Study Master’s in Counseling in Connecticut
One of the many advantages of online education is the flexibility you have to complete your degree. Without the restrictions of having to travel to campus for class, you can work towards your counseling degree when it best fits your schedule.
Another benefit of online learning as a prospective counseling student in Connecticut is that you have many different choices of programs. You can earn your degree from a state university or a private college and emerge with the qualifications necessary to become a licensed counselor.
This guide explores some of the popular online counseling programs, each of which offers unique benefits for you as a student. Compare and contrast them to see which one is the best fit for your future goals!
Online Master’s in Counseling in Connecticut
Listed below are some of the popular schools offering online master’s in counseling programs in Connecticut:
- University of New Haven
- Sacred Heart University
- University of Bridgeport
- Western Connecticut State University
- UMass Global
- Northwestern University
- Merrimack College
- Purdue Global
University of New Haven
Online Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
The University of New Haven’s Online Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling prepares you to pursue a career as either a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) or a National Certified Counselor (NCC). Whatever your career goal, you’ll need about three years to complete this 60-credit program.
Of course, entering the workforce is just one option for you as a graduate of this program. Instead, you might continue your education in a doctoral program. Earning a terminal degree in this field not only ensures you have the utmost education, but it often means higher pay, too.
The curriculum includes core coursework and concentration courses. The core coursework starts with fundamental studies in areas such as:
- Research Methods
- Professional Orientation and Ethics in Counseling
- Life Span Human Development
- Family Therapy
- Group Counseling
Of course, you’ll also take classes that enhance your understanding of counseling and the techniques you can use in a therapeutic setting. For example, the Theories of Counseling class offers a broad overview of the major theoretical bases of counseling. You’ll study behaviorism and psychoanalysis as well as systems theory and existential approaches.
You’ll supplement your understanding of essential counseling theories with a study of Counseling Skills and Techniques. This course looks at the methods needed to translate counseling theory into counseling practice. In other words, you’ll develop essential counseling skills (e.g., active listening) while also gaining a greater sense of self-awareness. Moreover, you’ll learn how to conduct diagnostic interviewing, interpret clients’ behaviors, and provide care in crisis situations, too.
Understanding the theoretical foundations of counseling and mastering counseling techniques is only part of the equation, though. You must also understand how to assess and diagnose clients. You’ll acquire that knowledge in Assessment in Counseling, which explores various types of assessments, including psychological, personality, achievement, and intelligence tests. Then, in Diagnosis and Treatment of Mental Health Disorders, you’ll learn about the causes of mental illnesses and the methodologies used to make a proper diagnosis. Furthermore, you’ll study different treatments for common mental illnesses like depression, anxiety, and autism.
Other core classes you’re required to take include the following:
- Career Counseling and Development
- Multicultural and Diversity Issues in Counseling
- Addiction and Substance Abuse Counseling
- Trauma and Crisis Intervention
This program has a special focus on forensic mental health. You must take four classes related to this field to satisfy the requirements of the forensic concentration. For example, you’ll take Forensic Psychology as an introduction to the applications of forensic approaches in counseling. Then, you’ll take Forensic Assessment, which examines the assessments used to evaluate clients in forensic settings (e.g., inmates in a prison).
The other two forensic classes are Forensic Treatment Models and Mental Health Law. The former analyzes the effectiveness of group therapy, community-based treatments, psychopharmacology, and other approaches with inmate populations. The latter course reviews criminal and civil laws and how they relate to mental health issues (e.g., competence to stand trial, duty to warn, and insanity defense).
There are two required field experiences in this program. First, you’ll complete a 100-hour practicum in a supervised counseling setting. The purpose of the practicum is to give you a basic experience as a beginning counselor. You’ll work closely with your supervisor to deliver services to clients, typically with your supervisor’s assistance. However, as you acquire skills and confidence, you’ll begin to operate more independently as the practicum goes on.
The internship, meanwhile, is a 600-hour learning experience, also in a supervised counseling setting. The difference between the practicum and internship is that the latter is much more involved. You’ll have a caseload of clients for whom you are responsible for everything from intake to treatment to discharge. You’ll have opportunities to learn and apply new skills, develop your personal approach to counseling, and clarify your understanding of your professional and ethical commitments as well.
You must meet the following requirements to apply:
- Have an undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university.
- Have a 3.0 cumulative undergraduate GPA or higher.
- Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
- Submit a statement of purpose.
- Provide two letters of recommendation from references who are familiar with your academic and professional work.
- Provide a current curriculum vitae or resume.
- Participate in an interview with the admissions committee if selected.
Sacred Heart University
Online Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
The Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Sacred Heart University is a 60-credit licensure-track program accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Thanks to online courses and flexible course scheduling, you can complete the requirements for this degree in as little as two years.
