Category — Counseling Careers

Healthcare and social services are among the most rapidly expanding fields in the jobs market. It used to be possible to have careers in these fields without holding an advanced degree. These days, due to the recovery from the recession, the market has grown more competitive, with highly skilled counseling professionals all vying for the new positions. Having an advanced counseling degree in one’s arsenal is essential for gaining the upper hand on the competition. For college students and people currently in the workforce, the road to a successful future begins with entering a graduate program.

Best Counseling Schools has organized a list of the top ten best online counseling degree programs. Earning an advanced degree online allows flexibility to work while pursuing an education at an individual pace. The programs were selected due to the notable reputation of the school and its regional accreditation.

The counseling programs are listed in order based on their reputation. All are accredited by region.

1. Wake Forest University – Master of Arts in Counseling- Clinical Mental Health
Cost: $33,000 per year

2. Seton Hall University – Master of Arts in Counseling
Cost: $1,033 per credit

3. University of North Dakota – Master of Arts in Counseling- K-12 School Emphasis
Cost: $466 per credit

4. University of Massachusetts – Master of Education in School Counseling
Cost: $475 per credit

5. Post University – Master of Science in Human Services– Alcohol and Drug Counseling
Cost: $20,000 total for program

6. Northcentral University – Master of Arts in Psychology– Industrial/Organizational Psychology
Cost: $675 per credit

7. Sacred Heart University – Master of Science in Applied Psychology
Cost: $700 per credit

8. Capella University – Master of Science in Counseling Psychology
Cost: $458 per credit

9. Walden University – Master of Science in Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling
Cost: $420 per quarter credit hour

10. University of the Rockies – Master of Arts in Psychology– Career Management and Counseling Specialization
Cost: $726 per credit

One of the best ways for busy adult learners to earn a degree is through online programs. The flexibility and convenience of online programs allows adults with multiple obligations to fit studying and school work into their schedules, rather than structure their lives around attending classes in the traditional setting. The Bureau of Labor Statistics confirms that people with graduate degrees earn substantially more than those with undergraduate degrees or only high school diplomas.

Online therapy degrees provide the opportunity to advance in careers of helping people through various kinds of counseling and therapeutic techniques. The schools included in this “Top 10″ list have proven to be reputable schools and include such criteria as flexible learning formats and specialty areas to select from in counseling and therapy fields.

Regional accreditation is the highest type in the United States, as it assures students of high quality, reputable schools and programs with recognized and valid degrees. Each school on this list maintains regional accreditation, as well as good standing with the Higher Learning Commission. These online therapy degree programs also prepare students for counseling licensure and practice.

1. Capella University – Cost: $458 per credit hour
Degree Name: Master of Science in Marriage and Family Counseling

2. Walden University – Cost: $420 per semester hour
Degree Name: Master of Science in Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling, with 3 optional concentrations

3. Liberty University – Cost: $465 per credit hour
Degree Name: Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy

4. Victory University – Cost: $400 per credit hour
Degree Name: Master of Science in Professional Counseling

5. Seton Hall University – Cost: $1,033 per credit hour
Degree Name: Master of Arts in Counseling

6. National University – Cost: $372 per credit hour
Degree Name: Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology, with 2 areas of specialization

7. University of Massachusetts-Boston – Cost: $13,097 per one year
Degree Name: Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling

8. University of the Southwest – Cost: $544 per credit hour
Degree Name: Master of Science in Education-Mental Health Counseling

9. South University – Cost: $28,961 for one year
Degree Name: Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

10. University of Massachusetts Online – Cost: $425 per credit hour
Degree Name: Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling

Source: Top 10 Best Online Therapy Degree Programs

As essential components of the field of psychology, substance abuse counselors, addiction counselors, behavioral therapists, and school counselors all work as advisors and mentors for individuals who suffer from mental illnesses and disturbances. The majority of those professionals acquire a Master’s in Counseling Degree from an accredited college or university, and this advanced degree is offered to bachelor’s degree holders who possess a minimum GPA of 3.0 and a satisfactory score on the Graduate Record Exam. Due to the fact that this field represents a rapidly expanding area of study, there are multiple schools that offer both online and campus-based programs for Counseling Degrees. In terms of flexibility and affordability, online programs for this degree often entail the best options for educational advancement in counseling.

There are many attributes that make colleges and universities desirable to potential students, and those attributes include degree program quality and reputation for producing skilled professionals. All of the online schools that are listed below offer distinguished counseling degree programs that are well-known for providing students with the advanced skills they need as counselors and therapists everywhere.

