Joe Cook is a member of the M.A. in Mental Health Counseling class of 2015. He is from Central Valley, NY.

Why did you choose the Marist Mental Health Counseling program? 
I chose the Marist MHC program based on the great reputation that the Marist name carries, as well as the welcome that I received upon my first interview with the program director, Peter del Rosario. This face to face interview allowed me to see the campus and faculty that I would be working with first hand. I gained a sense of comfort and was able to see myself working within the Marist campus. 

What was the best experience you had as a student? 
The best experience I had as a student was participating in a research study with my fellow classmates and Peter, and then presenting this research to my future peers at the NYMHCA convention in Albany. This experience further demonstrated the Marist facility's dedication to the field and the MHC program specifically. 

What will/has a degree in mental health counseling done for your career? 
This MHC degree has given me the basis for a career that I enjoy. I have now been working in the field for 3 years, and am a LMHC. My education at Marist provided me with a strong foundation to work from, where I was able to feel comfortable with my knowledge and skill in the field of mental health counseling.