E-mail this pageCounselor Education Program at SUNY Plattsburgh
A Nationally Accredited Program
Plattsburgh State is one of nine CACREP accredited colleges and universities programs in New York State.
We offer three nationally accredited Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) programs in School Counseling and Student Affairs Professional Practice. Our third program, Mental Health Counseling, was recently approved by the SUNY System and received CACREP accreditiation in January 2008. We are the first SUNY college to be approved for this new program. This progam satisfies all the academic requirements leading toward professional licensure as a mental health counselor.
Benefits of National Accreditation
National accreditation means high standards, translates into immediate benefits to you in terms of future employment and an enhanced counseling student status.
Our department has an outstanding faculty of six full-time counselor educators with years of experience in each of their specialties.
We encourage you to read what our students, graduates, and intership/practicum site supervisors have to say about the program.
Programs of Study
The Counselor Education Department offers programs in the following areas:
- Mental Health Counseling (M.S.)
- Student Affairs Professional Practice (M.S.)
- School Counseling (M.S. Ed./C.A.S)
These comprehensive professional education programs combine theoretical and skill-based approaches to serving clients, focusing on the preparation of professional counselors who have the commitment, knowledge, skills, attitudes, values and self-awareness to offer quality counseling services to individuals, families, and groups in educational and community settings.
Our programs can be pursued on a full-time or part-time basis, up to the time of internship when a full-time commitment is generally required.
News
Dr. Stephen Saiz Honored for Excellence
Once an elementary school teacher, Dr. Stephan Saiz, a recipient of the Award for Excellence in Teaching, bases his college teaching, in part, on that experience.
As a result, this associate professor's "focus is always on the learner," said SUNY Plattsburgh President John Ettling. "Among the more specific techniques he uses are case studies; biography, literature and clinical anecdote; reflective team work; role-playing; and joint analysis of taped counseling sessions as well as lecture demonstration, and discussion."
Saiz is rated especially highly for his responsiveness to and respect for students, his enthusiasm for the subject matter (counselor education), and his level of understanding of the material. Students also rate him highly for his counseling supervision. Read more.
New Mental Health Counseling Master's Program
Counselor Education now offers a master's degree program in Mental Health Counseling. We are the first SUNY college to be approved for this new program. This program satisfies the academic requirements leading toward professional licensure as a mental health counselor. The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) has revised all of its facility regulation to build in the title of Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) into its staffing regulations. Learn more about the Mental Health Counseling Master's Program
Questions, Comments, Suggestions?
If you would like more information about counselor education at SUNY Plattsburgh please contact
Dr. Stephen Saiz, Chairperson
Office: Ward Hall 107F
Phone: (518) 564-4170
E-mail: stephen.saiz@plattsburgh.edu