Apr30
An Online Event with Admissions Counselors
Community Mental Health
Healing through social justice and structural change.
The Community Mental Health M.A. was developed in partnership with public and non-profit mental health agencies. It integrates the fundamentals of psychotherapy with cultural humility and an understanding of the impact of trauma and social systems on the individual psyche.
In Their Own Words
Hear what our faculty and students have to say
CIIS’ Community Mental Health program integrates the fundamentals of psychotherapy with cultural humility and an understanding of the impact of trauma and social systems on the individual. Developed in partnership with public and non-profit mental health agencies in the San Francisco Bay Area, this program is one of five offered through the Counseling Psychology department at CIIS.
In order to provide students with the strongest possible foundations, the program incorporates social justice perspectives, cultural understanding, and multifarious theoretical approaches including psychodynamics, Family Systems Therapy, trauma-informed therapies, and recovery and resiliency models of treatment. Through ongoing work in community settings, CIIS faculty help to ensure that the program design continues to meet the needs of community agencies. Our flexible weekend format allows working students to maximize educational outcomes to maintain a healthy work/life balance.
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What is Community Mental Health?
What is Community Mental Health?
What is Community Mental Health?
The Community Mental Health master's program at CIIS trains students to become licensed therapists and leaders in empowering disenfranchised communities. Our graduates are a driving force in meeting the needs of and creating change for populations who have been underserved and overlooked by traditional counseling services.
Explore our M.A. in Counseling Psychology Programs
Not sure which program is right for you? Browse our other four specializations to find your match.
Department of Counseling Psychology
Utilize drama and theatre to promote psychological health
Department of Counseling Psychology
Integrate creative expression with clinical and community practice
Department of Counseling Psychology
Incorporate the mind, body, and spirit into therapeutic practice
Department of Counseling Psychology
Bring an embodied approach to whole-person healing
Faculty in Conversation
Our faculty are committed to many fields of meaningful inquiry, including social justice advocacy for Native American communities, social sustainability in the context of intentional community, and the discourse on capitalism and the American Dream.
Highlighting Asian American Mental Health
Community Mental Health Associate Professor Gary Quan edited and contributed to the new book Asian American Chronicles: Tales of Mental Health & Hope. Interweaving personal experiences and professional expertise with the latest conversations on AAPI clinical and therapeutic care, the volume adds necessary nuance to the intersection of contemporary mental health with Asian American identities, families, and intergenerational experiences.
Intergenerational Trauma, Resilience, and Collective Healing
In a series of video workshops, Community Mental Health Chair Kini Chang introduces concepts of intergenerational trauma and how to heal cycles of cultural, familial, and historical harm.
On Native Sovereignty
Listen to this illuminating conversation with core faculty, Lazzuly Mello, and Gregg Castro, t'rowt'raahl Salinan/rumsien-ramaytush Ohlone, Cultural Director for the Association of Ramaytush Ohlone for about the complexities of native sovereignty from his perspective as a member and advocate for multiple California tribes.
Our Upcoming Events
May13
A Faculty-Led Info Session with Stefanie Bell
Oct11
Attend the Fall Open House on October 11, 2025 to get to know your admissions counselors and learn more about CIIS' bachelor's, master's, and Ph.D. programs.
Our Program in Action
Alumni News
At each CIIS Open House event, a community panel of faculty and alumni discusses what drew them to CIIS and their experiences at the University.
Faculty News
A free online workshop series on intergenerational trauma with Kini Chang, LMFT, Chair of the M.A. in Counseling Psychology concentration in Community Mental Health.
Alumni News
Community Mental Health alumna Nichole Pettway on using her experiences to help others navigate uncharted waters