Generally speaking, counseling psychologists often focus on developmental and mental health challenges an individual may experience across their lifespan. To prepare for that role, counseling psychology programs are typically structured to prepare graduates to effectively address a client’s current mental health concerns as well as provide the education and support needed to prevent future challenges from developing.
Key takeaways
- Counseling psychologists are highly trained mental health providers that have earned doctoral degrees.
- In general, counseling psychologists can help clients with present-day challenges, and better prepare them to prevent or address future concerns they may face later in life.
- In addition to specializing in individual therapy, counseling psychologists can also offer group and family counseling.
- While they share similar educational requirements, counseling psychologists and clinical psychologists may differ in terms of their areas of focus.
What is a counseling psychologist?
A counseling psychologist is a mental health professional who has earned a doctoral degree and focuses on a client’s well-being across their lifetime. Put another way, counseling psychologists work to address mental health challenges you might be currently experiencing, and they can help prepare you to prevent and address concerns you might face later in your life.
For example, a counseling psychologist can partner proactively with an individual on positive coping strategies to help them move through a difficult, present-day situation, like a divorce or another challenging event. This can help prevent the individual from developing unhealthy coping behaviors that could make their life even more difficult in the long term.
Counseling psychologist credentialing requirements
Becoming a counseling psychologist requires a doctoral degree and licensure from the state where the clinician practices. Some psychologists may pursue a terminal master’s degree (the highest degree achievable in a field or discipline) before going on to pursue a doctorate. Others may start their doctoral studies after completing their undergraduate degree.
Becoming a licensed psychologist also requires supervised clinical experience. Often these experiences happen both during and after the doctoral program. The latter may be called a “postdoc” (postdoctoral) residency or fellowship. The amount of mandated clinical hours can differ depending on the state, but the American Psychological Association (APA) notes that most require between 1,500 and 2,000 clinical hours overall.
How do counseling psychologists compare to other mental health professionals?
Counseling psychologist vs. clinical psychologist
As the APA puts it, “similarities abound” between counseling psychology and clinical psychology programs. Graduates of both programs can become licensed as psychologists in all 50 states. However, the programs themselves may offer different, though overlapping, training.
In fact, two psychologists, Robert Morgan and Lee Cohen, set out to understand what exactly makes these two spheres different. Morgan earned his Ph.D. in counseling psychology, and Cohen earned his Ph.D. in clinical psychology. To do so, they analyzed recruitment materials from 61 counseling psychology programs, 137 clinical Ph.D. programs, and 34 clinical Psy.D. programs.
Here’s what they found: Clinical and counseling psychology programs had no major differences, at least in the program descriptions, faculty characteristics, and experience requirements. The one difference they noticed was that clinical psychology programs tended to emphasize psychopathology training and external practice opportunities, while counseling psychology programs tended to emphasize cultural competencies and a more holistic education.
The APA adds that counseling psychologists tend to focus on “overall well-being across the lifespan,” while clients of clinical psychologists may be experiencing “more severe symptoms” of mental health challenges or conditions.
| Counseling psychologists | Clinical psychologists |
|---|---|
| Have a doctoral degree | Have a doctoral degree |
| Practice psychotherapy | Practice psychotherapy |
| Can offer individual, group, or family counseling | Can offer individual, group, or family counseling |
| May have focused on cultural competencies and more holistic education | May have focused on psychopathology education |
| May concentrate on the well-being of clients across their lifespan | May work with clients with more severe symptoms |
So, what do these insights mean for people who want or need therapy? The Society of Counseling Psychology sums it up this way: If you’re seeking psychotherapy with a psychologist, you need to ask the psychologist, whether clinical or counseling, to describe their training, approach to care, and current style of practice.
Do I need a referral to see a counseling psychologist?
In most cases, no — you do not need a referral to see a counseling psychologist. You can typically search for a licensed psychologist directly and book an appointment on your own. However, some insurance plans may require a referral or prior authorization before covering psychologist visits, so it’s worth checking your plan’s requirements before booking. Platforms like Grow Therapy allow you to search for licensed providers who accept your insurance and verify coverage before your first session.
