10 Best Masters in Trauma Counseling Programs for 2026
Do you want to help people recover from life-altering experiences through a Masters in Trauma Counseling? The timing works perfectly – counseling and mental health careers show a remarkable 17% growth rate according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Trauma counselors provide direct support to people who have lived through traumatic events. Their clients range from military service veterans and natural disaster survivors to victims of abuse. These programs teach you to assess, diagnose, and treat people with trauma-related disorders in both individual and group settings. A trauma therapist degree enables you to make a real difference in people’s lives as they work through the psychological aftermath of devastating experiences.
Your career path could lead to supporting K-12 students who have faced crises. The field looks promising with a projected 19% growth rate for substance abuse and mental health counselors. The right educational foundation is vital to success. This guide explores the 10 best Masters in Trauma Counseling programs available for 2026. It will help you make smart choices about your professional future.
1. Bay Path University – MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (Trauma-Informed Concentration)
Bay Path University offers an online Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with an Advanced Trauma-Informed Counseling concentration. The program gives you the specialized skills to understand how trauma affects people’s lives. Students love its flexible structure and deep focus on trauma psychology principles.
Program Overview
Bay Path’s MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is a fully online 60-credit program that helps students become skilled at mental health counseling with trauma specialization. Students learn counseling theory, human development, psychopathology, and social foundations while developing practical skills through hands-on experience. The program includes a 100-hour practicum and a 600-hour supervised internship that provide real-life application of classroom learning.
Students can start their journey in January, May, or September, which works great for working professionals. The curriculum helps students master mental health condition assessment and treatment while building expertise in trauma recovery techniques.
Trauma Counseling Focus
The Advanced Trauma-Informed Counseling concentration helps students learn about trauma assessment, diagnosis, and treatment methods for clients of all ages. The curriculum covers:
- Advanced knowledge of trauma theories and models
- A full picture of trauma’s neurobiological effects
- Specialized skills in evaluating and treating trauma in children
- Techniques for addressing acute and complex trauma conditions
Students take core concentration courses like Theories and Models of Trauma and Attachment, Neurobiology of Trauma, and can choose from electives such as Advanced Techniques in Treating Acute and Complex Trauma. This focused coursework helps graduates show advanced skills in trauma treatment, which boosts their clinical expertise and job prospects by a lot.
Admission Requirements
To join this Masters in Trauma Counseling program, you need:
- Bachelor’s degree in Psychology or related field (preferred)
- Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA for matriculation
- Completed online application with 300-500 word essay on program importance
- Official undergraduate and graduate transcripts
- Current resume
- Two recommendations (from outside Bay Path Psychology department)
- Successful interview with Graduate Admissions staff
- Signed Program Requirement Form
On top of that, it helps to know statistics, research methods, abnormal psychology, personality, and development. Students who don’t meet all requirements might get conditional acceptance. They can take three original courses and achieve a 3.0 GPA to join fully.
Tuition and Duration
Students must finish all requirements within 5 years. The online format lets students balance their work life while advancing their education.
The program follows a traditional semester format with multiple start dates throughout the year. Bay Path University offers detailed financial aid counseling for prospective students, though specific tuition information wasn’t available in the data. Students get great value through specialized training that meets licensure requirements in Massachusetts and parallel licenses in other states.
Graduates leave with advanced trauma treatment skills that employers want in clinical settings, schools, and community mental health organizations.
2. Walden University – MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (Trauma and Crisis Counseling)
Walden University’s CACREP-accredited MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling comes with a specialized Trauma and Crisis Counseling concentration. Students learn to handle immediate crises and support long-term trauma recovery. The program shines with its flexible online format and complete approach to trauma psychology education.
Program Overview
Students can complete the MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Walden in just 33 months with 90-96 quarter credits. The CACREP accreditation ensures the program meets high educational standards that let graduates pursue professional counselor licensure in most states. Students learn both theory and practical skills to prevent, diagnose, and treat mental health disorders.
Walden provides full guidance and resources to help students find the right practicum and internship placements. The online format allows students to balance their work and life while getting their education.
