Counseling Programs at Palm Beach Atlantic University
Want to build a career helping others become better, more authentic versions of themselves? Palm Beach Atlantic University’s counseling programs offer complete paths to professional licensure and rewarding careers in mental health.
The Palm Beach Atlantic counseling program gives you multiple education options. You can pursue a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling or choose innovative dual-degree programs. The MACS + MSCMHC dual degrees take just three years with 84 credit hours of coursework. The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows rapid growth in jobs for social workers, community service managers, school counselors, and similar roles. This makes these programs valuable especially when you have career goals in these fields.
You’ll learn from skilled faculty through mentoring relationships and hands-on field experience. The program’s academic curriculum will give you the knowledge you need for clinical licensure in Florida and beyond. The counseling programs at PBA will prepare you for success as a therapist, counselor, or social worker in different professional settings.
Counseling Programs at Palm Beach Atlantic University
Palm Beach Atlantic University has several counseling degree options that prepare students to become licensed professionals with specialized expertise. The heart of their program is the Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, a 60-credit hour program that meets Florida’s Mental Health Counseling licensing requirements. This program gives you the foundational knowledge you need in counseling skills, ethical practices, and therapeutic interventions.
Students progress through a well-laid-out curriculum over multiple semesters. They start with core courses like Counseling Theories and Techniques, Counseling Skills and Characteristics, and Foundations of Counseling. The program then tackles a variety of topics from human development to group therapy, research methods, cultural foundations, assessment, and crisis counseling.
PBA’s program stands out with four optional concentrations to boost your counseling expertise:
- Crisis and Trauma Counseling – Students in this three-course concentration learn to provide trauma-informed care by understanding how crisis affects cognitive, emotional, behavioral, spiritual, and community functioning. The courses get into trauma’s physiological effects and potential interventions while building skills in evidence-based trauma treatments.
- Marriage and Family Therapy Studies – This concentration sets the stage to further your education in marriage and family therapy. You’ll learn about family systems, family therapy theory, and marriage counseling techniques.
- Play Therapy – This specialty has coursework in childhood psychosocial issues, foundations of play therapy, and expressive arts techniques.
- Counseling in School Settings – Students learn program development, implementation, and evaluation to qualify for school counseling certification.
PBA also offers unique dual-degree options that blend counseling with theological studies. Students can earn two degrees on an accelerated timeline through the Master of Divinity/MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program, which combines biblical scholarship with professional counseling. The Master of Arts in Christian Studies (MACS) paired with the MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling takes three years to complete with 84 credit hours.
Clinical experience is the foundation of your education. The practicum course requires 100 clock hours with at least 40 hours of direct service working with licensed professionals. Students then complete a two-semester internship that totals over 600 clock hours, including at least 240 hours of direct service.
Students interested in substance abuse counseling can get additional training toward becoming a Certified Addiction Professional (CAP). This certification path includes the course “Substance Abuse II: Transdisciplinary and Professional Practice” that covers core areas of alcohol and drug treatment.
PBA’s programs stand out by integrating faith and spirituality into counseling practice when clients want this approach. This creates a unique balance between professional competence and spiritual awareness.
Internships/Practicum at PBA
The path to counseling licensure at PBA combines classroom learning with real-life experience through practicum and internship programs. PBA’s counseling program has clinical experiences that align with Florida’s Mental Health Counseling licensing requirements.
Your clinical experience starts with COU 5703 – Practicum, a 3-credit course that lets you apply your counseling knowledge in clinical settings. This experience requires a minimum of 100 clock hours with at least 40 hours of direct service. A licensed mental health professional will supervise you at your site, and a university supervisor will guide your experience.
