For many people, making an impact is one of the most important values in their careers. It’s not just about earning a generous salary or having job security for these individuals. Instead, they want to know they make a difference in others’ lives. A counseling career offers such an opportunity. As you consider counseling careers, it helps to understand your options and how career paths compare.
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota offers three graduate programs for students interested in counseling careers – the M.A. in Counseling and Psychological Services, the online Master of Social Work, and the M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy. Here, we explain the different types of counseling careers students can pursue by enrolling in these programs.
What Are the Types of Counseling Careers?
You might already have a counseling career and seek a master’s degree in psychology or a related field to advance your opportunities. Conversely, you might choose a graduate program to explore a different career path. Whatever the case, the programs at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota are designed for adult learners and can be completed in just a few years. Check out some rewarding counseling careers you might consider:
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC)
If you have an interest in understanding mental health disorders and helping treat symptoms, you may consider a career as a licensed professional clinical counselor (LPCC). In Minnesota, an LPCC is a designated mental health professional who works with individuals to navigate challenges with mental health. These clients might have symptoms of mental health disorders or struggle to cope with relational and situational stressors. An LPCC has the training to assess, diagnose, and treat these mental health concerns.
In addition to assessing mental health to provide accurate diagnoses and developing the right treatment plans, LPCCs must form relationships with clients that are built on trust. Some issues an LPCC might help clients navigate include:
- Being diagnosed with anxiety, depression, or another mental health disorder
- Neurodevelopmental challenges like Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
- Substance use issues
- Trauma and emotional distress
- Career counseling
You will find two licensure options for professional counselors in Minnesota – LPCC and LPC (licensed professional counselor). LPPC is a higher-level license that involves additional clinical training and 4000 hours of post-degree practice. When you choose our M.A. in Counseling and Psychological Services, you gain the knowledge and skills necessary to pursue a career as an LPCC or LPC.
Offered online and at the Minneapolis campus, this program features traditional classroom instruction and a 700-hour practicum that gives students hands-on training in a real-world clinical setting. Students can explore many elective courses that align with their career goals. This master’s degree program takes approximately 2.5 years to complete, and it can even be paired with our Online Graduate Certificate in Addiction Studies for students with enough credits to use.
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
Although some LPCCs work with couples, families, and groups, this is a unique area of expertise for Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT). Despite the name, working with families and married couples is not all these counselors do. LMFTs consider the client from a holistic perspective. They recognize that many relationships can affect a client’s overall well-being, from their relationships with family members, communities, a higher power, and even their bodies.
LMFTs may work with as many individuals as LPCCs or other mental health professionals. The key difference is their approach. If the idea of infusing systematic, relational, and contextual factors into helping clients navigate mental health concerns is appealing, you might consider pursuing the M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy program at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.
Held at the Minneapolis campus, this graduate program can be completed in two years and is taught by experienced counseling professionals. Students gain hands-on experience through 300 hours of clinical work, helping prepare them for their careers as LMFTs. This program is accredited by the Committee on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE).
Social Work (LICSW)
A related counseling career path is a licensed independent clinical social worker (LICSW). This rewarding career path also involves helping clients navigate mental health challenges, whether traumas, emotional distress, or unhealthy behavioral patterns. The role differs in that that LICSWs also consider the societal factors that inhibit certain, often disenfranchised groups from experiencing greater mental well-being. If you have an interest in the intersection of clinical counseling and social justice, you might consider becoming an LICSW.
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota offers an online Master of Social Work program that prepares students for careers as clinical social workers. Accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE), this program trains students in forming relationships with their clients, whether individuals, couples, or families, and developing partnerships with communities. They learn how to diagnose and treat mental health conditions and promote positive change at the personal and societal levels.
Earn a Master’s Degree and Pursue Counseling Careers
With the various types of counseling careers to pursue, students can find a path that aligns with their personal convictions and career goals. The graduate programs at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota help students prepare for these career paths, whether as an LPCC, LMFT, or LICSW. With Lasallian Catholic values at the foundation of all our programs, students develop holistically to achieve ethical lives of service and leadership. Request information to learn more about our master’s degree programs or apply for admission today.
