Jaleh Mohammadi earned her position as a mental health counselor alongside professor Dr. Jodi Mullen after she completed her internship at Mullen's practice, Integrative Health Services in Oswego.

“As soon as I took the intro to play therapy class, it changed my life,” Mohammadi said. “You learn so much about children and the culture of childhood, it teaches you a different way to think about kids.”

The play therapy graduate certificate emerged to fill the need for psychologists who can address the needs of children.

Mohammadi studied psychology at SUNY Binghamton for her undergraduate degree. When it came time to pick a graduate school, she looked for a different experience.

“By going to Binghamton I got to experience a lot of diversity at a bigger school, but I felt that with my graduate program I wanted to have a smaller, more intimate setting at a great school,” Mohammadi said. “SUNY Oswego is well known for their mental health counseling program.”

Mohammadi originally intended to work as a school counselor with her degree, but decided to pursue a different career track after taking a few courses in the play therapy program.

“I always wanted to help people,” Mohammadi said. “Once I had some classes under my belt and started my practicum and had my own clients, I absolutely loved it. It really fits my personality and what my interests are.”

“As soon as I took the intro to play therapy class, it changed my life. You learn so much about children and the culture of childhood, it teaches you a different way to think about kids.”

Mohammadi felt the change of setting allowed her to shape relationships with her peers.

“One of the greatest parts about the program is that it’s not as large as my undergrad experience,” Mohammadi said. “At Binghamton there were so many people you didn’t get a chance to get to know everyone, here you get to be really close to people.”

The smaller setting allowed Mohammadi to learn more than just the course material.

“I learned a lot about myself and that’s a lot to the program,” Mohammadi said. “I can better work with people thanks to the professors, the classes and the people I was learning with.”

The setting also allowed Mohammadi to develop a close relationship with her adviser and the founder of the play therapy program, Dr. Jodi Mullen.

“I’ve known Dr. Mullen for years and heard about the program from her,” Mohammadi said. “She’s a big mentor for me.”

Which made her especially happy to start working at Integrative Counseling Services.

“I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else. I’ll be able to start my licensure and it’s just a dream come true for me,” Mohammadi said. “[Dr. Mullen] has really enriched my experience through school and through my internship and now she’s going to be a colleague of mine, it’s really great.”

In the future, Mohammadi hopes to earn her Ph.D. in counseling education and supervision and continue to learn.

“I would love to supervise up-and-coming play therapists and mental health counselors. I just loved that relationship you have with your supervisor and all you can learn from them,” Mohammadi said. “I’m a firm believer in you’re never done learning and this will help me to continue to learn as well.”