Counseling Psychology Jobs & Career Guide
What's in this guide?
- What is a Counseling Psychologist?
- What is a Counseling Psychologist Responsible For?
- Where Does a Counseling Psychologist Work?
- What Other Career Options are Available to a Counseling Psychologist?
- What Kind of Degree is Necessary to Become a Counseling Psychologist?
- What is the Required Coursework for a Counseling Psychology Degree?
- How Much Does a Counseling Psychologist Earn?
What is a Counseling Psychologist?
Counseling Psychologists specialize in facilitating personal and interpersonal functioning in patients of all ages. A specialty of professional psychology, Counseling Psychology addresses emotional, vocational, social, educational, health, and developmental issues.
Counseling Psychologists provide a wide range of services to different client populations. They counsel patients in therapeutic settings, to improve their overall mental health and well-being. They assist patients by talking through their challenges and providing them with tools and skills to improve their quality of life.
Jump to Counselling Psychology Job Listing
What is a Counseling Psychologist Responsible For?
Counseling Psychologists are primarily generalists that work with individuals across the lifespan. They counsel a diverse population to address a wide range of problems.
Counseling Psychologists work with people to improve their lives by focusing on stress reduction, emotional health, crisis resolution, and enhancing the functionality of maladaptive behaviors.
A Counseling Psychologist addresses developmental issues in addition to physical, emotional and mental-health concerns. They develop plans of treatment, brief or long-term therapy, to implement goal-directed interventions.
Most refer severely mentally ill patients to Psychiatrists who have specialized training in mental-health disorders.
See also; what is the difference between a counseling psychologist and a clinical psychologist?
Where Does a Counseling Psychologist Work?
Counseling Psychologists work just about anywhere there are people in need. Frequently, they are found working in either private or group practices. Others practice in hospitals, clinics, and community health centers. Counseling Psychologists can be found at universities and colleges, providing support for the student body.
Some prefer to counsel active military or veterans, often assisting them with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), dealing with loss, transitioning to civilian life, or depression.
A Counseling Psychologist is an essential team member in substance-abuse rehab facilities and community mental-health centers. They work with people in a therapeutic setting, using talk therapy and directed communication to help people work through the challenges they face.
What Other Career Options are Available to a Counseling Psychologist?
Apart from the traditional career trajectory of private or group practice, counseling psychologist have many options to implement their skills including:
- Child Abuse
- Age-Related Issues
- Mental-Health and PTSD
- Marital Problems
- Suicide Intervention
- Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation
- Domestic Violence
- Corporate Consulting
What Kind of Degree is Necessary to Become a Counseling Psychologist?
Most start out by earning a bachelor’s degree, followed by a master’s degree. Earning a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) in Counseling Psychology is highly recommended. The career opportunities available to Counseling Psychologists directly relates to their credentials.
Most practicing psychologists have a PhD or PsyD in Counseling Psychology. The prospective PsyD Counseling Psychologist must pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) on completion of their studies.
A license is required by the state in which they practice – see our guide to licensing requirements by state. Educational and research institutions generally do not require a doctorate degree, but do require a master’s degree in Psychology.
What is the Required Coursework for a Counseling Psychology Degree?
Coursework varies depending on the degree. The prospective doctoral student would do well to pursue an undergraduate education that offers classes in psychology, counseling, and communication.
The PhD candidate must complete a dissertation for degree completion. A student pursuing the PsyD degree is seeking a clinical degree aimed at more practical application of psychology than the PhD candidate. The PsyD degree replaces the dissertation with an examination series.
Doctoral candidates in both degree programs take classes in the following.
- Vocational Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Multicultural Psychology
- Counseling
- Psychological Measurement
- Human Lifespan Development
- Psychotherapy
- Research Design
- Ethics
How Much Does a Counseling Psychologist Earn?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the average salary is $80,000 in traditional settings. Many practitioners work in private practice where there are opportunities to earn more.
Geographic location and level of degree factor prominently in income potential with urban counseling and doctorate degrees in higher demand. Experience is a significant element in determining compensation.
