The Wright Institute

M.A. in Counseling Psychology

On-Campus

Counseling Psychology Campus
1000 Dwight Way
Berkeley, California 94710

MACP Program Page

 

Program details below are quoted from program websites, supplied here for informational purposes only, and subject to change at any time. Refer to the program website for current information, deadlines, complete admission requirements, etc. It is the responsibility of the prospective student to verify with program administrators program details and that the program still meets BBS requirements for licensure in the state of California.

Program Snapshot

Accreditation

WASC

Concentrations/Specializations Offered

None

LMFT Track or Dual LMFT/LPCC Track

LMFT/LPCC dual-track

Length of Program

The Counseling program is designed to be completed in two years. If the practicum hours in the second year are not completed concurrently with coursework, then the program may extend into a third year.

Schedule/Format

  • Students join a weekend or daytime cohort that commences, progresses, and graduates together. Weekend cohorts attend classes approximately one weekend per month and one evening per week. Daytime cohorts attend classes two days per week from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.

  • Weekend cohorts attend classes 14 weekends per year (approximately one weekend per month) and, in the first year only, one evening per week. Each weekend class includes Friday from 6pm-10pm, Saturday 9am-6:45pm, and Sunday 9am-5:45pm, with breaks built in throughout the weekend. The weekly evening class in the first year of the program is held from 6pm-9pm on Wednesdays.

    Daytime cohorts attend classes two days per week from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm with breaks during the day.

  • In both the daytime and weekend schedule formats, each semester unit is the equivalent of 15 hours of class time. Typically in the weekend format, a three unit course takes place over two weekends with three or four weeks in between each class weekend. As described above, classes are held on Friday night for 4 hours, Saturday for 9.75 hours, and Sunday for 8.75 hours, totaling 22.5 hours per weekend. The total amount of class time is the same as the daytime schedule format, but is distributed differently.

Program Start

Fall

Estimated Total Program Tuition

$67,800

Religious Orientation

None

Entering Class Size and Classroom Sizes

Cohorts range in size from 15-20 students. We typically admit 2 cohorts to the daytime format and 2 cohorts to the weekend format each year.

Fieldwork Hours Accrued During Program

In order to graduate, you need to accrue a minimum of 500 hours of supervised clinical experience, including 280 direct client hours.

Personal Psychotherapy Requirement During Program

Encouraged but not required

Comprehensive Exam/Culminating Project/Thesis/Etc:

The comprehensive exam is taken at the end of the second year after completion of all coursework. It is an in-class examination consisting of 150 multiple choice questions that address specific clinical problems, theory, multi-cultural issues, a general knowledge of counseling psychology, and other areas covered through coursework. A score of 75% is required for passing.

Application Process

Application Deadline

Priority: January 15
Zoom interviews: Jan 24-Feb 25
Standard: April 15
Zoom interviews: May
Applications will continue to be reviewed on a rolling basis as space is available

Undergraduate GPA Required

A minimum overall undergraduate or graduate school grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is required. Applicants who do not meet the minimum GPA requirement may still be accepted under exceptional circumstances. Appeals for waiver of this requirement should be made through our online application. All aspects of each application (essays, letters of recommendation, coursework, clinical experience, volunteerism and/or work experience) are considered during the decision making process, and all applications are given full consideration with the GPA as one factor.

GRE Requirement

None

Prerequisite Courses

None

Application Highlights

  • Completed application for admission, up-to-date curriculum vitae or resume, and statement of purpose essay. The statement of purpose is a 4-6 page double-spaced, self-reflective essay describing your purpose in pursuing a masters degree in counseling psychology at the Wright Institute. Indicate how your professional goals developed from your past interests and experiences. Be sure to include your scholarly interests and any counseling experience that you have. Please be sure to include your full name at the top of each page of text in your statement of purpose. Each page should be numbered.

  • Two letters of recommendation. You will send your recommenders an electronic invitation through the online application. In that invitation, they will receive instructions on how to upload their letter of recommendation. We do not require that either letter of recommendation come from an academic source.

Interview Requirement

If you are selected for an interview, you will be sent an email after the admissions deadline inviting you to schedule a convenient time using our online scheduling system. All interviews will be held online via Zoom until further notice.

Program Summary

In the tradition of the Wright Institute's founder, Nevitt Sanford, the Wright Institute educates "clinicians to society" - clinical practitioners who bring a deep awareness of cultural and social context to the practice of psychology. The mission of the master's program is to prepare and inspire a diverse student body to provide culturally sensitive mental health services that support resiliency, recovery, and social justice.

The two-year master's program prepares students to function effectively in a wide range of mental health settings with individuals, families, and groups varying widely in age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status. The program supports students in thinking critically and self-reflectively, and in exploring the impact of culture and oppression on their clients' lives and the clinical relationship.

In addition to flexible class schedules that accommodate working adults and parents, students bond with a consistent group as they enter, move through, and graduate from the program together. This cohort model offers an intimate, supportive, and transformative learning experience.

The Counseling program at the Wright Institute integrates the values and philosophies of the Mental Health Services Act, counseling psychology, and marriage and family therapy in order to provide students with the well-rounded skill set required of this "new kind" of mental health provider. In alignment with the MHSA, the program prioritizes a collaborative, holistic, resiliency-oriented treatment approach, with an emphasis on evidence-based practice. As a Counseling Psychology program, our focus is on maximizing psychological health in multiple community settings and promoting strengths and adaptations across the lifespan. In preparing our students to be marriage and family therapists, we also emphasize the importance of relationships and using relationships to accelerate change.

In recognition of the vital importance of relationships in both clinical work and education, the Counseling program considers faculty mentoring an important tool for helping students develop the skills and attitudes appropriate to the professional practice of counseling and marriage and family therapy. Faculty mentoring relationships, both formal and informal, work to promote attitudes of intellectual curiosity and flexibility, open-mindedness, appreciation of individual and cultural differences, and optimism in the capacity for people to grow and change.