Mental Health Concentration | Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis
Skip Ribbon Commands
Skip to main content

Mental Health Concentration

This concentration prepares students with evidence-based assessment and treatment methods aimed at increasing functional capacity of individuals and systems addressing mental illness.

Throughout the curriculum, students are exposed to the latest trends in programs and treatments. Students are equipped with the skills necessary for developing responsive and comprehensive mental health systems at the local, regional and society levels.

Graduates are skilled in assessment and diagnosis, and they are familiar with evidence-based treatments appropriate for a range of diagnostic categories and populations. Alumni are qualified for careers in variety of settings, including clinical practice, community health centers, hospitals, forensic settings, private practice, policy settings and research.

Concentration Requirements: 21 Credits

  • Differential Diagnosis (3 credits)
  • Mental Health Policy (3 credits)
  • Treatment of Mental Disorders (3 credits)
  • Three credits of leadership- and management- focused coursework
  • Social Policy Analysis and Evaluation (3 credits) or Evaluation of Programs and Services (3 credits)
You will choose one of the following practice courses:

  • Applied Behavior Therapy (3 credits)
  • Interpersonal Psychotherapy (3 credits)
  • Brief Outcome Therapy (3 credits)
  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (3 credits)

You will also have 9 elective credits, which can be used to broaden your expertise in other areas or to pursue additional mental health-related electives, such as:

  • Cognitive Behavior Therapy (3 credits)
  • Pharmacology for Social Workers (3 credits)
  • Contemporary Family Therapy (3 credits)

Concentration Practicum

The MSW program requires 600 hours of concentration practicum (in addition to 360 hours of foundation practicum). The concentration practicum must take place in a setting focused on mental health practice, management or advocacy. Sample Mental Health practicum sites include:

  • BJC Behavioral Health (community mental health center)
  • Children’s Advocacy Center of St. Louis (trauma-focused treatments)
  • Family Care Health Centers (integrated behavioral health)
  • Great Circle (non-profit with a mission of child-welfare and behavioral health)
  • Independence Center (severe and persistent mental health)
  • Missouri Institutes for Health (policy, advocacy, evaluation)
  • St. Louis Center for Family Development (trauma and suicidality)
  • St. Louis Veteran’s Affairs (veteran focused services)
Ryan Lindsay

Concentration Chair

Ryan Lindsay is  the Assistant Dean for Social Work and an associate professor of practice at the Brown School, where he also serves as the chair of the Mental Health concentration. A leader in clinical treatment of mental illness, Lindsay's academic and practice interests center around improving access to trauma-informed and evidence-based mental health services.

Julie Blatz

Featured Graduate

“My passion is increasing access to mental health services. The most valuable part of my educational experience at the Brown School was the flexibility to personalize my curriculum. I was able to take classes that catered to my clinical focus, but that also gave me insight into policy and community organizing. I know that will be critical as I get further into my career.”



—Julie Blatz, MSW ’13, LICSW, Psychotherapist, Associated Clinic of Psychology