Counseling psychologist vs. therapist
The word “therapist” is sometimes used to describe many professionals who provide mental healthcare, including psychologists, marriage and family therapists, and counselors. However, a counseling psychologist is not the same as a master’s-level therapist. Both provide mental health care to clients and may work in similar settings. But a counseling psychologist has earned a doctorate degree in psychology; a therapist has typically earned a master’s degree in counseling, therapy, or social work.
| Counseling psychologists | Therapists |
|---|---|
| Have a doctoral degree | Can describe a variety of mental health professionals, including psychologists and counselors |
| Can offer individual, group, or family counseling | Can have a master’s, doctoral, or other advanced degree |
| May focus on the well-being of clients across their lifespan |
What issues can a counseling psychologist help me with?
In general, counseling psychologists can help with mental health challenges you’re currently facing, in addition to helping you prevent or address concerns you might have later on in life. They can help people recognize their strengths, learn to better cope with everyday challenges, and treat mental health concerns that may be happening.
For example, a counseling psychologist may work with a client on recovering from an eating disorder or help a family that’s navigating grief and loss. Of course, the particular challenges and concerns that a counseling psychologist can address depends on their training and experience.
Counseling psychologists may work in hospitals, health centers, private practices, educational settings, corporations, and research institutions.
Clients can seek out a counseling psychologist for several reasons, some of which include:
Improving well-being
Counseling psychologists support their clients with both the “everyday challenges” of work, relationships, and family — and more serious concerns that affect our mental health and well-being. Whatever the concerns, the counseling psychologist’s goal is to help the individual navigate when life is difficult and find resources — both in themselves and within their communities — to build resilience and healthy, fulfilling lives.
Strengthening academic performance and confidence
Some counseling psychologists serve in school settings, and they may work alongside educational psychologists in helping shape the learning experience. They may work with students’ families, helping the adults understand how they can create supportive learning environments at home based on their children’s unique strengths and needs. They may partner with students and educators as well, helping both groups better engage together during the school day.
Promoting healthy workplaces
Some companies employ mental health providers to support employees’ mental health. Workplace psychologists, or industrial and organizational psychologists, can help colleagues better collaborate and support individuals in navigating tricky workplace dynamics and addressing any concerns they have, such as burnout or feeling anxious or disengaged. They may offer on-site or virtual workshops, work one-on-one with employees, or provide targeted training for teams or managers.
Fostering healthy relationships
To put it simply, people aren’t born with relational skills. Everyone has to learn how to engage well with others and with their environments. However, not all families or community groups teach these skills. That’s where counseling psychologists can step in. They’re able to understand the dynamics at play and teach individuals, couples, and groups how to have healthy, fulfilling relationships.
Processing past and present trauma
Counseling psychologists are equipped to help people in active crisis situations, and they can help people and communities process past traumatic events. Their support can help mitigate the psychological effects of traumatic events and begin the healing process.
What can I expect in counseling psychologist therapy?
Starting therapy, especially if you’ve never worked with any type of mental health professional in the past, can invite feelings of uncertainty. That includes working with a counseling psychologist for the first time. By familiarizing yourself with how therapy sessions typically progress, you can dramatically reduce feelings of uneasiness and focus more on the specific concerns you’re looking to address.
What to expect during your first session
Generally speaking, your initial therapy session with a counseling psychologist serves as an introduction. The goal for this first session is to provide an opportunity for you and your therapist to get to know each other and discuss any concerns you might have.
During your first session, a counseling psychologist might ask you about:
- Any developmental or mental health challenges or symptoms you’re currently experiencing
- Your background and life experiences
- Your relationships and any support systems you have in place
- The goals you have in mind for therapy
What counseling psychology looks like depends on many factors. The provider’s education, training, experience, and ways of working will influence the type of care they provide. The client’s preferences, needs, concerns, and goals should also influence how their counseling sessions feel and run. Counseling psychology often involves psychotherapy, which can happen with individuals, couples, families, and groups. This type of session often lasts a little under an hour and may involve different approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or play therapy for children.
What kinds of techniques are used during counseling psychologist sessions?
In general, counseling psychologists pay attention to people’s development across their lifespan. Their approach often takes into account that a person’s behavior is influenced both by individual, internal factors (e.g., their psychology, physical health, and spirituality) and contextual, external factors (e.g., their family, society, and culture).