Trauma Counseling Focus
The Trauma and Crisis Counseling specialization gives students the clinical skills and theoretical foundations they need. These skills help individuals, families, and communities handle crises and recover from emotional and psychological trauma. Students become skilled at providing immediate crisis intervention and long-term therapeutic support to promote recovery and resilience.
Key courses in this specialization include:
- Professional counseling history and philosophy
- Mental health counseling profession studies
- Vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue for first responders
- Crisis management and leadership fundamentals
Students explore ethical, legal, multicultural, and spiritual aspects of wellness and self-care through these courses. They also learn to train and support first responders who face intense work demands.
Admission Requirements
Getting into Walden’s masters in trauma psychology program is straightforward. You need:
- A bachelor’s degree or higher
- Completed online application with transcripts
The program has a simple application process without any fees, easy credit transfers, and no essay requirements. Walden accepts up to 45 transfer credits, which can reduce your program length and costs.
Tuition and Duration
Starting February 23, 2026, tuition costs $550 per quarter credit hour for coursework (up from $535). The 90-96 credit program costs about $49,500-$52,800 in tuition. Books and materials cost extra, up to $4,500.
Walden makes this Masters in Trauma Counseling more affordable through several options:
- Partner tuition savings
- Transfer credit opportunities
- The Believe & Achieve Scholarship®
- Federal and state grants
Graduates enter a promising field with 19% expected growth and yearly wages from $36,700 to $70,130. Career opportunities exist in private practice, military installations, police stations, schools, disaster aid organizations, mental health clinics, and nonprofit organizations.
3. University of New Haven – MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
The University of New Haven has an MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program that gets graduates ready to diagnose, treat, and prevent mental health issues. This complete Masters in Trauma Counseling program blends hands-on experience with theory. Students who want to become mental health professionals will find it an excellent choice.
Program Overview
The 60-credit MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program meets Connecticut’s Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) requirements. Students need to finish 48 core credits and 12 credits from electives or concentration coursework. The program gives students hands-on experience through practicum and internships that match their career goals. Students learn to help individuals, families, groups, and communities while building their professional skills.
Students show their expertise in counseling areas, blend theory with practice, and use professional intervention skills during internships.
Trauma Counseling Focus
This Masters in Trauma Counseling program stands out with its focus on trauma psychology. The core curriculum has COUN 6650 – Trauma and Crisis Intervention that gives students the skills to help people through traumatic experiences. Students also learn about mental health, substance use, and trauma interventions. They apply these concepts while working with people from different backgrounds.
Students can choose optional concentrations. The Community Development track helps them learn program administration, planning, and new treatment approaches.
Admission Requirements
Students need to meet these requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
- Minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA (strongly recommended)
- Two recommendation letters from professors or employers
- Statement of purpose and résumé
- Successful interview with department faculty
Applications are due by March 1, and spots are competitive. Faculty interviews look at academic readiness, professional maturity, people skills, and how well candidates fit with counseling values.
Tuition and Duration
First-year tuition costs about $49,973. Other costs include:
- Housing and meals: $3,000
- Books and supplies: $1,800
- Personal expenses: $720
Most students finish the program in two years, but timing can vary based on course loads. Students must complete 700 hours of supervised clinical training. This hands-on experience prepares them for real-life practice settings.
4. Butler University – MS in Mental Health Counseling
Butler University offers an innovative online Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling program that blends theoretical knowledge with practical skills naturally. The Masters in Trauma Counseling program helps you qualify for dual licensure in mental health counseling and clinical addictions counseling in Indiana. This opens up more career opportunities after graduation.
Program Overview
The MS in Mental Health Counseling at Butler needs 60 credit hours spread across 20 online courses. The curriculum meets national and state standards to ensure quality education that matches industry needs. The program has partnered with major mental health agencies to provide practicum and internship placements. Indiana residents can earn a $5,000 stipend during internship, get advanced training, and receive a guaranteed employment interview after graduation.
Students learn through a theory-to-practice model with complete coursework in human development, diversity, counseling theories, career planning, assessment, and group counseling. The program requires a 100-hour practicum and a 600-hour internship at a facility near you.
