Mental Health Counseling Programs

Become a Licensed Mental Health Professional

Acquire the knowledge and clinical training to become a licensed counselor, working in mental health centers, addiction treatment centers, community agencies, or in private psychotherapy practice. You will gain valuable clinical experience through internship placements, preparing for a range of careers that improve people's lives.

This program is registered by New York State as a licensure qualifying program in mental health counseling. A dual-degree option with a post-master's advanced certificate in LGBT Health, Education, and Social Services is also available.

Mission Statement

The Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness program is committed to generating, advancing, and disseminating knowledge related to all aspects of research and practice in counseling. The principles informing our work include understanding people across the lifespan in cultural contexts, promotion of equity and social justice in our work, and helping all people craft lives of wellness, health, and meaning.

The MA in Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness is accredited by the Master's in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC)

What you'll learn

• Form helping counseling relationships and demonstrate a commitment to the growth and development of your clients
• Apply counseling skills such as assessment, case conceptualization, practice, and advocacy
• Assess clients within various socio-historical contexts with attention to issues of power and privilege – including gender, race and ethnicity, class, sexual orientation, and ability/disability

See the for this master's program.

How you'll learn

A Broad-Based Education
This MA program combines core courses and content electives with counseling labs and internships. You’ll study counseling foundations, theory and process, ethical issues, group dynamics, cross-cultural counseling, abnormal psychology, and human growth and development, then apply your knowledge within your internship placement. Elective courses focus on applied content areas such as bereavement counseling; career counseling; marriage and family counseling; and addiction counseling; as well as on special populations such as counseling LGBT people, women, people with disabilities, and individuals with addiction disorders.

Counseling Labs
As part of your graduate study, you’ll complete two counseling labs in Individual Counseling Practice, developing your counseling skills, sharpening your self-awareness and insight. Centered around establishing the basic counseling microskills, these labs are part of our training model to develop expertise in communication in the counseling process.

Hands-On Clinical Experience
You will complete a two semester, 600-hour internship at an approved mental health setting, where you’ll develop, refine and practice your clinical skills under the supervision of an licensed mental health professional, and apply theory to practice. This is a requirement for state licensure. Learn more about internships.

Prepare for a career as a mental health counselor, working in

• Community mental health programs
• College counseling centers
• Trauma-focused programs
• HIV and AIDS outreach programs
• Substance abuse treatment centers
• Private psychotherapy practice