In 2024, a survey determined that Fremont, California was the happiest city in America. But that doesn’t mean that mental health care is unnecessary – far from it.
In fact, last year, the Public Policy Institute of California found that “overwhelming majorities of Californians say there is a mental health crisis in the US.”
Those polled spanned the political spectrum and came from all over the state. Respondents also reflected a number of different demographics. Across the board, the people surveyed by the PPIC stated that they were not aware of the nationwide 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, a resource that provides support to people experiencing mental health emergencies.
The following article explores the mental health care landscape in Fremont, California, exploring the ways in which aspiring psychologists can attain degrees, nearby graduate programs, and much more.
Welcome to Fremont, California
The prosperous city of Fremont, California is located near the most famous tech innovation hub in the world, Silicon Valley. This region is known as the Bay Area, getting its name from the scenic San Francisco Bay.
Fremont’s population has been steadily growing over the last several decades, with a rapid boom between 1960 and 1970. Though just 229,250 people live in this city, Fremont is wonderfully diverse, with over 98 languages spoken throughout the area. The majority of residents are Asian, a demographic that includes Asian Indian, Chinese, and Filipino communities. Fremont is also home to the largest Afghan American community in the United States.
The world-famous Tesla company is by far and away the largest employer in Fremont, with some 22,000 employees. The healthcare industry is also a major employer, with thousands of residents working for organizations including Washington Hospital, Sutter Health, and Kaiser Permanente.
Local Highlights: Lakes, Parks, Landmarks, and More!
In addition to an array of local farmer’s markets, the Aqua Adventure waterpark, and a number of art museums and galleries, the city of Fremont and its surrounding area is best known for its scenic beauty and fascinating history.
Today, many historic sites have been preserved as proud testaments to this area’s centuries-long legacy in the creation of modern California. Some places, like the Mission Museum in Old Mission San José, tell visitors about the Spanish settlers in 18th century Northern California and the beginnings of the mission district. Here, the Spanish missionaries lived alongside the indigenous Ohlone population, surrounded by cows, crops, and a handful of soldiers and artisans.
Other landmarks, like the Higuera Adobe and Valleja Adobe, reflect other lifestyles during this era in California history: namely, cowboys, or vaqueros. In the beginning of Spanish settlement in California, these ranchers were primarily recent European arrivals, but in time, both Mexican and American cowboys took up the work of horsemanship and cattle management in the region.
Other visitors to Fremont may be more interested in the parks, lakes, and other naturally beautiful areas to explore in the region – which, in scenic California, are many.
One of the most popular destinations to visit is Central Park, a massive and (perhaps unsurprisingly) centrally-located park sprawling across more than 450 acres. In addition to hosting a number of events, Central Park also houses multiple playgrounds; softball, cricket, and soccer fields; tennis, pickleball, and basketball courts; and a number of snack stands. Visitors can also make use of Lake Elizabeth, a beautiful man-made lake surrounded by a two-mile walking path.
Fremont Found to Be Happiest City in America
According to one 2024 study, Fremont is the happiest city in the country for the second year running.
Across analyses of the most recent study, which surveyed more than 180 of the most highly-populated cities in America, the agreed-upon explanation was the comparatively high income of people in Fremont, particularly when measured against the income levels of people living in other parts of the country (the San Francisco-Bay Area is known for having a particularly high cost of living).
Additionally, WalletHub – the organization that conducted the study – found that Fremont has a lower divorce rate than anywhere else they polled in the US.
Master’s Programs in Psychology in Northern California
Northern California is home to a number of highly respected universities, including University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley); Stanford University; University of California, Davis (UC Davis); University of California, Santa Cruz, and many more.
One great option for a Master’s program in the area is the Master of Science (MS) degree in Clinical Psychology offered at San Jose State University (SJSU). This in-person degree program prepares students for professional work as Marriage Family Therapists.
Alliant International University, located in Fresno, also offers a number of Master of Arts (MA) programs in psychology and mental health:
- Clinical Counseling
- Organizational Psychology
- Marital and Family Therapy
Additionally, the American School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, located in the San Francisco Bay Area, offers MA programs in forensic psychology and clinical psychology. It’s important to note that clinical psychologist roles typically require a Ph.D or Psy.D, meaning that this master’s degree would be a stepping stone on the way to completing a longer-term doctoral program.
The California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco offers a number of MA programs, including Integral Counseling, Expressive Arts Therapy, and Somatic Psychology.
Other universities with master’s programs in psychology include:
- Golden Gate University: Psychology (MA)
- Palo Alto University: Forensic counseling (MA); Correctional counseling (MA); Psychology (MS)
- University of San Francisco, School of Education: Counseling psychology (MA)
- California State University, Fullerton: Clinical psychology (MA); Experimental psychology (MS)
- California State University, Humboldt: Academic research (MA); Counseling or school psychology (MA)
It’s important to note that this is not an exhaustive list of educational opportunities available to aspiring psychologists in Northern California. Before applying to graduate programs in psychology, explore additional options online.
Spotlight on Specializations: What Does a Child Psychologist Do?
Child psychologists are focused on addressing the mental health needs of young people of all ages. If parents or educators believe that a child is in need of mental health support, these professionals – often with training in clinical psychology, meaning doctoral degrees – offer vital resources to at-risk young people in need.
This can include assessing and diagnosing young people. Mental health is a broad term, and therefore child psychologists are not only focused on the emotional state of young people – though it’s true that some mental illnesses may already be present in children and adolescents, and thus possible to diagnose and treat. Child psychologists, though, are also able to diagnose cognitive conditions and learning differences, ranging from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) to autism spectrum disorder and dyslexia.
Other child psychologists may provide therapy for young people, which can be particularly useful for children and adolescents who have experienced trauma and loss.
Child psychologists may prefer to use their skills in research contexts, meaning that they don’t spend time working directly with young people, but rather exploring and discovering critical information about youth mental health.
Spotlight on Specializations: What Does a Clinical Psychologist Do?
In mental health care, clinical psychologists are like a hospital’s General Practitioners. These doctorate-level mental health care workers are able to diagnose, treat, and assess mental health conditions for patients of all ages: in fact, in many cases, child psychologists are clinical psychologists!
Clinical psychologists are also able to work with adults. In addition to conducting assessments to diagnose various mental health conditions, these professionals can also provide therapy, including group and family therapy, and are also trained to respond to mental health emergencies.