Receive the practical training needed to make a difference in patient's lives.
The Chicago School’s Master of Arts Counseling Psychology program uses the science of psychology to develop knowledge in foundational principles of psychology and counseling. You will learn to assess, understand, diagnose, treat, and advocate for clients with cognitive, behavioral, and emotional issues in a range of mental health settings.
In this clinical training program, you will train in the most updated, evidence-based practice to work effectively with individuals, couples, families, communities, and systems. The counseling psychology masters program’s core faculty are clinical psychologists who use their expertise to educate and train students to acquire the knowledge, skills, and awareness to practice as health service providers at the master’s level. Guided by this experienced faculty, you will cover a wide range of topics including:
- Existential-humanistic psychotherapy.
- Addiction evaluation and treatment.
- Family therapy.
- Ethics in practice.
- Professional guidelines.
- Diversity and cultural issues.
You will participate in an internship and a practicum, which will allow you to earn crucial field experience outside the classroom as well.
This counseling psychology degree is excellent for students who have a degree in psychology, but it has also proven successful for those who are pivoting careers and want to understand the “why” behind the individuals they seek to help.
Areas of concentration include:
- Latinx Mental Health.
- Child & Adolescent Therapy.
- Treatment of Addiction Disorders.
- Health Psychology.
- Trauma & Crisis Intervention.
- Marriage & Family Therapy.
What distinguishes The Chicago School’s Masters in Counseling Psychology program?
- Students acquire both the foundations of psychology and clinical counseling skills to become proficient practitioners able to work with diverse populations.
- Multicultural education and practice are integrated throughout the curriculum.
- The blended option is convenient for working professionals, allowing them to combine the majority of online coursework with intensive weekend instruction on campus.
The M.A. Counseling Psychology program at the Chicago Campus is accredited by Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC). Find the MPCAC Annual Report below.
Maureen Keeshin, Psy.D.
Admissions Requirements
Students applying to the M.A. Counseling Psychology program must submit the following:
- Application
- Application Fee: $50
- GPA of 3.0 or higher is required
- Resume or curriculum vitae
- Essay
- Official college/university transcripts
- Three letters of recommendation
- The GRE is not required; however, students who have taken the exam may submit their scores to enhance their application.
Send materials to:
Admissions Operations
c/o The Chicago School
400 S. Jefferson St., Suite 2500
Chicago, IL 60607
For electronic delivery, send to [email protected].
Accreditation & Licensure
Accreditation
The M.A. in Counseling Psychology program on the Chicago Campus is accredited by the Master’s in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC) for the period December 2018 through December 2028.
Questions related to the program’s accredited status should be directed to the Executive Director:
Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC)
595 New Loudon Road #265
Latham, New York 12110
518.764.7581
Licensure
For information on whether a program at The Chicago School meets or does not meet licensure eligibility requirements for the state in which you wish to be licensed, please visit our licensure disclosures page.
Articulation Agreements
The Chicago School has established agreements between the M.A. Counseling Psychology program and the programs listed below. These agreements offer qualified students transfer credit for other courses taken at The Chicago School. Credits can be counted toward degree completion requirements for both programs.
Click on the link of the program that interests you for details.
Concentration Options
Child and Adolescent Treatment
The Child and Adolescent Treatment concentration prepares you to assess and address the mental health needs of children and adolescents, from early childhood through the teenage years. You will build the knowledge and practical skills to work with young people across a range of family structures, cultural backgrounds, and life experiences.
Why focus on child and adolescent treatment?
- Children and adolescents have distinct mental health needs that can change across developmental stages.
- You may find this work especially rewarding if you are creative, flexible, patient, and empathetic.
- You will explore therapeutic approaches used with children and adolescents, including play, art, family, group, and cognitive behavioral therapies.
Health Psychology
The Health Psychology concentration prepares you to understand how biological, psychological, social, cultural, and environmental factors influence health and illness. You will learn to apply this whole-person perspective to promote wellness, prevent illness, and support people managing health conditions across the lifespan.
Why focus on health psychology?
- Health psychology can broaden the settings and populations you are prepared to serve as a professional counselor, including hospitals, outpatient clinics, and community health settings.
- You will learn to apply a biopsychosocial approach that considers the full range of factors influencing a person’s health.
- You will build skills to support clients and families navigating illness, aging, treatment, and other health-related challenges.
Latinx Mental Health
The Latinx Mental Health concentration prepares you to assess and address the mental health needs of Latinx clients and families. You will explore how culture and lived experience can shape mental health and learn to apply that understanding through culturally responsive counseling. You do not need to be a Spanish speaker or Latinx provider to pursue the Latinx Mental Health concentration.
Why focus on Latinx mental health?
- Latinx people make up the largest and fastest growing ethnic group in the U.S.
- More mental health professionals are needed who understand the experiences and needs of Latinx clients and families.
- You will gain specialized training in Latinx-centered counseling strategies, preparing you to provide culturally responsive care.
Marriage and Family Therapy
The Marriage and Family Therapy concentration prepares you to support couples and families within the relationships, communities, and systems that shape their lives. You will explore concerns related to diverse family structures, divorce, intimacy, and relationship challenges through a resilience-based family systems perspective.
Why focus on marriage and family therapy?
- Clients’ concerns are often shaped by their relationships, families, and the larger systems in their lives.
- Through coursework and real-world case examples, you will build skills in assessing family dynamics and working more effectively with couples and families.
- The optional MFT licensure track includes coursework and supervised training to support preparation for Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) licensure in Illinois, and students in the track receive priority when applying to practicum and internship sites with LMFT supervisors.
