The need for quality clinical counselors continues to grow in communities and ministries across the country.
Student and Faculty Profiles
Bethany’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program (CMHC) provides the knowledge, skills, clinical experiences, and Christian worldview to prepare counselors for a variety of helping settings.
Outpatient Care Centers
Psychiatric Hospitals
Private Practice
Schools, Churches, and Ministries
Graduates of the CMHC Program are eligible to become National Certified Counselors,
Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC), and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (LPCC).
The journey of becoming a professional counselor is both a joyful and challenging process. Bethany’s faculty is committed to supporting students throughout this journey.
Christian Foundation
All courses in the CMHC Program are taught within a Christian framework. Faculty members approach the mental health field from a Christian worldview and provide guidance on spiritual counseling situations that occur in both religious and secular settings.
Academic Excellence
Core content areas of the program are based on the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs and the national standards set by the National Board for Certified Counselors. Graduates are eligible to become nationally certified and may also be eligible to become state licensed. Learn more about licensing by reviewing the CMHC section of the Professional Licensure Disclosures page.
Personal Mentorship
Bethany’s faculty provide mentoring through regular communication, Christian encouragement, and excellence in teaching and supervision. Whether in online classes or on-campus residencies, professors create an atmosphere of connection.
The Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program provides flexibility and an atmosphere of personal connection through the combination of online instruction and on-campus experiences.
On demand, asynchronous classes accommodate your schedule, while in-person residencies, practicum, and internships provide opportunities to practice skills, obtain hands-on experience, and connect with classmates and advisors.
For more information on classes and residency schedules, visit the program information page.
Bethany’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program is designed to help you…
Complete your educational journey
Ready to become a mental health counselor? Bethany’s CMHC program is the next step after earning your bachelor’s degree. Upon completion of the CMHC program, you will be prepared to become nationally certified and possibly state licensed. Learn more about licensing by reviewing the CMHC section of the Professional Licensure Disclosures page.
Pursue a new career
Launch a second career in mental health counseling after a concise and concentrated two-year program of study or opt for a more flexible three-year path. You don’t need an undergraduate degree in psychology or any specific field to enroll.
Equip yourself for counseling settings
Pastors, teachers, staff ministers, and others find themselves in counseling situations every day. Taking one or more classes in Bethany’s CMHC Program can prepare you to help others with confidence.
“Having the grounding in a Christ-centered worldview during my undergraduate studies at Bethany was a wonderful gift that continues to guide me personally and professionally. To further that training and specialization in a counseling master’s degree would have definitely been something that I would have taken advantage of and I am excited to see the way that this program will impact the next generation of Christian counselors”
– Joshua T. Mears, PSYD, LP, BC-TMH (‘05) Psychology Major
Bethany is here to help.
Starting a graduate program, or even taking a graduate-level class, is a big decision.
Get more information about the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program by filling out our online form.
Program Information
Students are prepared to be personal and confident counselors through courses that include: Counseling Skills and Strategies, Counseling Theories, Crisis Intervention, and Trauma-Informed Counseling Strategies. Additional courses in Developmental Psychology, Research and Evaluation, and Career Development will lay a solid foundation for you as a counselor-in-training.
Targeted courses to enhance your preparation as a clinical mental health counselor include Psychopathology, Clinical Intervention and Treatment Planning, Group Counseling, Foundations of Addictions and Dual-Diagnosis Counseling, and Family and Couple Counseling. Students will also have access to courses targeting special interests through elective options.
As you progress through the online counseling program, you will participate in three on-campus residencies. Residencies One and Two are focused on supporting your counseling skill development and Residency Three is an opportunity for you to share your capstone project in a research forum of peers and other professionals prior to graduation.
CMHC Program Mission Statement
The counselor education program exists to prepare students—through a Christian worldview that applies biblical truth and rigorous scholarship within the field of counseling—to be ethical, influential, and highly competent professional counselors who serve their communities, churches, and future clients.
Learn more about the missions, vision, and values of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program by clicking below.
Career Opportunities
Prepare for a career as a professional counselor and serve in a variety of settings. Of the many career pathways for graduates, the following are most common:
- licensed counselor in community mental health organizations
- outpatient care centers
- residential mental health and substance abuse facilities
- psychiatric hospitals
- private counseling practices
Engage At Your Level
Continuing Education:
Great for pastors and educators who want to serve their ministry and expand counseling expertise. Course work is designed to expand your knowledge of mental health and support your counseling skill development. Courses are offered online throughout the year.
Masters of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling:
Complete the full set of 60 credits, take part in clinical experiences and internship, and fulfill the requirements to be a in-demand practitioner in the field of Clinical Mental Health Counseling.
Graduate Studies Academic Catalog
Student Outcomes Annual Reports
State Licensure Disclosure
Graduates of the CMHC Program are eligible to seek national certification and state licensure in many states, including Minnesota. Learn more about licensing by reviewing the CMHC section of the Professional Licensure Disclosures page.
Contact for more information
Director of Graduate Studies in Clinical Mental Health Counseling – Graduate Programs
Online Instruction – Academic Affairs
507-344-7302
GR BERGN
Send Message
Contact for more information
Director of Graduate Studies in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Online Instruction
507-344-7302
GR BERGN
Send Message
Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program Faculty
| Name | Title | Office / Phone | Courses | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Chris Bollig | Adjunct Faculty - Clinical Mental Health Counseling | | |
 | Karina Clennon GR OSLO 507-344-7896 | Assistant Professor - Clinical Mental Health CounselingOnline Instruction | GR OSLO 507-344-7896 | |
 | Jami DeVos GR MAIN 507-344-7545 | Office & Enrollment Coordinator | GR MAIN 507-344-7545 | |
| Ben Kohls GR BERGN 507-344-7302 | Director of Graduate Studies in Clinical Mental Health CounselingOnline Instruction | GR BERGN 507-344-7302 | |
 | Anita Smith MH 308 507-344-7000 | Adjunct Faculty - Clinical Mental Health Counseling | MH 308 507-344-7000 | |
 | Helena Stevens GR HAMAR 507-344-7813 | Associate Professor - Clinical Mental Health Counseling | GR HAMAR 507-344-7813 | |
Karina ClennonAssistant Professor - Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Online Instruction
GR OSLO
507-344-7896
Ben KohlsDirector of Graduate Studies in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Online Instruction
GR BERGN
507-344-7302
Assistant Professor - Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Online Instruction
507-344-7896
GR OSLO
Send Message
Director of Graduate Studies in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Online Instruction
507-344-7302
GR BERGN
Send Message
Associate Professor - Clinical Mental Health Counseling
507-344-7813
GR HAMAR
Send Message
Check out The Well Mind Podcast with Dr. Benjamin Kohls
The primary focus of this podcast is to engage people in discussions about a broad range of topics related to wellness, with a special emphasis on mental wellness. Dr. Kohls is the Director of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program at Bethany Lutheran College.
Bethany Lutheran College provides Christian higher education in a challenging academic environment where personal mentoring guides students to pursue knowledge, truth, and discernment for productive and fulfilling lives.
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