University Catalog > Graduate Programs > Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology > Mental Health Counseling, MA
The MA in Mental Health Counseling program equips students with the essential knowledge and practical skills to become mental health counselors in a variety of settings, including urban mental health centers, hospitals, and university counseling services. It follows an interdisciplinary model that combines core counseling coursework with a wide range of electives, allowing students to explore specialized areas such as substance abuse treatment, crisis counseling, and family therapy. Emphasizing the Practitioner-Scholar model, the curriculum aligns with national counseling standards and includes over 600 hours of supervised fieldwork in diverse, multicultural environments. This comprehensive approach ensures that graduates are well-prepared to meet the complex mental health needs of individuals and communities. The program adopts an eclectic pedagogical approach, integrating psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioral, and family systems theories. Faculty members model this integration, encouraging students to develop a personalized counseling style that respects and incorporates empirically supported methods from multiple orientations. This flexible and inclusive training philosophy fosters a deep appreciation for theoretical diversity and practical adaptability. Additionally, the program is approved by the New York State Education Department as licensure-qualifying for Mental Health Counseling (LMHC). Graduates leave the program with a strong foundation in both theory and practice, ready to pursue licensure and make meaningful contributions to the field.
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