Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, School and Community Specialization (60 credits)
The M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, School and Community Specialization is designed for students who wish to work in both school and community settings. Candidates are required to engage in training at both community and school placement sites. There are two program options in this specialization:
The School Adjustment Counseling option is designed for students who wish to provide counseling to address the mental health treatment needs of children and adolescents within a school setting. It meets the educational requirements of master's level counseling licensure, and the requirements for initial licensure in school adjustment counseling in Massachusetts.
The School Guidance Counseling option is designed for students who wish to provide counseling to address the normal developmental needs (academic and psychological) of children and adolescents within a school setting. It meets the educational requirements of master's level counseling licensure, and the requirements for initial licensure for school guidance counseling (levels PreK-8 and/or 5-12) in Massachusetts.
For information on Massachusetts licensure, see: http://www.lesley.edu/certification.html.
- Either program can be completed in three academic years of full-time study.
- A minimum of 1,300 hours of field experience is required.
- Students must pass the Literacy and Communication section of the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL) prior to field training.
School Adjustment Counseling Option
| REQUIRED CORE COURSES | CREDITS | |
| GPSYC 6015 | Group Dynamics for Counselors and Consultants | 3 |
| GPSYC 6026 | Developmental Psychology Across the Lifespan* | 3 |
| GPSYC 6027 | Clinical Skills and the Counseling Process* | 3 |
| GPSYC 6029 | Vocational Development and Career Counseling | 3 |
| GPSYC 6030 | Psychology of Culture and Identity: Power, Privilege, Oppression* | 3 |
| GPSYC 6101 | Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods | 3 |
| GPSYC 6200 | Orientation to Professional Psychology* | 2 |
| GPSYC 6201 | Issues and Standards in Professional Psychology* | 3 |
| GPSYC 6202 | Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy* | 3 |
| GPSYC 6211 | Professional Integrative Seminar | 1 |
| GPSYC 7100 | Biological Bases of Behavior | 3 |
| Required Specialization Courses | ||
| GPSYC 5007 | Introduction to Family Therapy | 3 |
| GPSYC 6102 | Child and Adolescent Psychopathology* | 3 |
| GPSYC 6031 | Counseling Young Children and Adolescent | 3 |
| GPSYC 6259 | Issues in School Counseling for the School Adjustment Counselor | 3 |
| GPSYC 6255 | Assessments for Counseling and Psychology: Children and Adolescents | 3 |
| GPSYC 6258 | Consultation Skills for Counselors and Mental Health Professionals | 3 |
| Field Experience Courses | ||
| GPSYC 7712 | Clinical Practice and Supervision I: School Setting** | 3 |
| GPSYC 7713 | Clinical Practice and Supervision II: School Setting** | 3 |
| THEN | ||
| GPSYC 7714 | Clinical Practice and Supervision III: Clinical Setting** | 3 |
| GPSYC 7715 | Clinical Practice and Supervision IV: Clinical Setting** | 3 |
| TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED | 60 | |
** Taken concurrently with field training.
School Guidance Counseling Option
| REQUIRED CORE COURSES | CREDITS | |
| GPSYC 6015 | Group Dynamics for Counselors and Consultants | 3 |
| GPSYC 6026 | Developmental Psychology Across the Lifespan* | 3 |
| GPSYC 6027 | Clinical Skills and the Counseling Process* | 3 |
| GPSYC 6029 | Vocational Development and Career Counseling | 3 |
| GPSYC 6030 | Psychology of Culture and Identity: Power, Privilege, Oppression* | 3 |
| GPSYC 6101 | Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods | 3 |
| GPSYC 6200 | Orientation to Professional Psychology* | 2 |
| GPSYC 6201 | Issues and Standards in Professional Psychology* | 3 |
| GPSYC 6202 | Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy* | 3 |
| GPSYC 6211 | Professional Integrative Seminar | 1 |
| GPSYC 7100 | Biological Bases of Behavior | 3 |
| Required Specialization Courses | ||
| GPSYC 5007 | Introduction to Family Therapy | 3 |
| GPSYC 6102 | Child and Adolescent Psychopathology* | 3 |
| GPSYC 6252 | Counseling the Young Child (PreK-8) | 3 |
| OR | ||
| GPSYC 6254 | Counseling Adolescents (5-12) | 3 |
| GPSYC 6255 | Assessment for Counseling and Psychology: Children and Adolescents | 3 |
| GPSYC 6260 | Issues in School Counseling for School Guidance Counselors | 3 |
| GPSYC 6261 | Psychoeducational Approaches to Counseling and Prevention | 3 |
| Field Experience Courses | ||
| GPSYC 7712 | Clinical Practice and Supervision I: School Setting** | 3 |
| GPSYC 7713 | Clinical Practice and Supervision II: School Setting** | 3 |
| THEN | ||
| GPSYC 7714 | Clinical Practice and Supervision III: Clinical Setting** | 3 |
| GPSYC 7715 | Clinical Practice and Supervision IV: Clinical Setting** | 3 |
| TOTAL CREDITS REQUIRED | 60 | |
* Prerequisites for field training.
** Taken concurrently with field training.
