The Department of Counseling celebrated its 75th Anniversary on September 28, 2024! Alumni, faculty, emeriti faculty, and students of the graduate programs in the Department of Counseling gathered to come together in community to celebrate our history, present and future! Department of Counseling alumni, students or faculty who were not able to attend are welcome to reach out to Rebecca Toporek (rtoporek@sfsu.edu)
Announcing a new book from Michael Lai, alum of the Department of Counseling with a specialization in College Counseling. Michael is a community college counselor and instructor at Chabot College in Hayward, California. His own higher education journey started as a community college student and graduated from the San Francisco State Counseling Department in 2011. Today, he specializes in supporting first-generation low-income students in utilizing the community college path in support of their educational and career goals. Michael's book, From a Counselor: The Fastest and Most Affordable Way to a College Degree, provides a unique perspective on how students can start taking ownership of their educational experience and aims to address many myths and messages floating around the pursuit of higher education. The book is designed to spark discussion and debate between students, parents, and education practitioners and has been a useful tool in his work with K-12 students, parents, and college students.
Drs. Derrick Bines, Rebecca Toporek (Department of Counseling faculty) and Bryan Rojas-Araúz (alumni of the Department of Counseling) present at the National Latinx Psychological Association Conference in October 2022. Their workshop, Reconectando con nuestros antepasados para el cambio social con S-Quad: Strength, Solidarity, Strategy and Sustainability" provided an opportunity for participants to acknowledge and draw on the wisdom of ancestors and elders in developing social action plans to challenge injustice.
Dear Prospective Students,
Thank you for your interest in applying to the Post-Masters Pupil Personnel Services Credential (PPSC) Program in School Counseling. This program is designed to accommodate those individuals who currently hold a Master's Degree in Counseling and who wish to acquire a credential enabling them to work in California as a school counselor in a PK-12 school setting. Eligibility will only be determined once an application has been submitted. Transcript evaluations will not be conducted prior to the admissions process. You can conduct your own informal transcript evaluation by going to the Department of Counseling website under School Counseling and comparing your master’s courses with ours for potential equivalency.
Upon departmental review of your application and acceptance to the credential program, you will be invited for advising and orientation. The Department of Counseling admits students for the fall semester only of each year.
Students are notified by May 1st.
The selection process is highly competitive. Due to space limitations, we are only able to select a small number of students.
Please note: There will be a separate $25 application processing fee applied to all applicants
Nonrefundable fee of $25.00 for transcript evaluation and application processing
Online payment only through CashNet (the Bursar’s Office has provided the link)
The Department of Counseling is subject to confidentiality rules and regulations and is not permitted to share these data with any outside agency, person, or institution. For this reason, we ask that you retain copies of all application materials for your records.
Sincerely,
Julie Chronister, Ph.D.
Chair
Thank you for considering our graduate programs in counseling as the next step in your professional development. Please read these instructions carefully before you begin completing your application. You can use this as a guide for the Cal State Apply online application process.
Identify your Letter Writers (“Recommenders”)
Before you start the CAL STATE APPLY online application, identify and contact two people who can write an informed Letter of Recommendation and who know you in an academic or professional capacity (e.g., a professor or supervisor). They should be familiar enough with your work or academic background to write an informed and relevant letter of recommendation for you. Please read the "Instructions for Letters of Recommendation" on our website and share those with your Recommenders. When you begin CAL STATE APPLY you will list the recommenders and their contact information. Inform your recommenders that they will be receiving a notice from CAL STATE APPLY requesting their letters. ONLY two Letters of Recommendation will be accepted. If you submit fewer than two letters, your application will not be considered. No more than two letters will be considered.
PLEASE REVIEW OUR “INSTRUCTIONS ABOUT LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION” BEFORE CONTACTING YOUR RECOMMENDERS.
Submission of Letters of Recommendation is integrated in CAL STATE APPLY. You will need to list the names and email addresses of your two Recommenders so CAL STATE APPLY can notify them to submit recommendations. ALL LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION MUST BE SUBMITTED THROUGH CAL STATE APPLY TO BE INCLUDED IN THE APPLICATION. Hand delivered or mailed copies will not be accepted. The Recommender can write their letter on their own professional letterhead or use the reference form available from our website. If you give the Department form to the Recommender to use, be sure to fill in your name, degree objective/specialization and emphasis (if any) before emailing the form to your Recommender. This is essential so your Recommender can tailor their comments to reflect your strengths and appropriateness for the program.
To apply to the Department of Counseling graduate programs, you must apply online through CAL STATE APPLY (https://www2.calstate.edu/Apply). The deadline is January 15th 8:59pm PST (NO EXCEPTONS OR EXTENTIONS).
