apa counseling psychology phd programs

PhD in Counseling Psychology

Our Counseling Psychology PhD Program utilizes a multiple mentor model in which doctoral students are assigned to a primary advisor and encouraged to work with all faculty members throughout their time in the department through involvement on research teams, clinical training opportunities, outreach, and teaching. This year, the faculty members who will be assigned as primary advisor include Simon Goldberg, Shinye Kim, Mindi Thompson, and Travis Wright.

The APA-accredited doctoral program in counseling psychology is based on the scientist/practitioner model of professional psychology and integrates counseling and psychological theory, scientific inquiry, and supervised practice. Counseling psychology is a psycho-educational specialty in which practitioners help others to improve their well-being, alleviate their distress, resolve their crises, and increase their ability to solve problems and make decisions. Counseling psychologists apply systematic, research-based approaches to help themselves and others understand and develop solutions to problems that are educational, vocational, emotional, social, cultural, health-related, or developmental in nature.

The UW–Madison program places special emphasis on multicultural competence and social justice, integration of research and practice, and preparation for ethical and professional conduct as either a researcher, teacher, or practitioner. The theoretical orientation of the program is best described as eclectic. Course work emphasizes the research base of counseling psychology and students are expected to involve themselves in faculty research. All students complete a one-year, full-time pre-doctoral internship as a culminating training experience. The planned length of the program for students entering with a master's degree (post-M.A. track) is five years, although students may opt to take additional time depending on academic background and career objectives.

The department also admits a small number of students to a post–B.A. track. These students apply to the Ph.D. program at the completion of their undergraduate degree, and are required to integrate coursework and professional practice training at the master's level, as well as introductory doctoral coursework, during the first two years of study. Students admitted to the post–B.A. track typically have excellent academic records and experiences that demonstrate high levels of both helping skills and research skills prior to admissions. The planned length of the post–B.A. track is six years, although actual completion times will vary depending on student needs and career goals.

The mission of the counseling psychology Ph.D. program is to train health service psychologists who are skillful in research and intervention with diverse populations, who integrate science and practice into their professional roles, and who uphold high ethical and professional standards as psychologists. Program graduates are broadly prepared for a number of professional roles, including direct service, research, teaching, clinical supervision, and program design and evaluation. 

The Ph.D. program is accredited by the American Psychological Association. For further information on accreditation, contact APA's Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242; 202-336-5979; [email protected] .

Licensure as a Psychologist

Graduates of the Ph.D. program are eligible for licensure to practice psychology. Licensure requirements differ by state, and currently most states require additional supervised practice post-Ph.D. All states require passage of the national licensure examination (the Examination for Professional Practice of Psychology or EPPP), and most states also have state-specific written and oral examinations. Links to descriptions of licensure requirements by state may be obtained from the website of the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards .

Please consult the table below for key information about this degree program’s admissions requirements. The program may have more detailed admissions requirements, which can be found below the table or on the program’s website.

Graduate admissions is a two-step process between academic programs and the Graduate School. Applicants must meet the minimum requirements of the Graduate School as well as the program(s). Once you have researched the graduate program(s) you are interested in, apply online .

Admission to the Counseling Psychology Ph.D. program is highly competitive. The Department of Counseling Psychology accepts applications for fall enrollment between early September and December 1 for the Ph.D. program in Counseling Psychology. There is no option for spring or summer initial enrollment in the department. The applicant is responsible for collecting, assembling, and submitting all the pieces of the application by the December 1 deadline.  Applicants should submit their materials in electronic form.

Post-BA And Post-MA Tracks

Most students who apply to and are enrolled in the Ph.D. program have earned a master's degree (post-M.A. in counseling or a related field).  However, in fall 2010, we began offering a “post-B.A.” track within our Ph.D. program for highly qualified students who have not yet earned a master's degree in a counseling-related field and wish to apply directly to a Ph.D. program. Having a post-BA track allows us to accept qualified applicants to the Ph.D. program who may have work, volunteer, or research experience in counseling or a related profession, have exhibited a passion for helping others, and/or possess a master's degree in a non-counseling field. If you are unsure which option is right for you, review the information in the "Ph.D. Information and Instructions for Fall Applicants" link, found on our website at Information for Prospective Ph.D. Applicants .

Unlike students in our regular “post-M.A.” track (i.e., those who enter with a Master's degree), post-B.A. track students start the program alongside the incoming Master's student cohort. In their first academic year, post-B.A. track students will complete a course load similar to their Master's student counterparts. In their second academic year, post-B.A. track students will complete their "first Year Experience" while beginning their Ph.D. coursework. Post-B.A. track students are not currently required to complete a Master's thesis or the Professional Integration Exercise, but will also not receive a Master's degree unless they choose to meet all requirement's for our masters program.

Informational Meetings

A number of informational meetings are held each fall by our department.  A list of these meetings can be found on our Information for Prospective Ph.D. Applicants page.

Application Procedure

Up-to-date information and requirements regarding applying to our Ph.D. program can be found on our Information for Prospective Ph.D. Applicants page . 

Questions can be directed to the Student Services Coordinator. See the People tab for contact information.

Graduate School Resources

Resources to help you afford graduate study might include assistantships, fellowships, traineeships, and financial aid.  Further funding information is available from the Graduate School. Be sure to check with your program for individual policies and restrictions related to funding.

Program Resources

Incoming PhD students will be guaranteed funding for the 4 years (post-MA) or 5 years (post-BA) they are expected to be on campus to complete the degree. Funding is through a combination of fellowships and graduate assistantships, usually either teaching or research (usually termed "project" assistantships)--either in the Department of Counseling Psychology or in other university departments. Assistantship appointments are at the 50% level (equating to 20 hours per week) for the 9-month academic year. Summer funding is available but not guaranteed.

Department assistantships are assigned through a competitive application process each spring. Admitted students (non-fellows) are included in the process the spring before they start in the program. Students are encouraged to also apply for graduate assistantships outside the department, and most obtain at least some of their support in other departments or units on campus during their time in the program.

Currently, all graduate assistantships and fellowships include tuition remission and health benefits. 

Fellowships

• Students may be eligible for an Ed-GRS fellowship.  Ed-GRS is a community of first-generation students and ethnically underrepresented students who are receiving an Advanced Opportunity Fellowship (AOF) in the School of Education. In addition to tuition remission, monthly stipend, and heath care benefits, the program strives to assist our fellows with first-year transition, community building, and professional development opportunities. The department nominates top eligible candidates for Ed-GRS automatically—no additional application materials are needed from the applicant. More information about AOFs can be found on their website .
• Students interested in becoming a Residence Hall House Fellow should view the information available on their website . 
• Racial and ethnic minority students are encouraged to apply for the American Psychological Association Minority Fellowship Program. Information is available on their website .

Financial Aid

Information and application materials for financial aid, loans, scholarships, and student employment may be obtained by contacting the Office of Student Financial Aid at 333 East Campus Mall, Room 9701, Madison, WI 53706, 608-262-3060. International applicants are encouraged to seek other forms of financial assistance as international students are not eligible for loans and scholarships.

Additional information about funding is available on the Counseling Psychology website . Questions can be directed to the Student Services Coordinator. See the People tab for contact information.

Minimum Graduate School Requirements

Major requirements.

Review the Graduate School minimum academic progress and degree requirements , in addition to the program requirements listed below.

MODE OF INSTRUCTION

Mode of instruction definitions.

Accelerated: Accelerated programs are offered at a fast pace that condenses the time to completion. Students typically take enough credits aimed at completing the program in a year or two.

Evening/Weekend: ​Courses meet on the UW–Madison campus only in evenings and/or on weekends to accommodate typical business schedules.  Students have the advantages of face-to-face courses with the flexibility to keep work and other life commitments.

Face-to-Face: Courses typically meet during weekdays on the UW-Madison Campus.

Hybrid: These programs combine face-to-face and online learning formats.  Contact the program for more specific information.

Online: These programs are offered 100% online.  Some programs may require an on-campus orientation or residency experience, but the courses will be facilitated in an online format.

CURRICULAR REQUIREMENTS

Required courses.

There are two primary curriculum domains of the doctoral program. Required coursework and practicum experiences contribute to each student’s competency in these areas. The core curriculum areas are:

Discipline-Specific Knowledge

• History and Systems of Psychology
• Basic Psychology Content Areas (i.e., Affective Aspects of Behavior, Biological Aspects of Behavior, Cognitive Aspects of Behavior, Developmental Aspects of Behavior, and Social Aspects of Behavior)
• Research, Quantitative Methods, and Psychometrics
• Advanced Integrative Knowledge in Scientific Psychology

Profession-Wide Competencies

• Integration of Science and Practice
• Ethical and Legal Standards
• Individual and Cultural Diversity
• Professional Values and Attitudes
• Communication and Interpersonal Skills
• Intervention
• Supervision
• Consultation and Interprofessional/Interdisciplinary Skills Required coursework (i.e., major core coursework) includes courses in each of these areas.

In accordance with the Standards of Accreditation (SoA) for Health Service Psychology, all students are required to document mastery of broad and general content knowledge in each of these psychological foundations areas during their doctoral studies.

Post–M.A. Pathway 1 :

These pathways are internal to the program and represent different curricular paths a student can follow to earn this degree. Pathway names do not appear in the Graduate School admissions application, and they will not appear on the transcript.

Students must take 2 semesters of COUN PSY 810 Professional Development and Clinical Practice for a total of 2-12 credits.

Students must take 2 semesters of COUN PSY 990 Research or Thesis for 3 credits each semester, for a total of 6 credits.

Students may take 2 semesters of COUN PSY 904 Counseling Psychology Externship for a total of 2-6 credits.

Post–B.A. Pathway 1 :

Must complete all courses listed for the Post–MA pathway  and

Graduate School Policies

The  Graduate School’s Academic Policies and Procedures  provide essential information regarding general university policies. Program authority to set degree policies beyond the minimum required by the Graduate School lies with the degree program faculty. Policies set by the academic degree program can be found below.

Major-Specific Policies

Prior coursework, graduate work from other institutions.

With program approval, students are allowed to count no more than 21 credits of graduate coursework from other institutions. Coursework earned four or more years prior to admission to the doctoral program is not allowed to satisfy requirements.

UW–Madison Undergraduate

No credits from a UW–Madison undergraduate degree are allowed to count toward the degree.

UW–Madison University Special

With program approval, students are allowed to count no more than 9 credits of coursework numbered 300 or above taken as a UW–Madison University Special student. Coursework earned four or more years prior to admission to the doctoral program is not allowed to satisfy requirements.

Placement on probation indicates a very serious faculty concern about a student's performance. Students are placed on probation, as opposed to being dismissed from the program, when the faculty determines that the student likely will be able to address the difficulty that led to the probation if appropriate remediation is provided. If a recommendation for probation and remediation is adopted by the faculty, the student and advisor work with the Doctoral Training Committee (or a subset of this committee) to formulate a remediation plan including explicit goals and deadlines for evaluation of their attainment.

Students on probation cannot be approved as ready for the next level of clinical training (i.e., for foundational practicum; for internship) until they have successfully remediated the identified concern(s). This can have a substantial impact on time to degree, as practicum applications begin in the fall semester for the following academic year.

