Licensed Mental Health Counselor Professional Profile
Licensure & Reimbursement
• Licensed in MA since 1987
• As independent practitioners
• Providing clinical mental health services: diagnosis and treatment of emotional and behavioral disorders
• Under the Division of Professional Licensure, Board of Allied Health and Human Service Professions
• Authorized to receive third party reimbursement under Chapter 293 of Acts of 1996
• Listed as core service provider in Mental Health Parity Law, Chapter 80 of Acts of 2000
Licensure Requirements
Education
• MA degree in Counseling, Mental Health Counseling, related field (60 credits) plus
• Core Courses Include: Theories of Counseling, Psychopathology, Diagnosis, Treatment Modalities (Helping Relationships, Skills, Techniques), Human Growth and Development, Ethics & Professional Practice, Research & Evaluation, Social and Cultural Foundations, Group Work, Career Development
• Practicum & Internship (Pre- Masters): 700 hours, supervised
Post-Masters Supervised Work Experience
• 3360 hours, supervised (2 years full time employment)
Supervisor Requirements
• LMHC, or other independent license, with 5 years clinical experience
Licensure Examination
• Successful passage of the National Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination
Continuing Education Requirements
• 30 hours of continuing professional study every 2 year license renewal cycle
Standards of Practice
• LMHCs practice under the National Standards for Clinical Mental Health Counseling of the American Mental Health Counselors Association
• Ethical Standards, American Counseling Association, and the American Mental Health Counselors Association
Service Profile
• There are 4500+ LMHCs in Massachusetts
• Providing mental health counseling through:
Clinics & Agencies 65%
Hospitals 7%
Schools 13%
Private Practice 15%