Prepare for a career in counseling in Carroll’s Master of Science in Behavioral Health Psychology program. The need for culturally compassionate behavioral health practitioners has never been greater, nor has the call to reduce disparities in mental health care across society. Our program provides clinicians and scholars with the counseling and clinical psychology knowledge and skills required of today’s behavioral health professionals.
Graduates of Carroll’s MS in Behavior Health Psychology are well prepared to work in a variety of healthcare settings with community and clinical populations as a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Wisconsin or as competitive applicants for psychology Ph.D. programs.
About the Program
Behavioral Health Versus Mental Health
Behavioral and mental health are closely related and are often used interchangeably. At Carroll, we believe behavioral health encompasses mental, spiritual and relational health and acknowledge the role our behavior has on all three. As a graduate of our program, you will appreciate the part cultural and societal factors play in illness and health. You will help clients reach their goals by working with the interplay between past experiences, emotions and other constructs that interact with current and future behavior. At the same time, you will be prepared to advocate for societal-level initiatives and policies that support communities' behavioral health.
Choose One of Three Concentrations
At Carroll, you can specialize in one of several concentrations relevant to today’s behavioral health professional.
Your elective coursework, practicum, internship placements and thesis or comprehensive projects are all tied to your chosen concentration area. That means you can develop advanced knowledge in your preferred area – an opportunity rarely found in programs that prepare clinicians for licensure at the Master’s level.
Clinical Placements
All students will accrue a minimum of 700 clinical hours in the program. We will work
with you to secure placements aligned with your chosen concentration areas. In addition,
there are opportunities to secure placements closer to home for those who travel a
considerable distance for weekend classes.
Carroll offers students a variety of placement options with over 95 sites approved.
As a practicum student, you build foundational clinical and counseling skills while
working alongside seasoned professionals in a placement aligned with your selected
concentration and career goals. While completing your full-time 2-semester internship,
you will gain independence in your clinical work as you prepare for your post-graduate
career.
Connect with Us
Join us for an event!
Whether you're interested in attending an in-person open house, joining a virtual
information session, or scheduling a one-on-one meeting with our graduate admission
counselor, Karyn Lawrence, we offer several ways to learn more about the program and
get your questions answered.
Four Themes Guide our Program
Evidence-based Treatment
You will learn to critically evaluate and apply evidence-based assessment and interventions
with a variety of clients. While all training programs preparing professional counselors
include a course on counseling theories and techniques, at Carroll, you will take
an additional course taught by practicing clinical faculty on evidenced-based interventions
that have strong scientific support. Here you will critically evaluate the research,
practice the techniques, and be prepared to further develop your skills via practicals
and internships.
You’ll also gain competence in critically evaluating science, and be prepared to use the latest research to inform your clinical practice. Each and every class emphasizes scientific competencies where you will gain comfort in seeking out research related to your work with clients. You’ll gain the skills to evaluate the research and its applicability to your own work. Psychological science is dynamic. As a graduate of our program, you’ll be equipped to ensure your clinical practice evolves with the science.
Decreasing Behavioral Healthcare Disparities
Guided by the biopsychosocial-spiritual model, Carroll’s program views behavior through a wholistic lens, and is determined to ensure behavioral healthcare is inclusive and accessible. Our program of study will prepare you to be a compassionate, self-reflecting clinician, sensitive to the developmental, biological, psychosocial and spiritual contributions to the behavioral health outcomes of diverse populations. While you will formally take a “Multicultural Psychology” course, developing cultural compassion is emphasized in every course in our program. From your statistics course to your history of psychology course, you’ll be challenged to consider the disparate impact on behavioral health experienced by diverse populations. You will use this understanding to conceptualize clients, prepare treatment plans, evaluate psychological research, and advocate for social justice at all levels of society.
Experiential Learning
Apply your knowledge and skills in classroom labs and practical settings under the supervision of seasoned professionals. You will team with Carroll faculty and community partners to advance your skills in practical and internship settings, assessing and responding to unique clinical needs in varied populations.
Convenient
The Master of Science in Behavioral Health Psychology program is taught in a flexible, hybrid format, with a mix of in-person and online coursework. Course content is largely provided online, allowing you to absorb didactic materials on your schedule. Twice monthly, you'll spend a select weeday evening or weekend on Carroll’s campus, honing your skills through the application of material with students and faculty.
The 63-credit program can be completed in as few as 2 years of full-time study. We also welcome students who choose a slower-paced progression through part-time study.
Accreditation and Licensing
Carroll University is accredited through the Higher Learning Commission. In addition, Carroll’s Behavioral Health Psychology program is officially recognized as an approved training program for the preparation of Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC) by the state of Wisconsin. Thus, graduates are eligible for Wisconsin’s LPC designation.
Program Details
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Our Program in the News:
- Carroll University counselors in training work with theater students to prepare for patients I TMJ4
- Free Summer Counseling Clinic:
- Students serve as Wellness Advocates | Carroll University
Meet the Faculty
David Carroll
Clinical Assistant Professor of Behavioral Health Psychology
Terri DeWalt
Clinical Assistant Professor of Behavioral Health Psychology
Dana Formon
Adjunct Instructor of Graduate Psychology
Jessica Lahner
Clinical Associate Professor of Behavioral Health Psychology
Shannon Skaistis
Clinical Assistant Professor of Behavioral Health Psychology
Leslie Skaistis
Adjunct Instructor of Behavioral Health Psychology
Becky Wintringer
Program Coordinator for Behavioral Health Psychology
