How to Become a Counseling Psychologist - Psychology.org

A counseling psychologist focuses on advising and helping patients understand and address issues affecting their psychological well-being. A ... HowtoBecomeaCounselingPsychologist January21,2022|Psychology.orgStaff ModifiedonJune10,2022 Counselingpsychologistshelpclientswiththeiremotionalwell-being.Explorehowtobecomeacounselingpsychologistandlearnwhattoexpectinacounselingpsychologycareer. BecomingaCounselingPsychologist SalaryData FAQ Day-to-DayasaCounselingPsychologist Areyoureadytodiscoveryourcollegeprogram? Psychologistsfallintotwomaincategories:counselingpsychologistsandclinicalpsychologists.Clinicalpsychologistsprimarilydiagnoseandtreatpsychologicaldisorders,whilecounselingpsychologistsfocusonhelpingpeopleimprovetheiroverallemotionalwell-being. Thisguideexploreshowtobecomeacounselingpsychologist,describescounselingpsychologyjobs,andprovidesinformationoncounselingpsychologysalaryranges. WhatIsCounselingPsychology? Counselingpsychologistshelppeopledealwithproblemsandmakedifficultdecisionsinvariousaspectsoftheirlives.Itrequiresadeepunderstandingofpersonality,cognition(howwethinkandmakedecisions),andcommunication. Whilethisisademandingfield,itisalsoveryrewarding. CounselingPsychologySalaries Psychologists Lowest10% MedianAnnualSalary Highest10% ProjectedGrowthRate(2020-2030) $46,270 $82,180 $137,590 8% Source:BureauofLaborStatistics OnlinePsychologyPrograms HowDoIBecomeaCounselingPsychologist? Youmusthaveastatelicensetopracticeasapsychologist.Whilestaterequirementsvary,manystatelicensesrequireadoctoratefromanaccreditedschool,includinganinternshipandtwoyearsofsupervisedpractice,beforeyoucanpracticeindependently. Whilenotlegallyrequiredforalicense,manyemployersrequireorpreferboardcertificationfromtheAmericanBoardofCounselingPsychology(ABCoP)ortheAssociationofStateandProvincialPsychologyBoards(ASPPB). EducationforCounselingPsychologists Youcanearnacounselingpsychologydegreeasanundergraduateoringraduateschool.Master'sprogramstypicallyadmitstudentswitheitheracounselingpsychologyorageneralpsychologydegree,aslongasthegeneraldegreeincludescounselingclassesorindependentstudy. Somemaster'sprogramsrequireGREscores,whileothersexemptapplicantsfromthisrequirementiftheyhaveaGPAaboveaspecificlevel.Amaster'sprogramtypicallytakesthreeyearstocompleteandrequiresextensivefieldwork. Moststatesrequirecounselingpsychologiststohaveadoctorate,eitheraPh.D.oraPsy.D.Ph.D.programsprepareyouforacounselingpsychologycareerinacademia,sotheyemphasizeresearch,whilePsy.D.programsemphasizecounselingpractice. Statesthatrequireadoctorateacceptboth.Adoctoratetypicallytakes3-5yearstocomplete,includingadoctoralthesisandaninternshipduringyourlastyear.Inyourinternship,youwillworkindependentlywithpatients,thoughalwaysunderalicensedcounselingpsychologist'ssupervision. LicensureforCounselingPsychologists Licensingrequirementsvarybystate,butmostrequireadoctorate.Othersexpectamaster'sdegreeandtwoyearsofsupervisedpractice.Manystatesalsorequireajurisprudenceexam(anexamonthelegalaspectsofpracticingpsychologyinthatstate)andapassinggradeontheASPPB'sExaminationforProfessionalPracticeinPsychology(EPP). ManystatesofferlicensingbyendorsementforthosewhohavereceivedcertificationfromtheABCoP.TheASPPBoffersafulllistingofrequirementsbystate.LicensereciprocityisnotcommonbecausemanystateseitheracceptABCoPcertificationaslicensingbyendorsement. BoardCertificationforCounselingPsychologists Whilestatescannotlegallyrequireboardcertification,manyemployersrequireorstronglyprefercounselingpsychologistswhohaveearnedABCoPcertification.Evenifyouplantopracticeindependently,boardcertificationshowsyouholdtherequiredknowledgeandexperiencetopractice. Certificationrequirementsincludeadoctorate;aninternship(eitheroneyearortwohalf-yearperiods)fromanaccreditedorganizationoronethatmeetsaccreditationrequirements;atleasttwoyearsofpostdoctoralexperience;anapplicationthatincludesapracticesample;andpassingtheoralcertificationexamination.Youmustalsochooseanareaoffocusfromoneofthesespecialties: Counseling/psychotherapy Supervision Consultation Administration/management Training Careercounseling Pre-ProfessionalExperienceforCounselingPsychologists Doctoralprogramsculminateinaninternship,duringwhichyouwillworkunderalicensedcounselingpsychologist.TheAssociationofPsychologyPostdoctoralandInternshipCenters(APPIC)managestheprocessforaccreditedsites. Applyingforaninternshipisdifficult,andnotallapplicantswillbeplacedeachyear.Inaddition,notallplacedapplicantsreceivetheirtopchoiceoforganizationorgeographiclocation.Whileyoucanseekaninternshipfromanunaccreditedprovider,thiscanberisky. Duringyourinternship,youwillbothstudyandworkwithpatientsindependently.Thisprovidesinvaluableexperiencethatisvitaltobecomingacounselingpsychologist. FrequentlyAskedQuestionsAboutCounselorPsychologists Whatisthedifferencebetweenaclinicalpsychologistandacounselingpsychologist? Acounselingpsychologistfocusesonadvisingandhelpingpatientsunderstandandaddressissuesaffectingtheirpsychologicalwell-being.Aclinicalpsychologistfocusesondiagnosingandtreatingspecificissues. Isacounselingpsychologistthesameasatherapist? No.Acounselingpsychologistislicensedtopracticepsychology.Inmoststates,thelicensingrequirementsforcounselingpsychologyjobsaremorerigorousthanforgeneraltherapy. Iscounselingpsychologyeasy? Whilewethinkofgivingadviceasbeingeasy,counselingpsychologygoesfarbeyondgivinganopinion.Itrequiresabroadunderstandingofpsychologicalprinciples,howtheyapply,andhowtoenablethepatienttousethem. WhatDoesaCounselingPsychologistDo? Counselingpsychologistsworkinvarioussettings,includingprivatepractice,healthcareorganizations,collegesanduniversities,andlargecorporations. Yourworkdependsonyourspecialtyareaandpreferredclientele,suchascollegestudents,workingprofessionals,couplesorfamilies,stressmanagement,orcareercounseling.Dependingonthesetting,youmayworkwithorganizationaladministratorsandleadership,oryoumaypracticeindependentlyoraspartofagrouppractice. Ingeneral,yourworkwillinvolve: Helpingclientsunderstandthenatureoftheissuecausingthemdistress Helpingthemdevelopinsightsintotheirsituation Guidingthemtofindwaystoaddressproblemsinahealthyandproductivemanner Trackingprogresstowardgoalsandhelpingclientsdevelopadditionalcopingskillsforfutureoccurrencesofsimilarproblems Attimes,youmayneedtoreferclientstoadditionaloralternativesourcesofassistance,suchasapsychiatristoraclinicalpsychologist. SkillsandCompetencies Besidesunderstandingpsychologicalprinciplesandpractices,counselingpsychologyjobsrequireexcellentcommunicationskills.Professionalsmustlearnhowtoreadbetweenthelineswhencommunicatingwithothersandhelpthemtoelicittheirowninsights. Counselingpsychologistsmustbeabletoprojectempathy,evenwhentheycannotidentifywithaclient'ssituation,andmustestablishtrustwiththeclientatanearlypointintheprofessionalrelationship.Intheirwork,counselingpsychologistsmusthelpmanageclientexpectationsandconfidencewithoutover-promisingeasysolutionstocomplexissues. Acounselingpsychologycareermaynotbetherightchoiceforpeoplewho: Areimpatient Areinflexibleintheirthinking Conveyjudgmentwhentheyfacebehaviorsorbeliefstheydon'tfindreasonable Counselingpsychologycareersareanexcellentmatchforpeoplewhoarepatient,understanding,andenjoyhelpingotherssolveproblemsanddevelophealthycopingskills. CounselingPsychologyResourcesandProfessionalOrganizations SocietyofCounselingPsychology DifferencesBetweenCounseling,Therapy,andPsychology FeaturedImage:FatCamera/E+/GettyImages LatestPosts DiscoverOnlineProgramsbySpecialty Findthepsychologyprogramthatbestfitsyourcareerplansandbudget.