The curriculum is divided into three parts: core coursework, clinical mental health counseling courses, and electives. The core coursework, as is common in programs like this, lays the foundation for your success as a competent counselor by focusing on the fundamentals of being a counselor. For example, one of the first courses you’ll take is Introduction to the Counseling Profession and Ethics. This class explores the counseling process, introduces you to counseling theories and skills, and explores basic ethical and legal issues relevant to practice as a counselor.
You’ll further your competency by taking classes like Human Development. The primary focus of this course is the developmental milestones humans achieve from birth through the end of their lives. You’ll examine issues related to social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development. You’ll also explore the concepts of culture, lifespan processes, and relevant professional issues.
Other core courses you’ll complete include the following:
- Social and Cultural Foundations
- Assessment and Assessment Techniques
- Psychopathology, Diagnostic Systems, and Advanced Assessment
- Research Methods and Program Evaluation
- Counseling Theories
Part of your training includes a Career Counseling class. This course explores the various theories of career development as well as the stages professionals go through in their pursuit of a satisfying career. You’ll learn how to help clients plan their careers, set goals, and make decisions that align with their goals, too.
You are also required to take Substance Use Disorders and Process Addictions. The purpose of this class is to shed light on the various substance-related illnesses and learn how to address them with proper interventions. You’ll explore many different factors that contribute to addictions and substance use disorders, including environmental, physiological, genetic, and psychological components.
The clinical mental health sequence of courses includes two classes: Professional Issues, Laws, and Advanced Ethics in Mental Health and Treatment Planning and Integrative Models of Care. Meanwhile, you can choose from nine classes to fulfill the elective requirement. Some of the elective options include:
- Counseling Special Populations and Advanced Techniques
- Counseling Grief and Loss
- Psychopharmacology
- Technology in Counseling and Supervision
- Counseling Couples
The practicum component requires you to accumulate at least 100 hours of clock time working as a counselor. Of those hours, at least 40 must be in direct service to clients (e.g., individual or group counseling). As noted earlier, the practicum is your first opportunity to work in a real counseling setting with actual clients. You’ll work on improving your counseling skills, refining your understanding of mental illness, and mastering the use of counseling techniques under the close supervision of a licensed counselor.
Lastly, you’ll complete a 600-hour internship that takes a full year to complete. Of the hours you acquire, at least 240 must be in the context of working directly with clients. You’ll counsel individuals, couples, families, and groups, and that work will be closely evaluated by your supervisor and in case conceptualizations with your professors and classmates.
This program additionally requires you to come to campus for two one-week residencies. The first residency focuses on building skills for the helping relationship. The second residency revolves around developing group counseling skills.
Ensure you meet these requirements before applying:
- Have a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited institution.
- Have a 2.75 cumulative undergraduate GPA or higher.
- Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
- Submit two letters of recommendation.
- Submit a personal statement.
- Complete an online education assessment.
- Complete a state-specific acknowledgment form.
- Participate in a video interview.
University of Bridgeport
Online Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Yet another Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling you can complete online is the one offered by the University of Bridgeport. This CACREP-accredited program includes 60 credits of online coursework and field experiences that prepare you to sit for the National Counseling Exam (NCE). You must pass this exam to be eligible for licensure as a counselor, and the work you do in this degree will prepare you well to achieve an adequate score.
This program has a number of focuses to prepare you for your career. For example, throughout the program, you’ll focus on personal growth and development. On the one hand, you’ll be challenged to learn more about yourself and how your personal beliefs and biases might affect your performance as a counselor. On the other hand, your coursework will shed light on your professional development and the acquisition of the skills needed to counsel people of all ages.
Furthermore, this program requires you to have a strong understanding of the development of counseling as a profession. You’ll examine the history of this field, the theories that serve as its foundations, and the best practices used by modern counselors to affect positive change in their clients.
The curriculum includes both broad-based and specific classes. Some broad, foundational courses you’ll take include the following:
- Research Methods
- Human Growth and Development
- Counselor as Professional
- Topics in Behavioral Medicine
- Career and Lifestyle Development
Other classes zero in on more specific topics. For example, the Group Process class explores the fundamental principles of counseling in groups. You’ll learn about group counseling theory, master group counseling techniques, and become acquainted with the various stages of group development, too.
As another example, the Addiction and Treatment class offers a practical look at counseling clients with addictions. You’ll discuss topics like co-occurring disorders, the effects of psychoactive drugs, and the processes of diagnosis and treatment. You’ll learn about the most effective treatments for addiction, too.
The Clinical Skills for Mental Health Counselors course is another good example of a class with a specific topic. You’ll learn about the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) and its role in diagnosing clients. you’ll also explore the cultural differences in mental illness to get a better understanding of how mental illnesses might present differently depending on the client’s background.
