According to a survey from the National Science Foundation, there were 3.5 million people in the United States in 2017 who held a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Among those individuals, 14 percent pursued graduate degrees in the field.
That means approximately 499,000 people have been tasked with the judgment call of joining a clinical psychology or counseling psychology program. At a glance, the choice is a daunting one: it can both build and branch careers, setting the foundation for a productive life-long story of the practice of psychological services.
In many cases, these mental health professionals often find themselves working in hospitals, universities, wellness centers, private practices, or even schools, caring for the well-being of others based on knowledge and skills acquired in pursuit of their degree. While they may work in similar settings, there are key differences between these two branches of psychology.
In this article, we’ll conduct an examination of what you need to know about the difference between clinical and counseling psychology.
Clinical vs. Counseling Psychology: What’s the Difference?
While clinical psychologists and counseling psychologists differ in their areas of focus, they do have a bit of overlap. To paint a key difference between clinical and counseling psychology, the clinical branch focuses on psychopathology — the study of mental disorders. On the flipside, counseling psychologists help patients or clients address emotional, social, and physical stressors in their lives.
Ultimately, clinical and counseling psychologists share more in common than they differ.
Aspiring psychologists, whether immersed in clinical or counseling studies, share one key component in common: they want to help people. These are scholars who fundamentally crave an understanding of the minds that make up our world and strive to assist in addressing problematic behaviors. In terms of the soft-skills required for the profession, these are insightful people who can compose themselves in stressful situations, adapt well, and can predict behaviors based on scientific information and cases they have studied.
Many students touch on these skills during their bachelor’s programs, but these qualities are refined and tested during a graduate program. For clinical psychology students, this typically means working with individuals challenged by serious mental illness.
What is Clinical Psychology?
The work of a clinical psychologist tends to overlap with psychiatrists. This began as a post-World War II effort to treat post-traumatic stress disorder in returning troops and evolved the branch into a profession that broadly centers around mental illnesses that range from major depressive disorders to schizophrenia. Significantly, this time period saw the movement of psychologists from private practice to clinical settings.
Their work is rooted in the natural sciences of psychoanalysis, humanistic psychotherapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy. They treat primarily by instilling resilience in the people they meet with; neither clinical psychologists nor counseling psychologists prescribe medication. In practice, they work in hospitals and clinics, or in private practice. Some will go on to work in clinical counseling settings in the field of social work.
What is Counseling Psychology?
Counseling psychologists often work with psychologically stable individuals seeking to alleviate stressors in their life: social anxieties, emotional duress, inability to sleep, and more. These might be related to their work life, family dynamics, chronic pain, compulsive disorders, romantic relationships, or substance abuse. The goal is to provide them with coping skills.
Counseling psychologists tend to be more holistic in how they practice. They are employed frequently in university counseling centers, mental health centers, and rehabilitation centers, but can also have a private practice. Because counseling psychology can target a range of people and problems, students typically find an area of specialty, such as marriage and family, or develop a cultural competency, such as with gender and sexuality.
Clinical Psychology vs. Counseling Psychology: How to Choose?
Choosing whether to be a clinical psychologist vs counseling psychologist is entirely a matter of preference: both involve the same licensing process. But certainly, those focusing on clinical psychology should feel equipped to manage interactions with more severe psychological disorders and prepare for a more “bedside” clinical position. Those who opt to focus on counseling psychology can expect to interact with a broad array of behavioral, social, and emotional problems among clients from diverse backgrounds.
Because social service fields tend to be underfunded, salary ranges in psychology can start low when compared to other science disciplines, especially without a graduate degree. But this varies greatly depending on whether a position is in management, a hospital, private practice, or in a university setting. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary for clinical psychologists in the US is $70,580. Counseling psychologists at the beginning of their careers can anticipate an annual median salary of $51,000, while those with between 5-20 years can expect around $65,000 annually.
In terms of demand for those with these unique skill sets, mental health counselor positions are expected to increase at a rate of 20 percent through 2024. Counseling, clinical, and school psychologist positions are expected to increase at a rate of 19 percent.
It is also true that, no matter which path you choose, there will be research opportunities.
So, what is the difference between clinical and counseling psychology? Beyond the degree of illness of the patient being worked with, it’s really all about specialty. Students can — and are encouraged — to pave their own path and find an area of expertise based on what group of people they most want to help.
