WORCESTER—Clark University is launching a new graduate program in mental health counseling this fall, aiming to help address a growing shortage of licensed clinicians in Central Massachusetts and beyond.
The new Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling is being offered beginning in Fall 2026 through Clark University’s Frances L. Hiatt School of Psychology, according to a university announcement.
University officials said the program is designed to prepare students for careers as Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHCs, combining academic coursework with supervised clinical training and mentorship.
Students in the program receive training in counseling theory, clinical skills, multicultural practice, developmental science and evidence-based interventions, according to the release. The curriculum is structured to meet Massachusetts’ 60-credit licensing requirements and align with national accreditation standards.
“There is a shortage of mental health providers both in the Central Massachusetts region and nationwide,” Amy Heberle, associate professor of psychology and co-director of the master’s program, said in the release. “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 program includes a 100-hour practicum and a 600-hour internship across two semesters, with fieldwork conducted in community agencies, hospitals, schools and partner organizations under the supervision of licensed clinicians, according to the announcement.
Coursework covers areas such as ethics, counseling theories, lifespan development, psychopathology, multicultural counseling, assessment and advanced clinical interventions. Students will also gain exposure to evidence-based approaches including cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, trauma-informed care and crisis intervention.
Courses are primarily in person in Worcester, and the degree can be completed in two years, including summer coursework, according to the release.
Graduates of the program are expected to pursue roles as case managers, clinical specialists, mental health counselors and youth or family counselors in a range of settings, including community agencies, hospitals, schools, nonprofits and private practices.
Clark officials said the program reflects the university’s broader focus on community-engaged graduate education and workforce needs, particularly as demand for mental health services continues to grow across the region.
Founded in 1887, Clark University offers 33 undergraduate majors and more than 30 graduate programs, according to the university.
