{"id":696,"date":"2021-12-14T15:24:53","date_gmt":"2021-12-14T15:24:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/web.tarleton.edu\/counsel\/?page_id=696"},"modified":"2026-03-26T14:41:49","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T14:41:49","slug":"home","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.tarleton.edu\/counsel\/","title":{"rendered":"Home"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Welcome to the Department of Counseling!<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
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Passionate about helping others? Tarleton\u2019s faculty of practicing licensed professional counselors share their best-practice expertise to prepare you to become an LPC in Texas. Over 200 counties in Texas have been designated as Health Professional Shortage Areas<\/a> for Mental Health, offering various opportunities for students interested in pursuing a counseling program and becoming a mental health professional or an advanced counseling practitioner, researcher, and educator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tarleton\u2019s Department of Counseling offers four programs of study\u2014a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Counseling, a Master of Science (M.S.) degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC), a Master of Science (M.S.) degree in School Mental Health Counseling (SMHC), and an undergraduate minor in Counseling. With a rigorous CACREP-accredited and aligned curriculum and faculty with both clinical and research experience, our counseling department prepares you well for a rewarding career as a clinical mental health counselor, school mental health counselor, or doctoral-level counselor educator, advanced practitioner and clinical supervisor, and researcher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Counseling Degree Guide<\/em> ranks Tarleton’s MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling as the Fifth Most Affordable Mental Health Counseling Program in Texas. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Department Mission Statement<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Department of Counseling seeks to prepare professional counselors who have developed sound counseling skills through a variety of experiential learning, acquired a comprehensive theoretical knowledge base, and developed a strong professional counselor identity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Department\u2019s intent is for graduates to be holistic, moral, and ethical thinkers, multiculturally competent professionals, scholars, and leaders who demonstrate civility and integrity, while contributing meaningfully and responsibly to the counseling profession.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Department Vision Statement<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Department of Counseling seeks local, state, regional, national and international prominence as a collaborative and transformative community engaged in exemplary research, education, and service that benefit the profession of counseling and the public it serves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Master’s Programs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Our Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling<\/a> is accredited by CACREP<\/a>, the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs. Tarleton\u2019s clinical mental health program satisfies the academic requirements and the internship and practicum opportunities to become a Licensed Professional Counselor-Associate in the State of Texas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling prepares multiculturally responsive, ethically grounded professional counselors for community mental health, healthcare, private practice, and integrated health settings. Through experiential learning, rigorous coursework, and supervised clinical practice, we develop theoretically grounded counselors who advocate for mental health in public and private settings, and lead with integrity, humility, scholarship, and service to promote clients\u2019 holistic wellbeing and lifelong growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The CACREP-accredited M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is offered in person at Tarleton’s Fort Worth-Chisholm Trail<\/strong>, Waco<\/strong>, and Stephenville<\/strong> campuses.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our Master of Science in School Mental Health Counseling<\/a> is aligned with CACREP accreditation standards for entry-level programs in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and allows students to apply clinical mental health counseling approaches to school and community environments that serve children and adolescents. Tarleton\u2019s school mental health program satisfies the academic requirements and the internship and practicum opportunities to become a Licensed Professional Counselor-Associate. It also satisfies coursework and school field experiences requirements to be eligible to take the TExES school certification test.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Master of Science in School Mental Health Counseling prepares multiculturally responsive, ethically grounded professional counselors for PK\u201312 schools and allied community mental health settings. Through experiential learning, rigorous coursework, and supervised clinical practice, we develop theoretically grounded counselors who advocate for mental health in school climates, and lead with integrity, humility, scholarship, and service to promote students\u2019 academic progress, career success, relational health, and lifelong growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The M.S. in School Mental Health Counseling is offered in person on our Fort Worth-Chisholm Trail <\/strong>and Waco<\/strong> campuses.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Courses in both of our master’s programs are taught primarily in person, and late afternoon and evening classes accommodate your busy schedule while allowing you to earn your master\u2019s degree in 3 to 4 years. Our counseling courses prepare professional counselors who:<\/p>\n\n\n\n