If you do not have psychology background, we highly recommended you taking these courses as the material is the foundation for first year counseling courses. If your undergrad degree did not cover the material; we urge you to take these 3 courses before starting the program at any community college.
Note: Prerequisite requirements are subject to change for Fall 2026 admissions
Strongly recommended:
Below you will find detailed instructions for completing the CAL STATE APPLY application. Please read this carefully before beginning your application and then refer to it while you complete your application. Make sure to follow the instructions carefully and upload all documents correctly. Once your CAL STATE APPLY application is submitted, you will NOT be able to add, change or replace any documents.
When you fill out the CAL STATE APPLY application online, make sure all items are correctly filled out and upload all necessary documents including all unofficial transcripts from all higher education institutions you have attended (make sure all your coursework is listed).
Make sure that the correct degree objective/specialization and emphasis [if any] are noted in your application. Please consult our web page at http://counseling.sfsu.edu for information regarding the degree objective/specialization and emphasis. There are three-degree programs and six specializations. Choose 1 of the following options for your desired Specialization:
Option 1)
Master of Science in Counseling (MSC) [“Counseling MS”] with a Specialization in:
(this degree option MUST choose ONE of the following specializations)
Option 2)
Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (Specialization: Clinical Mental Health Counseling) (MS-CMHC) [“Mental Health Counseling”]
Option 3)
Master of Science in Counseling with a Concentration in Marriage, Family and Child Counseling (Specialization: Marriage, Family and Child Counseling) (MSC-MFCC) [“Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling”]
1) Personal Information: (please complete all of this section)
You will need to upload following REQUIRED documents:
Note: please DO NOT upload any of the following:
Degree Objective- read this carefully
Specialization:
__ Career Counseling (M.S. in Counseling)
__ Clinical Mental Health Counseling (M.S. in CMHC)
__ College Student Personnel (M.S. in Counseling)
__ Gerontological Counseling (M.S. in Counseling)
__ School Counseling (M.S. in Counseling)- PPSC will be automatically added
__ Marriage, Family and Child Counseling (M.S. Counseling, Concentration in MFCC; also known as MFT)
Emphasis area (Department Certificate Program - Optional):
All of the specialization areas, (except for MFT- MFCC) can be selected as an emphasis. Please note that admission to a specialization area does not guarantee admission to an emphasis.
ACADEMIC RECORD
You may list any additional evidence of professional work such as honors received, papers presented, publications, projects, etc.
LANGUAGES SPOKEN AND FLUENCY LEVEL
Indicate languages spoken and fluency (other than English).
LIST OF COUNSELING COURSES
If you have previously taken or are currently taking a course in the Department of Counseling at SFSU, list all courses.
Please do not use this section unless you are applying for multiple campuses
Note: before uploading, please make sure that all documents are formatted as PDF or MS Word documents (doc) without any password encryption or fillable areas (make sure that all documents are "flattened"). The system will reject any fillable document or document with encryption such as official transcript (if submitting a copy of your official transcript, you must first scan the documents to upload)
Please upload a CV/Resume that highlights no more than your last five places of counseling-related employment, and no more than your last five places of non-counseling related employment. Include volunteer or unpaid experience, notable leadership activities, community contributions, language skills, or other experiences. List any academic awards or honors received, leadership positions, and any professional publications and/or peer-reviewed presentations. Please limit your Resume/CV to a maximum of 3 pages.
Please upload your personal statement (1300 words or less) via MS Word or PDF format. Take time to think through what you will write. All students in our program are expected to engage in self-reflection and analysis of highly sensitive issues (e.g., cultural experiences and perspectives, family, history, sexuality, personal psychological issues). This is standard practice in most high-quality counseling programs. YOU MUST BE THE SOLE AUTHOR OF THIS PERSONAL STATEMENT.
It is helpful if your statement helps us to get to know you, your reasons for applying to the program and the specialization (and emphasis if relevant) how your experiences have led you to this point. The following areas are helpful to address:
Affidavit of Authorship - In addition to the Personal Statement, you will need to sign and upload the Affidavit of Authorship (form is available below) confirming that you are the sole author of the Personal Statement you have included in your application.
Upload Summary of Experience Form in the Program Materials Section. There 3 sections to the Summary of Experience form applicants should upload. Please be as specific as possible. Please indicate "NA" on the form if you intend to leave the form blank. Make sure you have filled out the form completely and clearly, so the reviewers have all the information needed.
Note: e-official transcripts are encrypted, and the Cal State Appy will not accept uploading e-official transcripts
You may only upload an unofficial copy of transcript that shows overall undergraduate program GPA. However, you may upload any other unofficial transcripts to the documents section of this application if you attended other colleges, university or study abroad (other transcripts are optional). The Division of Graduate Studies may request all of official transcripts from you at any time during the application process in order to complete reviewing process (for any official documents related inquiry, please contact the Division of Graduate Studies directly. The department does not need any official document). Photographs of documents are not accepted (unless the documents are absolutely clear and readable).
