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Hannah
Student
North Carolina, NC
1
Question
Asked
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How do I become a mental health therapist?
Hi! I'm currently in high school but I want to become a mental health therapist preferably working with children. What steps do I need to get there? I also don't really understand all the license names (LMHC, LPC, LCPC, etc.) From what I understand which isn't much I want to be a LMHC but can someone please explain these as well as the steps I need to take to get there?
Thank you!
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5 answers
Anika S
Software Engineer Intern
100
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Anika’s Answer
Hi Hannah,
Finish High School: Focus on excelling in your classes, especially in subjects like psychology, biology, and sociology. Participating in extracurricular activities related to mental health or counseling can also be beneficial.
Pursue a Bachelor’s Degree:
Major in Psychology or a Related Field: A bachelor’s degree in psychology, social work, or a related field is typically the first step.
Relevant Coursework: Take courses in child development, abnormal psychology, and counseling techniques.
Gain Experience:
Volunteer or Internship: Seek volunteer opportunities or internships in mental health settings, schools, or community centers to gain hands-on experience.
Pursue a Master’s Degree in Counseling or a Related Field:
Accredited Program: Enroll in an accredited master’s program in counseling, psychology, or social work. Ensure the program is recognized by relevant accrediting bodies, such as the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
Specialization: Focus on child and adolescent counseling if available.
Complete Required Practicum and Internship Hours:
Supervised Experience: During your master’s program, you’ll need to complete supervised practicum and internship hours working with children and adolescents.
Understand Licensing Requirements and License Types:
Licenses and Certifications:
LMHC (Licensed Mental Health Counselor):
Requirements: Typically requires a master’s degree in counseling or a related field, completion of supervised clinical hours, and passing a licensing exam.
LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor):
Requirements: Similar to LMHC, it involves a master’s degree, supervised clinical experience, and passing a licensing exam.
LCPC (Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor):
Requirements: This license often requires additional clinical experience beyond the LPC, focusing on advanced clinical practice.
LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker):
Requirements: Requires a master’s degree in social work (MSW), supervised clinical experience, and passing a licensing exam. LCSWs provide therapy and also have expertise in social services.
MFT (Marriage and Family Therapist):
Requirements: Requires a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy, supervised experience, and passing a licensing exam. MFTs work with families and children.
Pass the Required Licensing Exams:
National Counselor Examination (NCE): Common for LPC/LMHC.
National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE): Sometimes required for advanced licensure.
Finish High School: Focus on excelling in your classes, especially in subjects like psychology, biology, and sociology. Participating in extracurricular activities related to mental health or counseling can also be beneficial.
Pursue a Bachelor’s Degree:
Major in Psychology or a Related Field: A bachelor’s degree in psychology, social work, or a related field is typically the first step.
Relevant Coursework: Take courses in child development, abnormal psychology, and counseling techniques.
Gain Experience:
Volunteer or Internship: Seek volunteer opportunities or internships in mental health settings, schools, or community centers to gain hands-on experience.
Pursue a Master’s Degree in Counseling or a Related Field:
Accredited Program: Enroll in an accredited master’s program in counseling, psychology, or social work. Ensure the program is recognized by relevant accrediting bodies, such as the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
Specialization: Focus on child and adolescent counseling if available.
Complete Required Practicum and Internship Hours:
Supervised Experience: During your master’s program, you’ll need to complete supervised practicum and internship hours working with children and adolescents.
Understand Licensing Requirements and License Types:
Licenses and Certifications:
LMHC (Licensed Mental Health Counselor):
Requirements: Typically requires a master’s degree in counseling or a related field, completion of supervised clinical hours, and passing a licensing exam.
LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor):
Requirements: Similar to LMHC, it involves a master’s degree, supervised clinical experience, and passing a licensing exam.
LCPC (Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor):
Requirements: This license often requires additional clinical experience beyond the LPC, focusing on advanced clinical practice.
LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker):
Requirements: Requires a master’s degree in social work (MSW), supervised clinical experience, and passing a licensing exam. LCSWs provide therapy and also have expertise in social services.
MFT (Marriage and Family Therapist):
Requirements: Requires a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy, supervised experience, and passing a licensing exam. MFTs work with families and children.