Trauma Counseling Focus
The program features a specialized course “Trauma and Crisis: Prevention and Response”. This training helps you understand ways to prevent, respond to, and assess traumatic events at individual, group, and systemic levels. The program gives you essential counseling techniques and knowledge of human behavior needed for trauma work.
Butler’s evidence-based practices boost your skills to help clients through trauma recovery. After completing the program, you can work in various settings like private practice, healthcare facilities, substance abuse clinics, and family care centers.
Admission Requirements
The application process is simple with no GRE or GMAT requirements. You need to submit transcripts from all your previous institutions. The program lets you transfer up to 12 credits, which could reduce your time and costs.
Tuition and Duration
Each credit hour costs $700, bringing the total tuition to around $42,000 (not including fees, books, and supplies). You can finish the program in 2.5-3 years, making it a quick path to reach your career goals.
U.S. News & World Report ranked Butler University first in the Midwest for Best Colleges for Veterans in 2022-2023. The university supports military members and veterans who want to pursue their Masters in Trauma Counseling.
5. Grand Canyon University – MS in Psychology (Trauma Focus)
Grand Canyon University blends Christian values with trauma psychology education in its master’s program that gets into the biopsychosocial effects of trauma at every life stage. The program stands out by combining evidence-based practices with compassionate, faith-informed care principles.
Program Overview
GCU’s Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with an Emphasis in Trauma helps students assess and treat trauma-related disorders through evidence-based research applications. The 74-credit program fulfills GCU’s mission to develop effective communicators and innovative thinkers who serve others. The curriculum brings together challenging academic coursework with Christian worldview principles to create a unique educational experience for future trauma counselors.
Students can choose flexible learning options with most courses available online through an interactive digital platform. They must complete supervised clinical fieldwork experience, including a practicum and two internships that build advanced counseling skills.
Trauma Counseling Focus
The trauma emphasis at GCU takes a deep look at trauma’s biopsychosocial effects and best practices for working with affected populations. Students learn about trauma-informed care assessments, interventions, and ethical considerations. The coursework includes:
- Diagnosis and treatment of trauma-related disorders
- Evidence-based research applications
- Intricacies of human behavior following traumatic experiences
- Mind-body connections in trauma response
The program prepares students to enable trauma survivors in their healing trip while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries.
Admission Requirements
Qualified applicants need:
- An undergraduate degree from an accredited institution
- Minimum 2.8 GPA OR
- 5+ unweighted GPA with either GMAT score of 500 or GRE combined score of 300
Admission requirements might vary based on degree level, program modality, or transfer status.
Tuition and Duration
Online graduate program tuition costs $600 per credit hour as of May 2025. The total program cost comes to approximately $44,400 for the 74-credit program. GCU works to keep tuition costs competitive to make private, Christian education available to more people.
Graduates step into a field with strong job prospects. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 19% growth for mental health counselors from 2023 to 2033, with a median annual wage of $53,710 as of May 2023. The program prepares graduates to pursue licensure as mental health counselors, following state-specific requirements for examinations and supervised clinical hours.
6. University of West Alabama – MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
The University of West Alabama offers a tailored approach to mental health education through its MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. Students benefit from one-on-one mentorship and reasonable tuition rates. This online degree helps you support people from a variety of backgrounds while you learn counseling techniques and theories.
Program Overview
UWA’s program holds accreditation from the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) through March 31, 2032. Students can complete the 60-credit hour curriculum in two to three years. The program features 8-week courses that fit perfectly with working professionals’ schedules. You’ll learn counseling techniques, theories, and principles to promote your clients’ mental health and wellness from varied backgrounds.
What makes this program special is UWA’s mentorship approach. Each student works with a dedicated mentor who helps direct both academic progress and career planning. This preparation enables graduates to pursue licensure and work in settings of all types including private practice, hospitals, and community agencies.
Trauma Counseling Focus
The program gives you fundamental crisis intervention skills you need for trauma psychology practice. The curriculum teaches strategies to handle traumatic situations while providing ethical, multicultural-sensitive care. Students gain practical experience through a required 100-hour practicum and 600-hour internship. These requirements are a great way to get hands-on experience with trauma-informed approaches in ground settings.
