Counseling Psychology Careers
Counseling psychologists help their clients deal with the everyday stresses of life, and tend to be general in their scope. While they are similar to clinical psychologists, they deal with issues such as stress, depression, and family and friendship difficulties, while clinical psychologists focus on more severe mental issues like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
People who work in counseling help individuals, groups, and families work through difficulties related to their mental wellbeing. These may include problems related to the home, school, work, or the community. Counseling psychologists are trained in the principles, theories, and methods of psychology, as well as how to be a reliable, professional counselor to a wide range of individuals.
Counselors work in schools, clinics, private offices, hospitals, and businesses. They specialize in talking people through their difficulties with an emphasis on improving their personal functioning and their relationships with others.
Skills: To be an effective counseling psychologist, you must be an excellent listener, communicator, and sympathizer. You will need to be patient, understanding, and supportive while still offering guidance and advice. In addition, you should be comfortable working with a wide variety of people, and should be strongly motivated to improve people's lives.
Requirements: All states have requirements for licensure and certification in order to practice counseling psychology. Either a master's or doctoral degree will be required, depending on the state. Graduates usually need a doctorate, internship experience, and one to two years of practical experience before they can be licensed.
Job Outlook: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the need for counseling psychologists is on the rise because they are increasingly needed to “help people deal with depression and other mental disorders, marriage and family problems, job stress, and addiction.”
Salary: In 2008, the average annual salary for a counseling psychologist was $64,140, with the highest 10 percent earning more than $106,840. Counselors tend to earn most in private offices and hospitals, and less in government or public school settings.
Article Resources:
San Diego State University
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: "Counselors"
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: "Psychologists"
West Chester University of Pennsylvania