ADVISOR / COMMITTEE

Upon admission to the doctoral program, all students are assigned a faculty advisor. The doctoral student may select a major professor from the Department of Counseling Psychology who is not the original faculty advisor. In view of the important role that the major professor plays in the student's dissertation research, students are advised to allow themselves sufficient time to get acquainted with all faculty, so that they can select a major professor with whom they share similar research interests, career goals, or other interests. The doctoral student's faculty advisor plays an important role in monitoring and assisting the student with program planning.

Reviews of student progress are an agenda item for departmental faculty meeting in November (1st-year students only) and in April or May (all active Ph.D. students). All students are required to conduct a yearly progress report meeting with their advisor. Student perspectives are taken into account in these reviews, and all students complete the Doctoral Student Report on Progress, in conjunction with their advisors.

CREDITS PER TERM ALLOWED

Time limits.

Students have eight years from the date of admission to complete all of the necessary courses. Courses that are more than eight years old will not fulfill program completion requirements for admission to candidacy. Admission to candidacy occurs when students successfully complete all required coursework and pass their doctoral preliminary examinations. Students must be admitted to candidacy within ten years of admission to the department. Once admitted to candidacy (dissertator status) the student has five years to complete the dissertation and pass the final oral examination.

Once students are admitted they are expected to maintain continuous enrollment and make satisfactory progress toward their degree. Failure to maintain continuous enrollment may result in lengthy reentry process or possible termination from the program.

Prior to reentry into the program, the student should contact the department and petition the faculty for reentry. The full faculty will determine whether the student is granted reentry without conditions, granted reentry conditionally (e.g., require additional coursework or adherence to time lines for completion of degree requirements) or denied reentry.

Grievances and Appeals

These resources may be helpful in addressing your concerns:

• Bias or Hate Reporting  
• Graduate Assistantship Policies and Procedures
• Office of the Provost for Faculty and Staff Affairs
• Dean of Students Office (for all students to seek grievance assistance and support)
• Employee Assistance (for personal counseling and workplace consultation around communication and conflict involving graduate assistants and other employees, post-doctoral students, faculty and staff)
• Employee Disability Resource Office (for qualified employees or applicants with disabilities to have equal employment opportunities)
• Graduate School (for informal advice at any level of review and for official appeals of program/departmental or school/college grievance decisions)
• Office of Compliance (for class harassment and discrimination, including sexual harassment and sexual violence)
• Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (for conflicts involving students)
• Ombuds Office for Faculty and Staff (for employed graduate students and post-docs, as well as faculty and staff)
• Title IX (for concerns about discrimination)

School of Education Grievance Policy and Procedures

The following School of Education Student Grievance Policy and associated procedures are designed for use in response to individual student grievances regarding faculty or staff in the School of Education.

Any individual student who feels they have been treated unfairly by a School of Education faculty or staff member has the right to file a grievance about the treatment and receive a timely response addressing their concerns. Any student, undergraduate or graduate, may use these grievance procedures, except employees whose complaints are covered under other campus policies. The grievance may concern classroom treatment, mentoring or advising, program admission or continuation, course grades (study abroad grade complaints are handled through International Academic Programs ), or issues not covered by other campus policies or grievance procedures. 

For grievances regarding discrimination based on protected bases (i.e., race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, etc.), contact the Office of Compliance ( https://compliance.wisc.edu/eo-complaint/ ).

For grievances or concerns regarding sexual harassment or sexual violence (including sexual assault, dating/domestic violence, stalking and sexual exploitation), contact the Sexual Misconduct Resource and Response Program within the Office of Compliance.

For grievances that involve the behavior of a student, contact the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards in the Dean of Students Office at https://conduct.students.wisc.edu/ ).

For grievances about, or directed at, faculty or staff in a School of Education department, unit, or program, students should follow these steps:

• Students are strongly encouraged to first talk with the person against whom the concern is directed.  Many issues can be settled informally at this level.  If students are unable to resolve concerns directly or without additional support, step 2 or 3 should be pursued.
• If the concern is directed against a teaching assistant (TA), and the student is not satisfied, the student should contact the TA's supervisor, who is usually the course professor.  The course professor will attempt to resolve the concern informally.
• If the concern involves a non-TA instructor, staff member, professor, academic department, or School of Education office or unit, the student should contact the chair of the department or the director of the office or unit, or their designee. The chair or director, or their designee, will attempt to resolve the concern informally. If the concern is about the department chair or office/unit director, the student should consult the School of Education Senior Associate Dean for guidance.
• If the concern remains unresolved after step 2, the student may submit a formal grievance to the chair or director in writing within 30 business days 1 of the alleged unfair treatment. To the fullest extent possible, a formal written grievance shall contain a clear and concise statement of the issue(s) involved and the relief sought.  
• On receipt of a written grievance, the chair or director will notify the person at whom the grievance is directed with a copy of the written grievance. The person at whom the complaint is directed may submit a written response, which would be shared with the student.
• On receipt of a written grievance, the chair or director will refer the matter to a department, office, or unit committee comprised of at least two members. The committee may be an existing committee or one constituted for this purpose. The committee, or delegates from the committee, may meet with the parties involved and/or review any material either party shares with the committee.  
• The committee will provide a written description of the facts of the grievance and communicate recommendations to the department chair or office/unit head regarding how the grievance should be handled.

For the purpose of this policy, business days refers to those days when the University Offices are open and shall not include weekends, university holidays, spring recess, or the period from the last day of exams of fall semester instruction to the first day of spring semester instruction. All time limits may be modified by mutual consent of the parties involved.

If the grievance concerns an undergraduate course grade, the decision of the department chair after reviewing the committee’s recommendations is final. 

Other types of grievances may be appealed using the following procedures:

• Both the student who filed the grievance or the person at whom the grievance was directed, if unsatisfied with the decision of the department, office or unit, have five (5) business days from receipt of the decision to contact the Senior Associate Dean, indicating the intention to appeal.   
• A written appeal must be filed with the Senior Associate Dean within 10 business days of the time the appealing party was notified of the initial resolution of the complaint.
• On receipt of a written appeal, the Senior Associate Dean will convene a sub-committee of the School of Education’s Academic Planning Council. This subcommittee may ask for additional information from the parties involved and/or may hold a meeting at which both parties will be asked to speak separately (i.e., not in the room at the same time).
• The subcommittee will then make a written recommendation to the Dean of the School of Education, or their designee, who will render a decision. The dean or designee’s written decision shall be made within 30 business days from the date when the written appeal was filed with the Senior Associate Dean.  For undergraduate students, the dean or designee’s decision is final.

Further appealing a School of Education decision – graduate students only

Graduate students have the option to appeal decisions by the School of Education dean or designee by using the process detailed on the Graduate School’s website .

Questions about these procedures can be directed to the School of Education Dean's Office, 377 Education Building, 1000 Bascom Mall, 608-262-1763.

• Office of Compliance (for discrimination based on protected classes, including misconduct) 179A Bascom Hall, 608-262-2378
• Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards (for conflicts between students, or academic integrity violations) 70 Bascom Hall, 608-263-5700
• Bias or Hate Reporting (for students who experience or observe bias or hate incidents)  70 Bascom Hall, 608-263-5700
• Graduate School (for graduate students who need informal advice at any level of review; for official appeals of program/departmental or school/college grievance decisions, see Graduate Assistant Policies and Procedures ) 217 Bascom Hall, 608-262-2433
• Ombuds Office for Faculty and Staff (for UW-Madison employees, including graduate students) 523-524 Lowell Center, 608-265-9992
• Employee Assistance (for conflicts involving graduate assistants and other employees) 256 Lowell Hall, 608-263-2987
• Dean of Students Office (for any students needing advice or support) 70 Bascom Hall, 608-263-5700
• Office of Human Resources for policies and procedures to address workplace conflict) 21 N Park Street Suite 5101, 608-265-2257
• School of Education, Office of Student Services (for students, particularly undergraduates, in the School of Education) 139 Education Building, 608-262-1651
• School of Education, Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (OEDI) 145 Education Building, 608-262-8427

Take advantage of the Graduate School's  professional development resources to build skills, thrive academically, and launch your career. 

• Prepare for role as professional psychologist.
• Apply professional standards and conduct.
• Demonstrate scientific foundations.
• Acquire knowledge and skill in psychological practice.
• Acquire knowledge and skills in clinical supervision.
• Develop relational skills.
• Gain an understanding of the scientific basis for practice.
• Acquire knowledge of research methods.
• Apply research findings to psychological practice.
• Apply scientific thinking to practice.
• Develop a multicultural competence and social justice orientation.
• Acquire cultural and scientific knowledge relevant to diverse and underrepresented groups.
• Develop awareness of self as a cultural being.
• Develop skill in application of knowledge of self, culture, and context to clinical work.

Faculty:   Professors Thompson (Chair), Gloria, and Quintana; Associate Professors Budge, Goldberg, and Wright; Assistant Professors Frost and Kim; Faculty Associate Lotta; Clinical Associate Professor Graham; Clinical Assistant Professors Ramirez Stege and Her.

Graduate Program Manager: Andrea Burdick. Department Administrator: Nancy Jaeckle  

Accreditation

American Psychological Association

Accreditation status: Accredited. Next accreditation review: 2029.

Certification/Licensure

Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology

Note: Because of the relatively small size of many doctoral programs, EPPP pass rates are reported only in terms of the three-year moving average.

Professional Certification/Licensure Disclosure (NC-SARA)

The United States Department of Education requires institutions that provide distance education to disclose information for programs leading to professional certification or licensure about whether each program meets state educational requirements for initial licensure or certification. Following is this disclosure information for this program:

The requirements of this program meet Certification/Licensure in the following states:

The requirements of this program do not meet certification/licensure in the following states:.

Not applicable

The requirements of this program have not been determined if they meet Certification/Licensure in the following states:

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming; District of Columbia; American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands

APA Accreditation

Student Admissions, Outcomes, and Other Data

Counseling Psychology (PhD)

Program description, career opportunities, licensure and accreditation.

The PhD Program in Counseling Psychology is fully accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA). Counseling psychologists are defined as those who enter into professional relationships with individuals and groups and bring to those relationships knowledge of psychology as a science, knowledge of counseling theory and research, a personally integrated theory of counseling, and an ethical responsibility.

The major principles underlying the Program in Counseling Psychology are a focus on a developmental understanding of clients; commitment to a health model of intervention; and appreciation of the gendered, cultural, and institutional contexts of people’s lives, as these contexts affect both clients and counselors.

The program follows the scientist–practitioner model of training and is organized in three areas: general psychology, including statistics and research methodology; counseling and vocational psychology; and patterns of learning experiences designed to meet the professional goals of program matriculants.

In addition to course requirements, students must pass a comprehensive examination to be admitted to candidacy, complete a full-year, full-time internship; have an approved dissertation proposal and dissertation; and pass a final oral examination of the dissertation.

Graduates of the program are eligible to sit for the New York State psychology licensing examination and are prepared to practice in diverse settings such as colleges, clinics, hospitals, and community agencies, as well as pursue careers in research and teaching.

Graduates of the program become fully qualified psychologists with specialized training in counseling and are eligible for licensure by the state. Learn more about licensure requirements in those states in which students are doing learning placements.

The Counseling Psychology program has been fully accredited since 1981 by the American Psychological Association, Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation, 750 First Street, NE, Washington DC 20002-4242 (202-336-5979). Questions related to the program's accreditation status may be directed to this office.

