Latino Mental Health Program (LMHP) Concentration

The Latino Mental Health Program aims to increase the number of Latino mental health service providers in the United States by providing specialized master’s and doctoral level training in clinical, counseling, and school psychology. The program provides mental health professionals (both Latino and non-Latino) with the language skills, cultural sensitivity, and clinical competence that will enable them to deliver high-quality care to Latino populations. By training mental health leaders who can create, direct, and deliver high-quality services, the program hopes to aid in eliminating societal disparities that exist in relation to access and quality of mental health care.

The concentration focuses on teaching cultural competence through didactics and practice that give students the opportunity to learn about cultural and sociopolitical differences amongst Latin countries, the impact of immigration and acculturation, and other contextual factors that impact the health and access to care of Latinos in the United States.  Students participate in a four-week immersion trip to Ecuador where they stay with local families and work with local psychologists in different rotations. Students also engage in clinical work with individuals of Latino backgrounds through their field placement experiences at WJC. Opportunities for local immersion experiences are available for students who cannot travel internationally to fulfill the concentration requirements.    

All courses are offered every other Wednesday evening from 6:40 pm to 8:30 pm. The summer immersion group travels from third week in July to third week in August.

All Doctoral level students in the clinical psychology and school psychology programs can use electives to fulfill LMHP requirements. Masters level students in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and School Psychology MA/ CAGS who are enrolled in LMHP, will graduate with extra credits.

The Latino Mental Health Program (LMHP) concentration is open to William James College students with a strong interest in providing culturally sensitive services to Hispanic individuals, families and communities. Applicants should have a beginning/ intermediate level of Spanish language fluency in order to apply. The LMHP routinely admits both students who have a Latino ethnic background as well as those who do not. The LMHP concentration is offered at two levels: Major Area of Study and Area of Emphasis (see coursework for details). Students are welcome to enroll in two concentrations (e.g. CFAR and LMHP; Neuropsychology and LMHP; Forensic and LMHP; Health and LMHP).  

To apply and enroll, students should download and complete the Concentration Application Form (.docx) and send to the LMHP director Dr. Mari Carmen Bennasar at mari_bennasar@williamjames.edu. Once accepted, students must fill out and submit a Concentration Declaration Form from the Registrar’s Office webpage before registering for spring semester. The Concentration Declaration Form must first be reviewed by the student’s advisor and signed by the concentration director. Students typically apply in the fall semester of their first year and begin courses during the second semester of their first year.

Students enrolled in the LMHP concentration need to complete a minimum of 25% of direct clinical experience with Latino/Hispanic populations by the date of their graduation or prior to Year 5/APA internship.

To support student’s professional growth and development, LMHP concentration students must attend at least one Continuing Education (CE) event annually that is sponsored or approved by the Center for Multicultural & Global Mental Health. A variety of activities (e.g., conferences, lectures, film series, social and cultural events) throughout the year are also organized by the Center for Multicultural & Global Mental Health. Students are encouraged to attend to gain exposure to various aspects of the Latino culture.

Mari Carmen Bennasar, PsyD Director, Latino Mental Health Program	Paola Michelle Contreras, PsyD
Nilda Laboy, PsyD

Each year, we award one Cynthia Lucero Scholarship to a deserving student who exhibit a strong dedication and commitment to the delivery of human services to the Latino community. The award is $10,000 per year for a maximum of four years. The Lucero Latino Mental Health Program (LMHP) owes its inspiration to the work of the late Cynthia Lucero, PsyD, a William James College graduate whose career, in part, was devoted to addressing the needs of Spanish-speaking people.

Click here to learn more about the Scholarship.
Click here to learn more about our current Lucero Scholars.

WGBH News
Overcoming Cultural Stigmas About Mental Illness And Barriers To Treatment
May 5, 2014

For millions of Americans battling mental illness, the search for proper care can be long and frustrating. But for those in some ethnic communities, deep-rooted cultural stigmas and language barriers combine to make the obstacles to treatment even more formidable. In this week's FOCUS report, we look at the stigma surrounding mental illness in the Latino community and what's being done to improve access to care.

Click here to see the video

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Boston Globe | Education & Careers
A Psychology Degree Can Take You Places
January 2014

Herlinda Tin chose a psychology career following a devastating incident in high school. "One of my friends was assaulted, and I was the first person she approached after that. I had no idea what to do. i felt helpless," recalled Tin, a native of Guatemala who grew up in San Francisco. "I went to counseling with her and saw how it helped her."

Click here to read the full article (pdf)

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Hispanic Business
Jimenez Receives Honorary Doctorate
Staff Reports | June 5, 2013

MicroTech president and CEO Tony Jimenez received an honorary doctorate of humane letters from William James College’s Sunday at the school's graduation ceremony.

Click here to read more

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90.9 WBUR/NPR Radio
Talk of the Nation: Providing Therapy Across Different Cultures
by Neil Conan | February 15, 2012

Stacey Lambert, Director of Diversity Education and Inclusion; Director, Latino Mental Health Program; Associate Director, Clinical Psychology Department, recently interviewed by WBUR/NPR on the topic "Providing Therapy Across Different Cultures."

