Career Overview
Counseling psychologists are responsible to help patients in dealing with everyday life problems. This includes advising patients on issues related to the home, workplace, their community, and helping to improve their overall quality of life. They often work in crisis counseling centers, universities, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and individual and group practices. In fact, about 34 percent of psychologists are self-employed. They help their clients to foster good mental health and prevent mental and emotional disorders.
Education Requirements
Ph.D. or Doctor of Psychologist, Psy.D.
Counseling psychologists must have their doctoral degree in the field of psychology to become licensed as a practicing counseling psychologist. A doctoral degree usually takes 5 years of full-time graduate school to complete. Most doctoral degrees require a dissertation based on original student research as a culminating part of their degree. For counseling psychologists an additional year of post-doctoral supervised experience working in the counseling psychology field is also generally required to graduate.
Coursework
Quantitative Experimental Methods
Research Design
Computer Based Analysis
Cross-cultural Counseling
Counseling Theory and Practice
Problem Solving Counseling
Group Counseling
Clinical Psycho pharmacology
Spousal and Partner Abuse Therapy
Alcohol and Substance Abuse
Dissertation Proposal Project
Licensing Requirements
Counseling psychologists are required by law to meet licensing requirements for the state that they work in. Every state in the United States has licensing requirements. These requirements generally include that counseling psychologists must have a doctorate degree in psychology, an approved internship, and 1 to 2 years of professional experience. In some states, they must also pass an examination. Some states also require continuing education for a license renewal.
Employment Trends
Job Availability as of May 2008:Â 152,000
Projected Employment in 2018:Â 168,800
Average Annual Salary for counseling psychologists in U.S. in 2008: $64,140
Top CollegesArgosy University
North Central University
Capella University
Liberty University
Grand Canyon University
Related Jobs
Clergy
Counselors
Funeral directors
Human resources, training, and labor relations managers and specialists
Market and survey researchers
Recreation workers
Social workers
Sociologists and political scientists
Teachers—special education
Article Reference: Bureau of Labor Statistics
One Comment
Don’t forget to do your homework when planning your college path to a psychology degree. Shop programs and schools for the best possible courses that will give you competitive advantage in what is becoming and increasingly competitive market for clinical psychologists.