Overview
Rob Rice , Chair
Building on the mission of St. John Fisher University, the Mental Health Counseling program’s mission is to deliver culturally informed personalized instruction to a diverse student body regarding essential counseling knowledge and skills, as well as facilitating the development and enhancement of personal qualities and characteristics necessary to become an outstanding professional mental health counselor.
Program Objectives
Demonstrate professional skills and personal qualities required for working as an effective counselor in an integrated setting Demonstrate a variety of differential diagnostic assessment skills consistent with the most current diagnostic manual Demonstrate the ability to use a diverse range of evidence-based intervention strategies Develop appropriate intervention plans based upon knowledge of culturally relevant variables in client care, including ethnicity, religion, socioeconomic levels, gender, sexual orientation, and disability status Demonstrate professional behavior consistent with ethical guidelines of Mental Health Counseling professional organizations and regulatory agencies.
Through Fisher’s mental health counseling program, you will become licensed to treat adults/children with emotional, mental, and physical challenges. The curriculum examines the psychological foundations of mental health and related developmental issues. The role of diagnostic assessment, including both its strengths and limitations, is a focal point of the program.
Courses offer you in-depth, practical insight into counseling areas such as:
- Professional identity
- Social and cultural diversity
- Human growth and development
- Helping relationships
- Career development
- Group work
- Research
- Program evaluation
- Evidence-based intervention skills
Two options exist within the program. You can earn either your master’s degree (60 credits) which can be obtained in two years of full-time study or 3.5 years part-time, or an advanced certificate in mental health counseling. The latter is ideal if you already possess a master's degree in counseling or a related discipline but wish to build upon your educational foundation in the field. Late afternoon and evening classes help you work toward your degree or certification with minimal interruption to your busy schedule.