Many students often find traditional campus-based mental health counseling programs challenging due to time commitments, location constraints, or the need for flexibility in their education.
Online mental health counseling programs in Florida allow students to delve deep into the intricacies of mental health counseling from anywhere with an internet connection. Breaking down geographical barriers and offering unparalleled flexibility, these programs are shaping the future leaders of mental health counseling, ensuring a brighter and healthier Florida for all.
Online Mental Health Counseling Programs in Florida
Listed below are some of the popular schools offering online mental health counseling programs in Florida:
Nova Southeastern University
Today, both public and private sectors recognize the growing demand for skilled counselors. By choosing this field, you open doors to numerous exciting opportunities.
To earn your M.S. in Counseling at Nova Southeastern University, you will complete 33 graduate semester hours, alongside the Clinical Mental Health Counseling focus. In total, you are looking at completing 60 credits.
This program equips you to:
Some of the core Clinical Mental Health Counseling concentration courses that you will take include:
You will need complete all courses for the degree with a GPA of at least 3.0, including satisfactory completion of practicum and internship.
To apply, ensure you:
Hodges University
Hodges Universityoffers a 60-credit online Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree that’s designed just for you. If you are aiming to start a career in mental health or substance abuse counseling, this could be your first step. Once you are through, you will also be able toget licensed as a Mental Health Counselor.
Some of the core courses that you will take include:
All classes will be online, but you will still have interactive sessions! For about 6-8 hours, you will meet with your classmates and instructor over Zoom. There, you will discuss concepts, see presentations, and more.
During the program, you will have to join 4 weekend residency sessions. These will be spread out over fall and spring. It’s a full weekend from Friday to Sunday morning. This is where you will get hands-on practice and dive deep into core counseling techniques.
You will also be involved in real-world practice. There’s a 155-hour practicum where you will directly care for clients for 40 hours. After that, you will do two internships totaling 300 hours, with 120 hours directly interacting with clients. Expect to commit about 20 hours a week for these internships. Plus, during this time, you will be supervised for 45 hours per session.
By the end of this program, if you are in Florida, you can become a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC). First, you will register as an intern, and once you meet all requirements, you will get your full LMHC license.
To apply, ensure you have a bachelor’s degree with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. You will need to send in your official college transcripts to show your degree. Sometimes, there might be an essay or interview as part of the admission process. Once everything is ready, fill out the application for the program.
Kesier University
Keiser’s online Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is tailored for busy individuals like you. This program aims to fully equip you to become a professional counselor, ready to work in various settings like private clinics or rehab centers.
Here’s what you should expect:
Florida International University
If you are considering a future in counseling,Florida International University’sProfessional Counseling Psychology Master’s program is tailored just for you. Aimed at helping you become a knowledgeable counselor, it’s a path that can lead to being licensed as a mental health counselor. You can pursue this program in a hybrid or fully online format.
This program gives you a strong base in psychology and lets you focus on various mental health challenges and diverse groups of people. Through guidance from teachers and hands-on training, you will learn to use science-backed theories and methods. Your goal? To understand, prevent, and help with mental health issues while boosting overall well-being and personal growth.
This program is spread over roughly eight semesters and requires you to earn 60 credits. You will explore topics like:
You will have the option to take classes either at scheduled times through online meetings or whenever it suits you, giving you plenty of room to plan your day. The online classes are organized so that everyone in your group goes through the courses together over a span of eight semesters. This way, the lessons are always ready for you and come in a well-planned order to help you understand better.
To get into this program, you will need an undergraduate degree and a 3.0 GPA in the last half of your coursework. When applying, remember to send:
Southern New Hampshire University
As you learn, you will be equipped to help others with understanding and practical know-how. This program will teach you how to support clients facing various personal challenges, from childhood troubles to serious mental conditions.
Though most of the 60-credit program is online, there are two in-person training sessions to boost your real-world skills. Being primarily online, SNHU lets you enjoy flexible online lessons but also provides face-to-face experiences, helping you connect better with clients.
You will be exploring into topics like:
You must also complete at least a 100-hour practicum and two 300-hour internships during the program.
To get into this program, you will need:
How Long Does It Take to Become a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Florida?
Becoming a mental health counselor in Florida requires a combination of education, supervised experience, and examination. Here are the general steps and timeframes:
In total, it typically takes about 4-5 years (2-3 years for the master’s degree and 2 years of supervised experience) after a bachelor’s degree to become a licensed mental health counselor in Florida, not including any additional time it might take to fulfill supplementary course requirements or to prepare for and pass the NCMHCE.
