Program Overview

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Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Master of Arts

The M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling is also available online

This program is based on an integrated curriculum intended to produce clinicians trained in theory, research, and clinical skills. Students accepted into the Master of Arts program can elect to specialize in mental health counseling or mental health counseling with a forensic psychology concentration.

The Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is designed to meet the educational requirements for a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and similar professional designations in other states. The 60 semester hour mental health counseling concentration includes coursework in research, assessment, counseling, psychopathology, human development, and ethics. A pre-internship clinical practicum of 100 hours is required, and is followed by a 600-hour clinical internship.

The Clinical Mental Health Counseling program with a Forensic Psychology Concentration is also designed to meet the educational requirements for an LMHC. This concentration is a 66 semester hour program that incorporates courses from the mental health counseling concentration. The forensic psychology concentration also includes six semester hours of forensic psychology coursework. A pre-internship clinical practicum of 100 hours is required, and is followed by a 600-hour clinical internship.

Due to state licensing requirements, transfer credits may not be permitted. Students are responsible for ensuring that they meet all state licensing requirements as promulgated by the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health Professionals or by the appropriate board in the state in which they wish to practice. For specific information, your state or provincial certification/licensing board should be contacted.

Learning Outcomes for Clinical Mental Health Counseling

• Students will develop competencies in their knowledge of human development and psychological and psychopathological assessment, diagnosis, case conceptualization and treatment planning in relation to mental health counseling.
• Students will develop knowledge of individual/cultural differences as well as ethical and legal standards so they gain the skills and develop the ethical commitment to provide quality services to culturally diverse clients and organizations in relation to mental health counseling.
• Students will develop competencies in their knowledge of psychotherapeutic intervention, treatment modalities and effective clinical and counseling skills in relation to mental health counseling.
• Students will develop competencies in their knowledge of scientific methodology and its application to relevant practice as well as the skills necessary for effective application of that knowledge to mental health counseling.
• Students will develop personal and interpersonal competency and clinical skills which are essential for mental health counselors to conduct themselves in a professional manner.

In the classroom. In the workforce.

What You'll Learn

This program will provide theory, research, and clinical training for the student who is truly concerned with the well-being of people and their quality of life, and the two concentrations ensure you’ll gain valuable, specialized skills.

Future Studies

Often, our graduates elect to continue their education by pursuing a doctorate (PhD, EdD, or PsyD). Our students have been very successful in pursuing doctoral education and we are proud of our exceptionally high acceptance rate.

Career Opportunities

Many of our graduates obtain licensure and go on to become successful clinicians in mental health and social service agencies, hospitals, clinics, and schools. They are engaged in counseling, testing, research, administration, and other healthcare careers.

Course Descriptions

PSY5207 - Applied Research Methodology and Evaluation (3)

This course covers the fundamental principles of research methodology and evaluation in the field of mental health counseling.

PSY5217 - Counseling Theories, Techniques, Practice and Consultation (3)

This course examines the major theories, principles and techniques of mental health counseling and the application of such theories to counseling settings.

PSY5225 - Family, Marriage and Couples Counseling and Consultation (3)

This course will provide students with a solid basis in General Systems Theory in relation to mental health counseling for family, marriage and couples counseling and consultation.

PSY5229 - Crisis Intervention and Trauma Informed Care (3)

Includes studies of the theories and principles of crisis intervention as applied to therapeutic strategies for treatment.

PSY5307 - Career Development and Lifestyle Appraisal (3)

This course is designed to acquaint the student with vocational counseling practices in relation to career development and lifestyle appraisal.

PSY5317 - Group Counseling Theories and Practice (3)

This course will examine the theoretical and experiential understandings of group development, purpose, dynamics, group counseling methods and skills, as well as leadership styles for group facilitation.

PSY5325 - Learning Theories and Behavioral Interventions (3)

Intensive coverage of the major learning theories in psychology and their epistemological roots in philosophy, both from the point of view of rationalism and empiricism.

PSY5347 - Psychopathology: Assessment, Diagnosis and Treatment (3)

This course includes the identification and diagnosis and mental health treatment planning for abnormal, deviant, or psychopathological behavior and includes assessments and treatment procedures.

PSY5355 - Systems and Theories in Counseling and Psychology (3)

This course traces the history of the major theoretical positions in psychology from their epistemological, both rationalistic and empirical and philosophical roots, dating from ancient Greece to the present time.

PSY5407 - Pre-Internship Clinical Practicum (3)

This course provides students with an opportunity to put their acquired academic knowledge into clinical practice prior to their final year’s internship.

PSY5417 - Human Growth and Development (3)

This course addresses the physical, cognitive and social-emotional development across the lifespan for children, adolescents, adults and the elderly, including a description of behaviors that are present at the various stages and explanations for those behaviors regarding relative contributions of heredity and environment.

PSY5418 - Psychometric Tests and Measurement for Individuals and Groups (3)

In this course, the student will be encouraged to develop a personal frame of reference around understanding of psychometric theories including validity, reliability and other facets of measurement used to understand group and individual assessment.

PSY5630 - Human Sexuality for Counselors (3)

This course includes studies of the diverse nature and constructs of human sexuality, sexual identity, and sexual dysfunction.

PSY6507 - Issues and Ethics in Professional Orientation (3)

The purpose of this course is to acquaint the student with the major ethical issues in the practice of mental health counseling and psychology.

PSY6517 - Psychopharmacology and Substance Abuse (3)

This course covers the fundamental principles of pharmacology, drug actions, tolerance, clinical use of psychotic medications, substance abuse and addiction treatment.

PSY6607 - Clinical Skills in Treatment Modalities and Consultation (3)

This course examines the theoretical bases of the counseling processes, mental health counseling techniques, and their therapeutic applications in relation to the understanding and practice of counseling skills necessary for the mental health counselor and psychologists.

PSY6615 - Multicultural Studies and Social Bases of Behavior (3)

This course examines the theories of multicultural counseling, issues and trends of a multicultural and diverse society and includes the foundational knowledge and skills needed to provide mental health counseling services to diverse populations in a culturally competent manner.

PSY6807 - Mental Health Counseling Internship I (3)

This is the first semester of internship consisting of 300 hours of the 600 required minimum hours which in total includes a minimum of 240 clinical hours, and 45 hours of supervision provided by a supervisor who meets the definition of an approved supervisor by state regulations.

PSY6809 - Mental Health Counseling Internship II (3)

This is the second semester of internship consisting of 300 hours of the 600 required minimum hours which in total includes a minimum of 240 clinical hours, and 45 hours of supervision provided by a supervisor who meets the definition of an approved supervisor by state regulations.

PSY5316 - Principles in Forensic Psychology (3)

This course will provide students with information about the various forensic activities in which psychologists and other related professionals currently participate.

PSY5430 - Assessment Techniques in Forensic Psychology (3)

This course will familiarize students with the particulars of forensic assessment and test administration and will deal with techniques of synthesizing and integrating psychological and practical information into an effective forensic report.

Additional Program Notes

Transfer credits may not be considered for the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program based on licensure requirements. Graduates of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program may be able to transfer equivalent coursework to the Educational Psychology doctoral program or the Mental Health and Human Development doctoral program at American International College.