Counseling Programs Offered at Lehman College

Looking to build a career in counseling? Lehman College’s counseling programs give you high-quality education paths that help you reach your professional goals. You can work with students in educational settings or help people with mental health challenges. The college has specialized programs that set you up for success.

The Mental Health Counseling program at Lehman College lets you earn a 60-credit Master’s degree in two years through a full-time, cohort-based structure. This program prepares you to work in private practice, substance misuse counseling, healthcare and community organizations of all sizes. The School Counseling program stands out with its 60-credit, part-time option that takes three years to complete. It holds the honor of being New York City’s first program with both CACREP and CAEP accreditation.

This guide shows you everything in each program and the internship opportunities that make Lehman College unique. These programs are a great way to get professional licensure in New York State. They also provide budget-friendly graduate education options to residents in the Bronx and nearby areas.

What counseling programs does Lehman College offer?

Lehman College leads the way in counselor education with two professional counseling programs. Both programs offer 60-credit master’s degrees with flexible scheduling that fits different student needs.

The Counselor Education: School Counseling (CE:SC) program runs part-time over three years and awards a Master of Science in Education degree. This program stands out as New York City’s first Counselor Education/School Counseling program with dual accreditation from the Council on the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) and the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Programs (CAEP). Graduates can qualify for initial and professional School Counselor Certification in New York State.

The Counselor Education: Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CE:CMHC) program takes a different approach. Students study full-time in cohorts and can complete the program in two years of year-round study. The program welcomed its first cohort of students in 2023. Graduates can pursue New York State licensure as Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors (LMHC).

The school counseling program shapes culturally competent, ethical, and data-informed professional school counselors with an urban education focus. Students will:

• Champion social justice and human rights
• Build academic, social-emotional, and career/college competencies for students
• Work with anti-racist and anti-oppression practices in coursework and fieldwork
• Learn evidence-based and data-informed practices to close achievement gaps

The clinical mental health counseling program prepares students to work in private practice, substance misuse counseling, community organizations, and healthcare settings. Students use project-based learning to gain knowledge and skills needed to tackle complex issues affecting individuals, families, and communities.

Both programs need extensive fieldwork. School counseling students complete 50 hours of supervised pre-practicum, 100 hours of practicum, and 600 hours of internship in K-12 schools. Clinical mental health counseling students also complete practicum and internship experiences in their second year.

Each program’s course sequence progresses through foundational knowledge, practical skills, and supervised clinical experiences. Both require the same credits but focus on their specific professional contexts.

Lehman College keeps growing its counselor education programs. The program applied for a 15-credit Clinical Mental Health Counseling Bridge program in 2024 for school counseling candidates and alumni. The college got approval to plan New York City and CUNY’s first doctoral program in Counselor Education and Supervision.

New programs are in development, including an online doctoral program in Counselor Education and Social Justice with low residency requirements. Plans also include an online Higher Education/Student Affairs Counseling M.S.Ed. program and a Couple, Family, and Relationship Counseling M.S. program for LMFT licensure. The college has applied to offer both School Counseling and Clinical Mental Health Counseling programs online with low residency. This change could make these programs available to many students.

New York state approved the 60-credit Counselor Education: School Counseling M.S. program in 2021. The program now emphasizes community, family, counseling children/adolescents, ability/disability, sexuality, bilingual, anti-racism, and anti-oppression work. This reflects Lehman’s dedication to preparing counselors for today’s complex environments.

Internships/Practicum at Lehman College

Hands-on field experience is the foundation of counselor education at Lehman College. Both counseling programs offer well-laid-out fieldwork components that connect classroom learning with real-life practice. You’ll get supervised opportunities to build your clinical skills.

The Clinical Mental Health Counseling program builds practical experience through three sequential courses: Practicum in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (EDG 761), followed by Internship in Clinical Mental Health Counseling I (EDG 753) and II (EDG 754). You’ll take these courses in your second year, which lets you apply the theory you learned in your first year.

The School Counseling program has a detailed fieldwork structure. You need 50 hours of supervised pre-practicum, 100 hours of practicum, and 600 hours of internship in K-12 schools. The school counseling practicum (EDG 707) needs 100 total hours with at least 40 hours working directly with students. The 600-hour internship usually takes two semesters (300 hours each) through courses EDG 743 and EDG 744.

You’ll need to meet several prerequisites before starting fieldwork. You can’t start practicum hours until the course begins, and you can’t start your internship until you finish the entire practicum semester and all required hours. School Counseling students must complete 50 pre-practicum hours before their practicum.

Direct supervision plays a vital role in these experiences. Your site supervisor will give you at least one hour of individual supervision each week during practicum and internship. School counseling supervisors must be certified counselors with at least two years of experience. This supervision provides valuable mentorship as you develop professionally.

The clinical coordinators must approve all site placements. Dr. Katie Brammer handles Clinical Mental Health Counseling approvals, while Dr. Laura Roberts manages School Counseling. Practicum sites need approval by December 1st of the previous semester, and internship sites by May 1st. You can start at your site only after your class begins.

School Counseling students have extra requirements. You must work in both K-8 and high school settings. This means if you do your practicum in high school, your internship must be in an elementary or middle school (or vice versa). You’ll also need fingerprinting before starting fieldwork. Schedule appointments through IdentoGo’s website – fees run about $100 or more.

School Counseling students applying to practicum and internship must complete three required workshops:

• Child Abuse Identification
• School Violence Intervention and Prevention
• Dignity for All Students (DASA)

Clinical Mental Health Counseling students can work at the Bronx Telehealth Counseling Center, which Counselor Education faculty lead and supervise. This site helps you learn about telehealth counseling, a growing service delivery model.

