Online Counseling Degrees
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Counseling is a helping career, so the counselor must have a compassionate nature and a genuine desire to work through the various issues their patients may be dealing with. Effective counselors also have excellent communication and listening skills. The actual duties of a counselor vary depending on the organization and specialty the counselor is working within; counselors may have clients of all ages. In order to sit for the Licensed Professional Counselor exam, or LPC, the student must complete a master's degree at an approved university. The job outlook should be excellent for the next several years—especially for those who have an interest in working in geriatrics.
Counselors work in a variety of settings that can include client support, rehabilitation, and counseling. Depending on the facility in which the counselor works, the daily duties can vary considerably. For instance, counselors who are LPCs may choose to open their own counseling practice and specialize in counseling children or adults. Other counselors may work in hospitals or other health care settings that provide support for clients who are ill.
Some counselors specialize in guidance related to educational pursuits. These counselors work in schools or colleges and offer guidance about career choices, class options, and, in some cases, also provide support for students and their parents when there are behavior issues in the classroom. Other counselors choose to specialize in rehabilitation and are trained to help people cope with the personal and social effects of disability. These counselors also often deal with the aftermath of a traumatic occurrence, such as a life-changing illness or accident, and help patients rebuild their lives with dignity. Counselors serve a wide range of the population, and therefore, most will specialize in a particular area while in college.
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What are some of the specializations within this degree program?
- Marriage and Family Therapy Counselors: Many counselors choose to work with families. These professionals are skilled at helping families stay together, and they work with both parents and children, together and separately.
- Substance Abuse Counselors: These counselors work specifically with adults and adolescents who are working to overcome various addictions such as drugs, alcohol, eating disorders, and gambling, to name a few.
- Mental Health Counselors: Those who specialize in this area help people of all ages deal with various emotional and mental disorders.
- School Counselors: Counseling within a school setting by supporting troubled teens or depressed students is a common responsibility for school counselors. In addition, counselors often help students deal with loss, such as a classmate or family member who passes away.
What degree levels are available?
- Associate Degree: 2 years to complete
- Bachelor's Degree: 4 years to complete
- Master's Degree: 2 years to complete
- Doctorate Degree: 5-7 years to complete
What are the educational and certification requirements?
The associate degree in counseling typically takes two years and is the fastest degree to complete; however, it is also the degree that has the most limitations. Most counseling positions will require a higher level of education along with experience. The associate degree is a good place to start for those who are not sure if they wish to make counseling a full-time career since. The bachelor's degree requires four years of study, and in some states it is possible to work in corrections or as a drug and alcohol counselor. In addition, the degree may prepare some graduates to work as assistants under a licensed counselor or a psychologist.
The PhD may prepare students for higher-evel positions, or they may be able to teach at the college level, depending on their concentration. In addition, the PhD may prepare students to work in management position within counseling centers. While it is true that counseling is available at the associate through doctoral degree levels, only those with a master's or higher can actually have sit for the Licensed Professional Counselor exam through the American Counseling Association. Marriage and family therapists must also have a master's degree, and they must be licensed through the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.
Drug and alcohol counselors also must be licensed, but the licensing and educational requirements vary by state; some states require a specialized bachelor's degree, while other states require a master's degree. Therefore, it is vital that graduates verify licensure requirements with their state's commission on alcohol and drug abuse.
What kinds of classes will I be expected to take?
The required courses in a counseling degree will depend on the type of program you choose to pursue. Some four-year counseling programs are designed to be prerequisites for master's study, and thus provide a more theoretical and less practical introduction to the counseling field. Other degrees are meant to prepare students to directly enter a counseling career, and are generally concentrated on a particular area, such as substance abuse or rehabilitative counseling.
Bachelor's programs that are designed to prepare students for graduate school contain a core of courses in psychology and sociology, to give students a background in human behavior. Courses like Learning and Cognition and Adolescent Development discuss, from a scientific viewpoint, what we know about the human psychological state in different stages of life. Sociology courses, such as Poverty and the Urban Environment, discuss how overriding societal factors can affect people's psyches and psychological trends in particular groups.
While practically oriented programs also require psychology and sociology classes, they also include several required practicums, which are designed to put students in a simulation of an actual counseling situation. Other practical courses like Addictions Counseling and Counseling Family Systems discuss ways to apply counseling skills to certain types of patients or psychological issues.
If I pursue this program online, will I be required to complete any on-site training?
In most cases, yes. Students who hope to begin practicing counseling should definitely choose an online program that provides practical experience, either through on-campus practicums or through internships in the student's local community. Individuals looking at counseling bachelor's degrees as a prerequisite for a master's program do not necessarily need hands-on training, since the master's program is designed to be practical counseling preparation.
What are some other degrees that are related to this program?
The degree in psychology is very closely related to the counseling degree, especially counseling programs designed to provide preparation for a graduate degree. It's actually more common for master's programs applicants to hold a psychology bachelor's degree than a degree specifically in counseling.
A four-year degree in social work also prepares graduates to work with individuals who are seeking help. Like the counseling profession, however, many social work positions require individuals to have at least a master's degree. The four-year program in human services would teach graduates the skills for managing nonprofits and other social service organizations, but would likely lead to a career with less direct client contact.
There are many degree programs that lead to careers where professionals provide needed medical or healthcare services to patients. Nursing degree programs allow graduates to work directly with patients and to aid in disease diagnosis and treatment. Four-year physical therapy degrees train students to help rehabilitate people who have an injury or disability.
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