Counseling Psychology | MA/LMHC

Program Overview

Acquire the training to counsel and guide. Our Counseling Psychology program teaches students to connect with the heart, soul, and spirit of their clients to foster healing. The Master’s in Counseling Psychology gives you the training to function in a variety of mental health settings. The LMHC helps prepare for licensure by the State of Massachusetts.

The Mental Health field is growing rapidly, with 19% expected job growth according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. The median pay is $72,580, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. This program prepares graduates with both critical thinking skills and ethically sounding solutions to help impact their community across the spectrum of mental health professions, including case worker, family counselor, outpatient therapist, program therapist, program director, and resident counselor. The degree blends coursework and practicum experience to equip professionals with the knowledge and experience you need to succeed in a variety of mental health settings.

Hear about three Counseling Psychology students’ experiences in the program and the real-life impact of receiving internship stipends here.

The Counseling Psychology Program has the following degree options

36-credit master’s degree: this track is a non-licensure degree for students who intend to never seek licensure as a mental health counselor in Massachusetts.
60-credit master’s degree: this track fulfills the educational requirements for students qualifying for Licensed Mental Health Counseling (LMHC) licensure in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Graduates from any Anna Maria College program qualify for an Alumni Tuition Discount. Please inquire with Graduate Admissions or the Counseling Psychology Program Director for more information.

More Information

Course Of Study

Curriculum Map

The traditional Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology track allows students to complete a 12 course/36 credit Master of Arts program which allows you to work in a variety of mental health settings. The 20 course/60 credit Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) track requires the above Master’s track plus an additional eight 3-credit courses, for including an internship/seminar to meet the 60 credit hour state requirement to apply for licensure as an LMHC in Massachusetts.

Areas of Concentration:

Addiction & Recovery
Forensic Psychology

In addition to our foundational courses, we offer a variety of elective courses that allow students to focus on areas related to:

Marriage and Family Counseling
Telehealth
Positive Psychology
Psychological Trauma
Substance Use, Addiction, and Recovery
Forensic Psychology

Click here to download the Counseling Psychology Curriculum Map.

Program Learning Outcomes

Identify a variety of counseling theories and clinical skills as they relate to individual, group, and marriage and family therapy and how these theories and techniques relate to one’s emerging professional identity.
Demonstrate an awareness of psychopathology, mental health assessment tools, and diagnostic interviewing techniques, for example, as defined by classification systems such as the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) including how psychopathology relates to treatment, prevention, and culture.
Understanding of ethical, legal, and professional standards consistent with federal and state laws as well as a working knowledge of the ethical standards in the American Counseling Association (ACA) Code of Ethics.
Understanding of how to critically evaluate and interpret social science research and to apply empirically-based research practices to counseling and psychotherapy.
Completion of supervised field placement experience(s) that focus on the development of professional skills commensurate with mental health counseling including but not limited to treatment, consultation, documentation, and assessment in mental health services.