The Department of Counseling and Mental Health Professions (CMHP) is comprised of multiple programs in Counseling, Creative Arts Therapy, Marriage and Family Therapy, Rehabilitation Counseling, with classes offered in Research. The overall focus of the programs is on promoting the psychosocial health and development of the clients, consumers, and students with whom we work. Each program offers the standard bearing curriculum identified by the accrediting organizations in the respective disciplines, and most lead to certification or licensure in the field. Further enriching the professional preparation curriculum, are the supervised practicum and internship experiences, which blend the core knowledge base and skills along with applied and practical training.

We encourage you to explore the individual program websites and please contact us if we can be of any assistance.

Counseling

• The M.S.Ed. in Counseling has three specialization tracks for students interested in School, Community, and College Student Development Counseling.  School counselors can work in both public and private K-12 school settings.  Community Counselors may seek employment in community mental health organizations, human service agencies and residential treatment facilities.  College student development counselors are often hired in various counseling, advisement, and student affairs departments in two- and four-year colleges/universities. 

• The M.A. in Mental Health Counseling degree is designed to provide students with the educational preparation to qualify as a licensed Mental Health Counselor in the state of New York.  Employment settings include private practice, community agencies, managed behavioral health organizations,  hospitals, employee assistance programs, and substance abuse and rehabilitative centers. 

• The Advanced Certificate in Mental Health Counseling is primarily for those who hold a master’s degree in counseling and wish to pursue further qualifications for licensure as a mental health counselor in New York state.

• The Professional Diploma in Counseling is a practitioner’s degree which provides the opportunity for a practicing counselor to pursue additional specialized courses and field work to further qualify for specialized competencies in the counseling field (e.g., for a community counselor to earn qualifying credentials for certification in school counseling).

Creative Arts Therapy

• The M.A. in Creative Arts Therapy is designed to prepare students through in-class learning and application through practicum and internships, to become a creative arts therapist.  Employment opportunities exist in hospitals, clinics, public and community agencies, wellness centers, educational institutions, business and private practices, assisted living, nursing homes and schools/programs for children with emotional or physical disabilities.

Marriage and Family Therapy

• The M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy provides the skills necessary to function as a marriage and family therapist.  The curriculum is designed to expose students both to traditional models of family therapy and to more recently developed postmodern/social constructionist approaches.  Marriage and family therapists work in private practice, mental health centers, hospitals, health maintenance organizations family services clinics, and state department of children and families.

Rehabilitation Counseling

• The M.S.Ed. in Rehabilitation Counseling prepares students to become highly competent, quality-oriented, and culturally sensitive professionals who work with individuals with disabilities in their pursuit of independence that accounts for vocational, personal, social, and psychological endeavors.  Graduates may seek employment in state/federal/community/private rehabilitation agencies, mental health centers, medical centers, veteran administration hospitals, substance abuse programs, independent living programs, insurance companies, private practices and schools. 

• M.S.Ed. in Rehabilitation Counseling in Mental Health is designed to prepare students as mental health counselors with specialized knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to assist persons with disabilities toward achieving their personal, social, psychological and vocational independence including appropriate employment and independent living. The program includes specialty courses by which students prepare for working in mental health and other specialized settings.

• Advanced Certificate in Interdisciplinary Transition Specialist is designed for professionals who work with students with disabilities preparing to make the transition to adult life-roles following high school. The Department has developed this program for those in preschool, kindergarten, elementary, middle, and/or secondary school special education teachers, rehabilitation counseling, school counseling, and related fields to learn collaboratively across disciplines and develop competencies in transition best practices.