Maine clinician Amanda Sexton is joining Thomas College as assistant professor to help lead the new master’s in clinical mental health program that is launching this fall.
Sexton is a licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC) in Maine with areas of expertise and interest in LGBTQ+ issues and concerns, trauma, anxiety, depression, and disordered eating.
She holds her bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in sociology from Utah State University, a MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Capella University and is currently a Doctoral Candidate in Counseling Education and Supervision with a research focus in counselor experiences in level of preparedness working with LGBTQ+ clients that are facing religious and family support system loss.
“Mental health treatment is very important for individuals and families who are facing mental health struggles. One of the largest barriers to mental health care is availability. The need for mental health counselors is only going to grow and at current rate there is already a dearth of available care. I am excited to be a part of Thomas College and its goal to provide education for future counselors to provide care to Maine residents as well as beyond,” said Sexton.
“I am looking forward to sharing my knowledge and experience to improve understanding of mental health and its impacts on individuals and families. I am excited to be a part of teaching future clinicians and improving access to mental health care,” she said.
This fall, Thomas College will welcome the first cohort in the new master’s program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. The program will address the urgent mental health care needs in rural Maine and be a pipeline for licensed clinical mental health counselors in the state of Maine, especially in rural areas of the state.
Vacancy rates for mental health clinicians in Maine’s health organizations have reached 21 percent, and 45 percent of independent providers plan to retire within the next five years.
Thomas College will help to fill this gap by offering a two-year graduate pathway to licensure in clinical mental health counseling. The low-residency format will make the degree accessible to working adults.
Developed in partnership with professionals at Kennebec Behavioral Health and local hospitals, Thomas College’s new degree is uniquely designed to serve the needs of Maine.
Applications are still open for this program. Visit Thomas.edu/gps to learn more.