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SOURCES:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/fulfillment-any-age/201209/the-top-10-reasons-major-in-psychology
https://www.apa.org/gradpsych/2009/03/similarities
https://www.apa.org/monitor/2019/09/datapoint-grad-school
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/fulfillment-any-age/201208/insider-s-guide-psychology
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/9781118625392.wbecp536
https://www.allpsychologyschools.com/clinical-psychology/salary/
https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Counseling_Psychologist/Salary
https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Clinical_Psychologist/Salary
One of the most common questions I get is “What is the difference between counseling psychology and clinical psychology?” The bottom line: these two psychology specialties are more similar than different (Norcross, Sayette, Martin-Wagar, 2021). The differences tend to be slight and “on average.” You will find greater differences from program to program (regardless of whether it is counseling or clinical) than you will find from counseling psychology programs as a whole to clinical psychology programs as a whole.
Many people apply to both counseling and clinical psychology programs at the same time. If you are interested in getting a PhD, then your program selection process will be strongly influenced by what professors happen to be doing research on topics that interest you, regardless of whether those professors happen to be in counseling or clinical psychology programs. For example, our counseling psychology faculty at the University of Kentucky do research on topics such as sex, social justice, leadership, help seeking, stigma, masculinity, multicultural measurement, LGBTQIA+ health and well-being, racial health disparities, academic persistence, wellness, sexual violence prevention, justice-system involved populations, substance abuse, and HIV.
Below is a summary of the significant similarities and “on average” difference between counseling psychology and clinical psychology programs. References are included at the bottom of this page.
Be sure to check out my other Psych Grad School resources using the menu above, such as Graduate School Advice, Counseling Psychology Faculty Research Interests List, Best Doctoral Programs in Counseling Psychology, and What the Ideal Graduate School Applicant Looks Like. I also recommend completing the Mental Health Professions Career Test, which will give you interest scores on 21 different mental health occupations, including counseling psychology and clinical psychology.
Similarities
Differences
References
Brems, C., & Johnson, M. E. (1997). Comparison of recent graduates of clinical versus counseling psychology programs. The Journal of Psychology, 131(1), 91-99.
Karazsia, B. T., & Smith, L. (2016). Preparing for graduate-level training in professional psychology: Comparisons across clinical PhD, counseling PhD, and clinical PsyD Programs. Teaching of Psychology, 43(4), 305-313.
Morgan, R. D., & Cohen, L. M. (2008). Clinical and counseling psychology: Can differences be gleaned from printed recruiting materials?. Training and Education in Professional Psychology, 2(3), 156-164.
Neimeyer, G. J., Taylor, J. M., Wear, D. M., & Buyukgoze-Kavas, A. (2011). How special are the specialties? Workplace settings in counseling and clinical psychology in the United States. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 24(1), 43-53.
Norcross, J. C. (2000). Clinical versus counseling psychology: What’s the diff. Eye on Psi Chi, 5(1), 20-22.
Norcross, J. C. , Sayette, M. A. & Martin-Wagar, C. A. (2021). Doctoral Training in Counseling Psychology. Training and Education in Professional Psychology, 15 (3), 167-175. doi: 10.1037/tep0000306.
Norcross, J. C., Sayette, M. A., Stratigis, K. Y., & Zimmerman, B. E. (2014). Of course: Prerequisite courses for admission into APA-accredited clinical and counseling psychology programs. Teaching of Psychology, 41(4), 360-364.
Ogunfowora, B., & Drapeau, M. (2008). Comparing counseling and clinical psychology practitioners: Similarities and differences on theoretical orientations revisited. International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling, 30(2), 93-103.
Taylor, M. J., & Neimeyer, G. J. (2009). Graduate school mentoring in clinical, counselling, and experimental academic training programs: An exploratory study. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 22(2), 257-266.
