r/counseloreducation

I’m a former longtime journalist, and I’m seriously considering becoming a mental health counselor. I’m looking strongly at an online program at Chadron State College in Nebraska. I live in New England, but because it has CACREP accreditation, is well-recommended by alums, and is affordable and aligned with my life as a working parent, it seems like a great fit.

I have experience with therapy as a client/patient. I'm eager to learn, and I know I’m at the very beginning of this process. One reason I’m considering this change is that I respect what therapy does for people. Also, in my nearly 20-year career as a journalist, I often had to speak with folks and get them to open up about extremely intimate and private matters, including sexual assault cases, crime, abuse, and whistleblower situations. I respect that these types of interviews are likely substantially different from therapy. But they’ve led me to believe I could use many of the skills I fostered in journalism to at least get me started on this path.

I’m not young. I’m 50, but I’m ready to make the leap. Journalism has become an untenable career. And frankly, I’m just ready for something new. Any advice or constructive thoughts would be appreciated. What I am concerned about is whether there are any blind spots I’m not seeing right now, or any advice people with experience can offer on transitioning into this career from a different one, like I am.

Hi guys!

I applied to four schools for CMHC, three local and one online (Northwestern). I got rejected from my local schools and got accepted to Northwestern, and at first I was super excited. I liked talking to faculty and the interview went great.

Now I’m getting a little nervous. Someone mentioned how my education wont be as good as it would have been in person. As much as I would have loved to move to Northwestern and do in person, I had just moved back home from NYC and so moving again wasn’t as feasible. I guess I’m just worried that I won’t be as effective of a therapist because I went to online school. If anyone has any advice or tips for succeeding in an online environment that would be super appreciated!

Hi! I'm a 20 year old student who wanted to be a nurse but now wants to change majors as I've failed a core class twice. I've recently set my sights on being a mental health counselor or a psychologist but I've been having doubts. I need to go to therapy myself to improve myself first, but there's still things I'm scared of. I have an ISFJ personality type, which makes me worried I will take in people's emotions too much and wouldn't be able to maintain my own relationships due to my low social battery. I am intelligent in the naturalist sense and the existential sense, but idk how those would translate well in counseling. I am great at critical thinking and conscientiousness but not much else. I've talked to my career counselor and took a bunch of quizzes to try to find a good career path for me. I was set on becoming a chemist, but I'm worried about being unfulfilled. Counseling wasn't even on the list of careers when I took the quizzes. I want an important job, one that's high in demand like counselors. Most of my family members are nurses and I just feel like I'd be such a failure compared to them. In theory, I would love this job as I'm obsessed with psychology and love learning about mental illnesses, as well as I love listening to and advising people. People close to me say that this is a good job for me, but the more I think about it the more I get worried. Sure, I would have 4+ years to work on myself, but could I change my very core personality traits? idk, if anyone could help me it would be greatly appreciated.

Hello adults…im currently in the phase where i have to choose a degree. I initially decided to do bsc in computer science and then go on to do masters in ai but right now in every college i have applied for cs i just cant get into them. Please suggest any other degrees that have a similar pay or even potential to earn more

Calling willing CMHC professionals

I’m completing a Week 2 assignment for my Clinical Mental Health Counseling program and need to interview a licensed CMHC (LCMHC/LPC/LPCC).

It’s a short set of questions about your journey, the profession, and self-care. If you’re willing to share your experience, I’d love to connect. 🌻

INTERVIEW:

Distinctive Aspects of Clinical Mental Health Counseling

State:

License (LPC/MHSP, LPCC, etc.):

Question: What do you think makes CMHC distinct from other therapeutic professions, such as school counseling, marriage and family therapy, or social work?

Question: Please share a bit about your journey into the field of CMHC. What motivated you to pursue this career? If you have a specialty, how did you find and train for it?

Work-Life Balance & Self Care

Question: Mental health counseling can be emotionally taxing. How do you manage work-life balance? How many clients do you have on your caseload?

Question: What strategies do you use for self-care?

Advice for Students:

Question: What advice would you give a CMHC student to help prepare for the realities of the profession?

Hi everyone!

I hope you’re doing well. I’m working on a research assignment for my Language and AI class that explores how people perceive different types of therapeutic responses.

I’m hoping someone might be willing to help by providing a brief response (about 3–5 sentences) to the client statement below, written as you would naturally respond in a therapeutic setting. The response will be used anonymously for academic purposes only.

