Master’s in Mental Health Counseling
Advance your clinical practice career at our award-winning Gordon F. Derner School of Psychology in our mental health counseling graduate program.
What Can I Do with a Mental Health Counseling Master’s Degree?
A master’s degree in mental health counseling will prepare you to be an entry-level mental health counselor in a variety of settings, including inpatient and outpatient hospital departments of psychiatry, community mental health clinics, rehabilitation programs and schools. Once licensed, you can open a private practice or work with an established organization in roles such as staff therapist or substance abuse specialist, or step into leadership as a behavioral health administrator or clinical director.
Why Earn Your MA in Mental Health Counseling at Adelphi University in New York?
- Benefit from a work-compatible schedule with classes offered in the evenings in our full-time program.
- Concentrate on key job market areas, including substance abuse.
- Develop clinical skills through participation in the national counseling examination and benefit from hands-on experience with a practicum and internship.
- Learning occurs in an environment with award-winning, nationally and internationally-renowned faculty.
Adelphi’s mental health counseling program gave me a personalized experience… As I progressed through my internship, I was provided with the knowledge and skills necessary to sculpt me into a proficient counselor. Through the constructive criticism received from faculty, staff and my peers, I graduate as an alum with the utmost confidence to be an empathic counselor for my future clients.
Aaiza Kausar ’17, MA ’20
MA, Mental Health Counseling
Adelphi Lands Two Major National Rankings from Addiction Counselor
Adelphi University’s Gordon F. Derner School of Psychology ranks No. 24 among Addiction Counselor’s Top 50 Master’s Counseling Programs in the nation. Derner also ranks 40th among the Top 75 Addiction Studies Programs in the U.S.
On its website, Addiction Counselor said it ranks addiction counseling degrees based on such educational statistics as a program’s retention rate, graduation rate, cost and student-to-faculty ratio.
Master’s in Mental Health Counseling Degree Options and Concentrations
We offer our students the opportunity to focus their studies in the following areas:
Substance Abuse Counseling Concentration
Completing the coursework in the substance abuse counseling concentration equips you to deliver clinical services to clients and their significant others seeking treatment for chemical dependency. Our theoretical models of addiction and evidence-based practices prepare you for work in a variety of settings.
Students who complete the master’s in mental health counseling substance abuse concentration program will have satisfied the state of New York’s 350 hours of educational requirements, will receive a certificate of completion and are eligible for the Credential in Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counseling Trainee certificate (CASAC-T).
Exceptional Hands-On Experiences
At Adelphi, we believe strongly in the power of hands-on learning opportunities. All students in this program will build clinical competency skills through a practicum and internship experience. Our graduates benefit from our close ties with local hospitals, agencies and organizations in the New York area and have helped by providing mental health services in a variety of settings.
Our students have gained valuable experience outside the classroom, through graduate student assistantships and field placement opportunities, conference and presentation participation.
Counseling Master’s Program Info
Mental Health Counseling Master’s Program Application Requirements & Deadlines
The priority mental health counseling graduate program deadline is March 1. Applications completed after this date will be reviewed on a space-available basis. Applicants must have a minimum 3.1 GPA and should have completed prerequisite courses (or an equivalent) in general psychology, abnormal psychology, developmental psychology and research methods. Master’s in clinical mental health counseling applicants should submit the following application requirements:
- Graduate application and $60 fee
- Two letters of recommendation
- Personal essay
- Official transcripts from all prior institutions and proof of bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year institution
- Admissions interview
- Résumé (preferred)
GRE scores will not be required for Fall 2025 admission.
Frequently Asked Questions about Adelphi’s Mental Health Counseling Master’s
With a master’s degree in mental health counseling, you will be prepared to be an entry-level mental health counselor in a variety of settings, such as inpatient and outpatient hospital departments of psychiatry, community mental health clinics, rehabilitation programs and schools. Once licensed, you can open a private practice or work with an established organization in various roles, e.g., staff therapist or substance abuse specialist, or step into leadership as a behavioral health administrator or clinical director.
Yes, because – as Fortune magazine recently said – because you need a master’s and a license in the field to practice as a clinical mental health counselor. You must also pass a national exam. Career prospects are high in this field, with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting that demand for mental health counselors and other related roles, such as substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors, should grow by 22 percent between 2021 and 2031, a pace that’s considered above average.
It takes two years to complete the MA in Mental Health Counseling at Adelphi.
Awards & Recognition