Each psychologist has a theory-informed toolbox that includes different approaches or different types of therapy to help their clients.
These approaches and techniques can include:
- Psychodynamic therapy
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Eclectic psychotherapy (an approach that combines different techniques from various modalities)
- Integrative psychotherapy (another approach combining different techniques)
According to the APA, counseling programs often further equip graduates to become culturally informed and culturally sensitive therapists. This means the provider can work well with, respond effectively to, and provide support to people of all cultural backgrounds — although some may choose to specialize in working with certain subpopulations.
What combination of skills and techniques a psychologist uses is influenced by their training, experience, and preferences. “It just really depends on the psychologist,” says Taylor Hayden, a clinical therapist on Grow’s platform with a Christian background.
For instance, some psychologists may lean more toward assessing and diagnosing disorders; others may focus more on psychotherapy. Some do both, and others do neither.
“I know some psychologists who are very strictly assessment-based,” says Hayden. “What they love doing is diagnosing. They love figuring out what’s causing a person to be stuck.”
Of course, the client’s concerns, needs, and goals also factor into the specific skills and techniques that a counseling psychologist puts to work. If you’re seeking psychotherapy with a counseling psychologist, that’s why it’s important to ask each provider about their own unique approach. As a starting point, Grow Therapy’s “Find a Therapist” tool can help you narrow down your list of potential providers using filters for specialty, identity, location, and more.
How do I choose the right counseling psychologist for me?
Counseling psychologists and other mental health professionals use their specialized skills to help people heal, grow, recover, and navigate the complexity of their emotional and psychological well-being. These providers can partner with clients in working through immediate concerns and crises. They can also empower people to develop positive coping strategies, build resilience, and understand themselves more deeply.
Whether you’re seeking immediate or long-term support, a mental health provider can be an invaluable resource — and Grow Therapy is a great place to start your search. Our “find a therapist” feature is easy to use and lets you browse providers based on your state, insurance provider, and the provider’s specialty.
Find a counseling psychologist near you
Frequently asked questions
Yes, counseling psychologists can diagnose and treat mental health disorders. You can verify that a provider has the authority to diagnose in your state by checking your state’s licensing board.
Yes, counseling psychologists can diagnose mental health and emotional disorders including depression. They may do so through observing clients, talking with them, and giving them tests that evaluate their mental health.
What counseling psychology looks like depends on many factors. The provider’s education, training, experience, and ways of working will influence the type of care they provide. The client’s preferences, needs, concerns, and goals should also influence how their counseling sessions feel and run. In general, an example of counseling psychology is psychotherapy, which can happen with individuals, couples, families, and groups. This type of session often lasts a little under an hour and may involve different approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy or play therapy for children.
Here’s a more specific example: Imagine you’re a college student struggling with anxiety; a counseling psychologist can guide you through exploring and understanding your anxiety while helping you develop personalized strategies to manage stress and build resilience for future stressors.
The word “therapist” is sometimes used to describe many professionals who provide mental healthcare, including psychologists, marriage and family therapists, and counselors. However, a counseling psychologist is not the same as a master’s-level therapist. Both provide mental health care to clients and may work in similar settings. But a counseling psychologist has earned a doctorate degree in psychology; a therapist has typically earned a master’s degree in counseling, therapy, or social work.
The main difference is education and scope of practice. Counseling psychologists hold doctoral degrees (PhD or PsyD) and are licensed as psychologists, which typically allows them to conduct psychological testing and assessments in addition to providing therapy. “Therapist” is a broader term that includes licensed counselors, social workers, and marriage and family therapists — most of whom hold master’s degrees. Both can provide effective psychotherapy, and the right fit depends more on your specific needs and personal comfort than on the credential alone.
Many insurance plans cover sessions with licensed psychologists, though coverage varies by plan and provider. Because counseling psychologists hold doctoral-level licenses, they are typically recognized by major insurance carriers for reimbursement. Before booking, it’s worth confirming that the psychologist is in-network with your plan. Grow Therapy makes it easy to filter providers by insurance so you can find a covered counseling psychologist without the guesswork.