Listen here

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The Boston Globe - Help needed
In this country, Latino psychologists are few and far between. A new program in West Roxbury aims to change that.
by Vanessa E. Jones, Globe Staff | July 5, 2006

The lack of Latino psychologists in this country is affecting Hortensia Amaro. Article Tools

In addition to being a distinguished professor of health sciences at Northeastern's Bouve College of Health Sciences, Amaro founded the Mom's Project , an outpatient drug addiction program for pregnant women in Mattapan, about 16 years ago. Then 11 years ago she created Entre Familia , a residential drug treatment program in Mattapan for Latinas and their children. www.boston.com/news/globe/living.

Read more

Q: What concentrations are offered through the Center for Multicultural & Global Mental Health (CMGMH)?

A: There are four CMGMH concentrations: African & Caribbean Mental Health, Asian Mental Health, Global Mental Health, and the Latino Mental Health Program.

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Q: Can I enroll in more than one concentration?

A: Yes! Many of the students in CMGMH concentrations are enrolled in more than one concentration. In addition, concentrations can be completed at one of two levels: “Major Area of Study” or “Emphasis.”

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Q: What’s the difference between a “Major Area of Study” and an “Emphasis”?

A: Students enrolled in a PsyD Program can complete a CMGMH concentration at the “Major Area of Study” level. This requires between 8-9 course credits, depending on the concentration. Students enrolled in a Master’s or PsyD Program can complete a CMGMH concentration at the “Emphasis” level. This requires between 4-5 course credits, depending on the concentration.

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Q: Do I have to participate in an international immersion trip? I don't think I can spend that much time away from home. 

A: No, you do not have to participate in an international immersion trip. There are opportunities for local immersions that won't require you leaving home and will still fulfill the concentration requirements. 

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Q: I am in the clinical program, if I declare a CMGMH concentration, will I have to do my Doctoral Project on that topic?

A: Students who are completing a concentration as a Major Area of Study are required to do a doctoral project on a topic germane to their concentration. It is recommended that at least one of their doctoral project committee members be a CMGMH faculty or a professional with substantial experience or expertise in the field. Students who are completing an Emphasis are encouraged (but not required) to choose a doctoral project with a focus on the population of interest.

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Q: How will a CMGMH concentration affect my field placement choices?

Students in a CMGMH concentration will complete their practicum or internship placements at clinical training sites that have been approved by the concentration directors. The list of approved training sites is available.  Also, at least 25% of the training experience (by time of graduation) will be with culturally diverse clients or organizations that serve the population of interest. 

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Q: Are there other requirements that I should know about?

A: To support students’ professional growth and development, CMGMH requires that all concentration students attend at least one Continuing Education (CE) event annually that is sponsored or approved by the Center for Multicultural & Global Mental Health.

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Q: I saw the deadline to apply for a concentration. It is past the deadline but I still would like to declare a concentration. What do I do?

A: You may be able to declare a concentration up until registration for spring courses. There will be an additional opportunity to declare CMGMH concentrations in the spring. Contact the director of the concentration that you are interested in applying for to find out if you are still able to declare.

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Q: What is the enrollment process?

A: CMGMH concentrations are open to all WJC students who have a strong interest in serving historically marginalized individuals, families and communities. To enroll, students should download and complete both the Concentration Application Form and the Concentration Declaration Form from the Registrar’s Office webpage, and submit it to the concentration director. The Concentration Declaration Form must first be reviewed by the student’s advisor. Students typically apply in the fall semester of their first year and begin courses during the second semester of their first year.

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Q: I am interested in learning more about the international immersion programs. Who do I contact?

• Students who are interested in the Ecuador immersion program should contact Dr. Mari Carmen Bennasar (mari_bennasar@williamjames.edu).
• Students who are interested in the Guyana immersion program should contact Dr. Natalie Cort (natalie_cort@williamjames.edu).
• Students who are interested in the Haiti immersion program should contact Dr. Gemima St. Louis (gemima_stlouis@williamjames.edu) and Dr. Jill Bloom (jill_bloom@williamjames.edu).
• Students who are interested in the Kenya immersion program should contact Dr. Claire Fialkov (claire_fialkov@williamjames.edu) and Dr. David Haddad (david_haddad@williamjames.edu).
• Students who are interested in the Trinidad & Tobago Service Learning program should contact Dr. Jill Bloom (jill_bloom@williamjames.edu)

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Q: Where can I find additional information about CMGMH concentrations?

If you have any questions about the concentration requirements, please email cmgmh@williamjames.edu or contact the concentration directors:

African & Caribbean Mental Health: Dr. Gemima St. Louis (gemima_stlouis@williamjames.edu)

Asian Mental Health: Dr. Catherine Vuky (Catherine_vuky@williamjames.edu)

Global Mental Health: Dr. Jill Bloom (jill_bloom@williamjames.edu)

Latino Mental Health: Dr. Mari Carmen Bennasar (mari_bennasar@williamjames.edu)