You must complete two field experiences in addition to the coursework outlined above. First is a clinical mental health practicum that requires you to complete at least 100 hours of training. The practicum takes place at a site approved by the program (the university will work with you to find an appropriate practicum site near where you live). During your time in the practicum, you’ll hone your counseling skills, refine your understanding of professional and ethical principles, and gain experience working with clients of all types.
The practicum is a stepping stone to the internship—a 600-hour, two-semester experience during which you complete advanced counselor training. You’ll have many more responsibilities in the internship than in the practicum; everything from assessing clients to case consultations to devising treatment plans will be your responsibility. Like the practicum, your internship experience will be supervised and will take place at a site approved by the program.
You can apply to the University of Bridgeport online at any time. The program’s prerequisites are as follows:
- Have a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited institution. You must have at least nine credits of undergraduate psychology coursework, all of which must be with a grade of B or higher.
- Have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
- Have at least six months of experience working in substance abuse, mental health, or social services settings.
- Submit a current resume.
- Provide two letters of recommendation.
- Provide a personal statement detailing why you’re interested in this program.
Select applicants must also participate in an interview with the program’s review committee.
Western Connecticut State University
Online Master of Science in Counselor Education
Western Connecticut State’s Master of Science in Counselor Education with an emphasis on School Counseling. The program requires you to complete 60 credits, which typically takes three years of full-time studies to complete. This program is accredited by CACREP. As such, completing the program positions you to be certified in Connecticut as a school counselor in K-12 settings.
The curriculum aligns with the American School Counselor Association National Model to ensure you emerge from this program with the appropriate knowledge and skills. Your growth as a professional begins immediately when you take basic counseling classes, such as:
- Human Growth and Development
- Career Readiness Planning
- School Counseling Frameworks
- School Counselors as Change Agents
- Career Education and Development
Moreover, you’ll take classes that ensure you have the knowledge and skills to provide services to students of all kinds. For example, you’re required to take an Exceptional Learners class, which explores your role as a school counselor in supporting students with learning, behavioral, and emotional disorders. What’s more, you’ll learn strategies for providing support to advanced and gifted learners, too.
You’re required to take Group Work Foundation: Theory and Practice as well. Group work is often a go-to intervention for school counselors, but mastering this type of work goes well beyond gathering students with similar needs together. Instead, this class ensures you learn how to be an effective group leader who communicates well and can manage the needs of multiple children simultaneously.
Your role as a school counselor doesn’t just include students and teachers. Instead, the Family Counseling in the Schools class ensures you have the skills necessary to provide counseling and related services to students and their families. To do so, you’ll analyze systems theory, family dynamics, and family therapy interventions.
Additional coursework focuses on the following topics:
- Assessment for Counselors
- Fundamentals of Statistics and Research Design
- Counseling People With Physical Disabilities
- Crisis Counseling in the Community and School
- Advanced Counseling Skills for School Counselors
The coursework portion of this program also includes the requirement to complete one elective class. You can take any approved counseling-related class to fulfill this requirement.
Perhaps the most important aspect of any counseling program is the opportunity to put your learning into practice in a real-world environment. This program is no different—you’ll participate in a practicum in school counseling that places you in a K-12 school environment. With the guidance of a certified school counselor, you’ll learn the ins and outs of being a professional. This includes learning how to develop school-wide counseling programs, provide counseling services to individual students, and advocate on behalf of the needs of students.
You’ll develop your counseling skills even further in a two-semester internship. Again, the internship takes place in an approved school setting where you’ll work as a counselor. You’ll still be closely supervised. However, you’ll also have more opportunities to work independently. For example, during the practicum, you might co-lead a group counseling session with students. But in the internship, you might facilitate group work on your own (though you’ll debrief the experience with your supervisor afterward).
These field-based experiences help bridge the gap between the theoretical study of counseling in your classes and the practical application of counseling skills in the school setting. Once you’ve completed the practicum and internship, you’ll be prepared to take the next step in your development and complete the necessary examinations to apply for certification as a school counselor.
The admission criteria are as follows:
- Have a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university.
- Have a 3.0 cumulative undergraduate GPA.
- Submit official transcripts from every college or university you’ve attended.
- Provide three letters of recommendation.
- Submit an essay that explains why you want to enroll in this program.
- Provide a current curriculum vitae or resume.
- Participate in an interview with the program’s admissions committee.
How Much Do Licensed Mental Health Counselors Make in Connecticut?
As of April 2025, the average annual salary for a licensed mental health counselor working in Connecticut is $81,277. More experienced and top earning licensed mental health counselors working in Connecticut make over $120,000 per year.