More Information About PhD in Counseling

• Earning a PhD in counseling requires many years of original research.
• Most practicing psychologists have a PhD in psychology.
• Two of the major paths in psychology are going into counseling and going into research.

How does someone earn a PhD in counseling?

A PhD in counseling is the culmination of a very long academic track, through which an individual becomes an expert in a very small field of counseling. At this level, students are expected to conduct very advanced, perhaps groundbreaking, research. Typically, a PhD in counseling is earned by writing a dissertation on an independently derived treatment program. This paper can take several years to write and often lengthens to hundreds of pages. Once one has acquired the credential of a PhD, they are referred to as a "Doctor". Getting a PhD, in general, is not an easy, or a cheap process. It takes at least eight years of post-secondary schooling and it requires an enormous financial and emotional investment. It's best to find a school that will pay for the program.

Most who earn a PhD in counseling become college or university professors or work in the research field, developing new treatment plans. Positions for part-time college or university faculty are in high demand, but landing that tenure university position is a difficult, competitive process. Some also decide to go into private practice, which provides some flexibility in schedule and can be profitable depending on how many clients one can get.

A PhD is a terminal degree. That means there is no where else to go after this degree. People with a PhD are considered experts in their fields and are looked perceived with high esteem, both within the academic world and in the general public. Having a PhD in counseling opens the many doors professionally. For example, counseling psychologists are trained to counsel and provide therapy for people with "everyday" sorts of problems, clinical psychologists are trained to provide therapy for people suffering from a wider range of problems, for example, from problems involving adjusting to daily hassles to problems entailing severe psychological disorders.

Salaries for counselors at this level vary widely. Entry level positions for psychologists holding a PhD average $50,000 a year and salaries can go up over $100,000 with experience and the growth of reputation.

• Liberty University Online With more than 40 online degrees offered, Liberty University is a convenient, flexible, and affordable way to earn an accredited degree from a solid, Christian perspective. ( More Info )
• Walden University Walden University, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, offers Ph.D., master's and bachelor's degrees in management and doctoral and master's degrees in psychology, education and health and human services to meet the specific needs of adult learners. Walden University has over 30 years of experience delivering programs from a distance while maintaining its student-centered focus on quality and integrity. ( More Info )
• Northcentral University Northcentral University is an accredited online university that offers students graduate degrees in programs including business and technology management, education and psychology. ( More Info )
• Argosy University (Graduate) Argosy University, with 18 metropolitan campus locations throughout U.S., offers Masters, MBA, Doctorate, and Specialized programs in Business, Counseling, Education, and Psychology. ** Not an online school. ( More Info )