and exhibit a professional identity as a clinical mental health counselor, as evidenced by membership in relevant professional organizations, active preparation for licensure, and obtaining relevant counseling credentials
    • Memberships in ORCA and ACA are required and students should be active in both
  • Verbalize a personal theoretical orientation to counseling
  • Conduct a comprehensive mental health assessment including a DSM diagnostic impression
  • Formulate an evidence-based treatment plan for counseling
  • Deliver supervised counseling services to individuals and groups, and document a minimum of 700 clock hours (280 direct hours) of supervised clinical experience
  • Model professional ethical practices and adherence to legal requirements for counselors
  • Demonstrate an awareness of social, spiritual, and cultural issues impacting clients, and integrate that awareness into culturally competent counseling practice

FAQ's

  1. How much does the program cost?

The current tuition and fees are listed under our tuition and scholarships page. The CMHC program is 60 credits. When making plans, prospective students should also consider expenses such as textbooks and a parking pass.

  1. How long does it take to complete the program?

The CMHC program is generally completed in 28 months.

  1. Can I work while doing this program?

Students in the CMHC program must make a personal choice about working while pursuing their education. In the first year of the program, students are required to come to campus just one evening each week, which does allow students to continue working if they choose. In the second year of the program, they also begin seeing clients and participate in supervision with faculty and peers twice a week. Completing clinic hours, attending supervision, and balancing a weekly class may require students to adjust their work schedule as they progress in the program.

  1. Is Bushnell accredited?

Yes. The CMHC program is accredited through CACREP (The Counsel for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs).

  1. What can I do with my degree after graduating?

The CMHC program is the first step toward becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). To become an LPC, students must complete their master’s degree, pass the National Counselor Exam (NCE), and complete 1,900 supervised direct-client hours. Graduates of our program are eligible to work in a variety of settings, including agencies, private practice, non-profits, schools, prisons, hospitals, etc. and with individuals across the lifespan.

Have other questions? Contact our admission counselor at 541-684-7201.

Program Evaluation & Outcomes

24 Graduates from the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program in the past year.

76% Completion rate of students from the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program in the last 5 years.

100% Licensure/certification exam pass rate of students graduating from the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program.

97% Job-placement rate of graduates from the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program.

2022-2023 VITAL STATISTICS SURVEY

2022 COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT PLAN

2023 ANNUAL REPORT

 

Onsite Counseling Clinic

In addition to class time, students have the opportunity for direct client contact at Bushnell’s operational onsite counseling clinic. Under the supervision of clinically experienced faculty, students in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program provide low-cost, confidential counseling to adults in the community.

Admissions Requirements

  1. A free application for admission
  2. Official transcripts showing completion of a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university, with a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0. If the applicant’s GPA is below a 3.0, they may be asked to submit a current (within 5 years of application) official test score report showing; a minimum combined score of 297 (verbal and quantitative) on the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or a minimum scaled score of 400 on the Miller Analogy Test (MAT)
  3. A statement of purpose of two to three pages (double-spaced) showing skills in written communication, articulating interest in counseling as a profession, and demonstrating maturity to work in a counseling setting
  4. Current resume
  5. Two letters of recommendation, preferably one professional and one personal, highlighting any relevant counseling experience and which speaks to the character of the applicant
  6. At their own expense, applicants must obtain and pass a criminal background check
  7. A personal interview with the Admissions Committee
  8. A minimum score of 550 on the TOEFL (213 on the computer TOEFL) for applicants from non-English speaking countries

Cost of Attendance

Per Semester:

Housing & Food: $5,650
Books & Supplies: $55 per credit
Personal: $700
Transportation: $700
Tech Fee: $150

Questions?

Carrie Gillies
Admission Counselor

541-684-7259
cgillies@bushnell.edu

Mindi Barta, M.A., LPC, NCC
Interim Program Director

541-349-7464
mbarta@bushnell.edu

Courses

For full course descriptions, visit our academic catalog.

  • Professional Orientation
  • Special Topics
  • Personality and Counseling Theory
  • The Helping Relationship
  • Ethical and Legal
  • Research and Evaluation
  • Group Dynamics and Theory
  • Human Growth and Development
  • Lifestyle and Career Development
  • Counseling in a Multicultural Society
  • Family Systems
  • Diagnosis and Neurodiversity
  • Testing and Appraisal
  • Addiction Counseling
  • Crisis, Trauma, and Grief Counseling
  • Psychopharmacology
  • Clinical Practicum
  • Clinical Internship
  • Capstone

Accreditation

Bushnell University’s Master of Arts Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). This flyer provides an overview of CACREP and its standards.