Admission to graduate programs in the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development requires the following minimum components:

• Statement of Purpose
• Letters of Recommendation
• Transcripts
• Proficiency in English

See  NYU Steinhardt's Graduate Admissions website  for additional information on school-wide admission. Some programs may require additional components for admissions.

See How to Apply for admission requirements and instructions specific to this program.

Program Requirements

Additional program requirements.

For completion of the doctorate, 69-72 credits beyond the bachelor's degree are required. Additionally, as part of undergraduate or other graduate work, 18 credits in psychology including a course in statistics are prerequisites to the PhD program. In the Counseling Psychology required curriculum (53-56 credits), students complete work in counseling theory and process, cross-cultural counseling, group counseling, abnormal psychology, psychological measurement, program seminar, seminar in counseling theory, clinical assessment, statistics and research design, and practica in individual counseling, clinical intake and diagnosis, and counselor training and supervision. Students also must take two counseling psychology specialty electives (6 credits); and statistics and research design electives (10 credits).

Students also must complete departmental and state licensure course requirements covering measurement, history and systems, principles of learning, personality, developmental psychology, social psychology, and the biological basis of behavior (21 credits). In addition to course requirements, students must pass a comprehensive examination to be admitted to candidacy, complete a full-year full-time internship, have an approved dissertation proposal and dissertation, and pass a final oral examination of the dissertation.

Sample Plan of Study

APSY-GE 2657 Individual Counseling: Theory and Process must be taken as the first elective if a student enters without a counseling degree

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will:

• Fulfill the multiple roles of professional psychologists.
• Demonstrate a high level of ethical sensitivity and behavior in their professional roles.
• Knowledgeable in counseling/clinical theory, research, and practice.
• Are knowledgeable about the research process and the creation of new knowledge.
• Attain awareness, knowledge, skills, and attitudes to work effectively with diverse populations.
• Understand optimal adaptive and maladaptive human functioning across the lifespan.
• Have a professional identity of a counseling psychologist and who are able to acquire additional knowledge appropriate to this specialty.
• Demonstrate understanding of  how to maximize psychological flourishing within individuals and across populations and settings.

Fieldwork Placement

Stem opt benefits for international students, nyu policies, steinhardt academic policies.

Be advised that fieldwork placement facilities that provide training required for your program degree, and agencies that issue licenses for practice in your field of study, each may require you to undergo general and criminal background checks, the results of which the facility or agency must find acceptable before it will allow you to train at its facility or issue you a license. You should inform yourself of offenses or other facts that may prevent obtaining a license to practice in your field of study. NYU Steinhardt will not be responsible if you are unable to complete program requirements or cannot obtain a license to practice in your field because of the results of such background. 

If you’re an international student, you may be able to work in the United States after graduation for an extended period of time. Most students studying on F-1 visas will be eligible for 12 months of Optional Practical Training (OPT) off-campus work authorization. F-1 students in this program may also be eligible for the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics) OPT extension, allowing you to extend your time in the United States to pursue degree-related work experience for a total of 36 months or 3 years. For more information on who can apply for this extension visit NYU’s Office of Global Services: STEM OPT .

University-wide policies can be found on the New York University Policy pages .

Additional academic policies can be found the  Steinhardt academic policies page . 

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Counseling Psychology (PsyD)

Have questions we make it easy to get in touch:.

800-837-1290

412-419-3772 (standard text/SMS rates will apply)

[email protected]

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Complete our Request for Information form

Or, answer a few questions and we will be glad to help.

Counseling psychology (psyd) overview.

The option to apply for Fall 2024 will open up in our application portal near the end of the current academic year. Once the application opens, applicants who wish to be considered for Fall 2024 entry should have all application materials submitted by  December 1, 2023 . 

For students entering with a bachelors degree, 103 credits are required to complete the PsyD. For those entering with a masters degree, dependent on which foundational coursework requirements have been met, 85-103 credits are required.

Cost consists of program tuition (cost per credit times number of credits) as well as any applicable University and degree-specific fees.

Accreditation

Chatham University's Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) in Counseling Psychology program is one of a small number of APA-accredited Counseling Psychology PsyD programs in the nation. Chatham's PsyD program received reaccreditation until 2031.

Explore the PsyD in Counseling Psychology Degree:

Admission requirements.

Pre-requisites:

• A baccalaureate or master's degree from an accredited college or university
• (PsyD) Master's degree in counseling, psychology, or related field (36 credit hours minimum); with a 3.2 minimum graduate GPA OR (EPsyD)Undergraduate degree with a minimum of 15 undergraduate psychology credit hours; with a 3.5 minimum undergraduate GPA (with B's or above in psychology coursework)

Completed application for admission by the posted deadline, including:

• Online application
• Admissions Essay (current prompt found in application portal)
• Curriculum vita or Resume
• Three letters of recommendation
• Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended

As part of our admission’s review, Chatham reserves the right to request a background check prior to the offer of admission.

Admissions Materials can be uploaded in the application or submitted to: Chatham University Office of Graduate Admission-Berry Hall Woodland Road Pittsburgh, PA 15232 Email Admissions

Admission Process

After verifying that the minimum academic requirements are met, the program utilizes a holistic approach in reviewing the candidate's entire application. This process is intended to seek talented and qualified individuals of all backgrounds. Taking multiple factors into consideration during our admissions process positively achieves the educational benefits of a student body that is both diverse and academically excellent. This approach includes an evaluation of each candidate’s academic achievement as well as their personal characteristics, attributes and experiences.

Students will be notified if they are chosen for the required admissions interview.

As well, applicants will be informed by the Office of Admissions whether they have been accepted into the PsyD program.

International Applicants

Sample courses & curriculum.

PSY711: Multicultural and Diversity Issues in Counseling Psychology

The course provides an in-depth exploration of cultural differences as they impact the counseling relationship. Identity development theory will be examined, as will multicultural research methods and findings. Finally, the significance of both between-group and within-group differences will be explored for their relative influence on the process of therapeutic change.

PSY816: Health Psychology Practice

The course focuses on the interface between psychology and medicine, preparing students to use psychology interventions in the treatment and management of illness and to understand the role of the psychologist in the interdisciplinary healthcare team. Theory, research, and practice of health psychology will be presented.

PSY810: Advanced Data Analysis

This course introduces advanced concepts in data analysis, with an emphasis on ensuring that students are capable of designing research studies and selecting and implementing appropriate methods of data analysis. Students will work on their dissertation proposals in this course.

PSY730: Psychology of Emerging Adulthood

This course explores developmental theory pertaining to the timespan between adolescence and adulthood. Identity exploration in the areas of education, work, interpersonal relationships, and culture will be examined through current and seminal research. Developmental considerations for working with this population will be highlighted.

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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Social justice ​and multicultural competence are key values of counseling psychology. Our country recently witnessed several prominent incidents reminding us of the work that remains to be done to create a society in which all humans are equally prized. 

In May of 2020, George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man was choked to death while in police custody following his arrest on suspicion of forgery.

Simultaneously, the COVID19 pandemic has raged unchecked through the country, with people of color and disadvantaged socioeconomic status being overly represented in infections and deaths. 

As a faculty and staff, we are diverse along many dimensions, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, privilege, gender, sexual orientation, political perspectives, and age. We are, however, united in our condemnation of oppression and our commitment to work toward equity. We acknowledge the pain of individuals and communities who are suffering. We understand the need for ongoing self-reflection so that we can continue to open our hearts and minds to needed change. We recognize this as a necessary step toward helping others create change in their own lives.

In our profession’s clinical work, we will be called to provide treatment to people from all backgrounds and with widely divergent presenting concerns. Providing competent, ethical, and effective assessment and treatment will require that we check our own assumptions and unconscious biases, to listen intentionally, and to understand perspectives that may or may not differ from our own. We will encounter victims as well as perpetrators of violence. We will be called to help first responders and police officers, and family members of those who may have been mistreated by members of the same.

These incidents are tragic and disheartening, and yet they also serve to remind us of the importance of our work as mental health professionals in a position to enact positive change at the individual, community, and societal levels. Our program’s faculty and students co-created the Antiracism Collective (ARC), the purpose of which is to envision and take action steps to engage in antiracism work at a personal level. Students have created an allyship group dedicated to exploring and dismantling White privilege. We have created space for BIPOC and non-Black POC to share their experiences as students in a predominantly White institution (PWI). Our shared aims are to walk this journey with company.

Finally, we encourage self-care so that we can provide comfort and guidance to those entrusted with our care.

Our PsyD program is focused on training students for careers in psychology practice that are firmly grounded in scientific knowledge, ethical principles, and multicultural awareness. Our faculty work to provide mentorship to guide students’ development as both practitioners and scholars. — Mary Jo Loughran, Ph.D., Program Director, Counseling Psychology

Our Faculty

Faculty members are accomplished teachers, scholars, practitioners, and active leaders in the field.

Graduate Psychology Assistantships

Our competitive Graduate Psychology Assistantships are available to full-time graduate students in the Master of Science in Counseling Psychology (MSCP), the Master of Arts in Psychology (MAP), and Doctor of Psychology in Counseling Psychology (PsyD/EPsyD) programs.

Success Coach Program

Success Coach Graduate Assistants (SCGAs) receive 12 credits of tuition remission and a $6,000 annual stipend in return for working 15 hours per week from mid-July through May to help support undergraduate students in their transition to college.

Graduate Counseling Psychology Research

Students have opportunities to engage in a broad array of faculty-led research, from investigating counseling modalities to exploring issues related to diversity and identity. 

Interprofessional Education (IPE)

Interprofessional education involves students from two or more health professions learning together during their training. The goal of IPE is to enhance communication and decision-making, allowing various domains of knowledge to complement each other.

WELL Project

Chatham University’s Counseling Psychology graduate programs received an HRSA-funded Behavioral Workforce Education and Training grant in the Fall of 2017 for the Supporting Wellness: Expanding Psychology Training in Integrated Care Project, or the WELL Project. The project is completed.

HAPPY Project

Chatham University’s Counseling Psychology graduate programs received an HRSA-funded Behavioral Workforce Education and Training grant in fall 2021 for the Healthcare Alliance Promoting Pittsburgh Youth Project (the HAPPY Project).

LAST Project

The Leadership, Advocacy, Supervision Training (LAST) Project is a collaborative two-year Health Services & Resources Administration funded grant that provides fellowship stipends to OTD and PsyD students.

IM4Q Program

The Independent Monitoring for Quality (IM4Q) Program at Chatham aims to improve the quality of life for people with intellectual disabilities by affording them the opportunity to independently communicate their perception of services provided by Allegheny, Beaver, Greene and Washington County’s contracted residential providers.

Telehealth Training

Students work virtually with standardized patients to practice and receive feedback on competencies for interacting with patients facing a combination of medical and behavioral health challenges, assessing the key training themes, and developing the skills to complete these interactions not only competently but well over virtual platforms.

Alumni Career Opportunities

Program graduates are working at West Virginia University , Christopher Newport University , the U.S. Navy , Renfrew Center , Carnegie Mellon University , the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center , Washington, DC VA Medical Center , Dickinson University, and hospitals, universities, and private practices throughout the country.

• Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation 750 First Street NE Washington, DC 20002-4242 202-336-5979

Student Admissions, Outcomes, and Other Data

This PDF details the student admissions, outcomes, and other data for Chatham University's Doctorate in Counseling Psychology.

