How to become a behavioral health counselor

How to become a Behavioral Health Counselor

The pathway to becoming a behavioral health counselor typically involves several key steps, including education, practical experience, and licensure. Here’s an overview:

Bachelor’s Degree
Most behavioral health counselors start by earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Behavioral Science, Mental Health Counseling, Human Development, Psychology, Social Work, Sociology, or a related field. Courses in human behavior, psychology, mental health, counseling theories, communication, ethics, and research methods are valuable for preparing for graduate study.

Because of the wide scope of behavioral health, some students who aspire to enter the field choose to complete a major in one of these disciplines and a minor in another. This allows them to further align their undergraduate education with their career goals.

Master’s Degree
After earning a bachelor’s, the next step is to pursue a relevant master’s degree. Common majors at this level include counseling psychology clinical psychology, and marriage and family therapy.

In graduate school, students engage in more specialized coursework, covering topics like counseling theories and techniques, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), group therapy, substance abuse counseling, trauma, child therapy, mental health assessment, human development, crisis intervention, and ethics in counseling.

Master’s programs invariably encompass a practicum or internship component, providing students with hands-on experience working with clients in a real-world setting under the supervision of a licensed counselor. While the number of hours required varies by program, this is essential for developing practical skills.

Accredited Programs
At both the undergraduate and graduate levels, it’s important to attend a program accredited by the relevant accrediting bodies, such as the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) for counseling programs or the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) for social work programs. Accreditation ensures that the program meets professional standards and prepares students for licensure.

Postgraduate Supervised Clinical Hours
After earning their master’s degree, aspiring behavioral health counselors must complete a specified number of supervised clinical hours, typically 2,000 to 4,000 hours, depending on the state and program. This involves working directly with clients while being supervised by a licensed counselor or therapist, who reviews the counselor’s cases, provides them with guidance, and helps them refine their counseling skills. These hours can be completed in a variety of settings, such as mental health clinics, hospitals, schools, or private practice.

Licensure
Following their clinical training, counselors need to pass a licensing exam, which may vary depending on state requirements and specialty. For example, counselors may need to pass the National Counselor Examination (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE).

After passing the required exam and fulfilling any other state-specific mandates, such as additional coursework, candidates can apply for licensure. Common licensure titles for behavioral health counselors include Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), depending on the field of study.

Specialization
With increased experience, some behavioral counselors may choose to specialize in one or more areas, such as addiction counseling, trauma recovery, family therapy, or child and adolescent therapy. Specialized certifications or additional training may be required for some areas of focus.

Continuing Education
Most states require counselors to participate in continuing education in areas such as ethical standards, supervision, and emerging treatments methods to maintain their license and support professional growth.

Certifications
There are several certifications available for behavioral health counselors that can enhance their professional qualifications, demonstrate expertise in specific areas, and sometimes be required to practise in certain specialties or settings. These are among the most prominent ones:

• National Certified Counselor (NCC) – Offered by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC), the NCC is a general certification for counselors who have earned an accredited Master’s Degree in Counseling or a related field, completed a certain number of supervised clinical hours, and passed the National Counselor Examination (NCE).
• Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CCMHC) – Also offered by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC), this certification is specifically for counselors who wish to demonstrate their expertise in clinical mental health counseling. Requirements include an accredited Master’s Degree in Counseling, a minimum number of supervised clinical hours, and passing the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE).
• National Certified Addiction Counselor, Level I (NCCAC I) / National Certified Addiction Counselor, Level II (NCCAC II) / Master Addiction Counselor (MAC) – These three foundational credentials for addiction counselors are offered by National Certification Commission for Addiction Professionals (NCC AP). Respective minimum academic requirements at each level are a high school diploma, a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree.
• Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP) – Offered by the International Trauma Training Institute (ITTI), the CCTP signifies expertise in trauma recovery and can be beneficial for counselors who work with clients affected by abuse, violence, or other forms of trauma. Requirements include specialized training in trauma-informed care and trauma therapy, as well as a specified number of clinical hours working with trauma survivors and passing the CCTP exam.
• Certified Employee Assistance Professional (CEAP) – Offered by the Employee Assistance Professional Association (EAPA), this certification is for counselors who provide employee assistance services, often in corporate or organizational settings. Requirements vary depending on which of the four pathways a candidate chooses. The pathways to the CEAP credential are: Master’s with Experience, No Master’s with Experience, Master’s with No Experience, All Other Candidates.
• Certified Grief Counselor – This certification, offered by various organizations such as the American Academy of Grief Counseling (AAGC) and the Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC), focuses on working with individuals coping with the death of loved ones, providing specialized knowledge in the grieving process and loss support. Typical requirements include graduate-level education in counseling or a related field, a number of clinical hours working with grieving clients, and passing a certification exam.
• American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) Certifications – This association represents marriage and family therapists, including those working in behavioral health counseling who focus on family systems and relationship dynamics. AAMFT offers three different MFT certification badges: Clinical Fellow Designation, Approved Supervisor Designation, Certificate of Leadership.
• Registered Play Therapist (RPT) / Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor (RPT-S) / School Based-Registered Play Therapist (SB-RPT) – These three credentials, offered by the Association for Play Therapy (APT), allow licensed mental health counselors, school counselors, school psychologists, or school workers to demonstrate their play therapy competency to the general public, parents, and other mental health professionals.
• Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Certification – ABA certification is useful for counselors working in behavior therapy, especially with clients with autism or developmental disabilities. This professional credential allows practitioners to design and implement behavior interventions based on evidence-based practices. Candidates must complete a graduate degree with ABA coursework and supervised fieldwork, as well as pass the Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) exam administered by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB).

Professional Organizations
In addition to the certifying bodies referenced above in the Certifications section, the following organizations also support the behavioral health counseling community:

• American Counseling Association (ACA) – The ACA is a broad professional association for counselors, including those in the behavioral health space. It offers educational resources, ethical guidelines, and networking opportunities for professionals in various counseling fields. ACA has divisions focusing on specific areas, such as mental health counseling, addiction counseling, marriage and family therapy, and school counseling.
• American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA) – AMHCA focuses specifically on supporting mental health counselors, offering continuing education and conferences and advocating for policies that support the mental health counseling field.
• Association for Addiction Professionals (formerly the National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors - NAADAC) – This association advocates for high standards of practice in addiction care and provides resources to support addiction counselors.
• National Association of Social Workers (NASW) – NASW is a large organization that supports social workers, including those who specialize in behavioral health counseling. It offers a variety of resources and advocacy for counselors working in the mental health and social work fields.
• American Association of Behavioral and Social Sciences (AABSS) – AABSS provides a platform for professionals in behavioral and social sciences, including those working in social work, counseling, and mental health fields. It offers research publications as well as networking and professional development opportunities.
• National Coalition for Mental Health Recovery (NCMHR) – NCMHR advocates for mental health recovery, supporting counselors working with individuals experiencing mental health challenges and promoting peer support recovery-oriented practices.