Trauma and Crisis Intervention
The Trauma and Crisis Intervention concentration prepares you to understand how trauma can affect individuals, families, and communities. You will build practical skills in trauma assessment and treatment while exploring crisis response, psychological first aid, evidence-based approaches, and the influence of culture, power, and oppression on experiences of trauma.
Why focus on trauma and crisis intervention?
- Many individuals and families seeking mental health services have experienced some form of trauma.
- Trauma can result from experiences such as abuse, violence, discrimination, natural disasters, and involvement in the juvenile justice system.
- Specialized preparation can help you recognize the effects of trauma and respond to clients with greater sensitivity and skill.
Treatment of Addiction Disorders
The Treatment of Addiction Disorders concentration prepares you to assess, prevent, and treat a range of behavioral addictions, including substance use, gambling, food, shopping, internet use, and more. You will explore addiction through a holistic approach that considers the biological, psychological, social, cultural, and spiritual factors that can influence recovery.
Why focus on treatment of addiction disorders?
- Addiction concerns affect people across ages, identities, and backgrounds, making them relevant in many counseling settings.
- Few professionals are trained to address both mental health and addiction concerns, creating a need for counselors prepared to support clients experiencing both.
- You will build practical skills in holistic addiction treatment, including motivational interviewing and culturally responsive approaches.
Fieldwork Opportunities
Practicum and Internship
The practicum and internship placement experiences serve to integrate the theoretical and practical aspects of the education of a professional counselor. Students have the opportunity during the practicum and internship experiences to synthesize their knowledge, techniques and skills learned in the classroom. These supervised field placements allow students to provide direct services to clients and demonstrate their understanding of key concepts in professional counseling in a clinical setting.
Students are able to apply to a wide variety of training sites that include community mental health centers, child welfare and family service agencies, substance abuse programs, college counseling centers, as well as private group practices. The sites available for the training experience are chosen based on their ability to serve diverse populations that will offer the best possible experience to equip students for working in the counseling field.
Students are required to complete a minimum of a nine-month placement experience and complete at least 700 hours with 280 direct service hours during the placement.
Students registered in this program incur a one-time $195 Experiential Learning Technology Fee.
Sample Courses
Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapy
This course addresses the basic assumptions of cognitive-behavioral theory‚ reviews the major theorists, and introduces the student to issues of treatment planning, case conceptualization, therapeutic technique and intervention through that theoretical sense. The emphasis is on the acquisition of a range of cognitive-behavioral assessment and intervention techniques and intervention skills.
Existential-Humanistic Psychotherapy
This course introduces students to the theoretical concepts and clinical applications of the humanistic and existential approach to psychotherapy and counseling including person-centered, Gestalt, and transpersonal approaches to psychotherapy. In addition, group modalities within this theoretical umbrella will be addressed.
Advanced Family and Couples Therapy
This course provides an overview of advanced theory and technique, as well as skills training in family and couples therapy with an emphasis on the development of a personal model of counseling. Diagnostic skills, case analysis, and relationship strategies will be emphasized. Particular attention will be paid to engaging children and adolescents in the family therapy setting. The course will also explore the impact of macro systems issues such as gender, power, and economics on contemporary relationships.
Career Pathways
Counseling psychologists can be employed in a variety of settings, which can vary somewhat depending on the exact services they wish to provide, as well as the client demographic they work in:
- Hospitals and community-based clinics
- Mental health centers
- Social service agencies
- Substance abuse facilities
- Hospices
- Rehabilitation centers
Career Outcomes
The Chicago School prepares you to make an impact in a variety of high-demand careers. Below, you will find possible career options and salaries associated with this degree.
Data is pulled by a third-party tool called Lightcast, which includes data from sources including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. Census Bureau, online job postings, and other government databases. The information below represents a regional and national career outlook related to this degree program*. The Chicago School is dedicated to assisting you in achieving your career goals.
*Many degree programs are intended to fulfill licensure requirements in specific states. The data shown here may not represent the state where you currently reside. For more information on how this program is applicable to the requirements of your state, please speak with your admissions representative.
Financing Your Education
The Chicago School is dedicated to keeping our professional degree programs accessible to anyone regardless of financial status. In addition to the scholarships that may be available, our Financial Aid Department will help provide you with information to determine what financial arrangements are right for you.
M.A. Counseling Psychology FAQs
What is counseling psychology?
Counseling psychology is the study of cognitive, behavioral, and emotional issues to diagnose and treat patients. Counseling psychology is the act of helping individuals of all ages overcome mental health challenges in order to assist them in attaining the best quality of life possible. Counseling psychology is a specialty type of psychology that comprises both clinical work and research.
Is the Masters in Counseling Psychology online?
Currently, the M.A. Counseling Psychology at The Chicago School is offered only at our flagship campus in Chicago.
What can you do with a counseling psychology degree?
Typically, someone looking to pursue a career as a therapist or counselor would be a great fit for a counseling psychology degree. Whether you want to work in a hospital, mental health center, social service agency, substance abuse facility, hospice care, or a rehabilitation center setting, The Chicago School’s Counseling Psychology program is designed to teach valuable skills applicable in these career fields.
Clinical or counseling psychology?
Both clinical and counseling psychology are great career options to pursue. Counseling psychology is more focused on working with clients to identify stressors and triggers, while clinical psychology is focused on identifying advanced psychological conditions to figure out a treatment plan. To become a counseling psychologist, the minimum degree requirement is a master’s degree. To become a clinical psychologist, the minimum degree requirement is a doctoral degree.
Can I study counseling psychology part time?
Yes! Our degree in counseling psychology is available to take either full -time or part time. It takes two years to complete full time, and four years to complete part time.
Where are counseling psychology colleges located?
You can study our Counseling Psychology degree program at our flagship campus in Chicago, Illinois.