Professional Licensure Disclosure

Chatham University's PsyD program is designed to meet the educational requirements for licensure in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and for students to take the EPPP after graduation.

Read Our Newsletter

Learn about student and faculty accomplishments, alumni achievements, and various activities that occurred over the last academic year—in Pittsburgh, and all over the country.

For basic inquiries and further information, please email  [email protected] .

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Alumni Profile: Stephanie Harrison, PsyD '18

Nicholas Uram, PsyD '16, MAP '10

Research Focus

Two Professors Tried a Different Approach to Open New Classroom Discussions

Do you have questions, we make it easy to get in touch:.

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Ph.D. Program in Counseling Psychology

Our counseling psychology doctoral (PhD) program is APA-accredited. Our program follows the Boulder model for preparing scientist-practitioners, with an emphasis on social justice issues.

Introduction to UK Counseling Psychology Ph.D. Program (Video)

The program requires full-time study (9-12 credits per fall/spring semester) and residence in Lexington.  Like all counseling psychology PhD programs, our program includes the completion of a dissertation and a one-year, full-time internship at an APA accredited site, which usually requires relocation to another state.  As is typical for counseling psychology PhD programs, our program takes most post-master’s students (who enter the program with an applied mental health master’s degree) five years to complete and most pre-master’s students seven years to complete.

A majority of our program graduates ( click here to Meet our Alumni ) gain employment in mental health agencies (e.g., medical centers, community agencies, group practices), university counseling centers, or federal facilities (e.g., VA’s, prisons). Some graduates engage in private practice. Other graduates pursue research or teaching positions in institutions of higher education. The first employment setting is typically closely related to the specialized type of experience gained from the student’s pre-doctoral APPIC internship year. Many graduates have been able to move to the director/manager levels of those health delivery systems within three to seven years of graduation.  Please review our PhD Program’s Student Admissions, Outcomes, and Other Data summary (see side menu) for information about time to completion, internship placement, retention, and licensure.

Check out our videos, in which we  answer students’ questions about Counseling Psychology and our programs  and our  doctoral students talk about their experience  with the UK Counseling Psychology PhD program.  Learn more about the  awards and accomplishments  and  professional background and interests of our current students .  If you have questions about the program that you would like to ask a current student, email Melanie Miller ( [email protected] ).

Top 12 Reasons to Join Our Program

• 100% of our  alumni  achieved gainful  employment  after graduation
• 100% of our students obtain  practicum  placements in a variety of desirable settings such as VA Medical Centers, Hospitals, Prisons, University Counseling Centers, and Community Mental Health Agencies
• 99% of students who wanted full-time (20/hrs/wk, includes tuition waiver and medical insurance coverage)  funding  in the last 3 years received it in the form of assistantships   or fellowships
• 98% of our students who applied for pre-doctoral  internship  in the last ten years received an APA-accredited and fully funded internship
• Our students received 49  awards  in 2020-2022
• Our students were first authors on 27  publications  and 52  presentations  at professional conferences in 2020-2022
• We have a  6:1  student to  faculty  ratio   that facilitates close mentoring in research and personal attention in the classroom
• We have a  diverse  student  body and  faculty  in the program
• Program faculty are successful in obtaining  extramural grant funding  to support their research (e.g., our department had $1,104,364 in primary and $11,428,625 in collaboration sponsored project grants and contracts for Academic FY 2022)
• The opportunity to conduct  multidisciplinary research : our faculty and students publish with scholars from Behavioral Science, Engineering, Public Health, Political Science, Sociology, Social Work, Gender and Women’s Studies, Education, and many other  departments on the UK campus .
• Social justice  research, training, and advocacy opportunities (e.g., EDP Social Justice Scholarship Series, EDP Ally Development Workshop,  Center for Equality and Social Justice )
• Lexington  is ranked as one of the Top 35 places to live in the USA by  U.S. News & World Report , which described our city as a good place for young professionals to live given the constant influx of young, highly educated people, plus the temperate climate, outdoor recreation, and low cost of living.  Check out  Lexington’s rankings , including recent Top 10 rankings on safety, place to raise a family, first-time home buying, place for new college grads, eating out affordably, work-life balance, and other quality of life indicators.

*List last updated in Fall 2022.

Program Philosophy and Social Justice Statement

The philosophy of the program is rooted in the values and goals of a socially just society. A socially just society is contingent on the optimal health and well-being of all persons in that society. The health and well-being of persons is contingent on access to healthy environments that support healthy development and functioning. We seek to train counseling psychologists who are competent  health service psychologists  (HSPs) that facilitate optimal well-being and the transformation of unhealthy and oppressive societal structures through engagement with science and practice.

Program Mission and Aims

Our mission is to train  skilled and ethical scientist-practitioners  who use their  counseling psychology professional identity  to competently address the evolving needs of a diverse society.  Learn more about the ten competencies and ten knowledge areas that underlie our program’s dual aims by examining the CP PhD Program Aims file available via our Handbooks and Forms webpage .

Program Training Model

We use a competency-based approach to training. We endorse the pedagogical principles for  Preparing Professional Psychologists to Serve a Diverse Public  and the  Counseling Psychology Model Training Values Statement Addressing Diversity . We also embrace the following APA aspirational practice guidelines , among others: Multicultural Guidelines: An Ecological Approach to Context, Identity, and Intersectionality; Guidelines for Psychological Practice with Girls and Women; Professional Practice Guidelines for Psychological Practice with Boys and Men, Guidelines for Psychological Practice with Older Adults; and Guidelines for Psychological Practice with Sexual Minority Persons; Guidelines for Psychological Practice with Transgender and Gender Nonconforming People; Guidelines for Psychological Practice for People with Low-Income and Economic Marginalization, and Guidelines for Assessment of and Intervention with Persons with Disabilities.  Our students completed clinical practica in a variety of settings in and around Lexington, including university counseling centers, community mental health agencies, private practices, assessment clinics, psychiatric hospitals, Veterans Health Administration medical centers (VA’s), correctional facilities, and specialty mental health clinics.

For in-depth information about all facets of the program, download the Doctoral Program Handbook and Program of Study from the  Handbooks and Forms  page.

Students who are looking for a program that will prepare them to be competitive for a career in academia will be delighted to learn that our program faculty ( click here to Meet the Faculty ) are some of the most productive, cited, and awarded in counseling psychology.

Academic Preparation for the Doctoral Program

Generally, students who enter the doctoral program have completed the master’s degree in psychology or counseling. We may accept strong applicants who have completed an undergraduate degree in psychology or a related discipline (e.g., sociology, pre-med), but do not have a master’s degree; these students are expected to complete our master’s level coursework and practica prior to beginning the doctoral coursework and practica. Students negotiate a specific program of study with their advisory committee. Students can often waive out of doctoral courses when they completed an equivalent course during their master’s program.

How Students are Selected for Admission

The annual PhD program application deadline ( click here to Apply ) is  December 1 .

Drs. McCubbin, Hammer,  and Stevens-Watkins will be taking doctoral students for Fall 2024 start. GRE scores are optional (unless the applicant wishes to work with Dr. Stevens-Watkins, in which case reporting GRE scores is required). There is no minimum GRE score requirement or cut-off.

Applications for admission are evaluated by the program faculty who carefully review the applicant’s (a) GPA; (b) GRE scores, when provided; (c) letters of recommendation addressing academic, research, and counseling experiences and interpersonal skills; (d) match with faculty research interests; (e) Statement of Purpose outlining professional goals (i.e., is it commensurate with our training model and social justice values, and does it demonstrate excellence in written communication); (f) writing sample demonstrating excellence in written communication; and (g) contribution to diversity, broadly defined to include individual social identities and background experiences. The program faculty  holistically  considers the entire application of a prospective student and makes decisions based not only on numerical criteria but also on perceived fit with program goals, needs, and values. Therefore, a low score in one area can be off-set by professional strengths in another area. Minimum GPA is >2.75 for undergraduate and >3.00 for graduate. Minimum TOEFL score is 79. It is  crucial  that students articulate in their Statement of Purpose how their specific research interests match the research program of one or two of the counseling psychology faculty members.

See the  Apply webpage  for information on what date  doctoral interview day  will be held via Zoom .

This interview process helps the program faculty and prospective students further assess fit with the program and intended faculty adviser. After the interview day, the program faculty meet to review, discuss, and make final decisions about admission offers.

Accreditation

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program in Counseling Psychology has been APA-accredited since November 9, 1983.

Questions related to the program’s accredited status should be directed to the Commission on Accreditation:

Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation American Psychological Association 750 1st Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002 Phone: (202) 336-5979 Email:  [email protected] Web:  www.apa.org/ed/accreditation/

For specific questions about the Program, please contact:

Joseph H. Hammer, PhD Associate Professor and Director of Doctoral Training 243 Dickey Hall University of Kentucky Lexington, Kentucky 40506-0017 Email: [email protected] Phone: (859) 257-4158

We encourage prospective students to read the webpages mentioned above as well as the  Handbook and Program of Study  before emailing the Director of Training, as most questions are answered by these resources.   Dr. Hammer’s website  also provides in-depth advice on applying to counseling psychology PhD programs.

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Program description.

The combined Counseling Psychology/School Psychology PhD program is accredited by the APA (750 First St., NE, Washington, D.C. 20002-4242, 202-336-5979), and adheres to the scientist-practitioner model of training. The program is designed to prepare psychologists who can evaluate, provide and enhance human services through scientific inquiry and practice. The combined program model provides students with an opportunity to receive specialized training in either school psychology with a focus on child and adolescent client populations or counseling psychology with an emphasis on older adolescent, and adult populations.

Renad Aref 366 Baldy Hall Buffalo, NY 14260 Email: [email protected] Phone: 716-645-2110

Instruction Method

• In Person   (100 percent of courses offered in person)

Full/Part Time Options

Credits required, time-to-degree, application fee.

This program is officially registered with the New York State Education Department (SED).

Online programs/courses may require students to come to campus on occasion. Time-to-degree and number of credit hours may vary based on full/part time status, degree, track and/or certification option chosen. Time-to-degree is based on calendar year(s). Contact the department for details.

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QUICK FACTS

Visit Admissions!

Special Note: The GRE test has been waived for the December 1, 2023 application deadline (Fall 2024 start). 

• Application requirements:  Online application, transcripts, minimum GPA of 3.0 undergraduate and graduate, proof of  English language proficiency , GRE test scores (waived for 2024 Fall start), two letters of recommendation, and a personal statement.
• International students: Please visit this page for information regarding transcript evaluation requirements.
• Deadline(s):  December 1 for Fall start. The application and all supporting materials are due by the listed deadline.
• Course Requirements:  29 courses (72 credits) if you have a Master's degree or 38 courses (102 credits) if you do not have a Master's degree when entering the program
• Typical Course Load:  Fall (2 courses), Spring (2 courses), Summer (1-2 courses)
• Time to Completion:   4-5 years depending on course loads and whether you have a Master's degree prior to enrolling
• Alumni Current Positions:  Graduates work as staff psychologists at counseling centers and are faculty members at universities. Many become psychologists in private practice, and others work in hospitals and in policy fields.  

The Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology program, which is accredited as a scientist-practitioner program by the American Psychological Association, provides training to students to become effective counseling psychologists with  the knowledge and skills in research and clinical practice necessary to help people from diverse, multicultural backgrounds in a variety of settings. 