Admission Requirements
The masters program requires:
- Meeting general requirements for admission to the School of Graduate Studies
- Providing verification of background clearance/fingerprints
- Submitting a portfolio with a resume, professional goals essay, and three recommendations
Students must maintain a grade-point average of at least 3.0 with no grade below “C”.
Tuition and Duration
At $429 per credit hour, the program offers excellent value. Total tuition comes to approximately $25,740 for all 60 credits. Most students finish in 2-3 years, and courses run in convenient 8-week sessions. The program combines online learning with a required four-day on-campus residency. This blend provides valuable face-to-face learning while maintaining the flexibility of distance education.
7. Concordia University – MA in Human Services (Trauma, Resilience, and Self-Care)
Concordia University’s MA in Human Services program takes a comprehensive approach to trauma education. The program emphasizes trauma treatment while focusing on professional resilience and self-care strategies. Students who want to serve traumatized populations and maintain their wellbeing in challenging fields will find this program particularly valuable.
Program Overview
The Master of Arts in Human Services with emphasis in Trauma, Resilience, and Self-Care Strategies is a 36-credit program that offers flexible online learning. This Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST)-approved curriculum helps professionals work effectively with clients affected by trauma while developing skills to prevent burnout. We designed this program for practitioners in human services, criminal justice, and forensic behavioral health. Students can complete it in two years or less.
The program features a distinctive teaching model where two professors from different human services fields teach each class. This approach helps students gain insights from a variety of disciplines when dealing with complex trauma issues.
Trauma Counseling Focus
The curriculum takes a deep look at how trauma affects psychological, social, and physical aspects of life. These five core courses make up the trauma specialization:
- HSV 543: Foundations in Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders
- HSV 548: Neurobiology of Trauma and its Impact on the Developing Brain
- HSV 561: Forensic Behavioral Health Aspects of Trauma
- HSV 567: Trauma and its Impact on the Family System
- HSV 578: Trauma Informed Practice, Self-Care, and Resilience Strategies
Students can enhance their professional credentials by publishing in Concordia’s Forensic Scholars Today journal while completing their academic studies.
Admission Requirements
The masters program requires:
- A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
- Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale)
- Completed online application
- Personal statement
Tuition and Duration
Students pay $475 per credit hour, bringing the total tuition to approximately $17,100 for the complete 36-credit program. Partnership scholarships of $2,000 help reduce these costs. Working professionals can typically finish the program in about two years thanks to its flexible course structure.
8. Arizona State University – MS in Psychology (Trauma Studies)
Arizona State University combines research excellence with flexibility in its MS in Psychology program. Students interested in trauma studies can choose from related certificate options and specialized coursework.
Program Overview
ASU runs its psychology master’s program in two formats. Students can pick between an in-person research-intensive option and a practical online version. The campus immersion track gets students ready for doctoral studies or research careers. Students learn methodology, statistical analysis, and grant writing. The online curriculum dives into psychological theory and its connection to human behavior, cognition, and emotion. Both paths let students choose electives in psychology specializations. These include abnormal psychology, developmental psychology, and health psychology.
Trauma Counseling Focus
Students can boost their expertise through ASU’s Certificate in Trauma-Informed Care. The certificate gets into:
- Evidence-based intervention frameworks
- Psychological and social dimensions of adversity
- Ways to promote resilience in affected populations
ASU’s graduate certificate in trauma and bereavement adds specialized knowledge about grief responses and trauma effects.
Admission Requirements
Students need a bachelor’s or master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Applicants with GPAs above 3.25 receive priority. The application needs transcripts, a statement of purpose, and two recommendation letters.
Tuition and Duration
The full-time graduate tuition is $11,720 (in-state) or $26,160 (out-of-state) plus $888 in fees. Clinical psychology graduates earn an average early career salary of $62,409.
