The Blanton Peale Institute & Counseling Center is seeking a dynamic and experienced leader to be the next President & CEO to lead Blanton-Peale into the next chapter of its celebrated history.
In 1937, in the thick of the Great Depression, The Rev. Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, who would soon author The Power of Positive Thinking, realized that religion and faith on their own were not enough to address the devastating emotional, relational, and spiritual upheaval of those who sought him out. And so, he joined forces with the eminent psychiatrist Dr. Smiley Blanton, who had trained in psychoanalysis with Sigmund Freud.
Blanton-Peale’s founders were innovative, forward-leaning thinkers and, in 1937, their partnership birthed a first of its kind clinic that integrated psychology alongside faith to address mental health challenges. The Counseling Center earned Blanton-Peale its first national recognition: a 1948 Newsweek article reported that more than 10,000 persons had come for help. In 1953, the Counseling Center was licensed by NY State, confirming it as a center for the mental wellbeing of all New Yorkers. In 1963, Fred Keuther, director of training, spearheaded the first international conference for the emerging pastoral counseling movement.
There have been many changes over the decades, but since 1996, the work of the Counseling Center and the various forms of training have been known by the names of its founders, Blanton, and Peale. What began as the dream of two individuals – eager to bring hope and healing – now requires all of us, working together.
Blanton-Peale envisions a world in which all people can flourish, find belonging, and bring their best self to their relationships, their communities, and the world. Blanton-Peale promotes holistic mental health and wellbeing by nurturing mind, body, and spirit. Culturally responsive counseling services, provided by a diverse team of trained and licensed therapists, address challenges to mental health and unlock strength and resilience. This impact is amplified by training others, offering licensure opportunities and professional development, and by advocating for the rights of all people to access quality mental health care.
Blanton-Peale is a hybrid counselling and training center, offering telehealth and in-person sessions. The outpatient mental health center provides therapy to people representing the full diversity of New York City and Blanton-Peale therapists thrive to empower clients to work through challenges, adapt to changes, and live life as their most authentic self.
Blanton-Peale conducted close to 34,000 counselling sessions in FY23. Clients come from all five boroughs and close to 50% of clients are under the age of 35, almost 30% identify as LGBTQAI+ and more than 40% identify as BIPOC. The multidisciplinary team includes both talk therapists and those who can prescribe medication as needed – social workers, mental health counselors, marriage and family counselors, psychoanalysts, and psychiatrists. Blanton-Peale services are individual psychotherapy, couples counselling, group therapy, and psychiatric evaluation & medication management (in tandem with psychotherapy).
BIPOC FELLOWS
Blanton-Peale is committed to disrupting the inequity that exists in access to care for communities of color. The BIPOC Mental Health fellowship recruits graduate students in social work and provides rigorous training, community building, and opportunities to work with BIPOC patients.
PSYCHOANALYTIC TRAINING PROGRAM
Blanton-Peale’s Psychoanalytic Training Program is a rigorous and unique program that leads to a certificate in psychoanalysis. Those who complete the program, if not already licensed, may sit for an exam to become a New York State licensed psychoanalyst.
CARE AND COUNSELLING TRAINING PROGRAM
The Care and Counselling Program is offered in both Korean and English, and promotes mental health and wellbeing in diverse communities, The program aims to enhance professional development and personal enrichment by refining skills in self-awareness, effective listening, communication, and relationships. Each year, the program graduates leaders who are awarded Certificates of Completion, with some pursuing further advanced degrees
The Norman Vincent Peale Awards is an annual event that recognizes individuals who exemplify the spirit of positive thinking that underlies the Blanton-Peale Institute & Counseling Center. It is an occasion to celebrate mental and spiritual health, destigmatize mental health challenges, and raise funds that are crucial to Blanton-Peale’s promise to turn on one away, regardless of their ability to pay.
The President and CEO is responsible for the management, direction, and coordination of all organizational operations and related activities for the purpose of attaining the goals and objectives as set forth by the Board of Trustees of Blanton-Peale.
This is a remarkable opportunity for a self-motivated and forward-thinking leader to join Blanton-Peale at a critical time in the organization’s history.
The ideal candidate will be an individual of unquestioned integrity, ethics and values, and someone whom the staff and community will view as a trusted partner and collaborator. The next President and CEO will provide vision and optimism with a grounded, pragmatic, roll up your sleeves ability to get things done. This person will lead Blanton-Peale into the next chapter of its history and will develop cross-sector partnerships with diverse stakeholders, including government agencies, policymakers, elected officials, private funders, thought-leaders, and change makers.
Blanton-Peale has an operating budget of more than $4M annually and the President and CEO will be responsible for helping to build and maintain the organization’s long term financial sustainability.
Leadership
Board Relations
External Affairs and Fundraising
Blanton-Peale is offering a salary of $200,00 to $250,000, plus benefits, commensurate with experience.
Blanton-Peale Institute & Counseling Center does not discriminate based on race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy and parenting status), disability, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, or genetic information. We strongly encourage people of diverse identities to apply.
If you are interested in being considered for this search, please use the form below to submit your cover letter and resume in confidence.
Kieran McTague
Senior Vice President, Principal
Development Guild DDI
Please complete this form to be considered for this role.