Counseling and School Psychology Information Sessions
For prospective students
Sept 4th 4pm
To sign up, contact amy.cook@umb.edu
Mental Health Counseling
The Mental Health Counselor Education (MHCE) 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 MHCE Program, within a public urban university, is dedicated to the training of professionals who most likely will work in, 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 49 states.
The MHCE 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 MHCE 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 MHCE 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 level. Click here to learn more about faculty research interests.
The MHCE program also has two concentrations, allowing students to further develop skills to work in certain settings. The two concentrations are School Adjustment Counseling and Forensics Services. For more information, please visit: http://www.umb.edu/academics/departments/gce/counseling/mentalhealth/degrees.html
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, e.g. psychodynamic, person-centered, behavioral etc.
- Students will acquire skills in a wide variety of counseling and therapy techniques, e.g. systematic desensitization, the empty chair, 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.
Program director: Lisa Cosgrove, PhD Lisa.Cosgrove@umb.edu
For any questions regarding the Mental Health Counseling Online Program, please contact Varda Konstam, PhD Varda.Konstam@umb.edu
For more information regarding admissions or information sessions, contact Amy.Cook@umb.edu
Dr. Cosgrove is currently on a research leave and will not be on campus until Spring 2009. For general inquires concerning the mental health program, practicum, or internship, please contact Amy Cook amy.cook@umb.edu or 617 287 7661. Or you may contact Dr. Cosgrove's graduate assistant, Emily Hopwood emmabhop@gmail.com. Liz Sanchez, our department secretary, may be also be contacted elizabeth.sanchez@umb.edu 617 287 7602 for questions about the Department of Counseling and School Psychology.