About Counselor Education Program at SUNY Plattsburgh

About The Counselor Education Program

What Is Counseling?

The practice of professional counseling is the application of mental health, psychological or human development principles, through cognitive, affective, behavioral or systemic intervention strategies that address wellness, personal growth, or career development, as well as pathology.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Counselor Education Department at SUNY Plattsburgh is to educate persons to become professional counselors who have the commitment, knowledge, skills, and self-awareness to offer quality counseling, developmental and prevention services to individuals, groups, and families in educational and community settings. The Counselor Education Department is further dedicated to preparing professional counselors who have a working knowledge of ethical standards of practice, have developed cultural self-awareness and skills for working effectively with diverse client populations, and have committed to ongoing professional development.

Counseling Program Philosophy

The comprehensive counseling programs combine theoretical and applied approaches to serving clients. Courses in all of the counseling programs provide a balanced selection of academic and experiential education, with an emphasis on reflective practice of skills. The programs prepare professional counselors to help people develop their resources to resolve problems, to make decisions and to facilitate growth and development.

Counseling Faculty Perspective

The counseling program faculty recognize and stress:

1. The importance of a multifaceted approach to the preparation of counselor candidates, emphasizing knowledge and skills about self, processes, and content in counseling interactions.
2. An open stance on counseling approaches rather than providing specialization in any one point of view.
3. Candidates to become professionals in the broadest sense of the term. This includes preparing candidates to take their places as fully contributing members of the counseling profession and of society as a whole.
4. The inter-relatedness of the individual, the family, and social systems.
5. Excellence in teaching, supervision of students' clinical practice and scholarly work, and faculty advisement.

Questions, Comments, Suggestions?

If you would like more information about counselor education at SUNY Plattsburgh please contact:

Dr. David Stone, Chairperson
Office: Ward Hall 104A
Phone: (518) 564-4178
Email: stoneda@plattsburgh.edu