Students develop skills in both direct and indirect services during these experiences. School Counseling students provide direct services through individual counseling, group counseling, and school counseling curriculum delivery. Indirect services often involve program development and implementation.

These final experiences in the Counselor Education programs let you work with different communities. You’ll build on your coursework knowledge and skills, which helps you become skilled at working with clients in real-life settings.

What sets Lehman College apart?

Lehman College stands out in counselor education with its achievements, innovative programs, and steadfast dedication to social justice principles. The college made history in 2008 as the first public Counselor Education: School Counseling program in New York City to receive CACREP accreditation. This 15-year old milestone laid the groundwork for its leadership in counselor training.

The Middle States Commission of Higher Education (MSCHE) has recognized Lehman College’s excellence. The college renewed its accreditation in 2009, followed by an evaluation of the Periodic Review Report in 2014. This recognition proves the high academic standards that support its counseling programs.

Lehman’s impact reaches way beyond the reach and influence of its campus. The faculty shapes counseling education policy at the state level. They co-chair the Higher Education committee and lead the development of the 2019 school counselor state regulation changes. Faculty members also worked with the White House Reach Higher initiative from 2014-2016, presenting at School Counseling and College Access Convenings. Their involvement in national policy shows the program’s strong reputation.

The Bronx Telehealth Counseling Center showcases Lehman’s groundbreaking innovation. Created with the Department of Social Work through New York State’s Workforce Development funding, this center provides year-round telehealth counseling services. It also serves as a fieldwork site for Clinical Mental Health Counseling candidates. Yes, it is a dual-purpose facility that benefits both the community and students in training.

Lehman’s counseling programs use unique teaching methods. The Clinical Mental Health Counseling program combines synchronous, asynchronous, and in-person instruction. This approach creates flexible learning experiences, incorporates self-directed activities, and provides clinical intensives for real-life practice.

Project-based learning makes Lehman’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling program special. Students develop specialized skills by:

• Selecting areas of specialization
• Developing advocacy and leadership skills
• Creating projects that promote equity and social justice
• Taking part in complex systems affecting emotional wellbeing

Social justice principles form the core of both counseling programs. Students learn anti-racist and anti-oppression practices in their coursework and fieldwork. This focus on cultural affirmation and ethical practice prepares graduates to work in diverse urban settings, especially in the Bronx and nearby communities.

External recognition proves Lehman’s success. Psychology.org ranks Lehman’s MS in clinical mental health counseling among its best programs. The ranking highlights its affordability, evidence-based focus, and coverage of practical topics. This recognition shows the program’s quality compared to others.

Lehman makes its counseling programs available and affordable. The Clinical Mental Health Counseling program got SEIU grant funding to cover two years of tuition for students. The program structure provides quality graduate education to Bronx residents and those in surrounding areas.

The faculty’s expertise adds to Lehman’s excellence. The counseling department has professors with various specializations who contribute through research, policy development, and community work. They also serve as affiliate faculty at the Bronx Telehealth Counseling Center, bringing their knowledge directly to student training.

Lehman College’s counseling programs excel through their history, policy influence, innovative facilities, social justice focus, and dedication to quality education for diverse communities. These features create unique paths for future counseling professionals.

Next Steps

Lehman College’s counseling programs are excellent choices if you want quality education with a social justice focus. This piece explores the detailed offerings at Lehman, from the part-time School Counseling program to the full-time Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. Both programs give you rigorous training that fits different schedules and career goals.

Without doubt, Lehman’s School Counseling program shows its excellence through dual accreditation from CACREP and CAEP. The Clinical Mental Health Counseling program helps you get licensed through its cohort-based model and project-based learning approach.

Ground experience is the base of both programs. You’ll get essential supervised fieldwork hours in actual settings. The combination of hands-on training and theoretical coursework gives you skills to help people, families, and communities with complex problems.

Lehman College stands out because it creates culturally competent, ethical counselors who know urban educational and community settings’ unique challenges. The innovative Bronx Telehealth Counseling Center is a great way to get training while serving the community.

Lehman College gives you affordable, quality education that’s available to more people. These programs focus on anti-racist and anti-oppression practices to prepare you for working with diverse populations effectively.

The college’s counseling programs give you the foundation, expertise, and ground experience you need. You can build a meaningful career helping students in schools or supporting people with mental health challenges.

Selecting the right program that lines up with your professional goals and personal needs is the first step in starting your counseling career experience. Lehman College’s counseling programs show their steadfast dedication by carefully selecting candidates who excel in their unique learning environment.

The School Counseling program accepts applications on a rolling basis. Students who want to start in fall should apply by the priority deadline of April 1st. You’ll need to submit your application through the CUNY Graduate Admissions website with academic transcripts, personal statements, and recommendation letters.

The Clinical Mental Health Counseling program uses a cohort model and accepts students once a year for fall entry. This full-time program demands much dedication to complete intensive studies over two years.

These programs share some basic requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
• Minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA
• Personal statement about your career goals
• Professional recommendations
• Resume with relevant experience

The faculty evaluates interpersonal skills and professional qualities through group interviews after reviewing applications. You’ll typically receive admission decisions within four weeks after completing interviews.

Current tuition rates for New York State residents are approximately $470 per credit. These rates make the programs quite affordable compared to private institutions. The complete application process usually takes 8-12 weeks from submission to final decision.

Your educational investment at Lehman College creates opportunities for meaningful careers. You’ll help people from various backgrounds in educational and community settings.