Counseling Programs at SUNY Plattsburgh
SUNY Plattsburgh’s Department of Counselor Education operates a nationally accredited program that prepares you for professional practice in clinical mental health counseling. The program earned accreditation from the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) in 2008 and maintains this recognition through October 31, 2029. This accreditation sets high standards about your education and translates into immediate benefits when you enter the job market.
The clinical mental health counseling program satisfies all academic requirements you need for professional licensure as a mental health counselor. Approved by the New York State Education Department as a license-eligible academic program, it positions you to pursue state licensure upon completion. Graduates become eligible to sit for the National Counselor Exam (NCE). Passage of this exam serves as a requirement for recognition as a National Certified Counselor.
You’ll learn from five full-time counselor educators who bring years of specialized experience to their teaching. The department’s mission centers on educating you to become a professional counselor with the commitment, knowledge and self-awareness needed to deliver quality services to individuals and groups in educational and community settings of all types. The program also dedicates itself to preparing you with a working knowledge of ethical practice standards and cultural self-awareness.
The mental health counseling programs at SUNY Plattsburgh combine theoretical and applied approaches to serving clients. You’ll experience a balanced selection of academic and experiential education, with courses emphasizing reflective practice of skills. This preparation gives you the tools to help people develop their resources to resolve problems, make decisions and facilitate growth.
Faculty members stress several core principles in your preparation. They emphasize a multifaceted approach focusing on knowledge and skills about yourself and processes in counseling interactions. Rather than specializing in a single viewpoint, the program maintains an open stance on counseling approaches. You’ll develop as a professional in the broadest sense and prepare to take your place as a contributing member of both the counseling profession and society. The program recognizes how individuals, families and social systems inter-relate while maintaining excellence in teaching and clinical supervision.
You can pursue this program on either a full-time or part-time basis up to the point of internship. This gives you flexibility in how you complete your coursework.
What counseling programs does SUNY Plattsburgh offer?
SUNY Plattsburgh offers a Master of Science degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, structured as a 60-credit program designed to prepare you for diverse counseling roles. The program embodies a community mental health orientation with specialized courses in psychopathology and mental health counseling, psychopharmacology, and substance abuse. This complete curriculum positions you to work in multiple professional environments.
The program structure divides into three components. Your core coursework spans 39 credits and covers foundational areas such as life span development, theories of counseling, counseling relationships and skills, ethical practice, assessment, group counseling, substance abuse counseling, career development, clinical mental health counseling and consultation, cultural contexts, psychopathology, psychopharmacology, and research design. These courses build your theoretical knowledge and develop practical competencies at the same time.
Your practicum and internship requirements total 12 credits. You begin with pre-practicum, progress through counseling practicum, and culminate in a six-credit internship in mental health counseling. You’ll also complete nine credits of counseling electives and select three courses that match your professional interests:
- Introduction to Couples and Family Counseling
- Psychopathology and Counseling of Children and Adolescents
- Introduction to Crisis, Disaster & Trauma Informed Counseling
- Introduction to Human Sexuality and Sex Therapy
- Thesis/Research Project Paper
- Ecopsychology and Applied Ecotherapy
- Spirituality in Clinical Practice
These elective options allow you to tailor your education toward specific populations or therapeutic approaches. To name just one example, if you wish to work with families or children, you can select electives specific to those concerns.
You satisfy academic requirements for licensure in New York as a mental health counselor with diagnostic privileges after completion and may take New York state’s licensure exam, the Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination. You must complete a minimum of two clock hours of instruction in a New York State Education Department approved training class regarding the identification and reporting of child abuse and maltreatment before applying to get licensed.
The mental health counseling degree prepares you to work in many settings. These include community mental health clinics, child and family counseling centers, youth intervention programs, mental health units in regional medical centers, emergency mental health centers, day treatment programs, community residences, therapeutic communities, probation and corrections facilities, in-patient treatment facilities for substance abuse, and community education programs.
Internships/Practicum at Plattsburgh
Your clinical training unfolds through a well-laid-out sequence of experiential learning opportunities that bridge classroom knowledge with professional practice. The practicum requirement just needs a minimum of 150 clock hours, with at least 47 of those hours dedicated to direct counseling services with clients. This hands-on experience allows you to apply theoretical concepts under professional supervision while you develop your counseling identity.
You must complete a six-credit, 600 clock hour internship before graduation after practicum. Of these 600 hours, 240 must involve direct counseling services. This time commitment will give you experience working with diverse clients and presenting concerns of all types. The internship requires a full-time commitment and allows you to immerse yourself in the professional counseling environment.
Your course sequence progresses through three stages. You begin with CLG 512 Pre-Practicum, a three-credit course that prepares you for client interaction. Next comes CLG 513 Counseling Practicum, another three-credit course where you work with clients under supervision. You complete CLG 541 Internship in Mental Health Counseling last, a six-credit experience that serves as your capstone clinical training.
Program faculty supervise all your counseling activities during practicum and internship experiences. This supervision requirement extends to any counseling services you provide outside regular coursework and requires written approval from supervising faculty. Such oversight protects both you and your clients while it ensures quality clinical training.
You must secure professional liability insurance through membership in an approved professional association ahead of practicum and internship courses. Internship placements span a variety of settings chosen to line up with your degree program. These placements provide relevant work experience in supervised environments where you learn from mental health professionals.
What sets SUNY Plattsburgh apart?
SUNY Plattsburgh’s counseling programs stand out through longevity, accreditation benefits and complete preparation. The graduate counseling program has operated as part of the SUNY Plattsburgh curriculum for nearly 50 years. This establishes a rich tradition of preparing mental health professionals. The department first received accreditation in 1990 and secured reaccreditation in 1997. They show a steadfast dedication to quality standards.
CACREP accreditation provides the most important advantage. Students at unaccredited schools must wait two years after graduation. You can take the National Counselor Exam to become a National Certified Counselor during your final semester. This early eligibility accelerates your professional credentialing process. You can enter the workforce faster.
SUNY Plattsburgh mental health counseling programs emphasize advocacy and case management alongside core counseling competencies. Social and public policy skills round out the curriculum. This broader skill set prepares you to address widespread problems affecting client wellbeing beyond individual concerns. Faculty members bring specialized expertise to their teaching. Research interests span existential dynamics and meaning-making in emerging adulthood. They also cover spiritual and religious cultural competency, nature-based therapy, and counselor competency with psychedelics. Some faculty offer voluntary courses such as a six-week Introduction to Mindfulness. These support your resilience and wellness as both a student and clinical professional.
The Middle States Commission on Higher Education granted the institution accreditation for eight years in June 2022. The next site visit is scheduled for Spring 2030. SUNY Plattsburgh earned recognition as #50 out of 170 Regional Universities North. The program ranked #11 for best value mental health counseling programs in New York.
International students receive partial scholarships covering between 20-40% of total attendance costs. Alumni benefit from the program’s high standards when serving as field supervisors. They work with well-laid-out candidates.
Next steps
SUNY Plattsburgh’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling program provides you with a detailed pathway to professional licensure through its CACREP-accredited curriculum. The 60-credit program combines coursework and clinical experiences with specialized electives tailored to your career goals. The program has nearly five decades of excellence and faculty expertise. You gain early eligibility for national certification. This program positions you to enter the mental health field as a well-prepared counselor ready to serve diverse populations in clinical settings of all types.