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What is a counseling psychologist and how to become one
A counseling psychologist is a mental health professional who helps people overcome emotional, behavioral, and social issues. They work with individuals, couples, families, and groups to provide therapy and support to enhance their mental well-being. Counseling psychologists use a range of therapeutic techniques and evidence-based interventions to help clients with various issues such as anxiety, depression, relationship problems, and addiction. They also conduct assessments and evaluations to diagnose mental health disorders and develop treatment plans.
What general advice would you give to a counseling psychologist?
Dr. Jim Sliwinski Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Psychology, Defiance College
Avg. Salary $80,294
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 14%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.20%
Asian 3.34%
Black or African American 6.18%
Hispanic or Latino 10.44%
Unknown 3.44%
White 76.39%
Genderfemale 65.02%
male 34.98%
Age - 42American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 42Stress level is high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is challenging
7 - challenging
Work life balance is good
6.4 - fair
What are the pros and cons of being a counseling psychologist?
Pros
Making a positive impact on individuals and communities
Opportunities for personal and professional growth
Flexibility to work in a variety of settings (private practice, schools, hospitals, etc.)
Ability to specialize in specific areas of counseling
High job satisfaction
Cons
Emotionally demanding work, may experience burnout
Can be a stressful and fast-paced environment
Long hours may be required, including evenings and weekends
Requires ongoing education and training to maintain licensure
Limited insurance coverage for mental health services may limit earning potential
Counseling psychologist career paths
Key steps to become a counseling psychologist
Explore counseling psychologist education requirements
Start to develop specific counseling psychologist skills
Skills Percentages Mental Health 27.19% Crisis Intervention 17.62% Behavioral Health 9.05% Social Work 7.21% Psychological Services 6.62% Complete relevant counseling psychologist training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New counseling psychologists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a counseling psychologist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real counseling psychologist resumes.Research counseling psychologist duties and responsibilities
- Conduct and write triennial and initial assessments, participate and lead IEP meetings, functional behavioral assessments, behavior support plans.
- Advance training in DBT and EMDR.
- Establish a join ADHD clinic with one of the local pediatricians.
- Provide psycho-diagnostic and psycho therapeutic services to cancer patients.
Apply for counseling psychologist jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a counseling psychologist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first counseling psychologist job
Are you a counseling psychologist?
Share your story for a free salary report.
Average counseling psychologist salary
The average counseling psychologist salary in the United States is $80,294 per year or $39 per hour. Counseling psychologist salaries range between $55,000 and $116,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do counseling psychologists rate their job?
Counseling psychologist reviews
Paperwork can be overwhelming
Updated January 8, 2025