Bushnell University’s Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program is approved by the Oregon Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists (OBLPCT).

Roseburg Campus

Bushnell is now offering the Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg.

Clinical Internship Sites

  • CAHOOTS – White Bird Clinic
  • Bushnell Univeristy – Mental Health Counseling Clinic
  • Family Faith And Relatonship Advocates (FARA)
  • Shangri-La
  • Youth Services – Lane County
  • Willamette Sky Cousneling
  • Umpqua Community College
  • The Sage House
  • Eugene Mission
  • Sotuh Lane Mental Health
  • The Child Center
  • El Rod
  • Monte Nido (Rain Rock)
  • Lane Community College
  • Lane County Behavioral Health
  • JJ Oregon State Hospital
  • Jasper Mountain
  • Holly Residential Center
  • Douglas County Educational Service
  • COMPASS
  • Cascade Behavioral Health
  • Center Community Counseling
  • Children’s Farm Home
  • Empowerment Therapy
  • Options Counselng
  • PeaceHealth
  • Stronger Oregon
  • Sernity Lane
  • Maegan Mexicotte
  • G Street Integrated Health
  • bethel Health Center
  • Cascade Hospice
  • Christians As Family Advocates (CAFA)
  • Faith Hope and Healing
  • Family Development Center Douglas County Relief Nursery
  • The Relief Nursery
  • C.H.O.I.C.E.S. (Created Healthy Options In Confronting Exploitive Sexuallity
  • CFD – Recovery Program
  • Jackson County Health and Human Services
  • Looking Glass – (AYS)
  • Postpartum Support International
  • Left Coast wellness
  • Parry Center for Children
  • Oaskland Elementay School
  • Eating Disorder center of  Eugene – Monte Nido
  • North Douglas Elementary Middle School
  • Direction Service
  • Children’s Behavioral Health, Marion County
  • Wild Wish Counseling
  • Rimrock Trails Treatment Services
  • Breaking Free LLC
  • Benson Health Cinic
  • Sweet Home School District

Current Students & Alumni Employment

  • PeaceHealth
  • Bushnell University
  • Looking Glass
  • Adaptive Integrated Healthcare
  • Aviva Health
  • Cascade Health
  • Candlelighters for Children With Cancer
  • Options Counseling & Family Services
  • Jasper Mountain Agency
  • Various University Counseling Centers

News

Academic Catalog

Military & Veteran Benefits

Academic Calendar

Tuition & Fees / Financial Aid

Hear From Our Students

Student
"The Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) program at Bushnell University was more than just a scholastic experience; rather, this program marked significant growth in my personal, spiritual, and professional identity. As a CMHC program facilitated by a Christian university, emphasis is placed on helping all students challenge their internalized biases in thought, action, behavior, and meaning-making to root professional growth in personal transformation, in order to become a professional counselor for peoples of all walks of life." 
-Marcia Smaha '23
Student
"With clinical mental health counseling being such an innately personal field, I knew it would be best to get my degree from a university that tended to its students with the same support, intention, and care that I would provide to my own clients. Bushnell offers a personal touch to the curriculum which is not often found at larger universities. The inclusion of an on-site counseling center that is run by CMHC program students & faculty makes this a unique and hands-on experience that emphasizes a student's personal strengths and identities.” 
-Tayo Van Rysselberghe '23
Student
Roger Kennedy
"Bushnell University’s CMHC program not only provided me the education and skills to be competently prepared to enter the workforce, but it also provided me with internal growth I was unaware of needing. The program not only provided me with skills and knowledge to work as a professional counselor but also to enhance my abilities in other aspects of my life as well."
-Roger Kennedy '20
Mindi Barta

Meet the Faculty

Mindi Barta, M.A., LPC, NCC
Program Faculty

“The CMHC program at Bushnell University is a unique and comprehensive program that prepares students for successful careers in mental health counseling.

With a focus on diversity, licensure preparation, and practical experience, students who pursue this program will be well-equipped to make a positive impact in their communities.”

Clinical Mental Health Counseling Faculty

Mindi Barta, M.A., LPC, NCC    Adam Duprez, Marriage and Family Therapy Associate    Roger Kennedy, M.A.