Text-Only Versions of the Above Charts
Both Counseling Psychology and Clinical Psychology ContextLegislative & LegalBoth types of psychologists are referred to as “psychologists” or “clinical psychologists” in the context of legislation and legal issues
Both have same ethical/legal rights and responsibilities in all 50 USA states
No state makes a legal distinction between the two specialtiesTraining processStrongly applied fields (i.e., do research and put that research into practice)
Train students to do psychological research, teach psychology, provide talk psychotherapy, conduct psychological diagnosis/assessment/testing, provide clinical supervision, and engage in consultation/outreach/advocacy
Students learn to provide clinical services to a variety of clients with various presenting concerns and demographic backgroundsDoctoral Ph.D. Training ProgramsDemographicsMostly female (70% in counseling and 75% in clinical)
Small percentage of international students (9% in counseling and 6% in clinical)Acceptance RateVery competitive (8% counseling psych and 6% clinical psych)Cohort Class SizeAn average of 7 new students enter a given program each year (6.65 in counseling and 7.89 in clinical psych)GPA & GRE ScoresSimilar GPA (3.7 for both)
Similar GRE Verbal (158 counseling and 160 clinical) and Quantitative (150 counseling and 154 clinical) scoresFundingSimilar percent receiving full tuition waiver and assistantship (73% counseling and 78% clinical)Post-Graduate WorkInternship sitesNo distinction made for pre-doctoral psychology internship sitesProfessional benefitsInsurance makes no distinction for payment
Licensure process is the same
Both can practice independently, without supervisorsTheoretical orientationSignificant number of psychologists in both specialties use integrative or cognitive-behavioral therapy approaches to treatmentWorkplaceEmployed in a variety of work settings (e.g., academic university departments, university counseling centers, independent/private/group practices, Veterans Health Administration medical centers, correctional settings, hospitals)
Most psychologists in both specialties work in independent/private/group practice
Similar breakdown of time spent on psychotherapy/research/teaching/supervisionProgram Type:Counseling Psychology Ph.D.Clinical Psychology Ph.D.ProgramsNumber65+ APA-accredited programs178+ APA-accredited programsRecruitment terminology“maladaptive”, “normal developmental issues/problems”, “life span”“psychopathology assessment”, “treatment”, “manualized therapy”Applicant backgroundLarger proportion of students of color (37%)
More likely to enter with a Masters’ degree (60%) in counseling psych, clinical psych, counseling, or related fieldSmaller proportion of students of color (21%)
More likely to enter with only a bachelors’ degree (79%) and perhaps some additional post-bachelor work experienceAcademic locationTypically located in a department housed within the university’s College of EducationTypically found in a Psychology department housed within the university’s College of Arts & SciencesTraining ModelScientist-practitioner or scientist-practitioner-advocate are most common modelsScientist-practitioner (80%) or clinical scientists are most common modelsEmphasis on practice skills versus research skillsTend to equally emphasize skill development in research and clinical practice (4.39 on 1-7pt scale where 1=practice focus, 4=equal balance, and 7=research focus)Tend to emphasize skill development in research a little more than skill development in clinical practice (5.01 on that 1-7pt scale)Faculty57% male
More likely to endorse humanistic, family systems, systems, and psychodynamic orientations
Expect more multicultural/diversity experience in applicants60% male
More likely to endorse behavioral and cognitive-behavioral theoretical orientations
Expect more scientific method training in applicantsTrainingLess likely to have practicum sites in 1) child settings 2) adult inpatient/hospital settings
Students perceive higher levels of socioemotional support from faculty (may be associated with lifespan/vocational model)More likely to offer practicum sites in 1) child settings and 2) adult inpatient/hospital settings
Emphasis on psychopathology assessment and manualized treatment
Students typically publish moreHistoryOrigin storyGrew out of “vocational psychology” division of APA
Industrialization/efficiency focus – scientific study of factors affecting job performance
Post-WWII: Job training/counseling for veterans, incorporating external forces affecting mental healthOutgrowth of medical field (e.g., Freud)
Came first; has traditionally studied mental health disturbance
American Psychological Association (APA) established 1892FocusPopulationsLess likely to work with children, specialized, or high-risk populations
More likely to work with overall healthy populations (e.g., college students, outpatient adults)More likely to work with children, specialized, and high-risk populations
More likely to work with severe psychopathology (e.g., schizophrenia)Theoretical orientationMore likely to use client-centered, humanistic, feminist, and multicultural approaches to treatmentMore likely to use cognitive-behavioral, psychodynamic, and manualized treatmentsPracticePersonal/interpersonal health and well-being across the lifespan
Vocational perspective – address life change and stressors associated with psychopathology
More career/vocational assessmentAssessment and treatment of moderate to severe mental illness
Healthcare perspective – diagnose and treat life changes and stressors in context of psychopathology
More psychopathology assessmentWorkplace settingMore likely to work in college counseling centersMore likely to work in hospital/inpatient settingsResearch topic focusMore likely to focus on multicultural and social justice issues or vocational/career issuesMore likely to focus on psychopathology or medical (e.g., neuropsychology, pain)
