Master Your Therapeutic Future at Beal - Your Essential Roadmap to Professional Growth with Beal University Award-Winning Program

Launch Your Counseling Career with a Comprehensive Mental Health Degree

Are you passionate about helping others navigate life's challenges and mental health concerns? Beal University's counseling and mental health degree programs equip you with the knowledge, skills, and certifications required to become an effective mental health counselor. 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 clinical 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.

A Complete Guide to Accredited Counseling Degrees and Career Development

Mental health counselor training through a formal counseling degree provides foundational knowledge in psychological theories, diagnostic procedures, therapeutic techniques, and ethical practice standards. Counseling psychology programs and clinical mental health counseling degrees emphasize understanding human behavior, developmental psychology, abnormal psychology, and the intersection of mental health with social factors. Professional counseling degree curricula integrate coursework in research methods, counseling ethics, group facilitation, and specialization areas like school counseling or substance abuse counseling.

Accredited counseling degrees ensure that your education meets rigorous standards set by organizations like the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Online counseling education has become increasingly popular, allowing working professionals to pursue how to become a mental health counselor while maintaining employment and family commitments. 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.

How long does a counseling degree take? Master's programs typically require 2-3 years of full-time study, while bachelor's programs take 4 years, and many online options allow flexible timelines of 3-5 years. 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. School counseling degree programs specifically prepare professionals to work in K-12 educational settings, addressing student mental health, academic planning, and behavioral concerns.

Core Value Propositions of Our Mental Health Degree Offerings

• Receive training aligned with CACREP standards, ensuring your credentials are nationally recognized and respected by employers across all healthcare and education sectors.
• 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.
• Benefit from experienced faculty with active clinical practices, bringing real-world expertise in clinical mental health counseling, school counseling, and specialized therapeutic approaches directly into the classroom.
• Complete supervised practicum and internship experiences in established mental health agencies, schools, and counseling centers throughout Maine, building your professional network and gaining practical clinical hours.
• 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.

These benefits translate into real-world advantages when you're navigating the mental health career options available to counseling graduates. 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.

Our Methodology for Professional Counselor Development

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

Our program directors hold advanced degrees, active clinical licenses, and current certifications in their specialty areas, ensuring that our curriculum reflects the latest evidence-based practices and professional standards. Our expertise extends to understanding the diverse mental health career options available to counseling graduates, from private practice and hospital settings to schools, nonprofits, and government agencies. This commitment to professional development translates directly into higher-quality education for students pursuing their professional counseling degree or mental health counseling degree programs.

Alumni of Beal University's mental health degree programs work throughout Maine and nationally as school counselors, mental health center directors, private practitioners, hospital clinicians, and community advocates.

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.

The best mental health counselor training programs provide clear information about counselor certification requirements, transparent pricing, flexible learning options, and strong student support services.

Why Choose Beal University for Your Counseling and Mental Health Degree

Our institutional commitment to mental health counselor training is reflected in every aspect of our programs—from faculty selection and curriculum design to practicum partnerships and licensure preparation support. Our approach to professional counseling degree education combines the theoretical depth necessary for understanding human psychology with the practical skills required for effective clinical practice. 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.

Located at 99 Farm Rd in Bangor, Maine, Beal University provides convenient access to students throughout Maine and Southern New Hampshire.

Get Started With Your Mental Health Degree at Beal University

Your journey toward becoming a certified, licensed mental health counselor begins with a single conversation with the admissions team at Beal University. Don't let another semester pass wondering how to become a mental health counselor—reach out today to learn about our accredited counseling degrees, flexible program formats, and proven pathways to professional 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