Doctoral students work closely with innovative faculty to conduct and publish significant peer-reviewed research on mental health issues, in addition to gaining extensive clinical experience that culminates with a one-year full-time internship at an approved site.

Lehigh’s Counseling Psychology faculty have significant research expertise in such areas as socio-emotional development of young children, attachment and family relationships, process and outcomes of interventions, liberation psychology career development interventions, undocumented and documented migration, gerontology, sexual assault prevention, LGBTQ issues, intimate partner violence, trauma-informed schools, experiences of racism, masculinity, Asian American concerns, and the intersection of identities. 

The doctoral program embraces multiculturalism and social justice, preparing students to conduct research and to work with people of different races, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, disabilities, religions, ages and socioeconomic statuses. 

Alumni have gone on to become members of university faculties or staff psychologists at counseling centers. Many work in hospitals or in policy fields, while others become psychologists in private practice.  

Students are highly involved in research, teaching apprenticeships, and clinical practica. As part of a research apprenticeship with a faculty member, students are immersed in the advisor’s lab early in the program. Students go on to complete an empirical qualifying project that is the equivalent of a master’s thesis. Later, they research and write their doctoral dissertation with supervision from a faculty mentor. They typically conduct additional research with their faculty mentor and other members of the faculty. Faculty mentor students in presenting their research and scholarship at national and international conferences, as well as in publication. Among the requirements, doctoral candidates complete a college teaching apprenticeship where they work closely with a faculty member to develop effective pedagogy. With the support of our clinical faculty, students complete their clinical practica. Students have completed their practica at University counseling centers, hospital settings, VAs, and community clinics. 

The full-time program requires 102 credits, which includes 30 master’s level credits plus 72 doctoral level credits. A student who enters the Counseling Psychology Ph.D. program already holding a master’s degree in the field may be exempted from taking up to a total of 30 credits of required master’s level coursework if the student’s advisor approves, based on a review of the student’s transcript and course syllabi. 

Students entering with a bachelor’s degree have 10 years to complete all the doctoral degree requirements while those entering with a master’s degree have seven years. Typically, most students complete the program in much less time (5-6 years). 

Those seeking to apply for the Ph.D. program should complete the online application and provide official undergraduate and graduate transcripts. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required for undergraduate and graduate work, and students must submit GRE test scores from within the past five years. 

Prospective students should provide an essay about why they want to become a psychologist and two letters of recommendation with at least one from a faculty member of an accredited academic institution. They must acknowledge they understand the College of Education policy on clearances. 

The deadline to apply is Dec. 1 for a fall start. 

All Counseling Psychology doctoral students are evaluated based on professional competencies expected to be demonstrated by counseling psychologists (see APA Education Directorate, 2013, and Campbell et al., 2013).

Questions regarding APA Accreditation may be addressed to the APA Office of Accreditation at: Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation 750 First St, NE Washington, DC 20002-4242 http://www.apa.org/ed/accreditation/ Telephone: (202) 336-5979 TDD/TTY: (202) 336-6123 Fax: (202) 336-5978 Email  (General Questions) ( [email protected] ) Email  (Annual Report Online only)

Currently, the doctoral program requires a total of 100 credits, which are composed of 30 master's level credits plus 72 doctoral level credits. A student who enters the counseling psychology doctoral program already holding a master's degree, regardless of where the degree was obtained, may be exempted by her or his advisor from taking up to a total of the 30 credits of required master's level coursework, with the exemption granted based on a review of the student’s transcript and/or course syllabi to ensure that the course or courses were of similar content to the course offered by Lehigh. These exempted credits do count toward the total needed for the doctoral degree (currently 100), but will not appear on the student’s Lehigh transcript. After conferring with his or her advisor, the student will complete an internal petition to have these credits exempted, and this petition must be approved by the program director. 

Optional Practical Training (OPT) lets eligible F-1 students work in their field of study in the United States for 12 to 36 months after completing their program. Most students studying on F-1 visas become eligible for 12 months of Optional Practical Training (OPT) off-campus work authorization. F-1 students with a degree in a STEM field—science, technology, engineering or math—may be eligible for a 24-month extension of their 12 months of OPT. Thus, students with an F-1 visa in our program may be eligible for the STEM OPT extension, which allows for up to a total of 36 months of Optional Practical Training off-campus work authorization. For more information on who is eligible to apply for this extension visit Lehigh’s Office of International Students and Scholars: STEM OPT Extension ( https://global.lehigh.edu/ oiss/current-students/stem- opt-extension ).

Best APA-Accredited Counseling Psychology Psy.D. Programs for 2022

A counseling psychologist is a generalist provider of professional psychology services, according to the American Psychological Association (APA). To become one, you need a doctorate—either a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) or Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.). The latter tends to be more research-based, while Psy.D. programs focus on coursework, practica, and internships designed specifically for those who plan on becoming clinicians.

The following counseling psychology Psy.D. programs are accredited by the APA, according to APA information as of February 2021, the most recent data available, and ranked by percentage of recent graduates obtaining psychologist licensure. You’ll learn about what each program entails as well as some highlights that make each program special. Learn more about how these programs made the list .

94% of recent grads obtained licensure

Yearly Tuition In State: $271 | Out-of-State: $271

The Psy.D. program at Universidad del Turabo is designed to train students in the central competencies of counseling psychology: consultation, assessment, psychotherapy, and supervision. The Psy.D. is a continuation of the school’s master’s in counseling psychology program. Instead of a doctoral dissertation, which the university reserves for Ph.D. programs, Psy.D. students will complete a doctoral project that reflects their development of skills for professional practice. The program offers five full-time internship positions, and candidates will be placed based on their strengths and merits after a lengthy interview process. All internships run 2,000 hours—at least 25% must include face-to-face contact with patients and clients—and require at least 40 hours of work per week.

Program Highlights

The university has partnerships with nine diverse facilities that serve as practicum and internship centers, which means students have a variety of options for their clinical experiences. The program offers all interns a stipend of $15,000 a year, 10 days of paid time off, and 15 paid federal and state holidays. All interns have access to their own desks and office space as well as associated tech and hardware, including computers, phones, office supplies, and office equipment. Other benefits include access to assessment and training materials and intervention manuals.

93% of recent grads obtained licensure

Yearly Tuition In State: $8,915 | Out-of-State: $13,252

The central focus of Radford University’s Psy.D. in counseling psychology program is on evidence-based practice as a cornerstone of psychology. It is designed for students interested in careers in mental health institutions and facilities—particularly those in rural areas—that require the direct application of psychological assessment, therapy, and counseling. The four-year program, which follows the practitioner-scholar model , emphasizes the application of research and clinical training and includes a 2,000-hour internship. It’s open only to applicants who already hold an accredited master’s degree in a field related to human services and who have completed counseling services face-to-face with clients. The program works with nine facilities through which students can complete practicum work. Practicum training includes 1,500 hours, 500 of which involve direct client contact. The fourth year is dedicated to the internship. The program is open only to full-time students and requires candidates to complete a dissertation.

The central focus of Radford University’s Psy.D. in counseling psychology program is on rural mental health. It also emphasizes social justice and cultural diversity. Most students who are accepted into the program are granted tuition remission and are admitted into grant-funded fellowships or graduate assistantships. Students—93% of whom earn licenses after they graduate—also have opportunities to collaborate with faculty on research projects, authorships, and conference presentations.

91% of recent grads obtained licensure

Yearly Tuition In State: $26,200 | Out-of-State: $26,200

The 82-credit Psy.D. counseling psychology program at the University of St. Thomas prepares students to use assessment skills to diagnose or define problems, as well as to identify issues specific to cultural or individual differences. All students will complement their academic learning with practicum and internship experiences. Students will use these opportunities to present cases and to demonstrate their clinical skills through treatment planning and other presentations. The practicum experience takes place in the second and third years of the program. Students will meet with the doctoral training director, who will assess their strengths and merits and determine the appropriate experience. There’s also a full-time, required yearlong internship that runs 2,000 hours.The 82-credit Psy.D. counseling psychology program at the University of St. Thomas prepares students to use assessment skills to diagnose or define problems, as well as to identify issues specific to cultural or individual differences. All students will complement their academic learning with practicum and internship experiences. Students will use these opportunities to present cases and to demonstrate their clinical skills through treatment planning and other presentations. The practicum experience takes place in the second and third years of the program. Students will meet with the doctoral training director, who will assess their strengths and merits and determine the appropriate experience. There’s also a full-time, required yearlong internship that runs 2,000 hours.

The Psy.D. program offers the opportunity for students to study abroad in Singapore as part of the Diversity Issues in Counseling course. The Graduate School of Professional Psychology offers merit-based scholarships and other awards up to $10,000. Alumni of the university’s undergraduate school get a 15% tuition discount, and graduate assistantships are available that pay $15 an hour for 5 to 10 hours of work per week.

78% of recent grads obtained licensure

Yearly Tuition In State: $24,672 | Out-of-State: $24,672

The Psy.D. program at Carlow University is open only to students who already hold a master’s degree in psychology, counseling, or a related field like social work. Applicants with relevant professional experience will be given preference. The 93-credit program places a heavy emphasis on cultural understanding, with initial coursework focusing on topics such as feminism, diversity, and social justice. The program, whose APA accreditation was reaffirmed in 2019, follows the practitioner-scholar model . Although it focuses on clinical training, the program also places a significant emphasis on research. Candidates can engage in community-based practicum experiences starting in the summer of their first year of study. This includes environments such as hospitals, university counseling centers, mental health agencies, and rural practices. A required internship is also part of the program.The Psy.D. program at Carlow University is open only to students who already hold a master’s degree in psychology, counseling, or a related field like social work. Applicants with relevant professional experience will be given preference. The 93-credit program places a heavy emphasis on cultural understanding, with initial coursework focusing on topics such as feminism, diversity, and social justice. The program, whose APA accreditation was reaffirmed in 2019, follows the practitioner-scholar model. Although it focuses on clinical training, the program also places a significant emphasis on research. Candidates can engage in community-based practicum experiences starting in the summer of their first year of study. This includes environments such as hospitals, university counseling centers, mental health agencies, and rural practices. A required internship is also part of the program.

Once admitted to the program, students have access to sophisticated labs, training materials, and equipment. Access includes video- and audio-recording devices at the Hopkins Communications Lab, which is staffed by communications specialists. In support of psychological assessment work, students will be able to use more than 60 different intellectual, achievement, and personality instruments.

76% of recent grads obtained licensure

Yearly Tuition In State: $31,614 | Out-of-State: $31,614

The Chatham University Psy.D. program follows the practitioner-scholar model which means that students learn both research and practice skills with a special emphasis on the latter. The program places a heavy premium on multicultural awareness in psychology and consists of nine key competencies: research; ethical and legal standards; individual and cultural diversity; professional values, attitudes, and behaviors; communication and interpersonal skills; assessment; intervention; supervision; and consultation and interdisciplinary skills. Elective options include tracks such as positive psychology, sports psychology, and addictions counseling. The practicum portion of the program involves placement in environments such as hospitals, schools, and agencies in the Pittsburgh region. All students will complete a doctoral dissertation, which involves research that informs practice.

A limited number of fellowships and graduate assistantships are available to full-time students. Those who are chosen will conduct research with faculty, aid in teaching responsibilities, and organize departmental or campus projects. The positions require 10 to 15 hours of work per week, but students are rewarded with not just hands-on experience but also financial assistance in the form of tuition remission. A limited number of paid graduate employment positions are also available.

