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.
Begin Your Journey
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. Welcome to the CMHC journey—where clinical excellence and liberation intertwine.
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 school and career counselors is projected to grow 22 percent from 2018 to 2028, 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
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. This 60-credit-hour program meets the curricular requirements for Connecticut State Licensed Professional Counselor (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.
Dr. River (Misty) Ginicola
Pronouns: She/They
Dr. River (Misty) Ginicola is a Professor of Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU) and a Licensed Professional Counselor with expertise in multicultural counseling, liberation psychology, LGBTQI+ counseling, and decolonized healing practices.
Dr. Ginicola holds a Ph.D. from Yale University, where they also earned two additional master’s degrees, and has spent over three decades in clinical research, counselor education, and social justice advocacy. Their professional background includes work in developmental disabilities, school mental health, and program evaluation and policy reform to improve mental health services.
Dr. Ginicola’s research and teaching are rooted in liberation, centering on creating space for the self-empowerment of marginalized communities through affirmative, culturally responsive, and trauma-informed counseling practices. Their scholarship spans multicultural competence, decolonized healing, phototherapy, yoga in counseling, and advocacy for LGBTQI+ clients. They are the author of Affirmative Counseling with LGBTQI+ People (American Counseling Association) and an Elder and Past President of SAIGE (Society for Affectional, Intersex, and Gender Expansive Issues in Counseling) a division of the American Counseling Association.
A trained shaman and yoga teacher, Dr. Ginicola integrates indigenous wisdom, somatic healing, and mind-body practices into their work. They are also a Level 2 Breath Body Mind and Coherent Breathing Teacher, using breathwork as a therapeutic tool for nervous system regulation, trauma healing, and emotional well-being.
Dr. Ginicola regularly consults, publishes, and presents on multicultural counseling, social justice, and liberation counseling, providing professional training for schools, clinical agencies, and community organizations.
Teaching Interests
Human Development; Multicultural Counseling, LGBTQI+ Counseling
Research Interests
Liberation Counseling, Trauma-Informed & Decolonized Healing, Intersectionality & Identity Development
Liberation Counselor Education Pedagogy utilizing Artificial Intelligence
School / College
College of Education
Department
Mental Health Sciences
Contact
Dr. Uchenna Nwachuku