Counselors vs. Counseling Psychologists

Counselors vs. Counseling Psychologists Student Resources Careers Print Counselor and a Counseling Psychologist Differences By Kendra Cherry facebook twitter Kendra Cherry, MS, is an author, educational consultant, and speaker focused on helping students learn about psychology. Learn about our editorial policy Kendra Cherry Updated on February 10, 2020 Tetra Images/Getty Images More in Student Resources Careers APA Style and Writing Study Guides and Tips While counselors and counseling psychologists perform a lot of similar duties, there are actually a number of important differences between the two professions. Both professions are focused on helping people live better lives, but counselors and counseling psychologists have different educational backgrounds and often work in different settings. Key Similarities There are a number of important similarities between counselors and counseling psychologists: Both are mental health practitionersBoth can provide psychotherapyBoth may specialize in a particular area, such as working with children, adults, or couplesBoth help clients improve well-beingBoth work in diverse areas including hospitals, government offices, mental health clinics, academic settings, and private practice Differences So how exactly do counselors and counseling psychologists differ? Some of the major differences are in educational levels, the scope of practice, and work settings. Counselors Usually have a masters degreeOften address emotional and relationship issuesOften work in school or career settingsAre not trained to provide psychological testingTreat clients by providing talk therapy Counseling Psychologists Have a doctorate degreeTend to treat more serious forms of mental illnessOften found in medical and mental health clinicsTrained to provide diagnosis and psychological testing Education and Training Differences One of the major differences can be seen in the educational and training requirements for each profession. Counselor Educational Requirements Counselors generally have at minimum a masters degree in either counseling or psychology. Most masters programs require 60 credit hours of study. Those who become licensed professional counselors are required to pass a national professional exam and complete a specified number of supervised hours in the field. One of the attractions of counseling programs is that they require less time to complete than a doctorate, allowing students to enter the workforce faster. Another reason why such programs appeal to students is that some allow for part-time study, making it possible for students to remain employed in their current jobs while they earn a masters degree. Counseling Psychologist Educational Requirements Counseling psychologists, on the other hand, hold a Ph.D., Psy.D., or Ed.D. degree in counseling psychology. Such programs tend to include a greater focus on research than is typically seen in masters level counseling programs. Such programs usually take five years to complete. The first four years are complete required courses, research, clinical experiences, and a dissertation. The fifth-year is usually spent doing a supervised internship in the field. Accreditation and Licensing In many cases, both counseling psychology and counseling programs are housed within a universitys College of Education (although not always). Counseling programs and counseling psychology programs also receive accreditation from different accrediting bodies. In the United States, counseling programs are accredited through the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) and counseling psychology programs are accredited through the American Psychological Association (APA). It is important to note that both counselors and psychologists must be licensed to practice within the state where they work. In order to become licensed, counselors and psychologists must meet specific education, training, and testing criteria established by the state. This includes meeting a minimum education level, completing required supervised experience hours, and passing state certification exams. Scope of Practice Another key difference between counselors and counseling psychologists can be seen in the type of duties they usually perform. While counseling psychologists often conduct psychological assessments and administer diagnostic tests to clients, counselors are sometimes limited in terms of the tests they are able to administer. State laws may dictate which type of assessments a counselor can offer and may require that the administration of such tests be supervised by a psychologist. Counseling psychologists may also work with individuals suffering from more serious forms of mental illness than counselors. More general emotional, relationship, social, and academic problems are often referred to counselors because they are sometimes able to offer more cost-effective treatments. However, both types of professionals offer important mental health services designed to help people overcome problems and optimize their well-being. Counselors often choose to focus on a specialty area such as school counseling, career counseling, marriage and family counseling, mental health counseling, and addictions counseling. Similarly, counseling psychologists often elect to specialize in a particular area such as substance abuse, child development, health psychology, community psychology, crisis intervention, or developmental disabilities. A Word From Verywell While counselors and counseling psychologists perform many similar job duties in the field of mental health, it is important to be aware of the differences between the two professions. If you are thinking about entering one of these fields, you will need to determine which one is right for you and adjust your educational plan to meet those expectations. If you are looking for mental health services, you should talk to your doctor about what type of mental health professional might be right for your needs. Seeing a counselor might be a great choice in some situations, while in other cases, such as if you need treatment for a more serious mental health condition, you might need to see a psychologist or psychiatrist. How to Find the Right Therapist