Pass the Required Licensing Exams:
National Counselor Examination (NCE): Common for LPC/LMHC.
National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE): Sometimes required for advanced licensure.
Thank you for clarifying this! That helped so much!
Hannah
Akinade Segun
Fleet Operation Management
5
Answers
Kano, Nigeria
Updated
Akinade’s Answer
To become a mental health therapist, you typically need to follow these steps:
1. Earn a bachelor's degree in psychology, social work, or a related field
2. Complete a master's degree program in counseling or a related field, often requiring 60 credit hours or more. Many states mandate these programs be accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
3. Accumulate 2,000-4,000 hours of supervised clinical experience, including 100 hours of direct supervision, after completing your master's degree
4. Pass the National Counselor Examination (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) to obtain your license
5. Apply for state licensure, which has specific requirements that vary by state. Common requirements include a master's degree, supervised clinical experience, and passing an exam
Other way round the LMHC;
To become a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), you need to meet the following educational requirements:
Earn a bachelor's degree in psychology, counseling, or a related field. This typically takes 4 years to complete.
Complete a master's degree program in mental health counseling or a related field, consisting of at least 60 semester credits or 80 quarter credits. The program must be from a regionally accredited institution and cover core areas like counseling theories, human growth and development, psychopathology, social and cultural foundations, clinical skills, group counseling, testing and assessment, research and evaluation, and professional orientation. This takes an additional 2-3 years after the bachelor's degree.
Fulfill practicum and internship requirements, which include:
Practicum: 100 hours total, with 40 hours of direct client contact and 25 hours of supervision (10 individual, 5 group, 10 additional individual or group).
Internship: 600 hours total, with 240 hours of direct client contact and 45 hours of supervision (15 individual, 15 group, 15 additional individual or group).
Pass the National Counselor Examination (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) to demonstrate your knowledge and skills.
Apply for state licensure as an LMHC, which may have additional requirements like supervised clinical experience hours and passing an exam. Requirements vary by state.
1. Earn a bachelor's degree in psychology, social work, or a related field
2. Complete a master's degree program in counseling or a related field, often requiring 60 credit hours or more. Many states mandate these programs be accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
3. Accumulate 2,000-4,000 hours of supervised clinical experience, including 100 hours of direct supervision, after completing your master's degree
4. Pass the National Counselor Examination (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) to obtain your license
5. Apply for state licensure, which has specific requirements that vary by state. Common requirements include a master's degree, supervised clinical experience, and passing an exam
Other way round the LMHC;
To become a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), you need to meet the following educational requirements:
Earn a bachelor's degree in psychology, counseling, or a related field. This typically takes 4 years to complete.
Complete a master's degree program in mental health counseling or a related field, consisting of at least 60 semester credits or 80 quarter credits. The program must be from a regionally accredited institution and cover core areas like counseling theories, human growth and development, psychopathology, social and cultural foundations, clinical skills, group counseling, testing and assessment, research and evaluation, and professional orientation. This takes an additional 2-3 years after the bachelor's degree.
Fulfill practicum and internship requirements, which include:
Practicum: 100 hours total, with 40 hours of direct client contact and 25 hours of supervision (10 individual, 5 group, 10 additional individual or group).
Internship: 600 hours total, with 240 hours of direct client contact and 45 hours of supervision (15 individual, 15 group, 15 additional individual or group).
Pass the National Counselor Examination (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) to demonstrate your knowledge and skills.
Apply for state licensure as an LMHC, which may have additional requirements like supervised clinical experience hours and passing an exam. Requirements vary by state.
Thank you! Do your recommend doing it the first way or the second way?
Hannah
Both will surely land you in that dream.