9. Pepperdine University – MA in Clinical Psychology (Online)
Pepperdine University builds clinical excellence through its online Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology program. The program helps professionals pursue licensure while they keep their current jobs. Students learn about psychological effects in various populations through specialized trauma courses.
Program Overview
The online MA in Clinical Psychology prepares students to become licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFT) or licensed professional clinical counselors (LPCC). This practice-based curriculum gives you the ability to provide unbiased guidance to individuals, couples, families, and groups. Small class sizes with an average of just 14 students enhance your learning experience.
The program has essential clinical training despite its online format. A dedicated placement team at Pepperdine helps you find practicum opportunities in your community. You’ll observe professionals and work directly with clients.
Trauma Psychology Focus
The curriculum features specialized coursework about trauma psychology in various populations. Students learn about psychological aspects of trauma and treatment throughout life in a key course. The course covers prevalence, risk factors, and recovery processes for traumatic experiences. Students first learn about cultural contexts of trauma recovery. They then study evidence-based treatments and promising practices.
Admission Requirements
Pepperdine’s fair admissions process looks at your capability and dedication rather than standardized test scores. A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution is required. You’ll need to submit official transcripts, two professional recommendations, and a statement of purpose.
Tuition and Duration
The program costs $2,030 per unit. Students must complete 62-68 total units, which brings the approximate total tuition to $125,860-$138,040. Most students finish in 27+ months. Financial help includes Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans (up to $20,500 annually) and Graduate PLUS Loans. Students can also use private education loans and outside scholarships to help with costs.
10. University of the Cumberlands – MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
University of the Cumberlands offers a flexible Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. Students can pursue their education and retain their professional commitments.
Program Overview
The Masters in Trauma Counseling program consists of 60 credit hours through online courses in 8-week sessions. Students can start their journey during fall, spring, or summer terms. The curriculum helps you develop skills to assess patients, diagnose mental disorders, and deliver effective treatment in individual, group, and family settings. The program accepts up to 18 semester hours transferred from regionally accredited institutions.
Trauma Counseling Focus
The program teaches valuable skills to work with trauma-affected populations and develops counseling strategies for clients from different backgrounds. Students complete a practicum of 100 hours with 40 direct client-contact hours. This is followed by two internships of 300 hours each, including 120 direct client-contact hours per internship. These experiences provide real-life application of trauma-informed approaches.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must submit:
- Transcripts showing a conferred bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
- Minimum 3.0 GPA for full acceptance
- 1000-1500 word writing sample
- Two recommendations from professional sources
Tuition and Duration
Most students complete the program in 2-3 years. The flexible format lets you progress at your own pace. Graduates are ready for counseling careers such as licensed professional counselor, clinical director, or quality assurance director.
Get Started Today
Your choice of a Masters in Trauma Counseling is a big step toward helping people affected by traumatic experiences. This guide shows you 10 excellent programs that will prepare you for a field that’s growing faster than ever. Each program has its own unique way of teaching about trauma.
Bay Path’s online focus on trauma-informed counseling and Concordia’s emphasis on practitioner resilience and self-care give you different ways to build expertise. Programs at Walden University and Butler University are great examples that let you put theory into practice with hands-on trauma treatment strategies.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows counseling and mental health careers will grow by 17%. More people now understand how trauma affects lives, and we just need more qualified professionals. Your degree will give you the skills to help veterans, disaster survivors, and abuse victims in private practices and community organizations of all types.
Most programs want you to have a bachelor’s degree, though GPA requirements differ. Tuition costs vary by a lot – from $17,100 at Concordia University to $125,000 at Pepperdine. Most programs cost between $40,000 and $55,000 and take 2-3 years to complete. Many programs offer flexible schedules that work well for professionals who already have jobs.
The best program for you depends on more than just cost and time. You should think about the program’s trauma focus, accreditation, hands-on training opportunities, and how it lines up with your state’s license requirements. Your final choice needs to match both your career goals and personal situation.
Starting your path as a trauma specialist takes dedication and compassion. This career is a chance to help people rebuild their lives after devastating experiences. Your education will prepare you for more than just a job – it’s a calling that lets you change lives when people need help the most.