Accreditation is offered to secondary schools at both the regional and national levels, and ensures educational facilities that their degree programs meet specific standards for excellence. Each of the online colleges and universities that is reviewed below possesses regional and/or national accreditation.

The Top Online Counseling Degree Programs

1. School Name: Walden University
Tuition Cost: $420 per quarter credit hour
Degree Name: Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling

2. School Name: Capella University
Tuition Cost: $430 per credit hour
Degree Name: Master of Science in Psychology

3. School Name: Grand Canyon University
Tuition Cost: $30,250 for the entire program
Degree Name: Master of Science in Professional Counseling

4. School Name: Victory University
Tuition Cost: $400 per semester hour
Degree Name: Master of Science in Professional Counseling

5. School Name: Seton Hall University
Tuition Cost: $34,000 for the entire program
Degree Name: Master of Arts in Counseling

6. School Name: Wake Forest University
Tuition Cost: $33,174 for the entire program
Degree Name: Master of Arts in Counseling

7. School Name: Liberty University
Tuition Cost: $465 per credit hour
Degree Name: Master of Arts in Professional Counseling

8. School Name: Carlow University
Tuition Cost: $715 per credit hour
Degree Name: Master of Science in Professional Counseling

9. School Name: University of Massachusetts at Boston
Tuition Cost: $13,097 for the entire program
Degree Name: Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling

10. School Name: University of Massachusetts Online
Tuition Cost: $1,425 per credit hour
Degree Name: Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling

Source: Top 10 Best Online Counseling Degree Programs

From working mothers to military veterans, there are countless people who suffer from life-altering addictions to drugs and alcohol. For this reason alone, the need for quality, skilled, and educated substance abuse counselors is great. These mental health professionals are highly trained in the areas of behavioral development, environmental psychology, and risk factors for addiction, and the majority of them possess a master’s degree in their field. For people who desire to help others overcome their debilitating dependencies on alcohol, pharmaceutics, and other illicit drugs, the top tips for their career success are reviewed below.

1. Get Your Master’s Degree

People who are interested in acquiring employment as substance abuse counselors should obtain a master’s-level degree in their field from an accredited college or university. Programs for Master’s in Substance Abuse Counseling Degrees take one to two years to complete, and they are offered to individuals who possess at least a bachelor’s degree, a minimum GPA of 3.0, some experience in their field of study, and a passing score on the Graduate Record Exam. For students’ convenience, many accredited, quality institutions also offer online programs for this degree. Typical course components of any Master’s in Substance Abuse Counseling Degree program entail: Psychiatric Rehabilitation, Counseling Theories in Addictions and Rehabilitation, and Group Counseling for Addictive Behavior. In addition, internships and externships are also included in programs for this degree, and they provide students with valuable, rewarding, hands-on experience in the field of mental health. There are many professional development resources available online, including this Substance Abuse Counselor Resource Guide. Professionally, individuals who possess Master’s in Substance Abuse Counseling Degrees from accredited schools are rewarded with the most abundant opportunities as substance abuse counselors in hospitals, private clinics, mental health centers, rehabilitation centers, correctional facilities, and military institutions.

2. Get Your Credentials

After completing and acquiring a Master’s in Substance Abuse Counseling Degree, individuals should pursue credentialing through the National Board for Certified Counselors. This credentialing agency offers a Master Addictions Counselor credential to applicants who possess a master’s degree in substance abuse or mental health counseling and a satisfactory score on the Examination for Master Addictions Counselor test. The Master Addictions Counselor credential is highly desirable and selective, and roughly 700 mental health counselors possess it in the United States. In addition, it is highly desirable for individuals to obtain memberships with the many reputable, distinguished associations that support and facilitate growth in the field of mental health. Those associations comprise: the Mental Health Association, the American Mental Health Counselors Association, the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors, and many local organizations.

3. Pursue Grant and Award Opportunities

Once individuals have acquired employment as substance abuse counselors, there are many grant and award opportunities that they should pursue. There are numerous grants and awards that are funded through the Office of Extramural Research of the National Institutes of Health, and they provide mental health professionals with exceptional, cost-free opportunities to receive funds for educational advancement, research, and development purposes. Those grants and awards include the following: the National Institutes of Health Research Project Grant Program, the National Institutes of Health Small Grant Program, the National Institutes of Health Support for Conferences and Scientific Meetings Fund, the National Institutes of Health Academic Research Enhancement Award, the National Institutes of Health Pathway to Independence Award, and the Research Project Cooperative Agreement. Aside from providing substance abuses counselors with cost-free opportunities to increase their knowledge in the field of mental health, grants and awards that are offered through the National Institutes of Health also provide those professionals with enhanced resumes and reputations in their field.