Client statement:
“I’ve been feeling really overwhelmed lately. I feel like I have to take care of everyone around me, and no one really checks on me. It’s starting to make me feel resentful and exhausted, but I don’t know how to change it without feeling guilty.”

If you’re available to help, I would really appreciate your time. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions.

I was wondering what treatments you all use to treat someone diagnosed with PTSD. Is there a particular one you go to most often? What leads you to picking the treatment you do use?

Hi all! I got off the waitlist for SOU CMHC program, and would love to hear anyones experience with the program. From what I have seen online it looks like a good option, but I have not heard many firsthand experiences.

I have also seen that the school is having financial troubles, but am unsure how this would impact students going into the school and the program over the next couple of years.

If anyone has advice or opinions I would love to hear them.

TIA :)

Hello!

I worked in tech for about 10 years, but my favorite part was always interacting with people during meetings, brainstorming, etc. I'm finding myself less interested in tech as the years go on, and more interested in having real, meaningful conversations with people and helping them navigate the challenges of relationships, trauma, etc. I have no training in this, I just try to listen, help them feel heard, and when appropriate give whatever advice I can think of (which isn't always great).

Anyway, I'm in my mid 40's (male) and am considering a transition into the professional mental health space. I'd like to have some formal training in helping people through their struggles, and if I could make a career out of it I think it would be awesome. I'm going to be joining California's Warm Line as a volunteer shortly, but I was hoping for some book recommendations - ideally I will read the book and either be convinced that being a therapist (likely LPCC in California) is for me, or isn't for me. I understand it will be 2-3 years of grad school and another 2-3 years of supervision in preparation to be licensed.

Please give your top book recommendation only! Thanks 😄

Hello!

I've worked in tech for some years, and have recently become very sensitive to screens. I have two e-ink screens (Dasung, from China) that I do computer work on now. Cell phone screens give me an instant migraine, and most laptop screens, standard computer monitors, and newer televisions give me headaches. I'm sensitive to some types of lights as well, especially really bright LEDs.

I'm considering going back to school and doing an online degree in preparation for an LPCC license in California. My understanding is the first year or so of the degree will be online, so I can do it using my e-ink screens. In the second year I'll be expected to start internships, which will be in person. Once I graduate, I'll need to do 3000 supervision hours in California, which will also need to be in person (all or in part).

My question is, during my internships/supervision, I'll be working in facilities where I don't have control over the environment, correct? Usually commercial lighting is okay, but if I have to use tablets/laptops/regular computer monitors in these facilities on a regular basis I don't know if I'll be able to do it. Can anyone who has gone through this please comment on what accommodations can look like (e.g. will I be able to bring my own monitor to work)?

My hope is that if I can get licensed I can start a private practice where I can work 1:1 with clients and not have to look at screens at all (except to do billing/notes/etc. where I can use my e-ink monitors). This feels like an ideal job for me, I just don't know if I'll be able to get through the internships/supervision hours.

Thanks!

I'm thinking of doing a master's to become an LPC. I have Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, which comes with some complications, and I'm wondering how many sessions per day my supervised site might have me working.

Also, how many consecutive sessions, and how much time you have in between them for taking notes and doing paperwork. So hours, sessions, break times, etc.

Once I'm done with the supervised period, I'm sure I could balance out my own schedule. I'm willing to make less money in order to do that. But a supervised site will probably have certain hours they need filled, so I wanna make sure I can fill them before jumping in.

Thanks

Hi, I'm considering a degree from University of the Cumberlands, but it seems like it might be really hard to find organizations to these critical hours from... Can any of you speak to this challenge? I live in New York btw.

Worst case scenario is paying for classes, spending time and energy but not being able to finish it due to this constraint.

Hey future Fall 2026 cohort students! Congratulations on your acceptance! 🌻

There is a Facebook group established, a WhatsApp thread, and a Discord channel for everyone in the Fall 2026 cohort to stay connected, share updates, and help each other out as we start this journey together!

Can’t wait to meet more of you there and stay in touch across platforms!

If this applies to you, feel free to reach out!

I’m looking for graduate programs in clinical mental health counseling that are mostly online but require some sort of in person requirement every term.

Whether that means I have to fly to the school once a month to every 2 months because the courses are 8 weeks, or travel once in a term. That‘s my biggest hurdle in my search and I can’t really seem to locate anything.

