Waterville, Maine
Kennebec Behavioral Health (KBH) is proud to announce its partnership with Thomas College in the development of a new Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, set to launch in Fall 2026. The program represents a significant step forward in addressing the growing mental health workforce crisis facing Maine, particularly in rural communities.
The need is urgent. According to data from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), more than 260,000 Mainers live in communities without enough mental health care professionals. Vacancy rates for mental health clinicians in Maine’s behavioral health organizations have reached 21 percent, and 45 percent of independent providers plan to retire within five years. Mainers are 10 times more likely to be forced out of network for mental health care than for primary care, and Maine’s ratio of K-12 school psychologists to school children is less than one-third of the recommended national norm.
At KBH, these numbers reflect a daily reality. “At Kennebec Behavioral Health we are very excited to support Thomas College’s new Clinical Mental Health Counseling program,” said KBH CEO Tom McAdam. “As a provider of mental health care in Maine, we are challenged with the ongoing and increased demand for requests for our services, and we know that Thomas College’s new program will help to train more professional counselors. This in turn will help our workforce shortage especially here in rural Maine. The need for this program is huge, and we believe the timing is optimal to improve access to care.”
Developed in partnership with KBH and other regional providers, Thomas College’s two-year graduate program offers a low-residency format designed to be accessible to working adults. The degree provides a direct pathway to licensure in clinical mental health counseling, with a curriculum shaped by the specific needs of rural Maine communities.
Thomas College is a natural partner for this work. Historically, 73 percent of Thomas students live and work in Maine after graduation, meeting state workforce needs across fields including accounting, criminal justice, and cybersecurity. “This program is another example of the College’s commitment to serving the people of Maine and contributing to our state’s thriving,” said Thomas College President Jeannine Diddle Uzzi.
National data highlights the scale of the challenge. NAMI’s 2025 research found that 71 percent of U.S. adults ages 18–34 say the COVID-19 pandemic affected their mental health, and 33.2 percent of young adults ages 18–25 experience mental illness. Maine’s shortage of trained clinicians means too many people in our communities are not getting the care they need.
Thomas College’s new program, built with direct input from KBH and regional partners, is designed to change that. We look forward to seeing the next generation of counselors trained, licensed, and ready to serve Maine.
To learn more about Thomas College’s Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, visit thomas.edu/programs/clinical-mental-health-counseling-ms.
To read the article published by Thomas College, click here.