Academics

Mental Health Counseling, MS

The Mental Health Counseling (MHC) Program at the University of Massachusetts Boston is committed to the preparation of highly qualified professionals in the field of mental health counseling. Our commitment is reflected in the admission policies as well as hiring practices, to attract highly qualified students and exemplary faculty members who represent multicultural perspectives and individual diversity. The MHC Program, within a public urban university, is dedicated to the training of professionals who most likely will work with, and provide counseling and related activities to individuals representing an urban and diverse population. Mental health counselors work in a variety of settings and may obtain a license to practice in 50 states.

The MHC Program curriculum is organized to facilitate the development of its students and the individuals with whom the students work. Specifically, the curriculum emphasizes respect for the social foundations and cultural diversity of all persons. It achieves this goal by fostering each student's self awareness, compassion, and ability to think critically, and through its hiring policies of faculty and recognition of multicultural students. The Program offers opportunities for its students to recognize, develop, and utilize their own resources in preparation for their future work with clients.

Essential to the implementation of the MHC Program curriculum is the integration of theory presented in classrooms and its application in practicum and internship experiences. In order to integrate the curriculum content with other training experiences, the Program provides information about the socio-political contexts of people's lives as well as about information related to personality, development, psychiatric taxonomy, professional orientation and ethics, methods of inquiry and the process of change. In addition, the MHC Program provides opportunites for its students to develop professional skills and competencies and to practice them in professional settings. The Program prepares its students to make significant practitioner-oriented contributions to counseling and prepares them for further study at the doctoral level if they desire to do so. All of our faculty are actively involved in research and contribute significantly to the profession at both national and international levels.There are opportunities to do research with our internationally known faculty if a student so desires.  Click on the following link to learn more about the faculty and their research interests (http://www.umb.edu/academics/cehd/counseling/faculty/).

The MHC program also offers a concentration in Forensics Services allowing students to further develop skills to work in forensics settings. For more information, please visit: http://www.umb.edu/academics/cla/sociology/professional_development/fs/

Objectives of the Mental Health Counseling Program

The primary goal of the Mental Health Counseling Program is to prepare graduates for employment as professional mental health counselors in a variety of settings such as clinics, hospitals, etc.

  •     Students will acquire knowledge of current counseling and therapy theories and evidence-based practices.
  •     Students will acquire skills in a wide variety of counseling and therapy techniques, e.g. systematic desensitization, motivational interviewing, etc.
  •     Students will acquire a knowledge of the counseling process and theories of change.
  •     Students will acquire knowledge of issues of transference and counter transference, particularly in regards to their own issues affecting the counseling process.
  •     Students will acquire knowledge of theories of abnormal behavior and normal functioning and, in addition, will develop the ability to think critically about current psychiatric taxonomy.
  •     Students will learn how to avoid bias when using standard diagnostic, assessment and treatment tools       
  •     Students will acquire knowledge and skills in systematically assessing client issues and needs.
  •     Students will acquire knowledge and skills in group counseling and group dynamics.
  •     Students will acquire knowledge of ethical principles and be able to apply principles to practice.
  •     Students will acquire knowledge of human development and how theories relate to the counseling and therapy process.
  •     Students will acquire knowledge and an appreciation of systems theories and how individuals are influenced by systems such as the family.
  •     Students will acquire knowledge and a sensitivity to diversity issues, particularly in regards to how diversity influences the counseling process.
  •     Students will acquire the knowledge and ability to evaluate the efficacy of counseling research and how results may be applied to counseling practice.
  •     Students will acquire skills in treatment plan development and implementation.
  •     Students will acquire skills in progress note recording.
  •     Students will acquire knowledge and skills in working with urban populations.
  •     Students will acquire knowledge of the foundations of mental health counseling, including professional identity and roles and functions of mental health counselor.