Clark University’s renowned Frances L. Hiatt School of Psychology has introduced a Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling to prepare students for careers as Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHCs). The degree will be offered beginning in Fall 2026.
Following the university’s deep tradition of socially engaged, community-embedded graduate education, the curriculum integrates academic coursework, supervised clinical training, and close mentorship to prepare students for impactful mental health careers. Students gain foundational and advanced training in counseling theory, applied clinical skills, multicultural practice, developmental science, and evidence-based intervention.
The program is designed to meet the Massachusetts LMHC 60-credit licensing requirements and aligns with national accreditation standards, preparing students for licensure-eligible roles across clinical and community settings. Graduates will be prepared to become case managers, clinical specialists, clinical mental health counselors, and youth/family counselors in community agencies, hospitals, youth programs, schools, and a host of nonprofit and private settings.
“There is a shortage of mental health providers both in the Central Massachusetts region and nationwide,” says Amy Heberle, associate professor of psychology and co-director of the master’s program. “We are so excited to train students who can help fill that gap, providing essential mental health services in the communities where they choose to work. Our training centers contextual, developmental, and cultural considerations in mental health work, building on our department’s rich and longstanding history in applied psychology.”
The Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling offers:
- Comprehensive clinical training, including a 100-hour practicum and 600-hour internship across two semesters, that will build practical skills in assessment, treatment planning, clinical interviewing, and reflective practice. Fieldwork is conducted in community agencies, hospitals, schools, and partner organizations under the supervision of licensed clinicians.
- Core coursework, including ethics, counseling theories, lifespan development, psychopathology, multicultural counseling, assessment, and advanced clinical interventions.
- Exposure to evidence-based modalities, such as CBT, DBT, trauma-informed care, and crisis intervention.
Courses are primarily in-person in Worcester, and the degree can be completed in two years, including full-time study and summer coursework.
