The Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) program is more than just training – it is a transformational journey that prepares students to become skilled, ethical and liberation-focused mental health professionals. Our graduates are equipped to work with individuals, families, and groups across the full spectrum of mental and emotional wellness, from treating disorders to promoting holistic well-being.
Clinical Mental Health Counselors play a vital role in fostering healing and empowerment in diverse communities. They are trained in diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and referral practices, often working as part of interdisciplinary teams alongside other healthcare professionals. Employment opportunities span private practice, community-based mental health centers, hospitals, and other treatment settings, where counselors serve as catalysts for change and advocates for mental health equity.
Experiential Learning and Real-World Training
Rooted in self-awareness, multicultural competence, and liberation-focused practice, our program emphasizes real-world application of counseling skills. Students gain hands-on experience through practicum and internship placements in diverse settings, such as:
- Community counseling centers
- College counseling centers
- Crisis stabilization programs
- Youth services programs
- Substance abuse treatment programs
- In-home counseling programs
- Inpatient and residential treatment facilities
The clinical training experience includes a 100-hour practicum and a 600-hour internship, providing students with mentorship, direct client experience, and opportunities to develop their unique counseling identity.
In addition to coursework and field experience, students complete a comprehensive examination, demonstrating their growth, competency, and readiness to enter the profession as compassionate and effective clinical mental health counselors.
A Counseling Journey Rooted in Liberation and Growth
This program does not simply train counselors—it shapes healers, advocates, and change agents. Students engage in a deep process of self-reflection and skill building, gaining the tools to challenge oppressive systems, foster resilience, and guide clients toward liberation and wellness.
The journey toward becoming a Clinical Mental Health Counselor is one of continuous learning, self-awareness, and transformation. Whether working in private practice, community agencies, hospitals, or advocacy spaces, our graduates carry forward the mission of healing, justice, and empowerment.
Careers
The program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling prepares graduate students to work in a variety of community counseling agencies, college counseling centers, hospitals, and other counseling settings, including private practice. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of clinical mental health counselors is projected to grow 19 percent from 2023 to 2033, faster than the average for all occupations.
Typical Job Titles
- Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
- Clinical Mental Health Counselor
- Psychotherapist
- Mental Health Therapist
- Behavioral Health Counselor
- Substance Abuse Counselor
- Crisis Counselor
- Trauma Therapist
- Family Therapist
Admissions
If you are ready to embark on this path, we invite you to explore the admission process, program curriculum, and faculty support that will guide you on your way. See Admissions Criteria.
Other Information
The mission of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at Southern Connecticut State University is to prepare compassionate, skilled, and socially conscious professional counselors. We are committed to fostering personal and professional growth, cultural humility, and a liberation-based approach to counseling. Through rigorous training, experiential learning, and community engagement, we train students to promote mental health, advocate for equity, and serve diverse individuals, families, and communities with integrity and respect.
At the completion of the CMHC program, students will be prepared to serve as ethical, self-aware, and liberation-focused counselors, demonstrating the following:
- Professional Identity & Advocacy
- Understands the multiple professional roles and functions of clinical mental health counselors across settings.
- Engages in professional advocacy, promoting the role of counselors in diverse systems.
- Ethical & Legal Foundations
- Demonstrates competency in ethical standards and legal considerations set by the American Counseling Association.
- Applies ethical decision-making models to complex counseling scenarios.
- Theoretical & Systemic Foundations
- Explains major counseling theories and models, integrating a systems-based approach to conceptualizing clients.
- Understands theories and strategies for consultation, collaboration, and interdisciplinary teamwork.
- Human Development & Environmental Influences
- Applies lifespan development theories to individual and family growth.
- Examines systemic and environmental factors that influence development, behavior, and mental health.
- Multicultural Competency, Social Justice & Liberation
- Evidences multicultural humility, honoring intersectionality and the lived experiences of diverse populations.
- Applies culturally responsive counseling theories to support identity development, advocacy, and liberation-focused practice.
- Recognizes the impact of historical and intergenerational trauma and systemic oppression on mental health.
- Engages in social justice advocacy challenging barriers to mental health care.
- Group Counseling & Facilitation
- Understands the theoretical foundations of group counseling and group work.
- Analyzes group dynamics, process development, and therapeutic factors that contribute to effective group interventions.
- Career Development & Life Planning
- Demonstrates knowledge of career development theories and decision-making models.