It is essential that your letters of recommendation are included in your application. Instructions and an optional recommendation form are separately available below. Your recommender is welcome to use their own professional letterhead instead of the recommendation form if they choose. The form contains guidance about useful areas for your recommenders to address. Letters of recommendation must come from individuals who know you in an academic or professional capacity and can speak to your potential as a graduate student in counseling. Supervisors, professors, mentors are all appropriate. Friends, relatives, peers, are not appropriate recommenders. Make sure to talk with potential recommenders in advance and ensure that they will be able to provide a thoughtful and thorough letter of recommendation in a timely way. When you log into CAL STATE APPLY, you will provide their name and contact information. The recommenders will upload the letter to CAL STATE APPLY directly.
Two (2) professional letters of recommendation are required with this application. These letters of recommendation MUST come from professional affiliations (e.g., professor, college counselor, agency professional supervisor) and should reflect your academic and/or professional potential. Personal references are not appropriate (e.g., friends, family, clergy, therapists). Applications with fewer than 2 letters will not be reviewed. If more than 2 letters are submitted, the additional letters will be eliminated.
The recommendation form below is optional (not required to use for a recommendation). Recommenders can use their own letterheads or a blank form (must be formatted to doc or pdf).
Note: Fee may only be paid online. Please use the link below to pay the department application processing fee
Sapna Singh, CMHC student in the Department of Counseling, published an article in the Spring 2022 Association of Spiritual, Ethical, and Religious Values in Counseling Newsletter. Sapna's article "Bhagwat Gita for Broaching: Hindu Religious/Spiritual Orientation" discusses the need for counselor training to address clients' and students religious and spiritual beliefs. She provides some insights into the importance of Hindu beliefs and sacred teachings that help with wellness, grief and other challenges.
Ulash Thakore-Dunlap, lecturer faculty in the Department of Counseling, has co-edited Counseling and Psychotherapy for South Asian Americans: Identity, Psychology, and Clinical Implications published which will be released by Routledge this October. This essential text explores what it means to be a South Asian American living in the US while seeking, navigating and receiving psychological, behavioral or counseling services. It delves into a range of issues including cultural identity, racism, colorism, immigration, gender, sexuality, parenting, and caring for older adults.
Chapter authors provide research literature, clinical and cultural considerations for interviewing and treatment planning, case examples, questions for reflection, and suggested readings, as well as worksheets and handouts. The book also includes insights on the future of South Asian American mental health, social justice, advocacy, and public policy. Integrating theory, research, and application, this book serves as a clinical guide for therapists, instructors, professors and supervisors in school/university counseling centers working with South Asian American clients, as well as for counseling students.
Afsaneh Ezzatyar, Department of Counseling MFCC student, received the highly sought after HCAI's Allied Healthcare Scholarship (AHSP).
The Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) works to increase and diversify California’s healthcare workforce by providing scholarships and loan repayments to health professional students and graduates who provide direct patient care in those communities. AHSP is funded through grants, donations, and special funds. In exchange for a 12-month service obligation practicing and providing direct patient care in an underserved community, eligible applicants in a non-behavioral health profession may receive up to $15,000 and applicants in an approved behavioral health profession up to $25,000. The purpose of this program is to increase the number of appropriately trained allied professionals providing direct patient care in an underserved area or qualified facility within California.
I am super excited to be an assistant professor in SFSU's counseling department!I was born and raised in San Francisco's Mission district and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to work in my city again. My pedagogical frameworks include, community organizing, popular education, trauma-informed clinical/school supports, decolonizing critical praxis and antiracist advocacy. As a psychologist, my clinical training and expertise is in providing trauma informed care, infant-parent psychotherapy, narrative and social justice postmodern theories. Prior to graduate school, I worked as an immigrant rights activist and obtained extensive experience in grassroots community organizing. I'm committed to working towards social justice and uplifting historically marginalized voices in higher education and the mental health field. I am currently the faculty founder of SMC's graduate student of color group (G-SOC) and the co-chair of the campus wide Afro-Latinx, Latinx, Indigenous Peoples Action Sub-Committee (ALLIPAS). My scholarship interests lie in participant action research and include working with BIPOC families to create non-traditional therapeutic wellness groups and trauma-informed, anti-racist advocacy and radical self-care for practitioners experiencing collective trauma. I live in Oakland, CA and am proud to be a child of immigrants from Guatemala, Central America and a first generation college and graduate student. I love art, music and dancing!