AcademicsGraduate AcademicsClinical Mental Health Counseling

Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Earn your Clinical Mental Health Counseling master’s degree at Naropa, the first university in the West to offer rigorous academics paired with contemplative practices, all within a supportive network of like-minded peers.

One Degree,
Six Concentrations

Our Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree offers six unique concentrations of study. Each concentration allows students to deepen their work as helping professionals through different modalities of healing, all with the common thread of compassion, empathy, and self-awareness. These six concentrations are unified as one degree by their sharing of a core curriculum grounded in the professional identity of Clinical Mental Health Counseling. 

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Quick Facts

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Program Overview

The Clinical Mental Health Counseling program encourages introspection and mind/body awareness as well as a holistic approach to the development of professional counselors.

The MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree is uniquely designed to balance personal and professional development. You’ll graduate with a stronger sense of self and the confidence to use a social justice framework in supporting individuals, families, and communities in need.

We are excited that this fall students will be engaging in two new courses, Foundations of Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Legal and Ethical Aspects of Counseling. The content and learning experiences presented in these courses was formerly distributed across several courses, and with this change Naropa provides more dedicated space for student learning on these two critical areas of professional counseling.

Naropa’s contemplative approach to Clinical Mental Health Counseling is based on the Buddhist concept that humans are basically good. This philosophy assures us that, whatever our issues, each of us is essentially healthy at our core. The ability to uncover innate basic goodness — or “brilliant sanity” — builds confidence in both the counselor’s ability to help the client and the client’s ability to heal themselves.

Naropa’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling students approach clinical work through a strong social justice lens, applying their understanding of oppression and social injustice to the therapeutic relationship. Students are required to evaluate their own internal biases and life experiences. As a result, our future counselors are better prepared to work with marginalized clients in a compassionate, socially aware manner that promotes healing rather than causing further harm. 

As a student in this program, you will engage in two clinical placements; a practicum and an internship. As you experience real-world counseling scenarios and explore your own biases, life experiences, and personal philosophies, you will develop the skills to become a compassionate professional counselor. 

Program Format

Our Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is a three-year degree consisting of regular coursework and about 700 hours of field-based clinical experience.

Students complete their practicum and internship during their last year and a half of study, both at a community agency and under the supervision of professionals. Students engage in a Summer session between Years 2 and 3, in order to support continuity of care with clients during practicum and internship.

Students are also provided with university supervision during the Winter intersession of their third year, again to support continuity of care during internship. 

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Course Spotlight

Group Counseling: Dynamics & Leadership

This clinical mental health counseling course examines the history, theories, models, and research of group counseling and group dynamics. Emphasis is placed on clinical mental health group counseling skills and techniques. The course includes at least 10 hours experiential participation as a group member. Additionally, students will also gain experience and practice as a group leader with supervision, feedback, and guidance. 

Areas of Concentration

There are six areas of concentration within Clinical Mental Health Counseling, providing students the opportunity to deepen their practice as a helping professional. Our concentrations reflect the diverse approaches to health and healing utilized within the Clinical Mental Health Counseling field, as well as the diverse nature of individuals.

The Clinical Mental Health Counseling concentrations available are: 

Transpersonal Contemplative Art–Based Counseling

Your passion for art can be used as a tool for healing—for both yourself and others. Learn how to leverage creative energy for the greater good with contemplative and clinical approaches.
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Somatic Counseling

Earn a master’s degree in counseling that helps you utilize the mind/body connection for healing. Become a somatically informed counselor prepared to work with individuals and families in diverse settings.

Somatic Counseling: Dance/Movement Theories & Practice

Harness the joy and healing power of movement for yourself and others. Prepare to be a movement/dance therapist in this somatic counseling master’s program.

Buddhism-Informed Contemplative Counseling

Take a deep dive into world wisdom traditions and learn how to apply the principles of mindfulness and Buddhist philosophy in a clinical setting.

Mindfulness-Based Transpersonal Counseling

This concentration is firmly rooted in mindfulness and transpersonal traditions, supporting students’ development of present-moment awareness.

Nature-Based Transpersonal Counseling

Nature’s power to improve our mental health is profound. Gain counseling skills, leadership capabilities, and experience in a number of nature-based therapeutic modalities.
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Why Choose Naropa?

Mindfulness Focus

Naropa’s mindfulness approach intersects with all Clinical Mental Health Counseling Concentrations. We see meditation as a powerful tool for helping aspiring professionals find their place in an increasingly complex society. We practice contemplative education, which means that we value the whole person (mind, body, and spirit) and seek to attend to the whole person during the educational experience.

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Experiential Learning

Another important accent of contemplative education is its focus on first-hand experience. In addition to learning about concepts, we place students into direct experience and engagement with the subject matter, so they can “see for themselves.” Thus, the education at Naropa is highly experiential.

Eastern & Western Wisdom Traditions

Naropa promotes a holistic approach to counseling that blends world wisdom traditions, Western approaches to mental health, and multicultural education. We believe there is a unique opportunity for utilizing contemplative practices within work for social justice. The two are mutually supportive and beneficial. Our graduates are uniquely prepared to face the challenges of a changing world and its multiple perspectives.

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Program Learning Outcomes

Students demonstrate knowledge of core counseling curriculum.

Students demonstrate proficiency in clinical counseling skills.