Graduate Study in Counseling
Degrees
Academic Specialties
Curriculum
Factors to Consider When Researching Schools
Entrance Requirements
Professional Licensure
Helpful Links
Information Sources:
Occupational Outlook Handbook
Rider University Graduate School and Careers in Psychology
Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors
Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists
The information on this page discusses graduate education in counseling psychology and its academic subspecialties. If you are interested in clinical psychology, see the page called Graduate Study in Psychology . For a discussion of the differences between psychology, counseling, and social work, see Graduate Study in Psychology, Counseling, and Social Work.
M.A./M.Ed.
A master's degree in counseling psychology usually takes two years to earn and often requires a written thesis and semester-long internship. Licensure varies by state, but in Texas, a person with a master's degree in counseling or a counseling-related field can become licensed (see licensing section below) as a professional counselor (LPC). A licensed counselor can provide therapy in a private practice or work in a community agency, clinic, or hospital. Those with a master's degree can also teach in a community college.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. program in counseling psychology typically takes about five to six years to complete and includes experimental research, a dissertation, and a year of internship. These programs are usually housed in the Education College of a university or in the Educational Psychology department. If you are considering an educational psychology program, it is important to clarify whether the emphasis of the program is on clinical skills, research, or more administrative areas such as school administration. The internship is a year of full-time paid work in a psychological setting and usually requires a separate application and a move to a new location. After the internship, those who earn a Ph.D. can become licensed as a psychologist (see licensing section below) and work in clinics, hospitals, community agencies, private practice, corporations, or schools. Psychologists can also teach in universities and colleges.
Psy.D.
This degree was created as an alternative to traditional Ph.D. psychology programs for those who desire more training in applied clinical skills and less emphasis on research methods. This kind of program leads to a "Doctor of Psychology" degree rather than the typical Ph.D. degree ("Doctor of Philosophy"). Usually the programs require between three and five years to complete and require a year of internships. Professionals with a Psy.D. degree can earn licensure as a psychologist (see licensing section below) and work in a private practice. Others work in clinics, hospitals, community agencies, corporations, or schools.
The following definitions of academic specialties within counseling are taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook:
"Educational, vocational, and school counselors provide individuals and groups with career and educational counseling. In school settings—elementary through post secondary—they are usually called school counselors and they work with students, including those considered to be at risk and those with special needs. They advocate for students and work with other individuals and organizations to promote the academic, career, and personal and social development of children and youth. School counselors help students evaluate their abilities, interests, talents, and personality characteristics in order to develop realistic academic and career goals. Counselors use interviews, counseling sessions, tests, or other methods in evaluating and advising students. They also operate career information centers and career education programs. High school counselors advise students regarding college majors, admission requirements, entrance exams, financial aid, trade or technical schools, and apprenticeship programs. They help students develop job search skills such as resume writing and interviewing techniques. College career planning and placement counselors assist alumni or students with career development and job-hunting techniques.
Elementary school counselors observe younger children during classroom and play activities and confer with their teachers and parents to evaluate the children’s strengths, problems, or special needs. They also help students develop good study habits. Elementary school counselors do less vocational and academic counseling than do secondary school counselors.
School counselors at all levels help students understand and deal with social, behavioral, and personal problems. These counselors emphasize preventive and developmental counseling to provide students with the life skills needed to deal with problems before they occur and to enhance the student’s personal, social, and academic growth. Counselors provide special services, including alcohol and drug prevention programs and conflict resolution classes. Counselors also try to identify cases of domestic abuse and other family problems that can affect a student’s development. Counselors work with students individually, with small groups, or with entire classes. They consult and collaborate with parents, teachers, school administrators, school psychologists, medical professionals, and social workers in order to develop and implement strategies to help students be successful in the education system.
Career counselors who provide mainly career counseling outside the school setting are also referred to as employment counselors or vocational counselors . Their chief focus is helping individuals with their career decisions. Vocational counselors explore and evaluate the client’s education, training, work history, interests, skills, and personality traits, and arrange for aptitude and achievement tests to assist in making career decisions. They also work with individuals to develop their job search skills, and they assist clients in locating and applying for jobs. In addition, career counselors provide support to persons experiencing job loss, job stress, or other career transition issues.
