Prepare yourself for a career supporting individual and community mental health through our programs in psychology and counseling.

The science and practice of mental health services is a growing field, whether your interests lie in research, serving in a school or community service setting, or working one-on-one with individuals,  couples and families. 
 
Students explore the roots of human behavior and apply that knowledge to help people adopt behaviors and structure environments that will increase their longevity, performance and quality of life. We offer strong and active collaborations with community partners around the Kansas City metropolitan area which help to expand the learning environment. 

Programs

Undergraduate Programs in Psychology

We provide students with a fundamental understanding of the field of psychology, including its value as a scientific method for understanding human behavior and solving social and behavioral challenges.

Master of Arts in Counseling

With an emphasis on individual and cultural diversity and social justice, we prepare students for careers in counseling tailored to their individual interests.  Students find employment in a variety of settings, including colleges, community-based mental health facilities, independent practice, the court system, and PK-12 schools.  Graduates also enter doctoral programs in counseling-related areas. Choose from three different emphasis areas to match your learning experiences to your interests:

  • Couples and Family
  • Mental Health
  • School Counseling

Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology

The Counseling Psychology program at UMKC is dedicated to promoting equity, pluralism, and social justice through student training and education, research, and practice.

We are no longer accepting new students into the Counseling Psychology Ph.D. program. Students interested in being a Health Service Psychologist and studying with our counseling psychology faculty are encouraged to apply to the PhD in Psychology—Clinical Psychology Option. Application information can be found in the section immediately below, i.e., “Ph.D. in Psychology”.

Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology

The PhD in Clinical Psychology is a full-time program of graduate study designed to train health service psychologists who are competent scientist-practitioners, with a life-long commitment to multiculturalism and individual diversity and to the ethical practice of health service psychology.

We are accredited by the American Psychological Association.

Commission of Accreditation
750 First St, NE
Washington DC 20002-4242
(202) 336-5970

Research

At the School of Education, Social Work and Psychological Sciences there are several different ways to be involved in research, either as a student or a participant. Undergraduate students through doctoral candidates are encouraged to work closely with faculty mentors doing cutting-edge research on topics like infant and child development, the impacts of stress and trauma, aging, social justice advocacy and much more. 

Student Groups

The Psychology and Counseling Department sponsors groups organized for and by Psychology students.

Faculty, Staff and Leadership

Kym Bennett

Professor and Chair
Email: bennettkk@umkc.edu
Phone Number: 816-235-1321

LaVerne Berkel

Professor and Counseling MA Program Coordinator
Email: berkell@umkc.edu
Phone Number: 816-235-2444

Kathryn Brewer

Associate Clinical Professor, Director of CCAS
Email: brewerkj@umkc.edu
Phone Number: 816-235-5614

Chris Brown

Professor Emerita
Email: brownchr@umkc.edu
Phone Number: 816-235-2491

Kathleen Chartrand

Office Support Assistant IV
Email: kec24c@umkc.edu
Phone Number: 816-235-1318

Marvalee Collins

Associate Teaching Professor
Email: mcollins@umkc.edu
Phone Number: 816-235-6368

Diane Filion

Professor Emerita
Email: filiond@umkc.edu
Phone Number: 816-235-1249

Oh-Ryeong Ha

Associate Professor and Undergraduate Program Director
Email: hao@umkc.edu
Phone Number: 816-235-1321

Jennifer Lundgren

Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor
Email: lundgrenj@umkc.edu
Phone Number: 816-235-1107

Daniel Maitland

Associate Professor

Jacob Marszalek

Interim Associate Dean, Professor
Email: marszalekj@umkc.edu
Phone Number: 816-235-2638

Ricardo Marte

Associate Teaching Professor
Email: marter@umkc.edu
Phone Number: 816-235-1321

Cindy McDonald

Assistant Teaching Professor
Email: mcdonaldce@umkc.edu

Joan McDowd

Professor Emerita
Email: mcdowdj@umkc.edu
Phone Number: 816-235-1321

Nancy Murdock

Professor Emerita
Email: murdockn@umkc.edu
Phone Number: 816-235-2495

Elizabeth Neilson

Assistant Professor

Johanna Nilsson

Professor and Director of Clinical Training for Clinical Psychology PhD Program
Email: nilssonj@umkc.edu
Phone Number: 816-235-2484

Tamilia Reed

Assistant Teaching Professor

Michael Ternes

Assistant Professor
Email: mstbqc@umkc.edu
Phone Number: 816-235-2492

Laurel Watson

Professor
Email: watsonlb@umkc.edu
Phone Number: 816-235-2489

Westley A. Youngren

Assistant Professor
Email: wyoungren@umkc.edu