These prerequisites must be met before starting practicum:
- Completion of at least 32 hours of graduate coursework
- Successful completion of key courses including Counseling Skills & Characteristics, Group Theories and Practice, Legal/Ethical Standards, and Diagnosis and Treatment in Counseling (with B or better grades in specified courses)
- Attendance at the Practicum Orientation meeting
- Purchase of Tevera access code through the PBA campus store
- Securing placement with an approved site and supervisor
After practicum, you move on to COU 5713 – Counseling Internship I and COU 5723 – Counseling Internship II, both 3-credit courses. These two-semester internships expand your hands-on experience, requiring a minimum of 600 clock hours total with at least 240 hours of direct service. Each internship builds your skills through face-to-face services, support services, and professional supervision.
PBA offers COU 5751 – Counseling Internship III, a 1-credit elective course, if you need more time to complete your clinical experience. This option lets you extend your internship while maintaining supervision and support.
PBA partners with Handshake—a leading career platform used by all Fortune 500 companies and over 400 colleges—to help you find potential internship sites. The platform matches you with opportunities based on your skills and priorities.
West Palm Beach provides many counseling internship opportunities. Organizations actively seek PBA students for placements at major companies, healthcare providers, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations.
Students in PBA’s Counseling Psychology graduate program can access developmental internships through the university’s Counseling Center. These placements help you grow ethically in a supportive, faith-integrated environment.
The practicum and internship experiences turn your theoretical knowledge into practical skills. You’ll complete academic requirements and build strong foundations to practice counseling professionally.
What sets Palm Beach Atlantic University apart?
Palm Beach Atlantic University sets itself apart in counseling education with its unique combination of strong academic standards and faith-centered approach. The Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program earned accreditation from the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) recently. This recognition validates PBA’s steadfast dedication to excellence in counseling education.
PBA’s approach differs from other counseling programs by combining theological principles with clinical training. Students learn to combine spiritually sensitive interventions in their counseling practice when clients want and need them. This creates a special learning experience where professional skills and faith work together.
The program stands out through:
- Christ-Centered Care – The Counseling Center’s mission emphasizes psychological, emotional, social, and spiritual well-being as students grow in wisdom and serve God boldly.
- Multicultural Environment – PBA creates a warm, multicultural, multi-denominational atmosphere where students build meaningful relationships with mission-oriented peers and faculty.
- Personal Transformation – The university environment supports personal growth and character development beyond professional training.
Student testimonials show how the program shapes both career readiness and personal growth. Graduate reports indicate 92% of students reported their PBA degree improved their career prospects, and 85% would recommend the school to others. Students value their professors’ help in balancing academics with personal challenges in an environment where both professional and personal growth thrive.
The program meets Florida’s strict licensure requirements and prepares graduates for a field expected to grow by 18% over the next decade. This preparation combines clinical expertise with ethical judgment and spiritual awareness needed for complete counseling practice.
PBA graduates step into their careers as skilled clinicians ready to “exert godly influence on the profession”. They serve diverse clients in South and Central Florida’s culturally, ethnically, and linguistically varied communities.
Next steps
Palm Beach Atlantic University is a top choice for future counselors who want professional excellence and spiritual growth. At PBA, you’ll learn about counseling and get hands-on experience through the CACREP-accredited Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program or dual-degree options.
You can shape your career path with four specialized concentrations. These focus on crisis intervention, family therapy, play therapy, or school counseling. The program gives you skills from ground experience through practicum and internship requirements under professional supervision. This helps you meet licensure requirements effectively.
PBA stands out because it blends faith with clinical excellence uniquely. This approach helps you grow personally and professionally. You’ll be ready to work in the faster growing counseling field and serve people from different backgrounds with both clinical expertise and spiritual awareness.
Students love their time at PBA. They find better career opportunities and build lasting relationships with their classmates and teachers. PBA doesn’t just teach counseling – it creates caring professionals who use proven methods to help clients in a faith-centered setting.
The counseling programs at PBA give you more than a degree. They are the foundations for a career that helps others become better versions of themselves. When you start your journey to become a licensed counselor, PBA gives you a chance to join people who value academic excellence, practical experience, and meaningful service.