- Utilizes evidence-based strategies for career counseling, program planning, and vocational empowerment.
- Assessment & Diagnosis
- Integrates assessment tools for diagnosis, intervention planning, and treatment evaluation.
- Applies ethically and culturally relevant strategies for selecting, administering, and interpreting assessments.
- Demonstrates competence in the diagnostic process, including differential diagnosis and use of DSM & ICD classification systems.
- Trauma-Informed & Healing-Centered Counseling
- Develops a comprehensive understanding of trauma and its impact on mental health and well-being.
- Applies trauma-informed and healing-centered practices to recognize, assess, and respond to trauma in ways that promote safety, empowerment, and resilience.
- Addiction & Co-Occurring Disorders
- Understands the etiology, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of substance use disorders.
- Recognizes the intersection of addiction, trauma, systemic oppression, and co-occurring mental health disorders.
- Research, Evidence-Based Practice & Treatment
- Critically evaluates research to inform evidence-based clinical practice.
- Demonstrates competency in qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods research as it applies to mental health counseling.
- Demonstrates competence in evidence-based treatment modalities for individuals, families, and groups across diverse mental health concerns.
- Counselor Identity, Self-Awareness & Cultural Responsiveness
- Develops a personalized model of counseling, integrating theories, techniques, and social justice approaches that honor the lived experiences of clients.
- Demonstrates key counselor attributes including self-awareness, emotional regulation, strong interpersonal skills, and a commitment to continuous growth.
- Engages in ongoing self-reflection to enhance cultural responsiveness and liberation-focused practice.
- Engages in collaborative and decolonized healing practices, ensuring clients remain active participants in their own mental health journeys.
The M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), the premier independent accrediting body for counselor education. Our program is also internationally recognized by the International Registry of Counsellor Education Programs. This 60-credit-hour program meets the curricular requirements for the Connecticut State Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). Graduates from the program are eligible for an associate license, the LPCA, while they complete the post-graduate requirements for the LPC. Graduates are also eligible to take the National Counselor Examination (NCE), required for national board certification through the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) and for state licensure. They are also eligible to take the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE), which is another pathway to state licensure.
Please note: Completing a master's program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is only one of the requirements for professional licensure. Students are responsible for understanding the licensure requirements set by the Connecticut State Department of Public Health. A criminal record review is required for licensure, and some internship sites may require fingerprinting and background checks when working with vulnerable populations, such as children or individuals involved in the criminal justice system.
Student Outcomes (2024–2025 Academic Year)
Graduation & Completion Rates
In 2024–2025, the CMHC program graduated 14 students. The average degree completion rate for our 2019 and 2020 cohorts was 80%, reflecting challenges during the pandemic. More recent cohorts are showing significantly lower withdrawal rates (currently 2 students or 8% for the 2023 cohort), indicating improved retention and persistence.
Licensure Exam Performance
- NCE Exam: 12 students sat for the exam, with 11 passing — a 92% pass rate.
- NCMHCE Exam: 1 student took the exam and passed — a 100% pass rate.
Employment Outcomes
All 14 graduates (100%) secured positions in the counseling field, with one student also accepted into a doctoral program.
River (Misty) Ginicola, Ph.D., LPC (She/They)
Professor, Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Full Profile
Dr. River (Misty) Ginicola is a Professor in the Department of Mental Health Sciences at Southern Connecticut State University. A Licensed Professional Counselor and a counselor educator for over 2 decades, Dr. Ginicola additionally brings lived experience in marginalized identities and clinical experience from work in her private practice, Walk in Balance Counseling. They hold a Ph.D., M.Ph., and M.S. in Developmental Psychology from Yale University, a M.A. degree in psychology with a concentration of classes in Counseling from the State University of New York (SUNY) at New Paltz, a B.S. degree in Psychology with a minor in Psychology of Exceptional Children from SUNY Cortland, and an A.S. degree in Liberal Arts from SUNY Corning Community College.
Dr. Ginicola’s teaching and scholarship are grounded in liberation psychology, multicultural counseling, and decolonized healing practices. Their work focuses on the self-empowerment of marginalized communities through affirmative, culturally responsive, and trauma-informed counseling. They are the author of Affirmative Counseling with LGBTQI+ People (American Counseling Association) and an Elder and Past President of the Society for Affectional, Intersex, and Gender Expansive Issues in Counseling (SAIGE), a division of the American Counseling Association.
