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There are severaldifferent branches of psychology. One of the branches that may appeal to individuals interested in a career in this field is counseling psychology. Counseling psychologists help people of all ages deal with emotional, social, developmental, and other life concerns.

Here we do a deeper dive into what counseling psychology is, including general job duties and where they work. We also discuss what type of education or training may be required for a counseling psychology role, as well as highlighting how this branch is similar to but also different from clinical psychology.

At a Glance

What Is Counseling Psychology?

TheAmerican Psychological Association(APA) explains that counseling psychology uses certain practices to “help people improve their well-being, prevent and alleviate distress and maladjustment, resolve crises, and increase their ability to function better in their lives.”

This branch focuses both on individuals and the cultures or systems within which they function. Counseling psychology addresses issues related to mental health, developmental challenges, and systemic issues such as prejudice and discrimination. It is one of the largestspecialty areaswithin psychology.

Counseling Psychology Duties and Job Functions

In counseling psychology, professionals use a variety of strategies to help people manage behavioral issues,cope with stress,alleviate anxietyand distress, and deal withpsychological disorders. Many counseling psychologists providepsychotherapy services, but other career paths are also available.

Research, teaching, and vocational counseling are just a few of the possible alternatives to working as a therapist. Some in counseling psychology also use their training and experience to educate the public, work as a consultant, or evaluate programs and/or treatment outcomes.

Where Counseling Psychologists Work

Counseling therapists may work for private businesses, the military, government agencies, consulting practices, themselves, and more. Some of the settings where counseling psychology professionals can be found include:

Whether working with clients in a hospital setting or counseling students in an academic environment, counseling psychologists rely on a broad range ofpsychological theoriesand therapeutic approaches to help people overcome their challenges and realize their full potential.

Clinical Psychology Education and Training

ADoctor of Psychology (Psy.D.)orDoctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degreeis typically offered through a university’s psychology department, while a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in counseling psychology can be found at a school’s college of education. Most of these programs receive accreditation through the APA.

Can You Get a Master’s in Psychology with a Different Bachelor’s?

Counseling Psychology vs. Clinical Psychology

Of all the graduate psychology degrees awarded each year, 56% are in the counseling, clinical, and school psychology subfields.Counseling psychology shares many commonalities withclinical psychology, but it is also different in several ways.

Some of the similarities between counseling and clinical psychology include:

Some of the key differences between the two professions include:

Keep in mind that these are only generalities. The individual approach a therapist takes depends on a variety of factors, including their educational background, training, and theoretical perspective.

4 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Psychological Association.Counseling psychology.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.How to become a psychologist.American Psychological Association.A career in clinical or counseling psychology.Clay RA.Trends report: Psychology is more popular than ever.Monitor on Psychology.2017;48(10):44.Additional ReadingSociety of Counseling Psychologists. (n.d.).About counseling psychologists.

4 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Psychological Association.Counseling psychology.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.How to become a psychologist.American Psychological Association.A career in clinical or counseling psychology.Clay RA.Trends report: Psychology is more popular than ever.Monitor on Psychology.2017;48(10):44.Additional ReadingSociety of Counseling Psychologists. (n.d.).About counseling psychologists.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

American Psychological Association.Counseling psychology.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.How to become a psychologist.American Psychological Association.A career in clinical or counseling psychology.Clay RA.Trends report: Psychology is more popular than ever.Monitor on Psychology.2017;48(10):44.

American Psychological Association.Counseling psychology.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.How to become a psychologist.

American Psychological Association.A career in clinical or counseling psychology.

Clay RA.Trends report: Psychology is more popular than ever.Monitor on Psychology.2017;48(10):44.

Society of Counseling Psychologists. (n.d.).About counseling psychologists.

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