While there is a lot of overlap between a master's degree in psychology and one in counseling, psychology programs tend to focus more on research methods, clinical diagnosis, pathology and clinical treatment. On the other hand, counseling degree programs center on normal human development and life issues as well as client strengths and wellness. Counseling classes emphasize important skills like active listening, showing empathy and asking good questions to gain an understanding of the situation. Counselors believe in the ability of the client to form their own answers and path, given the right environment with a trusted and informed listener.
A master's degree in counseling typically takes about two years full-time study. However, if you attend part-time, it could take four years or more. After taking the requisite classwork and participating in approved internships, graduates are eligible to take a licensing exam to become a licensed counselor (LPC) or licensed mental health counselor (LMHC). These designations are fairly similar to each other; what distinguishes you as a counselor is your specialization in school and your internship training.
Classes will vary based on your program and specialization, but some core courses that most counseling programs have in common are the following:
- Human development and lifespan
- Psychological theories
- Treatment methods
- Counseling skills
- Ethics
In addition, students will be required to take courses that are particular to their chosen specialization. Some common counseling specializations include career counseling, school counseling, mental health counseling, rehabilitation counseling, and marriage and family counseling. Specialty courses might include the following:
- Marriage and family therapy
- Race and gender issues
- Sociology of poverty
- Addictions
- Grief and loss
Students specializing in career counseling, for instance, can expect to take classes that cover tools and assessments that help clients understand their preferences, strengths and weaknesses to aid in finding a job match. These classes also teach students to help build resumes, counsel on job search skills and offer guidance in career planning.
A specialization in grief counseling will focus on helping people process the loss of loved ones. Classes in this concentration will review major theories of grief recovery. Rehabilitation counseling has classes that center on how to help a disabled person to bolster their functioning. Aspiring substance abuse counselors will focus their coursework on how to treat addiction and withdrawal. The specialization of family and marriage counseling will consist of classes that teach the skills needed to help strengthen families and couples.
Someone interested in mental health problems might choose to specialize in mental health counseling, which spans abnormal psychology and diagnosis of psychological symptoms in addition to more normative development. This study overlaps with that of students getting a master’s in psychology. The master’s in counseling degree, however, offers a clear path to licensure and thus opportunities to practice in settings that rely on insurance coverage.
Any accredited school will require you to get hands-on field experience in the setting of your choice. This means, although a program may be fully online, students will typically be expected to complete an in-person internship with a hands-on component. Some students may choose to attend a hybrid or low residency program rather than a fully online program. In a hybrid or low residency program students take most of their courses online, while still meeting occasionally in person with their cohort.
Whether you choose a fully online, hybrid or campus-based program, make sure that it is accredited for a master's degree in counseling. The Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP) and the Council on Rehabilitative Education (CORE) are the two legitimate and respected accreditation bodies specifically for counseling.
Once you finish your degree, expect to take a state exam since licensure is required to practice in almost every region. Additionally, some counselors choose to get optional certification in counseling, and the National Board of Certified Counselors is a well-known certification organization for counseling.
A counseling degree can open up many career possibilities in settings as varied as hospitals, prisons, schools and private clinics -- anywhere you might help a client to build a better quality of life, no matter what their circumstances, through good listening, empathy and collaborative problem solving. The field of counseling is one that is constantly developing and growing as we learn more about human beings and their adaptation to their environments. If you love working with people to help them reach their potential, a career in this field just might be a very satisfying choice for you.