Latest Counseling Psychology Jobs & Career Guide Listings
Position | Company | Location | Posted |
---|---|---|---|
Licensed Clinical Psychologist | Light On Anxiety CBT Treatment Centers | Chicago, Illinois | 03/21/2023 |
Who We Are:Light On Anxiety CBT Treatment Centers, founded in 2012, is a fast-paced, rapidly growing practice that provides state of the art, cutting edge treatments for anxiety, OCD and related conditions. Light On Anxietys mission is to provide accessible, practical, empirically supported Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) based treatment to help clients move past anxiety, OCD and related disorders as rapidly as possible. Light On Anxiety strives to exceed ... More | |||
Counselor Coordinator of Alcohol and Other Drug Education | Louisiana Tech University | Ruston, Louisiana | 03/21/2023 |
time type Full time posted on Posted 5 Days Ago job requisition id R-881 Thank ... More | |||
School Psychologist | Leyden Area Special Education Cooperative | Frankilin Park, Illinois | 03/21/2023 |
Position Summary: The school psychologist position involves participation in the MTSS and problem-solving process, data-based decision-making, conducting psychological evaluations, providing counseling and direct service interventions, consultation and collaboration with teachers, parents, and other professionals, and development of programs and staff training. Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 1. Knowledge and skill in using psychological instruments to evaluate students. ... More | |||
Full-Time Core Faculty, Clinical Psychology Department (Multiple Openings) | William James College | Newton, Massachusetts | 03/21/2023 |
William James College announces full-time Core Faculty openings within the Doctoral Clinical Psychology Department beginning August 2023. Rank is commensurate with experience. Salary for this academic position is highly competitive. Position may also be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program. William James College is committed to an active, intentional, and ongoing engagement with diversityin people, in the curriculum, in the co-curriculum, and in ... More | |||
Adjunct Faculty - School Psychology | William James College | Newton, Massachusetts | 03/21/2023 |
William James College-Adjunct Faculty - School Psychology, Fall/Spring 2023-2024 William JamesCollege, located in Newton, MA, just west of Boston, is seeking an Adjunct faculty member to teach two courses,StatisticsandResearch and Evaluation Methodsin the School Psychology MA/CAGS Programs for Fall 2023 (Statistics) and Spring 2024 (Research and Evaluation Methods) semesters. ... More | |||
Psychologist - School - (PSY - School) | AMN Healthcare | Plainfield, Connecticut | 03/21/2023 |
Job Description & RequirementsPsychologist - School - (PSY - School)StartDate: 08/23/2023Pay Rate: $1650.00 - 2000.00AMN Healthcare is partnering with a local school district to hire a School-Based Psychologist for a job near the Plainfield Connecticut area. This job will be working with one of the top districts in the area to provide services to children of all ages. Requirements include a graduate-level degree in School Psychology, as well as an internship one academic ... More | |||
SCR CALL FLOOR WORKER - CHILD WELFARE SPECIALIST (UPWARD MOBILITY) | Illinois Department of Children & Family Services | Springfield, Illinois | 03/21/2023 |
SCR CALL FLOOR WORKER - CHILD WELFARE SPECIALIST (UPWARD MOBILITY)We continually strive for a workforce that reflects the growing diversity within the State of Illinois. A variety of employee backgrounds, perspectives, ideas and experiences are crucial to our ability to most effectively serve the public. Bilingual skills welcome Reasonable Accommodation StatementThe State of Illinois is committed to working with and providing reasonable ... More | |||
Post Doctoral Fellow; Counseling & Psychological Center | The University of North Carolina at Charlotte | Charlotte, North Carolina | 03/21/2023 |
Position InformationGeneral Information Position Number POST40 Working Title Post Doctoral Fellow; Counseling & Psychological Center Division Student Affairs Department Counseling & Health Serv (Adm) Work Unit Counseling & Psychological Center Work Location Price Center for Counseling & Psychological Services Vacancy Open To ... More |