Becoming a Counselor

Becoming a counselor means embarking on a rewarding and fulfilling career that involves helping people to overcome personal challenges, improve their mental health, and lead more fulfilling lives.

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Becoming a Psychologist

Becoming a psychologist means unlocking the mysteries of the human mind and helping people to achieve their full potential. The field of psychology offers endless opportunities to positively impact the world around you.

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Careers in Counseling

As a counselor, you will work with individuals, couples, families, and groups to address a wide range of issues, including anxiety, depression, grief, and relationship problems. Whether you choose to specialize in a particular area or work with a broad range of clients, a career in counseling is both rewarding and challenging.

Specialty	Summary & Degree Options
Mental Health Counselor	Treat mental illness, help clients develop coping skills, provide support to those who experience mental health problems. Degrees: Master's, Graduate Certificate
Marriage & Family Therapist	Help individuals, couples, and families with relationship and emotional problems, develop coping strategies, improve communication skills. Degrees: Master's, Graduate Certificate, Doctorate
School Counselor	Assist students in K-12 schools with academic, career, and personal counseling, advocate for students' needs, and provide support. Degrees: Master's, Graduate Certificate, Doctorate
Substance Abuse / Addiction Counselor	Counsel those struggling with drug and alcohol problems, provide support to overcome addiction, develop relapse prevention strategies. Degrees: Bachelor's, Master's, Graduate Certificate, Doctorate

Becoming a counselor of any type starts with the right education. Learn more about counseling degrees, career pathways, schools in your area, and much more.

Careers in Psychology

As a psychologist, you will utilize research, analysis, and evidence-based practice to help individuals and communities work on and understand issues ranging from mental health and behavior to social and developmental challenges. You may specialize in a particular area of psychology or work in academia, research, or private practice.

Specialty	Summary & Degree Options
Clinical Psychologist	Diagnose and treat mental illness, conduct psychological assessments, and provide therapy to individuals, couples, and families. Degrees: Bachelor's, Master's, Graduate Certificate, Doctorate
School Psychologist	Assess and support students' academic, social, and emotional development, collaborating with educators and families to create an inclusive learning environment. Degrees: Master's, Doctorate
Social Psychologist	Utilize social psychology principles to understand and influence social interactions and behaviors, collaborating across fields to address societal issues. Degrees: Bachelor's, Master's, Doctorate
Forensic Psychologist	Apply psychology principles to legal issues, work with law enforcement, lawyers, and judges to provide expert testimony, and conduct research on legal issues. Degrees: Bachelor's, Master's, Graduate Certificate, Doctorate

Get started on a psychology career by discovering the degree levels available, find schools near you, and learn more about the numerous career specialties available.

Social Work & Therapy

In the field of mental health, counseling and psychology aren't the only routes you can take. Learn more to see if a social work or therapy career may be right for you.

Social Work Guide

Discover popular social work degrees, such as the MSW, as well as specialty career routes.

How to Become a Social Worker

Social Work Degrees

Social Work Careers

Therapist Guide

Learn about what it takes to become a therapist and dive into specialty therapy careers.

How to Become a Therapist

Therapist Careers

Therapist in a session with a client.

Search Counseling & Psychology Programs

Select your education background and program of interest and see all the accredited programs available for you.

Discover Online Programs

From counseling to psychology to social work, online and hybrid degree programs give you the flexibility to learn on your terms.

Find out if an online program is right for you.

Online Counseling Programs Online Psychology Programs Online Social Work Programs

Latest Counseling & Psychology Program Rankings

CounselingPsychology.org is pleased to showcase excellence in counseling and psychology education through our comprehensive rankings. Discover the top schools and programs in your chosen specialty and/or state below, and explore our Rankings Methodology for insights into our evaluation process.

Latest Articles & Guides

Want to learn more about current issues in counseling and psychology? Our articles and guides will help you stay up-to-date and informed on topics related to education, careers, and everything in between.

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