73% of recent grads obtained licensure

Yearly Tuition In State: $26,298 | Out-of-State: $26,298

The Psy.D. program at Our Lady of the Lake University prepares students to independently assess and treat not just individuals but also groups, couples, and families. Students must have a master’s degree to be considered for the program. The full-time program consists of 117 core credits and includes four years of coursework and practica followed by a one-year internship. There are also 12 additional elective credit hours. The curriculum focuses on psychotherapy, psychological assessment, ethical and legal principles, multicultural competence, and the evaluation of clinical practice, efficacy, and outcomes. All students accepted into the program are matched with APA-accredited internships, which they will complete in one full-time year or two part-time years. All students must also register for at least nine dissertation credits and complete a doctoral dissertation.

The program offers electives in psychological services for Spanish-speaking populations, including courses in bilingual assessment and sociocultural foundations of counseling Latinos. Students can also take electives in biofeedback and psychological hypnosis. Several graduate assistant positions are available that pay the equivalent of 6 hours of tuition for 12 hours of work per week. Some students are hired as full-time faculty to teach undergrads.

68% of recent grads obtained licensure

Yearly Tuition In State: $24,360 | Out-of-State: $24,360

The Psy.D. program at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota is a five-year program that includes four years of coursework and at least two practica placements. The fifth and final year consists of a full-time predoctoral internship. It follows the practitioner-scholar model and focuses on two core competencies and desired outcomes. The first is social justice and a contribution to well-being across the life span, and the other is ethical practices and professional improvement. The program includes a Master of Art’s degree, which is usually concluded at the end of the second year of the Psy.D. program. There are no specialized concentrations, but students have the option of several elective tracks. There are, however, opportunities to participate in research programs, either in partnership with faculty or with outside entities.

Although the program does not offer paid research assistantships, in many cases outside psychologists will contact the program with paid opportunities for top students. These could include positions in part-time psychotherapy, research opportunities, or psychometrist positions.

36% of recent grads obtained licensure

Yearly Tuition In State: $29,276 | Out-of-State: $29,276

The five-year counseling Psy.D. program at Northwest University follows the practitioner-scholar model , training students to be skilled clinicians who engage in evidence-based and theory-informed practice. Degree requirements include 119 semester hours of coursework as well as a cultural immersion experience, qualifying exam, dissertation, practicum, and internship. The 10- to 14-day cultural immersion experience, which takes place in sites such as El Salvador, Uganda, and China, helps prepare students to care for people from diverse socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds. Students may choose dissertations that focus either on qualitative or quantitative research and are required to present and defend their findings. Practica occur during years three and four, with the program culminating in a fifth-year internship.

Northwest’s Psy.D. program is taught within the framework of a Christian worldview in which students incorporate their understanding of faith with applied skills and academic theory. The unique cultural immersion experience is a hallmark of the program and can be a life-changing experience. Students are also required to undergo 10 hours of individual psychotherapy during the first year.

9% of recent grads obtained licensure

Yearly Tuition In State: $9,153 | Out-of-State: $9,153

Following the practitioner-scholar model the Psy.D. program at Springfield College moves students fairly quickly from classroom coursework to active participation in the field. Clinical training features heavily in the program, as does the application of research to practice. Students receive ongoing faculty mentoring throughout the program, which is designed to be completed in four to six years and contains a heavy slant on social justice and service. Blending theory, research, and practice, the program includes practicum training designed to develop skills in therapeutic relationships, diagnostic assessment, and treatment. A minimum of 1,400 practicum hours are required before students can begin predoctoral internships. Fourth-year students can choose to participate in an optional specialized practicum. Finally, all students will participate in a one-year full-time or two-year part-time internship, which includes 2,000 hours of training.

Many students will be eligible for fellowships—which could include teaching, research, or coaching—as well as associateships that involve professional or administrative service work. Although they don’t require any more than 20 hours commitment per week, compensation can take the form of hourly pay, stipends, and even tuition waivers. There are also opportunities for scholarships and other awards and paid placement with AmeriCorps.

A Note about Instructional Models

Many of the these programs are based on specific instructional models that follow accepted psychology training traditions. These definitions briefly describe them:

• Practitioner-scholar model: Also known as the Vail model after the 1973 Vail Conference, this concept is unique to Psy.D. programs. It teaches students how to consume research and apply their scholarly findings to clinical practice in psychology.
• Scientist-practitioner model: Sometimes called the Boulder model after the 1949 Boulder Conference where it was created, this model applies to both Ph.D. and Psy.D. training. It teaches students how to design and conduct research and how to apply research findings both to work in academia and research—as well as to clinical practice in counseling settings.
• Psychodynamic theory: According to this tradition, humans are often driven by unconscious forces and motivations that they do not have access to. Personality is formed mainly by childhood experiences, which are often stored in the unconscious mind. The tradition is based on a collection of the theories of Sigmund Freud and his followers (such as Jung, Erikson, and Adler).
• Cognitive-behavioral theory: This approach looks at how our thoughts influence the ways that we feel and behave. When used therapeutically, the goal is to shape a person’s thoughts to make positive behavioral changes.

How We Chose These Counseling Psychology Psy.D. Programs

It’s always important to choose an accredited degree-granting program, either regional or national. In psychology, that means finding a program that has been accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA).

APA accreditation is recognized by both the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education as the national standard for quality in graduate-level education and training in psychology. Counseling psychology is one of the three main fields for which APA accreditation is necessary. The other two are school and clinical psychology.

That’s not to say that non-APA-accredited programs can’t prepare you for a successful career in counseling practice—but they likely won’t carry the same level of prestige in the eyes of colleagues, higher learning institutions and research facilities, governing bodies, and employers. Therefore, this list focuses solely on counseling psychology Psy.D. programs that have earned accreditation from the APA.

The ordering of the list is based on licensure rate—that is, the percentage of recent eligible graduates who went on to become licensed professionals. Though there may be many reasons why graduates do not obtain licensure that may or may not be related to the quality of the program, this criterion was used to order the accredited programs because the Psy.D. is a doctoral degree emphasizing practice.

Programs Applying for Initial Accreditation

Doctoral programs, doctoral internship programs, postdoctoral residency programs, programs voluntarily withdrawing their application, related pages.

Programs Seeking Intent to Apply Status

Programs Withdrawing from Accreditation

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Graduate School of Counseling

Discover your personal expression of service in Naropa’s Graduate School of Counseling. We’ll help you uncover the insight and compassion you need to heal yourself and others.

If you feel called to become a mental health counselor, a master’s program in psychology is an essential part of that journey.

Naropa’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling programs are uniquely designed to balance personal and professional development. You’ll graduate with a stronger sense of self and the confidence to use a social justice framework in supporting individuals, families, and communities in need.

As an instrument of healing, compassion for yourself and others is a powerful tool. That’s why we use a holistic approach to behavioral health, one that encourages introspection and mind/body awareness.

As you explore your own biases, life experiences, and personal philosophies, you will develop the skills to become a compassionate therapist who is fully present for your clients.

Quick Facts

In clinical mental health counseling, concentrations, to your graduate degree, of clinical internship experience, 700–900 hours, gsc programs & concentrations, counseling at naropa.

Professional Licensure

Alumnx of the Graduate School of Counseling (GSC) have successfully obtained licensure throughout the United States and internationally.

Expert Faculty

The master’s in counseling psychology programs at Naropa are rich with highly accomplished faculty. Among your instructors, you will find authors, filmmakers, spiritual leaders, and dedicated practitioners of meditation and mindfulness. As experienced counselors and dedicated scholars, your instructors can share wisdom based on strong theoretical backgrounds and lived experience.

Compassionate Pedagogy

Grounded in their commitment to contemplative education and the belief in each person’s innate goodness, our faculty lead with compassion. They listen deeply and engage thoughtfully with each student. With their guidance, your graduate degree becomes more than a credential. Rather, it is an opportunity to heal yourself — and learn to heal others — through empathy, self-awareness, and community engagement.

Scholarship Opportunities

Naropa strives to help all aspiring students find the means to accomplish their goals. As such, we offer a host of funding opportunities, from graduate assistantships to scholarships specific to our graduate counseling psychology programs, including the Bernie Mareck Scholarship for Art Therapy students and the Oso Tinker Wilderness Therapy Scholarship.

Personal Transformation

Describing a defining moment from their time at Naropa, one student recalls having a panic attack in the middle of a Human Development class. “Upon leaving,” the student says, “[faculty member] Diane Israel walked outside with me, told me to shake my body, fling my limbs, and breathe. I have never been the same since.”

Find Your Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program

Contemplative Psychotherapy & Buddhist Psychology

This counseling psychology program offers deep personal transformation through meditation and a deep dive into Buddhist psychology. Earn your master’s degree while becoming a compassionate, skilled counselor.

Mindfulness-Based Transpersonal Counseling

Earn your graduate counseling degree either on-campus or through this program’s low-residency option. Either way, you’ll gain clinical counseling skills and become well-versed in a contemplative, transpersonal approach to therapy

Transpersonal Contemplative Art–Based Counseling

Heal yourself through art as you learn to use art as a therapeutic tool for others. This transformative graduate program in counseling psychology integrates your passion for art with call to serve.

Nature-Based Transpersonal Counseling

Discover the healing power of nature in a unique counseling psychology program that integrates immesirve wilderness study, transpersonal psychology, and hands-om therapeutic training.

Somatic Counseling: Dance/Movement Therapy

Express yourself through dance and other forms of creative movement in a master’s program that approaches psychotherapy through the lenses of mindfulness, inclusivity, and the physical body.

Somatic Counseling: Body Psychotherapy

Uncover the body’s capacity for healing the mind in this deeply immersive somatic counseling graduate program. Learn to harness the power of the mind/body connection to facilitate healing and transformation.

Student Transformed

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Naropa Campuses Closed on Friday, March 15, 2024

Due to adverse weather conditions, all Naropa campuses will be closed Friday, March 15, 2024.  All classes that require a physical presence on campus will be canceled. All online and low-residency programs are to meet as scheduled.

Based on the current weather forecast, the Healing with the Ancestors Talk & Breeze of Simplicity program scheduled for Friday evening, Saturday, and Sunday will be held as planned.

Staff that do not work remotely or are scheduled to work on campus, can work remotely. Staff that routinely work remotely are expected to continue to do so.

As a reminder, notifications will be sent by e-mail and the LiveSafe app.  

Regardless of Naropa University’s decision, if you ever believe the weather conditions are unsafe, please contact your supervisor and professors.  Naropa University trusts you to make thoughtful and wise decisions based on the conditions and situation in which you find yourself in.

What Can You Do with a PhD in Psychology?

If you’re passionate about building a successful career in psychology, earning a doctorate in psychology could get you there. For those who are passionate about the subject but wonder, “What can you do with a PhD in psychology?“, we’ll help you explore your options so you can decide whether a PhD in psychology is worth the shot. 

Featured Programs

With a PhD in psychology, you can pursue various career paths, including research psychology, psychotherapy, forensic psychology, neuropsychology, and even management consultancy. Alternatively, a doctorate also helps you pursue different areas of specialization within the field of psychology.

If you are considering a PhD degree in psychology, you’ve likely already earned your bachelor’s and master’s degrees. However, to progress further into the roles of research, academia, authorship, or lectureship, you have to take the next step. If you’re already employed in a field of psychology, earning a PhD helps you level up.