Throughout Dr. Ginicola’s career, she has presented and consulted nationally on liberation-focused counseling, social justice, and multicultural competence—offering professional trainings for schools, clinical agencies, and community organizations in addition to academic and professional conferences. Their research and teaching interests include bridging modern wisdom (neuroscience, mental health research, and technology) with trauma-informed and decolonized healing to create liberation-based counselor education pedagogy. They have numerous publications on multicultural issues in counseling, specializing in LGBTQI+ counseling.
Their professional background includes work with individuals with developmental disabilities, school-based mental health, program evaluation and policy reform, and private practice, specializing in working with clients with marginalized identities, particularly BIPOC, Queer & Trans, and neurodivergent people. A trained shaman and yoga teacher, Dr. Ginicola integrates Indigenous wisdom, somatic healing, and mind-body practices into their teaching and counseling. As a Level 2 Breath Body Mind and Coherent Breathing Teacher, they also incorporate breathwork to support nervous system regulation, trauma recovery, and emotional well-being.
Cheri Smith, Ph.D., NCC (She/Her)
Professor, Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Full Profile
Dr. Cheri Smith is a Professor in the Department of Mental Health Sciences at Southern Connecticut State University. A counselor educator for over three decades, she has also taught at the University of Montevallo, St. John’s University, the University of West Georgia, the New York Institute of Technology, and Troy University. She holds a Ph.D. and M.Ed. in Counselor Education from Mississippi State University, a B.A. from the University of West Florida, and an A.A. from the University of Maryland.
Dr. Smith’s professional work centers on counselor ethics and identity formation, spirituality in counseling, and affirmative counseling with LGBTQ+ populations. She brings a rare blend of rigor and humanity to her teaching—grounded in a lifelong commitment to service and advocacy. In the 1980s, she was actively involved in HIV/AIDS education and community support, work that continues to inform her ethical stance and her deep empathy for marginalized populations.
She has served in numerous leadership roles, including as past president of the Alabama Counseling Association and the Association for Spiritual, Ethical, and Religious Values in Counseling (ASERVIC), as well as a five-year appointment to the Alabama Board of Examiners in Counseling. She has also served as a CACREP site visitor, helping ensure quality standards in counselor education nationwide.
A co-editor of Affirmative Counseling with LGBTQI+ People, Dr. Smith routinely presents her work at national and international conferences. Her teaching and mentorship emphasize both ethical integrity and professional authenticity—what she lovingly calls the “slow-cooker method” of counselor development: allowing students to grow with patience, reflection, and depth rather than rushing the process. Known for her warmth, wisdom, and signature colloquialisms, she embodies the heart of counselor education and of our program—always reminding her students and colleagues that the ultimate measure of our work is the well-being of the client.
Uchenna Nwachuku, Ph.D., NCC (He/Him)
Professor, Program Coordinator, & Fieldwork Coordinator
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Full Profile
Dr. Uchenna T. Nwachuku is a professor for the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program and has been a counselor educator for over 3 decades. He is also a visiting professor at both Nnamdi Azikiwe Federal University at Awka and Michael Okpara Federal University at Umudike. Prior to his teaching career, Dr. Nwachuku served as the Chief Psychologist for the State of North Carolina Department of Mental Health and the State of Massachusetts Department of Mental Health. He was a founding partner of Ebon Associates, a global mental health consulting firm, and co-president of School Development Mission, a not-for-profit international education-consulting group.
Dr. Nwachuku earned a B.S. in Biology from Houghton University, New York, a master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling, a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Mental Health Management, and a Doctorate degree in Counseling and Consulting Psychology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor [LMHC] and a Licensed Mediator & Arbitrator. He was the past president Southern American Association of University professors (SCSU-AAUP) and the immediate past president of Connecticut State AAUP.
He is a recipient of many regional, national, and international awards in Clinical Mental Health. He is a distinguished member of the American Counseling Association (ACA), American Mental Health Counseling and Development (AMHCD), and International Counseling Association (ICA). Dr. Nwachuku is the author and co-author of more than 50 peer-reviewed articles and monographs in professional journals. He developed and presented over 100 referred and non-referred professional papers in regional, national, and international conferences. He is an accreditation program reviewer for the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Other Related Educational Programs (CACREP). He is a member of the international counseling program registration reviewing team and a founding member of the International Registry of Counselor Educational Programs (IRCEP).
School / College
College of Education
Department
Mental Health Sciences
Contact
Dr. Uchenna Nwachuku