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How to Become a Counseling Psychologist
Between managing home responsibilities, work, and family relationships, everyone can benefit from talking to a professional to discuss obstacles in their everyday lives. Pursuing a career as a counseling psychologist is a great way to give back to others, practice empathetic listening, and learn skills to navigate your own obstacles along the way.
This rewarding career is a great choice for many people. Learn more about how to become a counseling psychologist, what the career includes, and the next steps to pursue a psychology degree online.
Popular Counseling Psychology Degree Programs
Clinical Psychology vs. Counseling Psychology
Because the two are so similar, clinical psychology and counseling psychology are often mistaken for each other. Despite the similarities, clinical psychology and counseling psychology are somewhat different as well.Clinical psychologists and counseling psychologists both treat a wide variety of mental and emotional problems. However, counseling psychologists typically focus on individuals whose symptoms are less severe, such as those coping with everyday stresses and adjusting to life’s rollercoaster ride. Clinical psychologists, on the other hand, often treat patients with more serious symptoms and disorders.Now that you understand the different types of psychology, let’s look into how to become a counseling psychologist in more detail.
What Does a Counseling Psychologist Do?
Counseling psychologists work with individuals, couples, groups and families to help them develop healthy relationships. They practice several talk therapy techniques to get to the root of the distress and offer solutions to help patients overcome obstacles. They listen to patients and offer advice as needed.
Is Counseling Psychology a Good Career?
Whether pursuing a career as a counseling psychologist is a good career is a personal decision and depends on both your experience and natural personality and interests.
Great counseling psychologists create a comfortable and inviting atmosphere for patients. They’re understanding and non-judgmental so that patients will open up to them. Cognitive psychologists encourage their patients to talk about their feelings and behaviors and ask questions to understand their unique concerns. By getting to know their patients, cognitive psychologists can work to help them deal with and remedy their obstacles.
With this in mind, a career in counseling psychology is good for people who care about others and want to help them solve the problems they are facing. Psychologists are kind, understanding, patient, and non-judgemental.
Becoming a Counseling Psychologist
Let’s look at how to become a counseling psychologist, including education requirements and information on the many places where counseling psychologists can work.
Counseling Psychology Education Requirements
Where Do Counseling Psychologists Work?
A counseling psychology career can often lead a person in several different directions. In general, counseling psychologists should have no trouble finding work. For example, they can often find employment in places like mental health clinics, hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, and schools.
For those looking for a little more control over their counseling psychology careers, opening their own practice is another option.
How Much do Counseling Psychologists Make?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median salary for counseling psychologists was $90,130 as of May 2022.
Of course, average salaries for counseling psychologists vary according to where they work. Here are a few examples:
Counseling Psychology: A Career That Gives Back
Pursuing a career as a counseling psychologist is a great way to learn more about how to process emotions and stressors, understand how to listen and empathize, and help others. To learn how to begin an education and become a counseling psychologist,find a psychology degree program that fits your needs.
Employment Outlook & Career Guidance for Counseling Psychologists
Helping individuals of all ages to address and create a healthy balance between the extremes encountered in a lifetime (such as sadness and happiness, success and hard times, joy and pain), counseling psychologists are trained to assist patients and clients resolve some of life’s toughest issues. By identifying psychologically sound coping methods on an individual and group basis, professionals often find employment in hospitals, with community organizations, and at other facilities that provide counseling services.
What Type of Positions Can a Counseling Psychologist Hold?
In addition to assuming positions at community mental health centers, family service agencies, psychiatric hospitals, counseling centers and medical schools, about 41% of counseling psychologists work in health practitioner offices while about another 10% work in outpatient care centers. Many counseling psychologists provide psychotherapy services with numerous available career paths that one may follow, such as:
Stacey Glaesmann, M.A. says that undergraduate degrees in any type of psychology field are limiting; however, adds that it is not impossible to find a position in the field. A common job position for someone with a Bachelor’s degree is in research as an assistant (RA). Glaesmann suggests that those with an interest in pursuing graduate school should get involved in a couple of studies as an RA while still an undergrad. Learn more abouthow to become a counseling psychologist.
“Start off as clinical mental health counselors and eventually serve in supervisory and administrative roles. Some go on to pursue a doctoral degree, which affords them the opportunity to teach and conduct research.”
– Christopher J. Quarto, Ph.D
Spotlight Masters in Counseling Psychology Program
Employment Opportunities for Counseling Psychologists Are Also Found In:
“If a student wants to have more [job] options, he/she should consider going to graduate school to earn a Master’s (in counseling, school counseling, children’s counseling, social work, or marriage and family) and then taking his/her state licensing exam.”
– Stacey Glaesmann, M.A.
Ways for Counseling Psychologists to Increase Desirability as a Job Candidate
Creating and updating a Curriculum Vitae (CV)helps demonstrate effort to a potential employer and an individual’s desire to develop as a professional in the field. A CV should contain education history, academic experience, research experience, teaching experience, poster presentations, professional memberships, invited talks, published works, and any other relevant experience.
Attending continuing education eventsand pursuing additionalonline trainingare a few ways that a job candidate can add experience and credentials to a CV.
Quarto also suggests obtainingvolunteer and paid work experiencerelated to a specific field of interest as a way for job applicants to increase their chances of landing a position that concentrates on their specific preferences. Networking with professionals at conferences and starting a community service project are also beneficial to those who lack prior job experience in the field.
“Volunteering with an organization, non-profit or research study begets experience, which is very valuable in the mental health field.”
Qualities that employers typically look for in a counseling psychologist include
Ways for a Counseling Psychologist to Increase His/Her Salary
– Christopher J. Quarto, Ph.D.
Private practiceis one of the primary ways that a counseling psychologist can increase his or her yearly income. Psychologists may establish a part-time private practice, opting to see clients on evenings and weekends as a way to earn extra money. Glaesmann says word-of-mouth advertisement can eventually lead to a psychologist transitioning into a full-time private practice environment.
“A Master’s is enough to get work in many agencies [such as United Way, Child Protective Services, and women’s shelters], teach at community colleges, and to go into private practice. A PhD is useful if someone wants to teach at University level, do original research, provide testing services (such as ADHD evaluations, IQ tests, etc.) or be able to charge more in private practice.”
– StaceyGlaesmann, M.A.
Networking Opportunities and Organizations
Niche-related associationsavailable on the local-, regional-, state-, and national levels provide a more targeted networking opportunity for counseling psychologists. For example, the APA has sub-chapters established in each state. Associations and non-profits concentrating on specific niches also host year-round networking events, including luncheons, conferences, and seminars.
Organizationsthat provide additional networking opportunities for counseling psychologists include:
Continuing Education (CE) Sources
2022 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures and job growth projections forcounseling psychologistsis based on national data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed June 2023.
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