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Overview
Alfred University’s graduate program in mental health counseling prepares individuals for counseling positions in public and private agencies that provide mental health and alcohol/substance abuse treatment. The program focuses on developing a broad set of helping skills that are applicable to any mental health setting in which counselors work. Students develop these skills both in and out of the classroom.
Students spend over 100 days (700 clock hours) in mental health settings. Coursework in the program offers practice in a range of counseling skills and functions of mental health counselors, while the field experiences provide the student with practical applications in mental health counseling. Recent internship sites include out-patient centers of hospitals, in- patient psychiatric units, residential substance abuse programs, out-patient substance abuse programs, multi-service agencies, and private practices. This program requires that students complete 60 credit-hours of course work, including a 3-credit practicum experience and two 3-credit internships. Individuals who successfully complete this program are eligible for the limited permit as a mental health counselor in New York State. Graduates must then complete 3,000 hours (approximately 2 years, full-time) of supervised mental health counseling experience (1,500 hours of which must be direct client contact) and pass the National Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination which serves as the licensing exam for New York State.