Any help from previous experience or knowledge would be greatly appreciated.

I have applied to two online Masters program for Clinical Mental Health Counseling WITH specialization in Expressive Arts Therapy. I've been accepted into Lesley Universtiy's low-res EXAT program and anticipate being accepted into the Adler Graduate School's online program any day. I need to decide with ten days whether or not to accept/reserve my spot in Lesley's program.  AGS is literally HALF THE PRICE. Lesley is $1500/credit, while Adler Graduate School is $745/credit. Presumably I can graduate six months earlier from AGS with the same CACREP credentials and only $50,000 in debt rather than $100,000.

I have gleaned from the internet that Lesley has a great reputation--is that true?

And I haven't gleaned anything from the internet about AGS's reputation.

Is there anyone out there currently attending AGS that can vouch for their experience?

Can folks attending either program, or recent alumns from either program PLEASE give me some insight on what is great or bad about the program??

****Do employers looking to add a Clinical Mental Health Therapist to their team care about where the person got their degree???****

*Is going to a school with a someone what decent reputation (Lesley) worth going into $100,000 in debt vs. getting same credentials for half price????*

PLEASE give me advice comrades!!

I am very poor and 40. Stoked about becoming an expressive arts therapist--but I'll have less time to pay off debt as a 25 year old, you know? But also want to hit the ground running with as fabulous an education as possible, as soon as possible.

I'm currently in Louisiana, but will move back to Washington State during my schooling and plan on practicing as a licensed therapist in WA. 

THANK YOU ALL!!!

I have been accepted into a counseling program beginning in August. What can I do between now and August to prepare and get ahead? I have lots of time this summer and would love books to read or podcasts to listen to better prepare me.

I’m considering switching to Palo Alto University for my LPCC. I just want to switch for a more rigorous program and more community. My current program meets licensure requirements, so I’m not worried about that.

I want to ask former and current students about the program at Palo Alto:

1. How supportive and accessible are the faculty? By that I mean: do they offer office hours? Do they give detailed feedback on your papers (not just a grade and a comment like “nice jobs”)?
2. How rigorous and evidenced-based is the curriculum? Do they cover contemporary modalities/issues well and address multiculturalism in all the classes? Is there an option for a thesis, or support for research work?
3. How is the student population and group work? Strong sense of community? Diverse in terms of age/ethnicity/professional experience?
4. How is administration? Helpful with school placement? Hidden fees? Transfer options?
5. Anyone knows what is the total cost of attendance and any scholarship? It seems there are multiple fees outside of the cost per unit.

Thank you.

I am a current first year student in a relatively expensive (32k per year, 2.5 years) program that prepares me for LMFT and PCC licensure. Most of the people in my program either come from other careers that they are using to fund their time in school, or have family support. Some of us are taking out loans to pay for the whole thing. 100k. I just met a women who graduated from my program in her late 50s who took out loans to pay for it. I know at least 4 people who took out loans to pay for the whole program and seem fine with it. One PP clinician told me she thinks of them as a business expense, another recent grad told me he just pays the minimum on an income driven plan and doesn't think about it. I am not one of those people.

I graduated from my undergrad two years ago and have been living paycheck to paycheck working in SUD treatment ever since. I could have been better at saving and regret not learning to budget and invest earlier but I digress. This is work I have been wanting to do most of my life, I am genuinely good at it. But I am terrified of the loan balance and the reality of being very poorly compensated for the next 5ish years until I am licensed. I feel like I have to withdraw due to the unaffordability. I know that if things worked out PERFECTLY I could swing it, but I have no faith in the world at this point Some people in my life are encouraging me to keep going and assure me that I will be successful, others are more in tune with the reality of that high of a balance.

I would love to hear others relationships to their loans, money in general, and being broke in the early years of this career.

edit: when I started the program I had very inexpensive housing, which has changed, and my current employer offered a payed practicum, which they discontinued this December. These factors were making it financially feasible and would have lowered my loan balance.

Hello everyone,

I am a doctoral candidate looking for biracial Black and White doctoral-level counseling students to participate in my narrative study. Must be enrolled in a counseling related program or have graduated within the last two years.

This research aims to explore students' experiences with their identities across various systems rooted in rigid racial frameworks.

My goal is to inform future students and programs on how to adopt more dynamic and inclusive practices during our rigorous training to become professors of counseling.

Please message me if you know anyone who meets criteria!