Counseling Psychology Degree Online Programs

What is the difference between counseling psychology degree online and a clinical psychology online degree? Which one is ideal for you?

The answer lies in first distinguishing the two fields. Counseling psychology focuses on providing therapeutic treatments to clients who have experienced a range of symptoms. The field pays attention to both normal developmental issues and the problems associated with physical, emotional, and mental disorders. Counseling facilitates personal and interpersonal functioning throughout the life span of the client. It focus on social, emotional, vocational, educational, health, developmental, and organizational issues. Clinical psychology is a branch of psychology that is concerned with assessment and treatment of mental illness, abnormal behavior and psychiatric issues. The main difference comes from the training. Counseling psychology focuses more on the psychologically healthy individual while clinical psychology focuses on individuals with mental illness.

Counseling Psychology Degree Online Programs

Walden University

• M.S. in Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling
• M.S. in Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling - Forensic Counseling
• M.S. in Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling - Trauma and Crisis
• M.S. in Mental Health Counseling (CACREP-Accredited)

• MS in Addiction Counseling
• MA in HS - Marriage and Family
• MA in Marriage and Family Therapy

Capella University - Online

• PhD - General Counselor Education and Supervision
• PhD in Counseling Studies - General Counseling Studies
• MS in Addiction Counseling - General Addiction Counseling
• MS in Counseling Studies - General Counseling Studies
• MS in Marriage and Family Therapy - General Marriage and Family Therapy
• MS in Mental Health Counseling - General Mental Health Counseling
• MS in School Counseling - General School Counseling
• MS - Counseling Psychology
• MS in Career Counseling - General Career Counseling

Liberty University

• M.Ed. - School Counseling
• M.Ed. - School Counseling (TC)
• PhD in Counseling-Pastoral Counseling
• PhD in Counseling-Professional Counseling
  

University of Phoenix

• Master of Science in Counseling
  • Community Counseling
  • School Counseling
  • Mental Health Counseling
  • Marriage, Family and Child Therapy

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology

• M.A. in Clinical Psychology, Counseling Specialization
• M.A. in Counseling Psychology

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Counseling Psychology Education and Training

The field of counseling psychology grew out of vocational psychology and has establishes a strong educational and training component. Counseling psychology degree online programs are generally offered through departments and colleges of education.

Counseling psychologists are trained in many therapeutic skills. Counseling psychology degree online courses may include psychological measurement, human development and personality, biological aspects of behavior, cognitive-affective aspects of behavior, social aspects of behavior, individual differences in behavior, cultural and individual diversity. A possible list of counseling psychology degree online courses may include:

• Professional Orientation in the Counseling Profession
• Human Growth and Development
• Assessment
• Developmental Psychology
• Theories of Counseling
• Abnormal Psychology
• Group Counseling Techniques
• Multicultural Issues in Counseling
• Religious Counseling
• Substance Abuse Counseling
• Career Counseling
• Advanced Counseling Techniques
• Program Evaluation
• Research Methods
• Marriage and Family Therapy
• Counseling Children and Adolescents

Other courses that may be required are statistical analysis, research methodology, and evaluation and assessment. To become a counseling psychologist, a Ph.D., Psy.D. or Ed.D. degree is required prior to practicing . A Doctor of Philosophy or Doctor of Psychology degree is offered though psychology department, while the Doctor of Education degree in counseling psychology is offered though college of educations. Most of these psychology programs attain accreditation through the American Psychological Association (APA).

Counseling Psychology Careers

Counseling psychologists provide their clients with advice on dealing with daily issues. They work in a variety of settings that include private practice, universities, hospitals, college counseling centers, community mental health centers, and private practice.

Most states require professionals to have a doctoral degree (PhD or PsyD) in psychology for private practice. Counseling psychologists conduct many of the same tasks as clinical psychologists, but they focus more on clients with adjustment issues rather than on those with psychological disorders. They may be trained in psychology departments or in education departments.

Estimated Income and Projected Career Growth

The median Estimated Income for a typical Counseling Psychologist in higher education is $61,107. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), about 34% of psychologists are self-employed as private practitioners and independent consultants. The BLS reports the following annual earning for 2008.

• Educational, vocational, and school counselors in 2008 earned $51,050 with the middle 50 percent earning between $38,740 and $65,360.
• The median annual income of substance abuse and behavioral disorder was $37,030 in 2008 with the middle 50% earning between $29,410 and $47,290.
• Mental health earned $36,810 with the middle 50% making between $28,930 and $48,58
• Rehabilitation counselors made $30,930. The middle 50% earned between $24,110 and $41,240.
• Marriage and family therapists earned $44,590. The middle 50% earned between $34,840 and $56,320.

Counseling psychologist salary depends on their educational qualifications, number of years of practical experience, and the their location. Graduates of counseling psychology degree online programs should ensure that they understand state licensure requirements in order to practice.