What brought you to the CMHC program?
-I was excited to spend time volunteering through the Campus Ministries office, where I ended up working as a work study student as well as a graduate assistant. I had a passion to help people and still wanted to stay in the helping profession. I had a professor named Dr. Charles Callahan in my undergraduate psychology program, and he encouraged me to apply to Molloy’s CMHC program, telling me, “It’s an up-and-coming field.”
What does the CMHC program offer you? What is special/unique/helpful/valuable about it?
-The CMHC program at Molloy has offered small cohorts to provide a more specialized learning environment, allowing students to get to know their professors and form lasting relationships with their peers. I also had the opportunity to present research at the NYMCHA Conference in April 2024 on “Body Dysmorphic Disorder in Adolescents: Social Media’s Influence” with some of my peers. THE CHI SIGMA IOTA Honor Society chapter started back up last year, and I had the honor of being inducted in March of 2025.
Please describe your internship and how it was of value.
-SIBSPlace is an affiliate of Mount Sinai South Nassau. They follow a psychosocial support model focusing on preventative care and the challenges that children face in coping with their emotional response to having a sick sibling or parent. SIBS allows children to express internalized feelings, feel validated, and build peer relationships.
SIBS has allowed me the opportunity to work with several different mental health professionals, such as LMHC, LMSW, and art therapists, coming together as a team to serve one purpose, which is to help children talk about the hardships they are facing and provide them with continued support!
Was there any particular experience you had at the internship that you would like to share?
-I have had the opportunity to co-facilitate therapeutic support groups, having a hands-on approach. Coming in with my own ideas for therapeutic activities to incorporate into group therapy each week has given me the opportunity to learn from different facilitators about their modalities and techniques.
How did Molloy help you get the internship?
-I had the opportunity to have one-on-one meetings with my clinical coordinator each week to ensure that I had everything that I needed for my resume, applications, and interviews.
How did what you learned at Molloy prepare you for the internship?
- Molloy has incorporated mock therapy sessions into a multitude of our classes to ensure that we are prepared when it is time to sit with our clients!
For those interested in following a similar path, becoming a therapist or mental health counselor typically starts with a bachelor’s degree in psychology or a related field, followed by a master’s in clinical mental health counseling. Programs like the Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) graduate program at Molloy University are designed to prepare students for licensure through a combination of coursework and supervised clinical experience. While timelines vary, most students spend several years completing their education and required fieldwork before becoming licensed professionals.
Hands-on training is a key part of that process. Through structured internships and practicum placements, students gain real-world experience working with diverse populations and alongside licensed clinicians. These opportunities not only help students meet licensure requirements but also open the door to a wide range of careers in mental health, including roles in hospitals, schools, community agencies, and private practice!
If you’re interested in learning more about studying Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Molloy, check out our graduate program page here!
