Does anyone have information on the Masters in Mental Health Counseling at Touro College in NY?
Just to note for NYC people considering counseling degrees: lots of people don't know this (none of my NYC friends in counseling programs knew), but Hunter College's school of education has a mental health counseling degree in addition to its school counseling options. It's cheap. It's not as well-known as the school of social work, and I have no idea about the quality of the program, but it's definitely something to consider.
I can post more on this later if anyone has questions about it, but I would be weary of their MHC program because it's not CACREP accredited as of yet. Their Rehabilitation Counseling program is CORE accredited though, and IMHO Rehabilitation Counseling can open a few more doors depending on what you want to do.
I can post more on this later if anyone has questions about it, but I would be weary of their MHC program because it's not CACREP accredited as of yet. Their Rehabilitation Counseling program is CORE accredited though, and IMHO Rehabilitation Counseling can open a few more doors depending on what you want to do.
Most NY metro area programs are not CACREP accredited yet, unfortunately. This includes Columbia, NYU etc. It's not a big obstacle if you are looking for a job in NY. Though the new VA positions require it. The MHC degree is definitely not the best route to employment in NYC though, regardless of CACREP status.
Yeah, NYC is not the best place for counseling. Besides the dearth of good counseling programs and the near-absence of CACREP-accredited programs (which isn't good for mobility), New York imposes additional burdens on counselors. LMHCs can't be Medicaid providers, which effectively restricts the populations with whom they can work. An LMHC treating someone with a serious mental illness must seek approval from a physician, something other providers don't have to do. The scope of practice for counselors includes "evaluation and assessment" but not diagnosis.
This PDF provides a side-by-side comparison with social workers: http://www.naswnys.org/LCSW LMHC Comparison.pdf
Anyone considering counseling here in New York should think carefully. I know several counselors who can't find work in their fields.
Doesn't Touro function like a for-profit uni? I thought I read they "sold" part of themselves to an outside group. I can't speak to their MA Pyh programs, buti know their med school isn't held in high regard.