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Mentoring Program

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Mentoring Program Coordinator
Ms. Jessenia Ramirez, LMHC-D
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Program Mission

The NYMHCA Mentoring Program is committed to continuing our mission of supporting, promoting, and advocating for mental health counselors across New York State by creating an intentional and inclusive space for professional development. This program connects students, recent graduates of mental health counseling programs, or current counselors seeking the guidance of more seasoned colleagues with experienced licensed professionals to foster growth, confidence, and connection at every stage of a counselor’s journey.

We believe that effective mentoring, like counseling, is grounded in meaningful relationships built on mutual trust, respect, commitment, and shared learning. Through these relationships, we aim to cultivate a community of support that honors diverse identities, experiences, and pathways within the counseling profession.

Program Goals

  • Goal 1: Support graduate students, recent graduates, and current mental health counselors in navigating the transition from training to professional identity and practice.
  • Goal 2: Create opportunities for current counselors – at any stage in their careers – to seek mentorship and gain insight on navigating different elements of the counselor experience from more seasoned colleagues.
  • Goal 3: Foster meaningful, inclusive relationships among mental health counselors across New York State that encourage professional growth, peer support, and a strong sense of community.

How NYMHCA Defines Mentoring

What Is Mentoring?

  • Collaborative Relationship-Building: A respectful, non-hierarchical connection grounded in mutual learning, shared professional values, and a commitment to growth
  • Professional and Emotional Support: Space to explore clinical identity, ethical dilemmas, applications, interviews, and challenges navigating the counseling field – without judgment
  • Knowledge Sharing: Seasoned professionals offering guidance, perspective, and resources based on experience, while remaining open to learning from mentees’ lived experiences and evolving perspectives
  • Culturally Responsive Practice: Awareness and validation of the diverse identities, backgrounds, and professional pathways of both mentors and mentees
  • Goal-Oriented Conversations: Mentoring pairs working together to identify personal and professional development goals and checking in regularly to support progress
  • Flexible, Accessible Engagement: Virtual, structured meetings with space for adaptability, clarity, and consistency – honoring both parties’ time and boundaries

What Isn’t Mentoring?

  • Not clinical supervision or evaluation: Mentoring is not a substitute for licensed supervision or formal clinical oversight
  • Not one-sided advice-giving: The relationship is not a top-down dynamic; mentees are not passive recipients, and mentors are not all-knowing authorities
  • Not a therapeutic relationship: Mentoring is not therapy, nor a space to process personal mental health concerns and if mentees are deemed to benefit from counseling, mentors can provide referrals
  • Not exclusion: The program welcomes practicing NYMHCA counselors from all stages of their career with all identities who seek connection and guidance, and values diverse paths within the profession”

Confidentiality Disclaimer

All participants are expected to maintain confidentiality in accordance with the AMHCA Code of Ethics. The NYMHCA Mentoring Program is designed to facilitate the sharing of professional knowledge and experience between licensed and pre-licensed or growing professionals. While NYMHCA may collect and hold information about participants’ credentials and qualifications, it does not verify, endorse, or guarantee the qualifications, competence, or services of any mentor or mentee. Participation in this program does not immediately constitute a professional endorsement or recommendation by NYMHCA. Mentoring relationships are intended solely for professional development and peer support and are not a substitute for clinical supervision, therapy, or any formal professional service.