Counseling Psychology PhD Graduate Programs

Counseling Psychology Graduate Programs and Curriculum

Often the first decision in pursuing a graduate degree in psychology is to decide between counseling psychology and clinical psychology. While the two branches do overlap, clinical psychology tends to take a more medical approach to treatment and often works with more serious and complex mental illnesses. Counseling psychologists generally treat individuals with relatively less serious, more everyday concerns.

Ideally, a counseling psychologist should have the following characteristics:

• Good interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to listen
• Unbiased and nonjudgmental
• Self-motivated
• Trustworthy and responsible
• Compassionate and patient

A thorough degree program for a master’s or doctoral degree in counseling psychology includes coursework in three general areas: psychological theories, research, and assessment and treatment. The program coursework may include topics such as:

• Psychopathology
• Counseling and psychotherapy
• Human development over the life span
• Research and data
• Group therapy
• Cultural diversity
• Emotional and behavioral disorders and assessment
• Ethical and legal Issues
• Substance abuse
• Therapy for children and adolescents
• Family counseling
• Statistics

Most, if not all, programs also require direct experience, often through an internship, and the completion of a thesis. The internship and thesis are geared towards the student’s area of desired specialization.

An undergraduate degree in psychology is not always required when applying for a master’s in counseling psychology program, and some schools are willing to accept students who have undergraduate degrees in areas other than psychology. These applicants may only need to take prerequisites. Many schools also seek experience in statistics.

Counseling psychology doctoral programs often require a background in psychology, and depending upon the program, many look for a master’s degree in psychology or a related field. Both master’s level and doctoral programs seek students who are genuinely interested in and excited about the field of counseling psychology, and who are committed to completing the rigorous coursework associated with a graduate degree in counseling psychology.

When considering a program, be sure it has been accredited. Typically, the American Psychological Association (APA) certifies programs; however, other organizations can certify graduate programs in the area of school psychology. Organizations such as The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education and the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) can certify programs in areas relating to school psychology. Practicing psychologists are predominantly required to be certified or licensed. Certification and licensing varies from state to state, but as a rule requires a graduate degree from an accredited school.

Counseling Psychology Career Paths

Licensed or certified psychologists can work in a variety of settings, including private or group practices, clinics, counseling centers, hospitals, schools and in research settings.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), psychologists held about 170,200 jobs in 2008. Approximately 29 percent worked in educational institutions, 21 percent in healthcare fields such as hospitals, substance abuse centers or in offices of mental health practitioners and 34 percent were private practitioners. Many others worked as professors, high school psychology teachers, and in other capacities.

Data according to

Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition.

Counseling Psychology Future Job Outlook

While salaries vary with industry, the average salary for a psychologist, according to the BLS, was approximately $60,000 in 2008. Salaries ranged from $38,000 to $107,000.

Employment opportunities for psychologists are expected to grow by an estimated 12 percent by 2018 with the best prospects being for those individuals who hold a doctoral degree. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts an increasing demand for psychologists in school settings, hospitals, human services, substance abuse centers, as well as in the field of industrial-organizational psychology.