While a doctoral degree gears you up to become a licensed clinical psychologist, there are plenty of other career options to explore. Here’s a list of the most popular career pathways you can pursue with a PhD in psychology, along with their salaries and growth statistics.

Psychological Researcher

Psychological researchers, or research psychologists, deeply understand the human mind. Their primary duties include conducting experiments to test procedures to explore various aspects of psychology. This includes selecting candidates for clinical trials, administering tests, and carefully observing and documenting the outcomes of their research.

By the time they are done with PhD, psychological researchers are capable enough to review existing literature and contribute to scholarly discussions. Some may serve at universities, while others may work for hospitals or government agencies. If you’re passionate about research and writing, this might be a pretty lucrative field with tons of career opportunities.

• National average salary: $99,577 per year
• Growth: Projected to grow 14% from 2018 to 2028

Clinical Director or Supervisor

The clinical director is one of the most highly paid yet growing careers in psychology . Clinical supervisors monitor psychologists and other mental health professionals to oversee the quality of clinical care provided. They establish best practices for the workplace and check whether the institution complies with regulations in the mental health field.

As a clinical director, you’ll serve in various settings, including mental health clinics, hospitals, universities, or even private practices. Also, these professionals arrange development opportunities for staff members, gather feedback from patients, and delegate cases to team members.

• National average salary: $120,761 per year
• Growth: Projected to grow 28% from 2021 to 2031

Psychotherapist

Like clinical psychologists, psychotherapists support individuals with mental health conditions and help them live a fulfilling life. Unlike clinical psychologists, psychotherapists diagnose more general mental health issues. They closely monitor their client’s behaviors, emotions, and thoughts to develop specific treatment plans for them.

Additionally, they use different tools and therapeutic techniques to develop coping strategies for their patients and improve the way they regulate emotions. A PhD in psychology potentially makes you a perfect fit to deal with the complexity involved in psychotherapy. Ultimately, you understand your clients better to know where they’re coming from.

• National average salary: $115,281 per year
• Growth: Projected to grow 6% from 2022 to 2032  

Psychometrics Specialist

A psychometric specialist looks at assessments to gather information about a patient’s personality, symptoms, and cognitive abilities. They often join hands with mental health specialists to facilitate research or diagnose and treat patients. On top of that, these professionals play a key role in collecting data for research and ensuring its accuracy.

They use a combination of interviews, examinations, and standardized tests to gather data about a patient’s psychological state and decode it to help clinicians and researchers reach conclusions. As a psychometric specialist, you’ll work in research or educational institutions, clinics, government agencies, or independently as a consultant.

• National average salary: $62,264 per year
• Growth: Projected to grow 6% from 2018 to 2028 

Human Resource Director

If you would rather work in an organizational setting, a PhD in psychology also helps build a mindset that prepares you to work in HR. HR directors are highly paid individuals responsible for shaping the recruitment and selection process in an organization. They create and implement corporate policies in areas like talent management, employee relations, and workplace culture.

With a PhD in psychology, you bring a deep understanding of human behavior, emotions, and motivation to the role. Plus, as an HR director, you can use the knowledge from your doctorate to develop thoughtful policies, systems, and resources to support employee well-being.

• National average salary: $116,601 per year
• Growth: Projected to grow 7% from 2021 to 2031

Marketing Director

With a PhD in psychology, you can also serve as a business or marketing director and build a fruitful career. Marketing directors use the knowledge of psychology to bridge the gap between relevant products and customers. Serving at multiple profit or non-profit sectors, these graduates contribute to public relations, management, and technical services.

As a marketing director, your background in psychology equips you with the right knowledge of consumer behavior and effective ways to communicate with them. This, in turn, helps you develop successful marketing campaigns that resonate perfectly with your audience.

• National average salary: $120,014 per year
• Growth: Expected to grow 10% from 2018 to 2028

Management Consultant

Management consultancy is another productive career path you can choose after a doctorate in psychology. Management consultants improve an organization’s efficiency, productivity, and performance. With a deep understanding of psychology, you can easily identify and deal with the underlying issues and patterns within your company.

Plus, management consultants provide feedback and recommendations on addressing employee and business management problems. They might also join hands with top-level management to devise practical solutions that align with the company’s core values.

• National average salary: $108,555 per year 
• Growth: Projected to grow 10% from 2022 to 2032

Forensic Psychologist

Forensic psychology is a rapidly growing field  that requires individual practitioners to obtain a state license. Psychologists in this field work closely with law enforcement to investigate crimes. For a license, you need to complete a doctoral degree from an APA-approved program and have clinically-supervised work experience.

Licensed forensic psychologists assist legal professionals with addressing the psychological aspects of the cases they’re dealing with. For instance, they conduct evaluations, assessments, and psychological testing to understand the case. Once they have come up with logical reasons, they present their findings and opinions to judges and juries.

• National average salary: $87,877 per year
• Growth: Expected to grow 6% between 2021 and 2031

Behavioral Health Specialist

As the name suggests, behavioral health specialists counsel and support individuals with behavioral or mental health problems. They use therapeutic techniques to help patients develop new behaviors and cope with their existing condition. Most importantly, they use their psychological knowledge to identify the root causes of their patient’s behaviors.

If you have a PhD in behavioral health, you can work with patients who have severe mental illness or developmental disorders like autism. The advanced degree helps you set developmental goals for your patients and implement evidence-based treatment plans to guard their well-being.

• National average salary: $54,663 per year
• Growth: Projected to grow 9% between 2018 and 2028

Addiction Counselor

PhD in psychology also enables you to serve as an addiction counselor, where you support patients on their journey to recovery from addictive behaviors. Typically, addiction counselors guide through the rehabilitation process and help manage withdrawal symptoms. They often work together with medical professionals to effectively detoxify clients from drugs and alcohol.

In addition to one-on-one counseling sessions, addiction counselors arrange group therapy sessions. This provides clients with peer support and learning about new experiences and coping mechanisms. They monitor clients throughout the rehabilitation process till they finally achieve sobriety.

• National average salary: $65,310 per year
• Growth: Projected to grow 18% from 2022 to 2032

Prerequisites for Earning a PhD in Psychology

If you’ve made up your mind and want to earn a PhD in psychology, you’ll generally need at least a bachelor’s degree to get in. While some institutions may also require a master’s degree as a prerequisite, it largely depends on the program you’re opting for. Some universities offer combined master’s and doctoral degrees, so you get both degrees at once.

However, the most integral part of your PhD program is the area you’ve chosen. When applying, it’s recommended to thoroughly research the specialties the universities on your radar are offering. This isn’t just about coursework since the topics of your dissertation will also depend on your chosen concentration.

Plus, to make sure you quickly get through the admission process, it’s important to prepare for it beforehand. While the specific requirements depend on your university, here’s a list of some basic prerequisites when applying for a PhD in psychology:

• A bachelor’s degree in psychology or a related field
• A master’s degree (depending on the institution)
• Strong academic record
• Letters of recommendation
• Relevant research experience or coursework
• Statement of Purpose (SoP)
• Interview (as a part of the application process)

Benefits of Earning a PhD in Psychology

Even if you’re sure about earning a PhD in psychology, it’s best to take a look at the benefits to check whether they align with your future goals. While the time required to complete a PhD may be significant, the benefits you reap make it worthwhile. Here’s an overview of the pros of getting a PhD in psychology:

Obtaining a License

Earning a doctorate in psychology is the only path to practice independently as a licensed psychologist. A license allows you to diagnose and treat mental disorders and provide therapy sessions to clients.

Better Employment Opportunities

Many employers, including those in the educational sector, prefer PhD holders over candidates with a master’s in psychology . This is due to years of experience and practice acquired through a doctoral program. For instance, PhD holders are often preferred for faculty positions, research roles, and leadership positions.

Skill Development

PhD holders are seen as authorities in the field of psychology  and research. Through extensive training and coursework, PhD students develop advanced knowledge and skills in areas like research methodology, statistical analysis, and clinical assessments.

High Paying Positions

Doctoral degree holders in psychology are paid way higher than those with bachelor’s degrees. The difference in salary reflects the higher earning potential that comes with advanced degrees in psychology. For instance, candidates with a PhD may easily qualify for higher paying positions in academia, clinical practice, research, or consulting.

Related Questions

What do you learn in a doctorate program for psychology.

In a doctorate program in psychology, you dig deeper into the field of psychology. For instance, you study research theories and methods and do your own research for a dissertation. Most PhD programs also allow you to gain hands-on experience in real clinical settings through an internship program.

Where can you Work with a Doctorate in Psychology?

Fortunately, you can choose from plenty of workplace options once you get your PhD in psychology. You may work as a psychologist in a clinic or even begin practicing privately. Some individuals with a doctorate serve at government agencies, hospitals, and even educational institutions.

How Long does it Take to Get a PhD in Psychology?

Generally, getting a PhD in psychology takes around 5-8 years , including some hands-on experience and a year-long internship. However, it’s worth noting that PhD programs are highly competitive. So, the earlier you prepare for your dream university for your psychology degree , the sooner you can secure a spot.

We hope we’ve adequately answered the question “What can you do with a PhD in psychology?” for you and you have more clarity about whether this is the right path for you. Whether you’re into clinical practice, research, or social service, a doctorate in psychology can accommodate your personal preferences if you pick the right area for yourself.

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Clinical Supervisor Careers

Those with a master’s degree in a mental health-related area and looking to advance their careers should consider the Psy.D. in Counseling Psychology degree program at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. The courses are accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) and will help you elevate your professional path. With classes designed to cultivate expertise and leadership, students can access the tools they need to thrive. Learn more about our program and the role that clinical supervisors play in the psychology field.

About Clinical Supervisors

A clinical supervisor often works in a hospital or health clinic. Their main role is to supervise counselors and psychologists on their team. A clinical supervisor’s responsibilities also may include:

• Conducting meetings with staff to discuss treatment plans or facility policies
• Recruiting, hiring, and developing mental health practitioners
• Helping practitioners assess clients’ mental health
• Developing optimal treatment plans for clients
• Ensuring staff keeps accurate records and documentation
• Making sure the facility meets safety regulations

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the mean annual salary for those in clinical and counseling psychologist positions was $102,740  as of May 2022. What’s more, BLS also projects that demand for healthcare manager positions  will increase by more than 30% through the year 2030.

Learning How to Become a Clinical Supervisor

Enrolling in the Psy.D. in Counseling Psychology program will prepare you for a career as a clinical supervisor with expertise and leadership. At Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, our mission follows   Lasallian Catholic educational practices . Our program is guided by diversity and social justice. We are also dedicated to the advancement of knowledge and are appreciative of art and culture.

Courses  for students in the Psy.D. in Counseling Psychology program include:

• Clinical Supervision: Theory and Practice
• Social and Organizational Psychology
• Psychometric Theory and Application
• Cognitive Assessment
• Multiculturalism and Diversity

The Doctor of Psychology degree can be completed in five years. Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota offers an Early Entry Program through the MA in Counseling and Psychological Services  degree program. This means students without a master’s degree can fast-track the master’s level prerequisite courses. Then, if they are accepted into the Psy.D. in Counseling Psychology degree program, they complete the MA with the standard Psy.D. courses.

