Overview
The Mental and Behavioral Health Counseling (MBHC) Masters program at URI is designed for students who are committed to a career helping improve the mental health and overall well-being of individuals, families, and the community. The MBHC Program meets educational licensure requirements for individuals seeking to become a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in the state of Rhode Island.
The program has adopted the Practitioner-Scholar model and provides you with generalist training in intervention, assessment, ethics, supervision, individual and cultural diversity, and other professional competencies as well as in core areas of psychology (e.g., biological aspects of behavior, social aspects of behavior). Additionally, the program will provide a strong foundation in the consumption of research, knowledge of practice-related research, and psychometrics. We emphasize training in principles of:
- Empirically-based intervention methods
- Professional values, attitudes, and behaviors
- Integration of psychological science and practice
We value training in diversity and multicultural issues, especially since racial/ethnic minoritized groups constitute the fastest growing segments of the population in the United States. To meet future mental health needs, an emphasis will be placed on cultural values and other diversity factors that influence mental health and behavior.
Though our training emphasizes cognitive-behavioral approaches, you will be exposed to a variety of psychotherapies and treatment modalities. You will also have the opportunity to work with diverse populations in affiliated internship settings including hospitals, private practices, and community mental health settings throughout Rhode Island.
Please note that our program provides coursework consistent with the American Psychological Association (APA) requirements for accreditation as a masters program and satisfies the educational requirements for licensure as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in RI and many, but not all, states. In addition to education requirements for the master’s degree, many jurisdictions require postgraduate professional experience prior to licensure. Licensure as a Mental Health Counselor in Rhode Island requires the completion of a minimum of 2,000 hours post-graduate degree supervised counseling experience completed over at least two years. To qualify for the LMHC license, students must pass the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE), sponsored by the National Board of Certified Counselors. Licensure as a Mental Health Counselor Associate neither requires the postgraduate hours nor the NCMHCE. The program is in the process of seeking APA accreditation. All questions regarding the accreditation process should be directed to the Program Director, Mark Robbins, Ph.D. (markrobb@uri.edu).
For more information on licensing requirements, including contact information for every state and territory licensing board, please see the Association of State Boards of Professional Psychology (ASBPP) webpage.