Rehabilitation counselors help people deal with the personal, social, and vocational effects of having disabilities. They counsel people with disabilities resulting from birth defects, illness or disease, accidents, or the stress of daily life. They evaluate the strengths and limitations of individuals, provide personal and vocational counseling, and arrange for medical care, vocational training, and job placement. Rehabilitation counselors interview both individuals with disabilities and their families, evaluate school and medical reports, and confer and plan with physicians, psychologists, occupational therapists, and employers to determine the capabilities and skills of the individual. Conferring with the client, they develop a rehabilitation program that often includes training to help the person develop job skills. Rehabilitation counselors also work toward increasing the client’s capacity to live independently.
Mental health counselors work with individuals, families, and groups to address and treat mental and emotional disorders and to promote optimum mental health. They are trained in a variety of therapeutic techniques used to address a wide range of issues, including depression, addiction and substance abuse, suicidal ideation, stress management, problems with self-esteem, issues associated with aging, job and career concerns, educational decisions, issues related to mental and emotional health, and family, parenting, and marital or other relationship problems. Mental health counselors often work closely with other mental health specialists, such as psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical social workers, psychiatric nurses, and school counselors.
Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors help people who have problems with alcohol, drugs, gambling, and eating disorders. They counsel individuals who are addicted to drugs, helping them identify behaviors and problems related to their addiction. These counselors hold sessions for one person, for families, or for groups of people.
Marriage and family therapists apply principles, methods, and therapeutic techniques to individuals, family groups, couples, or organizations for the purpose of resolving emotional conflicts. In doing so, they modify people’s perceptions and behaviors, enhance communication and understanding among all family members, and help to prevent family and individual crises. Marriage and family therapists also may engage in psychotherapy of a nonmedical nature, with appropriate referrals to psychiatric resources, and in research and teaching in the overall field of human development and interpersonal relationships.
Additional counseling specialties include pastoral counseling, art therapy, play therapy, and grief counseling.
Most master's programs in counseling take two years to complete. They include coursework in counseling theory and practice, human development, ethics, and career development. Programs typically require one or two semesters of supervised practicum experience in a counseling setting and may also require a master's thesis or report.
Most Ph.D. programs require one to three years of coursework including statistics and experimental design with satisfactory grades. Students must then pass an oral competency exam and propose a dissertation topic. The next few years are spent on conducting independent experimental research and writing a dissertation. Most Ph.D. psychology programs also require a year-long internship that includes training in psychotherapy. Psy.D. programs emphasize clinical therapy skills, de-emphasize research, and also require an internship. Most Psy.D. programs include a dissertation but may allow a departure from the traditional experimental research format. For example, some Psy.D. programs allow students to conduct a program evaluation or public policy analysis.
Factors to Consider When Researching Schools
-
What is the program's theoretical orientation (cognitive/behavioral, psychoanalytic, humanistic, eclectic)?
-
Can you take courses outside the counseling department?
-
What kinds of special programs are available (internships, projects with local agencies)
-
What teaching methods are used (lecture, experiential)?
-
Does the teaching philosophy lean more toward theory or application?
-
Quality of faculty (research interests, areas of expertise)
-
Class profile (age, diversity, etc.)
-
Class size
-
Career and job search services
-
Location
-
Relationships with non-academic employers and community agencies
-
Cooperative vs. competitive environment
-
Financial aid
-
Is the program approved by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (their site has a list of accredited programs)?
Most programs require a bachelor's degree, GRE test scores, a personal statement describing your career goals and research interests, and letters of recommendation. Specific course prerequisites will vary by school. As an example, the UT Department of Educational Psychology requires "adequate subject preparation for advanced study in educational psychology. An undergraduate major or master's-level specialization in psychology is not required, although 12 hours of course work in the social sciences or education, including courses in statistics and measurement, is prerequisite to graduate study. If they are lacking adequate background, newly admitted students may be required to complete prerequisites."
Master's Degree Level
Those with a master's degree in counseling or a counseling-related field can earn licensure as a "Licensed Professional Counselor" (LPC) and provide counseling in a private practice or other setting. For an example of licensing requirements, visit the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors web site.
Ph.D. Level
To work in a private practice or other setting and advertise yourself as a "psychologist" or one who provides "psychological services", you must first obtain a professional license from your state board of psychology. Most states require that applicants complete two years of supervised experience after the Ph.D., pass a national exam, and sometimes present a case study to the licensing board. Professional licensing is required by law and allows psychologists to receive payment from clients' insurance providers. For an example of licensing requirements, visit the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists web site.
UT Department of Educational Psychology
Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors
Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists