Counseling

Support Mental Health and Well Being

Licensed Mental Health Counselors have a master’s degree in counseling and provide evaluation, assessment, treatment and consultation services for adults and children, families and communities.

Online learning not for you?

We also offer an on-campus version of this program.

Tuition & Fees

60 credits
(8-credit practicum also available)

$825 per-credit

$3,415 Graduate Assistantships available per semester
(Must be available to work on Albany or Troy campuses.)

Length & Format

3 years
to graduate

Online
A mix of live and asynchronous online courses with in-person internships near you
Looking for an in-person program? We have that, too!

About The School of Health Sciences

Russell Sage College is the region’s premier institution for health professions, offering the most comprehensive range of undergraduate and graduate programs.

Explore the School of Health Sciences

We’ll put you on the path to become an LMHC

Our master’s in Mental Health Counseling and Community Psychology is approved by the New York State Education Department’s Office of the Professions. Graduates are eligible to take the exam required to practice as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in New York state.

(We offer a Community Psychology master’s for those not seeking licensure as a LMHC.)

  • Flexible format: Courses are delivered online through a mix of live online meetings in the evenings (particularly clinical courses) and asynchronous courses taken on your schedule. Secure required in-person internships at a location near you with guidance from our dedicated internship coordinator.
  • We combine community psychology and counseling in a way other programs don’t: You’ll learn to work directly with clients and to view mental health from a macro level.
  • We provide a comprehensive curriculum: You’ll take academic, clinical, and research classes in the behavioral sciences and build therapeutic skills under the supervision of licensed professionals. We also offer courses in family counseling, psychopharmacology, and substance abuse counseling.
  • New concentrations: Three elective courses are built into the program, and you can focus them around one of three specialty areas – Trauma and Acute Care, Couples and Family Counseling, or Substance Abuse and Addiction Counseling – adding a concentration to your master’s degree.

Mental Health Counseling vs. Social Work

Many students ask whether they should pursue becoming a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). 

While your career path is a personal choice, we wanted to help you by breaking down the difference in licensing requirements in New York state, so you can understand your educational journey, licensing requirements, and scope of practice for each route.

Compare LMHC and LCSW (PDF)

Concentrations and Certificates

You can earn additional concentrations and credentials for more marketability.

Use your program electives toward a concentration in any of these areas:

  • Trauma-Informed Counseling
  • Neuropsychology
  • Choose from either: Risk and Resilience or Psychopharmacology
  • Family Counseling
  • Couples Counseling
  • Choose from either: Child Psychopathology or Intro to Play Therapy (this course must be taken in-person)
  • Alcoholism/Drug Addiction: Vulnerabilities, Dynamics & Problems
  • Chemical Dependence Education & Prevention
  • Neuropsychology

Earn an additional certification:

  • Students who choose to concentrate in Substance Abuse and Addiction Counseling will also complete the requirements for obtaining Credentialed Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor Trainee (CASAC-T) certification. The certification is for those who provide direct clinical care services and substance use disorder counseling.

Course Requirements

Credits and Completion

Our master’s in Mental Health Counseling and Community Psychology program is 60 credits and can be completed full time in approximately three years. The program has been registered with New York State Education Department as meeting the educational qualifications leading to licensure as a Mental Health Counselor in New York state.

This program is registered with the New York State Department of Education and meets the education requirements for the New York state Licensed Mental Health Counselor credential. Students who want to become licensed in other states will need to research educational requirements specific to the state(s) of interest.

View Program Catalog
Psychology Graduate Programs Handbook 2025-2026

Application Requirements

Now taking applications for a fall 2026 start

Space will be limited so apply by March 15th, 2026, for a chance to secure your spot.

Applicants should have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 and should have completed undergraduate courses in Social Science Statistics, History and Systems of Psychology, and three additional courses in behavioral sciences.

  • Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended
  • Two letters of recommendation (when many other colleges require three)
  • A 1- to 2-page career goals essay: We want to hear your voice. Russell Sage College values authenticity, critical thinking, and personal expression. We ask that all application essays be written solely by the applicant with only ethical use of AI technology, such as tools that support but do not generate content.
  • A resume
  • An RSC graduate school application
  • GRE scores are not required
Apply Now
checklist
Personal advising, experienced faculty

Our master’s program comes with a deep, Russell Sage-level of support from an assigned faculty advisor who works with you to ensure your success.

Alicia
Harlow, Ph.D.

Chair and In-Person Program Director, Associate Professor of Psychology

Learn more about Alicia
Gayle Morse
Gayle
Morse, Ph.D.

Professor of Psychology, Internship Coordinator

Learn more about Gayle
Justin
Kimber, Ph.D.

Online Graduate Program Director, Assistant Professor of Mental Health Counseling and Community Psychology

Learn more about Justin
Professional person wearing colorful glasses while smiling at the camera
Tasneem
Mandviwala, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Psychology

Learn more about Tasneem

“Students with a master’s degree in counseling walk out the door with jobs. There’s such a need for counselors that they have jobs immediately.”

Gayle Morse, Ph.D., Professor

Your Future Career with a Master’s in Mental Health Counseling and Community Psychology

Graduates of Russell Sage’s Mental Health Counseling and Community Psychology program become Licensed Mental Health Counselors and enter private and group practices or join state and county agencies, health care systems, universities, school districts, human service agencies, and more.

Internships

As a counseling psychology master’s candidate, you will work therapeutically with clients in person under the supervision of licensed, registered professionals. Students will be guided through the process of finding an internship site near them by our dedicated internship coordinator.

Research

You will also conduct research and may be eligible for research funding from Russell Sage College’s Broughton Graduate Fellowship or Paul Search Research Award in Community Psychology, or from the American Psychological Association.

Professional Networking

Professional organizations and conferences are another opportunity to learn. Our students have presented research at the American Psychological Association’s national and regional conferences and Russell Sage College’s Graduate Research symposium.

M.A. in Mental Health Counseling and Community Psychology Spotlights

Meet students and alumni from our counseling master’s program.

Student
2023, 2026
Ruth Martin

Six days after Ruth Martin’s internship at Unity House’s PROS ended, she returned as an employee. “This is my dream …

Read More
Alumni
Mental Health Counseling and Community Psychology Master’s Program (M.A.) 2023
Amanda Abel

Amanda Abel ’23 is already applying her M.A. in Counseling and Community Psychology as a mental health counselor for Northpointe …

Read More
Student
Kiara Maher

Kiara Maher is a Troy native and always knew of Russell Sage College as a “tight community.”  But what really …

Read More
Student
Evangeline Murphy

“I am motivated to work with underserved populations, specifically for nonprofits,” says Evangeline Murphy, who is pursuing a master’s degree …

Read More
Student
2022
Nana Ama Boateng

Counseling and Community Psychology master’s degree candidate Nana Ama Boateng was one of five Russell Sage College students who participated …

Read More

Related Resources

Frequently Asked Questions – ONLINE Master of Mental Health Counseling and Community Psychology

A. The career landscape for mental health counselors who complete their degrees online is strong. Earning a mental health counseling degree from an accredited program, including the required in-person internship hours, makes candidates eligible to earn counseling credentials and join a growing workforce of mental health professionals. In New York, graduates of online mental health counseling programs can take the Licensed Mental Health Counselor exam upon graduation.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the demand for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors is expected to grow by 17% between 2024 and 2034, which is much faster than the average for all professions.[1] New York is one of the top five states for employment of mental health counselors, employing more than 22,000 professionals in this category in 2024. The New York City metropolitan area, which includes Jersey City and Newark, is the top employer for this profession in all metro areas in the U.S., employing more than 23,000 mental health counselors. 

[1] https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/substance-abuse-behavioral-disorder-and-mental-health-counselors.htm

A. Graduates of the Master of Mental Health Counseling and Community Psychology online program at Russell Sage are qualified to apply for licensure as Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHC) in the State of New York. The Sage internship coordinator works with students to secure convenient and relevant internship experiences during the MA program, which helps lay the foundation for the required professional experience prior to licensure.

Upon completion of the Sage program, which is registered with the New York Education Department Office of the Professions, graduates are eligible to take the required National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination (NCMHCE) administered by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC). Prior to licensure but after completing the master’s program, prospective LMHCs must also complete 3,000 hours of supervised work experience, with at least 1,500 of those hours including direct client contact.[1]

[1] https://www.op.nysed.gov/professions/mental-health-counselors/license-requirements

A. Students in the MA of Mental Health Counseling and Community Psychology online program complete both a community psychology externship and a mental health counseling internship, for a total of nine credit hours. Students must complete at least 45 credit hours of coursework prior to being approved for externship placement. They must also complete other required courses prior to beginning their mental health counseling internships.

The externship and internship are completed in-person at approved locations. The program’s internship coordinator works with online students to find internship sites that meet their career goals and are geographically convenient for them.

In addition to the internship hours completed during the program, graduates must complete an additional 3,000 hours of supervised counseling experience prior to qualifying for the LMHC credential in New York.

A. The online learning experience at Russell Sage College is designed to be convenient for online learners without sacrificing the quality or content of their education. All courses are delivered online, with most clinical courses delivered via live online meetings that are typically scheduled in the evening hours. Live online courses give students a chance to interact with and learn from their classmates through clinical discussions. Other courses are offered in an asynchronous format that allows students to complete the coursework from anywhere in the world at any time.

In addition to the obvious convenience for students, scholarly evidence suggests there are other benefits for online learners, as well. One journal article indicates, for instance, that online learning provides “highly structured, efficient, and secure management of assignments and grades” as well as “the learner-centered critical thinking” evidenced in online course discussion boards. The Sage online learning experience expects students to fully engage in their online coursework to reap the benefits of these online delivery methods.

A. The Sage online LMHC program curriculum includes nine credit hours of fieldwork that consists of one community psychology counseling practicum and two counseling internships. The clinical placements take place at the end of the program, and students are expected to complete all other coursework prior to enrolling in the internship placements.

Students in the MA program also have the option to complete one of the following:

  • Thesis Development and Creation: Students recruit a faculty member to supervise thesis research, investigate a research topic of special interest, develop the necessary skills to conduct research, analyze data, and complete a manuscript.
  • Research Seminar: Students complete and present a scholarly paper assessing the state of a relevant, approved topic of their choice under faculty supervision.

A. Yes, students can complete the Mental Health Counseling & Community Psychology online program while also having a full-time job. The MA program is designed for maximum flexibility. Asynchronous online coursework can be completed on a flexible schedule before or after work and from any location. Clinical courses that require live online meetings are scheduled in the evenings, making it possible for working professionals to attend.

However, students who are working full-time are discouraged from attempting to complete the program on a three-year timeline, as the depth of coursework and clinical training requires a significant time commitment to engage fully and succeed.

That said, working during a graduate program can be an excellent way to offset the costs of attendance and gain professional experience, depending on the job and the student’s course load. Academic advisors can help students thrive in both work and graduate studies. Key ways to achieve a balance between the workload of a job and a master’s program include the following:

  • Leveraging organizational and time management skills to work ahead when possible and not procrastinate
  • Practicing excellent communication and expectation management with classmates, professors, and work colleagues
  • Reaching out to social support networks for help with personal and professional obligations as necessary.

Still Exploring Your Options? Consider Related Graduate Programs:

Mental Health Counseling and Community Psychology
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Community
Psychology
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Criminal Justice and Community Corrections
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Need help?

Justin Kimber, Ph.D.
Online Graduate Program Director,
Assistant Professor of Mental Health Counseling and Community Psychology
kimbej@sage.edu

Alicia Harlow, Ph.D.
Chair and In-Person Program Director,
Associate Professor of Psychology
518-244-2223
harloa2@sage.edu

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Tasneem Mandviwala, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Psychology
mandvt@sage.edu
832-372-4400

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