Other highlights of the Psy.D. in Counseling Psychology program include:

• Mentorship and guidance from a faculty with extensive experience in psychology
• Degree plans that allow for the customization of individualized career goals
• Practical training through intensive internships that allow for real-world experience to support a foundation for post-doctoral work

Along with core courses, students can choose classes based on their professional interests, like Trauma Treatments, Neuropsychological Assessment,  or Counseling with Substance Use and Addictions. These classes will put you on the path to success in the future.

Preparing Students to Work as Clinical Supervisors

Saint Mary’s instructors work diligently to prepare students for real work as clinical supervisors. We offer the resources needed to help students thrive post-graduation. By the end of their program, students who complete their psychology degree from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota will learn how to:

• Assess, evaluate, and diagnose clients of all types
• Intervene with clients using a variety of theoretical approaches
• Practice psychology with a diverse range of clients
• Provide professional consultation and develop programs
• Assess client treatment outcomes
• Facilitate personal and interpersonal functions across the lifespan of the program
• Supervise those who provide psychological services

Our APA Accredited Program

The Psy.D. in Counseling Psychology program at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota is accredited by the American Psychological Association  (APA). This recognition promotes consistent quality and excellence in education and training through its programs at different colleges and universities. Saint Mary’s is one of only two APA-accredited Psy.D. in Counseling Psychology programs in the Midwest and one of the few programs of its kind in the country.

As an APA-accredited program, we deliver quality education for those in our community. Our Psy.D. in Counseling Psychology  courses cover a variety of topics relevant to the psychological space. The curriculum is delivered in the context of the overall Program Aims:

Program Aims

• Aim 1: Develop professionally competent graduates prepared to demonstrate commitment to the pursuit of social justice and promote well-being across the lifespan
• Aim 2: Produce counseling psychologists who engage in ethical practice with cultural humility and self-reflection.

Program Competencies

There are two broad areas of psychological learning that graduates will become familiar with before the end of their time at our university, such as:

Discipline-Specific Knowledge

Training in this area covers the scientific foundations of psychology. It includes:

• Biological bases of behavior
• Cognitive bases of behavior
• Developmental psychology
• Social psychology
• Research methods
• Affective bases of behavior

Profession-Wide Competencies

Training in this area covers competencies crucial for competent and ethical functioning as a psychologist. It includes:

• Ethical and legal standards
• Individual and cultural diversity
• Professional values and attitudes
• Communication and interpersonal skills
• Intervention
• Supervision
• Consultation and interprofessional/interdisciplinary skills

The program at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota follows the Vail Model and adheres to a practitioner-scholar training model. The program will prepare graduates to be clinical supervisors in a variety of settings, including hospitals, health clinics, and private practices.

Get Ahead in Your Career With a Psy.D. in Counseling Psychology Degree

If you are interested in pursuing a career as a clinical supervisor, a Doctor of Psychology in Counseling Psychology  degree is an excellent choice. Those who choose our program will take APA-accredited classes to prepare for life as a clinical supervisor.

We encourage potential students to make a virtual visit to the program. We also offer virtual information sessions. For more information about how to become a clinical supervisor, contact us  today.

News and Information from the School of Health and Human Services

• Internship in Health Service Psychology

Dear Intern Applicant,

The Georgia Southern University Statesboro Campus Counseling Center is proud to offer four internship positions each year through our APA-Accredited Internship in Health Service Psychology. As training is a treasured and highly valued aspect of our center, we work to cater our internship to the individual goals of each intern. We do this through various opportunities which include: optional rotations, a wide variety of topics for weekly training seminars, provision of supervision to practicum students, and meeting with different individual and rotation supervisors throughout the internship year. We seek applicants with emotional and social maturity, interest in individual and group therapy, and interest in crisis intervention and outreach activities. We seek applicants who have experience in working with diverse client populations, have interest in developing multicultural competencies, have awareness of social justice principles, and can effectively and collaboratively participate as a team member at the Georgia Southern University Counseling Center. I hope this information helps you in finding an internship site that will fit your goals and needs.

Mark Taracuk, PhD Training Director Georgia Southern University Counseling Center

About the 2025-2026 Internship

Number of Available Internship Positions: 4 Internship Start Date: Friday, August 1st, 2025 Location: Statesboro Campus Status: Accredited through March 2024

Application Process

The Counseling Center is a member of the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC) and adheres to APPIC policies for intern selection. The site agrees to abide by the APPIC policy that no person at this training facility will solicit, accept, or use any ranking-related information from any intern applicant.

For the 2025-2026 internship year, the application along with three letters of recommendation (the Standardized Reference Form) will be due in November 2024. Applicants should have at least 3 years of graduate training and a minimum number of 400 intervention hours (intervention + assessment hours). Applicants should have both passed their graduate program’s comprehensive exams and obtained an approved dissertation proposal by the application deadline.

Selection Process

During the week following the application deadline, candidates will be notified via email regarding their interview status. For those candidates who are extended an offer to interview, the email will include times and dates for a Zoom interview. Zoom interviews will be held the first week of January 2025. The Zoom interview is approximately 2 hours in length comprised of an interview with 4-5 members of the staff including at least 1 current intern.

For the 2025-2026 internship year, the application process will be completed via the  APPIC MATCH .

Please visit the  APPIC Website  for more information on the Match process.

The mission of the Internship Program is to offer high quality training in the practice of health service psychology.  Psychologists who work in a variety of health care settings, including university counseling centers, are recognized as Health Service Providers “…if they are duly trained and experienced in the delivery of preventative, assessment, diagnostic and therapeutic intervention services relative to the psychological and physical health of consumers based on the following: 1) having completed scientific and professional training resulting in a doctoral degree in psychology; 2) having completed an internship and supervised experience in health care settings; and 3) having been licensed as psychologists at the independent practice level” (APA, 1996; HSPEC, 2013, August 5).  The Counseling Center adheres to the principals of the Health Service Psychology Education Collaborative (HSPEC, 2013, August 5). For more information please visit: Health Service Psychology: Preparing Competent Practitioners

Please feel free to check out this year’s current internship manual:

The internship training program at the Georgia Southern University Counseling Center is designed to offer high quality training in the practice of professional psychology, based on an integrated working knowledge of the application of clinical theory, research, and ethical, legal, and professional standards.  In addition, the Training Committee believes that every competent practitioner in the field should be guided by sensitivity to individual differences within a diverse society, and by an openness to lifelong learning.

These ideals are incorporated into our training programs via a practitioner-apprenticeship training model in which didactic and experiential learning are combined.  Trainees are treated as professionals and, as such, are expected to understand, demonstrate, and apply appropriate levels of clinical skills, acquired from their academic training program, as well as to participate fully in the mission of the Georgia Southern University Counseling Center.  The Counseling Center functions under the Division of Student Affairs. The staff collaborate regularly with colleagues in the Dean of Students Office, Health Services, University Residence Life, Student Wellness and Health Promotions, and Office of Career and Professional Development, along with the broader campus community.

For further information or questions about the internship program, contact the training director at: Mark D. Taracuk, PhD Georgia Southern University Counseling Center P.O. Box 8011 Statesboro, GA 30460-8011 912-478-5541 or [email protected]

Click each for more information…

Multiculturalism and diversity, in all forms, are highly valued by the Georgia Southern University Counseling Center staff and comprise a core part of our training and mission.  Our internship program emphasizes acquisition of knowledge and skills related to multiculturalism, and we believe these facets of clinical practice are essential in order to provide ethical and competent services to the diverse University community.  Interns are frequently asked to reflect on their own diversity, to expand their self-awareness regarding cultural diversity and multiculturalism, and to incorporate this into their clinical work and professional identity.  Training seminars and supervision meetings will incorporate various aspects of diversity in hopes of improving cultural competency and promote the understanding that becoming a multiculturally sensitive psychologist is a lifelong process.  Staff will model the lifelong process of increasing cultural competence through their participation in discussions and trainings on diversity issues.  In addition, individual clinical supervision will provide a safe, non-judgmental environment for interns to reflect on their awareness, knowledge, and skills related to diversity as well as to process their reactions to multicultural trainings and discussions that occur within the Center. In the spirit of continual programmatic improvement related to diversity training, interns will be asked to evaluate both their supervisors and the training program in general in terms of how well these diversity training goals are met.

The Counseling Center staff and trainees adhere to the Counsel of Counseling Psychology Training Programs’ (CCPTP) Counseling Psychology Model Training Values Statement Addressing Diversity .

Georgia Southern University is committed to nondiscrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, veteran status, political affiliation, or disability in its recruitment and hiring practices.  The University has established procedures which standardize the recruitment and hiring process thus confirming the University’s commitment to equal employment opportunity and affirmative action.

It is University policy to implement equal opportunity to all employees, students, applicants for employment or admission, and participants in any of the University’s programs.  This policy prohibits any employee, student, or patron from unlawfully harassing, threatening, or physically or verbally abusing another individual with the effect of unreasonably interfering with that person’s work or academic performance.  It is also strictly prohibited to create an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work or academic environment.

As an equal opportunity institution, Georgia Southern University is committed to nondiscriminatory practices consistent with federal and state requirements and objectives, including Executive Order 11246, as amended, Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1974, Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Act of 1974, as amended, Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and their implementing regulations.

The University’s Equal Opportunity & Title IX Office (formerly the Diversity Services Office) releases an annual Affirmative Action Plan, investigates complaints of alleged violations of the rights of persons belonging to protected classes, and helps promote a diverse and welcoming campus climate.  This office can be reached by any of the following methods:

• Phone: (912) 478-5136
• TDD: (912) 478-0273
• Fax: (912) 478-0197
• Email: [email protected]
• Website: http://president.georgiasouthern.edu/diversity/

Georgia Southern University will provide reasonable accommodation to all employees, applicants for employment, students, and patrons who have physical and/or mental disabilities. Georgia Southern University will take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment persons who are qualified disabled veterans, veterans of the Vietnam Era, or other covered veterans.

All University employees are expected to comply with the Institution’s equal opportunity policy and practices and to demonstrate commitment to the University’s equal opportunity objectives. All members of the staff, faculty, and student body are expected to embrace this policy and ensure that the Institution’s commitment to nondiscrimination is followed and upheld.

An individual who reports what is believed to be discrimination or harassment, or who participates or cooperates in any investigation, will not be subjected to retaliation.  Anyone who believes they have been the victim of retaliation for reporting discrimination or harassment or participating or cooperating in an investigation should immediately contact the Equal Opportunity & Title IX office.

Adapted from the Georgia Southern University Equal Opportunity & Title IX Office

The Doctoral Internship program is accredited by the American Psychological Association through March 2024. Questions related to the programs accredited status should be directed to:

Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation 750 First Street, NE Washington, DC  20002-4242 Phone: (202) 336-5979 TDD/TTY: (202) 336-6123 Fax: (202) 336-5978 Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.apa.org/ed/accreditation/

Last updated: 5/2/2024

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Hours of Operation Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Closed on Saturday/Sunday Closed on university holidays

Statesboro Location PO Box 8011 5731 Forest Drive Statesboro, GA 30460

Phone: 912-478-5541 Fax: 912-478-0834

Armstrong Location 7000 Compass Point Annex 11935 Abercorn Street Savannah, Georgia 31419-1997

Phone: 912-344-2529 Fax: 912-344-3437

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JED Campus is a nationwide initiative of The Jed Foundation designed to help colleges and universities enhance emotional well-being and mental health promotion efforts, reduce substance abuse, and prevent suicide among students.

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