The master's program in clinical mental health counseling provides a clinical counseling foundation for serving persons facing physical, mental, emotional, or social challenges, rehabilitation counselors offer hope and empowerment. For individuals and their families, these counselors serve as a source of personal support and guidance thus enhancing their quality of life. Graduates of our program are eligible to sit for the Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) credential exam, the National Certified Counselor (NCC) credential exam, and eligible to pursue careers as Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC).

This 60-credit-hour program is accredited by The Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP). The program prepares graduates to enter the counseling profession in a variety of human service settings. Students in the program intern at our Community Counseling Services Center , as well as welfare and other social service agencies, mental health centers, penal institutions, court systems, employment and career centers, allied health agencies, government service agencies, community college counseling centers, and private practice. Additional information about the program can be found in the student handbook .

The Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is committed to preparing knowledgeable and ethical Professional Counselors equipped for the practice of individual, couple, family, and group counseling. Our program emphasizes working with diverse populations and developing strategies to promote the social, emotional, psychological, and physical health of individuals, families, communities, and organizations. We contribute to human development, adjustment, and change by encouraging our diverse faculty and student body to engage in reflective practice, critical inquiry, civic engagement, and responsible social action.

Nationally Ranked and Accredited : The GSEHD Counseling program combines rigorous course content with supervised, clinical experience working with children, adolescents, and adults from the metropolitan area. This program is accredited by The Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP).

Location: Unique to GW, our location gives students in the Counseling and Human Development Department access to urban and suburban areas within DC, Maryland, and Virginia. This allows students to work with a wide range of diverse populations.

The following requirements must be fulfilled: 60 credits, including 57 credits in required courses and 3 credits in elective courses, and completion of 600 hours in internships and 100 hours in a practicum.

Required Courses

CNSL 6114: Introduction to Research and Evaluation in Counselor Education
CNSL 6151: Professional and Ethical Orientation to Counseling
CNSL 6153: Counseling Interview Skills
CNSL 6154: Theories and Techniques of Counseling
CNSL 6155: Career Counseling
CNSL 6157: Individual Assessment in Counseling
CNSL 6161: Group Counseling
CNSL 6163: Social/Cultural Dimensions Counseling
CNSL 6169: Counseling Substance Abusers
CNSL 6171: Family Counseling
CNSL 6173: Diagnosis and Treatment Planning
CNSL 6174: Trauma and Crisis Intervention
CNSL 6185: Internship in Counseling
CNSL 6186: Advanced Internship in Counseling
CNSL 6268: Foundations of Clinical Mental Health
CNSL 6269: Practicum I
CNSL 6271: Advanced Clinical Skills
HDEV 6108: Life Span Human Development
HDEV 6109: Child Development OR HDEV 6110: Adolescent Development OR HDEV 8244: Adult and Aging Development

Electives: 3 credits in elective courses to be selected in consultation with the program advisor

Our graduates are offering hope and help to students and clients at multiple community, government and school based locations including:

• National Institutes of Health
• Community Connections Integrative Trauma Team
• Renfrew Center for Eating Disorders
• Dominion Hospital
• DC Department of Disability Services
• US Navy
• Phoenix House
• INOVA Health Care
• Jewish Social Services Agency
• American University Counseling Center
• Georgetown University Career Center

Find people in need and you will find a GSEHD counselor.

Retention rate: 99%

Average time to complete the program: 2.6 years (8 semesters)

2019-1 Cost: On-campus $1,765 per credit

Scholarships: Merit based scholarships

Employment settings: Community mental health settings, inpatient units, intensive outpatient units, crisis counseling

Licensure eligibility: License for Professional Counselors (LPC). Requirements vary by state

NCE passing rates: 100% (National = 91%)

Accreditation status: Accredited by CACREP through 2022. Program has been accredited since 1984.

Annual Fall Enrollment: 85

Predicted job outlook (2014-2024) Nineteen percent (19%) increase, compared to 7% expected increase in total US jobs. The field of counseling will see over 30% growth in the next ten years. (Source: US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics)

NOTE: Costs are 2019-2020; enrollment is Fall 2019; retention is calculated over the past year.

• 2018/2019 Academic Program Assessment Report
• Fall 2019 Doctoral Alumni Survey
• Spring 2019 Alumni Survey
• Spring 2018 Alumni Survey
• Spring 2017 Alumni Survey
• Spring 2019 Employer Survey
• Fall 2018 Employer Survey
• Fall 2017 Employer Survey

Program Entry: Summer (Full Time), Fall (Part Time or Full Time)
Prerequisites: Bachelors Degree
Campus: Main Campus
Deadline for Summer and Fall Admission: January 15th, 2021

Application Requirements

• Online Application
• Resume
• Statement of Purpose
• 2 Letters of Recommendation
• GRE Scores (the ETS is now offering at-home GRE testing )
• Transcripts (unofficial)
• Application Fee

*Additional application requirements may exist for international applicants
For more information on any of these requirements, please visit our Admissions FAQ page.

The deadline to apply for 2021 enrollment has passed. Please contact gsehdadm@gwu.edu with any questions.

• 2019-2020 Internship Handbook
• 2019-2020 Counseling Practicum Handbook
• 2019-2020 Counseling Student Handbook