Akinade Segun
Annah Edmonds
Licensed Clinical Counselor and Art Therapist
59
Answers
Seattle, Washington
Updated
Annah’s Answer
Hannah, love this! It is understandable you are confused; even I have to look things up online sometimes. There are a lot of anacronyms in the medical and mental health fields. Depending on what state you attend graduate school for an MA in clinical counseling or psychology, you will receive an LMHC or LPC license. Initially you are an associate however, which means there is an A added to the end of each (for instance LMHCA). Once you gain all the contact hours working with clients, supervision hours, and pass a state exam you get to drop the A. For people who want a specialized degree, they might go for a CFT (child family therapy), or MFT (marriage family therapy) MA. With an LMHC or LPC you may still choose to work professionally with children, families, or couples but the contact hours will look different, and the licensing exam may be different. It can get overwhelming, so I suggest you don't become too concerned about post-graduation tasks. You will have plenty to do as a graduate student. I chose to get an LMHC with art therapy credential. I have worked with the entire developmental spectrum. To remain licensed, you will have annual continuing education credits to fulfill. There is no maximum number but there will be a minimum. You can pursue any clinical training you want; this gives you a chance to learn anything you did not as a graduate student. As for the LPC vs LCPC, there are two main state licensing exams for those with an LMHC or LPC credential. Every state in the US will require an exam- either the NCE or NCMHCE. Some states only accept one exam while others will accept either. the C in LCPC means you passed both exams. This is not at all necessary, but it will help if you plan to be licensed in multiple states. You can find all this information on your state board of health website. But again, you do not need to know any of this now. I chose the NCE because of its format- multiple choice questions. I live in a state that accepts either exam. I hope this helps (along with the other responses).
Katherine Avery
Run a music studio and teach private music lessons; teach college-level religion classes
299
Answers
Spanish Fork, Utah
Updated
Katherine’s Answer
Hey, just to enhance the experience you can have as you learn more about mental health and what's involved, you might like to get familiar with the books and podcasts, YouTube channels and websites, by people like John Townsend, Henry Cloud, Terence Real, John Delony, Les and Leslie Parrott, John and Julie Gottman, Gary Chapman, Thais Gibson, John Gray, Ross Campbell, Dr. Paul Jenkins, and Melody Beattie. It will help you see the kinds of things that people often seek mental health professionals for, and you can get that much more information as you form your own opinions and see what the general conversation is about certain topics.
Collins Lucky
Data Entryspecialist, Cost analysis, Repairing of all kinds of smartphones, Apple, & Samsung mobile.
48
Answers
Bonny, RV
Updated
Collins’s Answer
Hello, Hannah,
You're on the path to becoming a wonderful mental health therapist for children. Here are the steps to guide you:
1. **Earn Your Bachelor's Degree**: Choose psychology, social work, or a similar field as your major. This is your first step towards your dream.
2. **Chase a Master's Degree**: Go for a master's degree in counseling, psychology, or a related field. This will deepen your knowledge and expertise.
3. **Accumulate Supervised Clinical Hours**: Learn from the best by gaining experience under a licensed professional. This is where you'll get your hands dirty.
4. **Ace Your Licensing Exams**: State-specific exams are your final hurdle. Conquer them with confidence.
**Decoding License Types**:
- **LMHC (Licensed Mental Health Counselor)**: This requires a master's degree and supervised clinical hours. It's a common choice.
- **LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor)**: Similar to LMHC, but the specifics may vary from state to state.
- **LCPC (Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor)**: This typically signifies more advanced training and experience. It's for those who want to go the extra mile.
Remember, each state has its own set of rules and requirements, so do your homework and research your state's specifics. You've got this, Hannah!
You're on the path to becoming a wonderful mental health therapist for children. Here are the steps to guide you:
1. **Earn Your Bachelor's Degree**: Choose psychology, social work, or a similar field as your major. This is your first step towards your dream.
2. **Chase a Master's Degree**: Go for a master's degree in counseling, psychology, or a related field. This will deepen your knowledge and expertise.
3. **Accumulate Supervised Clinical Hours**: Learn from the best by gaining experience under a licensed professional. This is where you'll get your hands dirty.
4. **Ace Your Licensing Exams**: State-specific exams are your final hurdle. Conquer them with confidence.
**Decoding License Types**:
- **LMHC (Licensed Mental Health Counselor)**: This requires a master's degree and supervised clinical hours. It's a common choice.
- **LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor)**: Similar to LMHC, but the specifics may vary from state to state.
- **LCPC (Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor)**: This typically signifies more advanced training and experience. It's for those who want to go the extra mile.
Remember, each state has its own set of rules and requirements, so do your homework and research your state's specifics. You've got this, Hannah!