Counseling psychology is a field that aims to help individuals, at any stage in life, overcome mental health challenges in order to improve the quality of living. This field focuses on how humans function in their professional and personal lives.
Counseling psychologists work individually with people who hope to be better equipped to navigate their lives through healthier choices.
Request infoCounseling Psychology Definition
The American Psychological Association, the largest scientific and professional organization of psychologists in the United States, defines counseling psychology as a field that “addresses the emotional, social, work, school, and physical health concerns people may have at different stages in their lives.” This work spans the interactions an individual may face with their families, organizations, or groups with whom they associate.
What is the Education Track of a Counseling Psychologist?
Typically, education for a counseling psychology career begins with an undergraduate degree. Most students choose to begin with a bachelor’s in psychology as this offers a great foundation for advanced education that will follow. Counseling psychology concentrations are uncommon, but some graduate programs offer more options to dive further into this specialty.
Following their undergraduate education, students will pursue either a master’s or doctoral degree in psychology. Regardless of which degree they pursue first, the doctoral degree will be necessary to practice. Most states require a doctoral degree from an accredited university.
Following their education, aspiring counseling psychologists will need to complete and pass an exam in order to obtain licensure to practice within their residing state. They’ll also need to meet requirements every so often to make sure their knowledge of the field is current.
For more information, check out our post on what to expect when pursuing a counseling psychology degree!
Counseling Psychology Careers
A great benefit of pursuing a career in counseling psychology is the wide range of landscapes in which you can work. These include:
- Hospitals
- Health centers and clinics
- Private practices
- Education
- Research and corporate institutions
As you navigate your career, you might find yourself working in more than one of these spaces. Whether you’re a practicing counseling psychologist, a researcher advancing the field’s knowledge, or an academic molding the minds of future counseling psychologists, your efforts will be working for the betterment of the human condition.
If you want to take a deeper look into this field, the APA offers its quarterly Journal of Counseling Psychology, which details peer-reviewed research and academic texts within counseling psychology.
Counseling Psychology Degree
No matter what your goal is with a Counseling Psychology degree, The Chicago School can help you get there. We offer degree paths with a variety of concentrations to help our students reach their career aspirations:
- Master’s in Counseling Psychology (Chicago)
- M.A. in Counseling Psychology, Trauma and Crisis Intervention Psychology (Chicago)
- M.A. in Counseling Psychology, Health Psychology Concentration (Chicago)
- M.A. in Counseling Psychology, Latino Mental Health Concentration (Chicago)
- M.A. in Counseling Psychology, Treatment of Addiction Disorders Concentration (Chicago)
- M.A. in Counseling Psychology, Childe and Adolescent Treatment Concentration (Chicago)
Learn more about Counseling Psychology at The Chicago School
Interested in starting your career in counseling psychology? The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is dedicated to providing you with an exceptional education rooted in innovation, service, and community. Learn about more than 30 academic programs by filling out the form below.