Mental Health Counseling
Program Overview
The Mental Health Counseling program prepares graduates to work as mental health counselors in hospital, agency and community settings as well as in private practice.
Mission Statement
Our mission is to train clinicians who are clinically insightful, capable of practicing in various clinical settings, and committed to serving a diverse population that reflects the fabric of New York City. We value an education that promotes cultural humility, curiosity, empathy, critical thinking, self-awareness, ethical practice, advocacy, and an appreciation of human diversity. Our aim is for trainees to provide therapeutic interventions that are evidence-based, offer practical solutions to everyday concerns, foster personal insight, and promote self-efficacy and overall well-being.
Mental Health Counselors provides counseling services to persons across the life span, including children, adults, and families. Mental health counselors often work in hospitals, agencies, community settings as well as in private practice. This program leads to professional licensure in New York State; professional licensure is required to practice mental health counseling.
Coursework and Clinical Experiences
Courses are offered in the afternoon and evening. A minimum of 700 field hours of fieldwork are completed over three semesters through the Practicum and Internship courses.
Credits
60
Certification/Licensure
Professional Mental Health Counseling licensure in New York State
Eligibility and Admission Requirements
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 3.0
- 15 to 25 credits of approved courses from the following fields: anthropology, economics, education, guidance, health sciences, political science, psychology, sociology, and related areas
- Evidence of written expression consonant with graduate-level study
- A statement of purpose (400 to 600 words) that addresses the following prompt: Please describe a meaningful event that has shaped your interest in becoming a counselor and explain why it was important. Upload to the Statement of Purpose section.
- An additional essay (400 to 600 words) that addresses the following prompt: Consider you are a counseling student providing services at a counseling internship placement site, what type of client or client issue would be difficult for you and why? How do you think you would cope with this situation? Upload to the Supplemental Materials section.
- Two letters of recommendation from appropriate professional or academic references to aid in determining potential for work as a professional counselor
- Relevant work and/or volunteer experience is highly recommended
Meeting these minimum requirements does not guarantee acceptance to the program. Admission to the program is highly competitive, and each applicant’s grade point average, counselor potential, and applicability of work and life experience are carefully considered.
Counseling Programs Information Session Slide Presentation
To Apply
Applications are accepted each Fall semester.
Create yourHunter College Graduate Application and select the program “Mental Health Counseling, MSEd”.
Application Deadlines
Fall Start
- February 1
Contact an Admissions Advisor
Program Leader