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ONLINE COUNSELING AND THERAPY DEGREES & CERTIFICATES

Empower others and influence change

In the field of mental health, a client-first perspective is essential for quality care and outcomes. With a master’s or doctoral degree in counseling or therapy, you’ll be equipped with the tools that can help you deepen your practice and enhance client outcomes.

Online counseling and therapy degrees designed for flexibility

Expand your ability to help individuals, couples or families. Our counseling and therapy master’s or doctoral degrees or certificates are designed to help you gain insights and practical skills from experienced scholar-practitioners. We offer areas of focus in clinical mental health counseling, school counseling and marriage and family therapy.

Master's $2,500 scholarship: Reduce your tuition by $2,500 with scholarships available for MS in Marriage and Family Therapy, MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and MS in School Counseling. Eligibility rules and exclusions apply. Connect with us for details.

$5,000 doctoral scholarship: Apply for a $5K Capella Progress Reward for the PhD in Counselor Education & Supervision.

Find your counseling or therapy program

Degree
selectedAos:9
Area of study

Learning format

bachelors 1,2,7,8,10,26
doctoral 8,12,7,2,10,26,9,1,25
certificate 2,9,7,8
masters 25,8,12,2,1,10,26,9,7
bachelors 2,7,1,10,8
doctoral 2,10,25,12
certificate
masters 8,2,10,7

Accredited and recognized

Capella University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Accreditation provides the assurance we meet standards for quality of faculty, curriculum, student services and fiscal stability. See all our accreditations and recognitions.

Capella University’s PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision, MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and MS in School Counseling programs are accredited by the Council for Accreditation for Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) through March 1, 2028.

The Capella University MS in School Counseling is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP).

The MS in Marriage and Family Therapy program at Capella University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE), 112 South Alfred Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314; 703-838-9808, [email protected].

The School of Social and Behavioral Sciences mission

The School of Social and Behavioral Sciences provides innovative, student-centered education that is competency-based, rigorous, relevant and transformative. Our programs help prepare graduates to be agents of systemic change in a diverse, complex and ever-evolving society.

Our programs are built around student success

Our accredited counseling and therapy programs offer a flexible learning environment that can help you pursue your professional goals in the mental health field. Get the support you need to help fit education into your busy schedule as you work toward your degree.

Student satisfaction

90% of alumni with a master’s in counseling are satisfied with their Capella education.

Alumni Outcomes Survey, 2022–2023

Licensure guidance

Reach your goals with the help of our support teams, including those dedicated to licensure and clinical requirements.

Specialized accreditation

Capella’s specialized accreditations and professional recognitions show our commitment to the highest standards in education.

Faculty accolades

97% of MS in Marriage and Family Therapy alumni agree that Capella faculty were well qualified and did a good job.

Alumni Outcomes Survey, 2022–2023

Residencies and internships

Enhance and apply your skills and knowledge through required residencies and internships.

Client-first curriculum

Our degrees and certificates offer skills to help you achieve meaningful outcomes with your clients.

Have questions about our counseling and therapy programs? Start here.

Meet Capella’s counseling and therapy faculty

Learn with faculty you can trust in a program that teaches skills and knowledge to help effect meaningful, positive change in the mental health of individuals, couples and families. Our counseling and therapy faculty offer their professional experiences and practical insights to help you apply your learning in the classroom to your work in the real world of counseling and therapy. They help build a relevant curriculum by engaging in practice, staying informed about emerging needs and maintaining collaborative relationships with colleagues in practice. You will learn with real-world tools, processes and practices from our scholar-practitioner faculty.

Jody Neuman-Aamile, PhD

Interim Dean, School of Social and Behavioral Sciences

Dr. Neuman-Aamlie serves as Interim Dean for the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences. As a first-generation college student, Dr. Neuman-Aamlie is passionate about extending access to high-quality education and mental health services.

With over 25 years of experience in higher education, she has provided psychological services in diverse settings, served as a supervisor for APA-accredited predoctoral internship and postdoctoral training programs, and held academic and student affairs positions at multiple institutions. Dr. Neuman-Aamlie joined Capella University in 2004 as the Director of Clinical Training in the School of Psychology. She has since served in a variety of academic leadership positions with the university.

Kelly Heenan, PhD, LMFT, LPC

Academic Program Director, Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy, School of Social and Behavioral Sciences

Dr. Heenan, a licensed marriage and family therapist, holds a PhD from Texas Woman’s University and has 15 years of experience in practice and teaching. Her professional contributions extend to military services, school therapy and private practice.

She volunteers for her state licensing board and the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE), serving on the accreditation review committee and as an accreditation site visitor.

Theresa M Kascsak, PhD, LPC (VA), LCMHCS (NC), NCC, RPT-S

Academic Program Director, Counselor Education, School of Social and Behavioral Sciences

Dr. Kascsak's (she/her) background includes a broad range of leadership experiences in higher education and behavioral healthcare rooted in clinical work as a professional counselor. She brings 20+ years of experience, leadership and service in higher education, utilization management, consulting and clinical practice.

Dr. Kascsak is a formal naval officer and human resources professional who can parlay her understanding of change management, people leadership and innovation into the field of counselor education. She earned her PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision and her MA in Counseling (School Track) from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Counseling and therapy career resources

Marriage and family therapy & social work degrees: How to tell the difference.

Although social workers and marriage and family therapists are both concerned with mental health and well-being, they practice two distinct professions. Discover the differences.

What is clinical counseling?

Clinical counseling professionals help individuals with emotional and mental health difficulties in a clinical setting. Learn about the professional skills required and the educational options that can help you pursue a clinical counseling career.

The difference between a dissertation and doctoral capstone

Learn the differences between a doctoral capstone and a dissertation, including details about project focus, timeframe and what’s required for each.

Ready for the next step?

Learning online doesn’t mean going it alone. Help is here when you need it, from faculty and academic coaches to financing help and more. You’ll have a supportive community that’s as passionate about your education – and your success – as you are.