Unlock Your Mental Health Future at Beal - The Ultimate Blueprint to Professional Growth with Beal's Award-Winning Program

Advance Your Career with a Counseling and Mental Health Degree

Are you passionate about helping others navigate life's challenges and mental health concerns? A counseling and mental health degree from Beal University provides the comprehensive education and professional credentials you need to launch a meaningful career in mental health services. Whether you're interested in clinical counseling, school counseling, or community mental health work, our accredited programs combine rigorous academic training with practical experience. At Beal University, located at 99 Farm Rd in Bangor, Maine, we understand that pursuing a professional counseling degree is a significant investment in your future. Our mission is to prepare you not just with theoretical knowledge, but with the hands-on skills, supervised practicum experience, and industry connections that employers value. With experienced faculty, modern facilities, and strong connections to the mental health counseling community, Beal University stands out as a leading institution for counseling education in Maine and beyond. Discover how a counseling degree from Beal University can open doors to a rewarding career helping individuals, families, and communities.

Expert Insights on Mental Health Counselor Training and Professional Counseling Education

A counseling and mental health degree is a specialized educational program designed to prepare professionals for careers in mental health services, individual counseling, group therapy, and community mental health work. These programs teach aspiring counselors how to assess client needs, develop treatment plans, implement evidence-based interventions, and maintain professional boundaries. Whether pursuing an associate degree mental health counseling, a bachelor's in mental health, or a master's degree in mental health counseling, students gain expertise in evaluating diverse client presentations and creating culturally responsive treatment approaches.

The counseling degree requirements by state vary, but most jurisdictions require a minimum of a master's degree in counseling for licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) or Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC). Through supervised internships and practicum placements, counseling students develop real-world clinical skills under the guidance of experienced licensed clinicians. Best online counseling degree programs, including those offered by Beal University, provide the same rigorous curriculum and clinical requirements as traditional on-campus options, with the added flexibility of asynchronous learning modules and evening classes. The answer is typically a master's degree, though some entry-level positions accept bachelor's graduates for limited roles under supervision.

The mental health career options for counseling graduates are diverse and growing, with demand for qualified mental health counselors increasing across hospitals, private practice, schools, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies. Current research shows that counseling degree salary and job outlook remain positive, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting steady growth in counselor positions through the next decade. Mental health counselor credentials vary by state, but counselor certification requirements typically include completion of an accredited degree, supervised clinical hours (ranging from 2,000 to 4,000 hours depending on state), and passing a comprehensive examination.

Key Benefits of Beal University's Counseling Programs

• Earn an accredited counseling degree that meets licensure requirements in Maine and most other states, positioning you for immediate professional opportunities and career advancement.
• Study at your own pace with evening and weekend classes, recorded lectures, and asynchronous discussion boards designed for working professionals seeking professional counseling degree credentials.
• Learn from licensed professionals who understand counselor certification requirements, current industry standards, and the practical skills needed to succeed in mental health counselor training environments.
• Develop competencies in individual counseling, group therapy, crisis intervention, and community mental health work through direct supervision by licensed mental health counselors and clinical supervisors.
• Gain the knowledge and credentials needed to answer the critical question: how to become a mental health counselor, with clear pathways to employment and professional development.

Beal University's focus on practical, applied learning means that upon completing your counseling and mental health degree, you're not just prepared for entry-level positions—you're ready for meaningful professional roles from day one. Whether you're interested in private practice, agency work, school counseling, or nonprofit leadership, our graduates consistently report feeling confident and competent in their professional roles.

How Beal University Delivers Exceptional Mental Health Degree Programs

The first step in pursuing your professional counseling degree is understanding the application process and program requirements specific to your educational goals—whether that's a bachelor's in mental health, master's degree in mental health counseling, or advanced specialization. We provide detailed information about counseling degree requirements by state, helping you understand how our curriculum aligns with licensure standards in your jurisdiction. Our admission process includes transcripts review, personal statements, and conversations about your motivation for entering the mental health counselor training field.

Throughout your online counseling education or on-campus studies at our Bangor facility, you'll progress through a carefully sequenced curriculum that integrates theory with practice. Practicum and internship experiences form the cornerstone of our approach, with students completing 600-1,000 supervised clinical hours in real-world settings. Beal University maintains partnerships with schools, hospitals, community mental health centers, and private practices throughout Maine, ensuring diverse practicum placements that expose you to various mental health career options and client populations. We provide comprehensive preparation for state licensure exams, helping you demonstrate mastery of the knowledge and competencies assessed in counselor certification exams.

Deep Expertise in Mental Health Counselor Training and Clinical Practice Standards

Beal University's counseling faculty and leadership bring decades of combined experience in clinical mental health counseling, school counseling, addiction treatment, trauma-informed care, and community mental health services. We understand how long does a counseling degree take, and we've designed programs to maximize learning efficiency while maintaining the rigorous training necessary for the counselor certification requirements in Maine and across the nation. The faculty at Beal University regularly engage with professional organizations, attend continuing education events, and maintain active clinical caseloads, ensuring that their teaching integrates current best practices in individual therapy, group counseling, family systems work, and crisis intervention.

What makes our approach distinctive is the combination of rigorous academics, practical skills training, individualized mentorship, and a commitment to preparing counselors who are not just knowledgeable but genuinely effective and ethically grounded in their practice.

What to Expect When Pursuing Professional Counseling Education

Many prospective students ask: what degree do i need for counseling? The standard answer is that most states require a master's degree for full licensure as a counselor, though associate degree mental health counseling and bachelor's in mental health programs provide excellent entry points. Prospective students also consider counseling degree salary and job outlook, and research consistently shows positive employment prospects and competitive compensation for licensed professional counselors and mental health counselors. {The choice between best online counseling degree programs and traditional on-campus options depends on your personal learning style, schedule, and career timeline, but quality accredited counseling degrees deliver equivalent credentials regardless of format.

When selecting a counseling psychology program or clinical counseling degree, key quality indicators include CACREP accreditation, faculty credentials, practicum partnerships, licensure pass rates, and employment outcomes for recent graduates.

Why Choose Beal University for Your Counseling and Mental Health Degree

Beal University has established itself as a trusted leader in counseling education throughout Maine and the broader New England region, with a reputation built on academic excellence, practical skills training, and student success. For over two decades, Beal University has been preparing counselors, school counselors, and mental health professionals who make meaningful differences in their communities. Students who choose Beal University for their counseling and mental health degree benefit from an institution that understands both the academic requirements for licensure and the human qualities that make truly exceptional counselors.

Our Bangor location offers modern facilities, easy parking, and proximity to major mental health agencies and schools that serve as practicum sites.

Begin Your Counseling Career Path Now

Whether you're asking how long does a counseling degree take, exploring best online counseling degree programs, or seeking to understand counselor certification requirements specific to your state, our enrollment counselors are ready to provide comprehensive guidance. Your future clients, community, and career deserve the depth of preparation that comes from earning your counseling and mental health degree at an institution that prioritizes excellence, ethics, and student success. Contact Beal University now to schedule a consultation with an admissions counselor, request detailed program information, or discuss your specific counseling career goals and timeline. We're here to answer your questions about professional counseling degree options and help you take the next step toward a rewarding career in mental health counseling.

Call (207)-307-3900 to schedule your consultation and discover how Beal University can prepare you for success in the mental health counseling profession.

Beal University

99 Farm Rd, Bangor, ME 04401, United States

Phone: (207)-307-3900