Becoming a Counselor
Undergraduate Training
Undergraduate training in psychology is designed to introduce the student to the broad range of subjects psychologists investigate and study. All students therefore are required to enroll in a core of classes that cover the basic content areas. Students specifically interested in graduate school in clinical psychology or Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) should take (in addition to the core psychology classes) Theories of Personality during their junior year and Counseling Theories and Counseling Methods during their senior year. Electives which would strengthen students background include Human Sexuality and Behavior Modification. All of these courses lay the groundwork necessary to understand, assess, and treat emotional and/or behavioral problems. Additionally, a field practicum placement is strongly suggested to complement your academic experience. There are currently over 50 county agencies with which Vanguard University maintains a working alliance. These organizations each specialize in a different area of service delivery, thereby providing the student with a potential sequence of learning experiences in a given area of clinical relevance.
Opportunities For Employment With the B.A.
There are a number of opportunities for employment as a counselor with a B.A. in psychology. These are primarily available in areas of social work and some mental health agencies. Examples include half-way programs for recovering alcoholics or drug addicts, work with developmentally disabled adults, child care, case management with homeless adults and families, and counseling battered women in shelters. Although it is possible to find positions which involve counseling-related activities, California has very strict licensing laws which prohibit independent practice with a B.A. degree. Additionally, it is important to note that no undergraduate program is designed to prepare students as counselors or therapists. Counseling and therapy are areas of professional specialization which require additional theoretical knowledge, quantitative skills and supervised clinical experiences. These are usually acquired as part of postgraduate education.
Marriage and Family Therapy
A licensed Marriage and Family Therapist must have a Master's degree plus 3000 hours of supervised experience and pass a written and oral exam. At least 1500 of these 3000 hours must be gained after the Master's degree is received. The following site provides links to area programs that provide the necessary academic preparation for the Marriage and Family Therapist license: M.A./M.S. Programs
Information regarding many of these programs is available for inspection in the Psychology Research Lab. For additional information concerning the Marriage and Family Therapist license, write or call the Board of Behavioral Sciences:
Board of Behavioral Sciences
400 R Street, Suite 3150
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 445-4933
Opportunities For Employment With an M.S. or M.A.
There are a wide range of opportunities for employment as a counselor or therapist with an M.S. or M.A. in psychology or counseling. Work settings include schools, businesses, public and private institutions, community mental health centers, churches and community colleges. Counseling in these settings may include individual, couples, family, and/or group therapy. There are many opportunities to practice counseling and therapy within one's area of specialization (e.g., adolescent drug abuse; couples therapy). The State of California requires unlicensed Master's level counselors (e.g., M.F.T. "Intern") to be under the direct supervision of a marriage and family therapist, psychologist, and/or psychiatrist. Master's level trained professionals provide a wide range of clinical services; however, in general, they are not trained to provide psychological testing and assessment.
Doctoral Programs In Clinical Psychology
A licensed Clinical Psychologist is required to have a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology and 1500 hours pre- and 1500 hours post-doctoral experience. A lengthy written and oral exam is also required. To obtain a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) or Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) in Clinical Psychology, you may directly enter a doctoral program upon completion of your B.A. or in some cases you may complete a Master's degree first. A Psychological Assistant (P.A.) does therapy with a Master's degree in Psychology under the supervision of a licensed psychologist. This is frequently used as a way of practicing while completing a Ph.D./Psy.D. You must obtain registration as a P.A. and be currently enrolled in a Ph.D./Psy.D. program.
Programs following the Scientist-Professional model are designed to train researchers or clinicians with strong research interests. This type of program is especially desirable should one wish to obtain a full-time teaching or research position at a major university. The Ph.D. is the terminal degree awarded in these programs. Programs following the Practitioner-Scientist model are designed to develop professional skills and the utilization of theory and research in professional practice. This type of program generally prepares one for full-time employment as a psychological practitioner. The Psy.D. is typically awarded in these programs.
Some counseling, school, and clinical psychology programs (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) have been approved by the American Psychological Association. This means that the program meets the APA guidelines for "good" training. The APA book Graduate Study in Psychology will tell you if a program is approved or not. It is much more difficult to get into these programs. Graduating from them may open more doors for you later on. But people from non APA approved programs can still have productive, fulfilling careers.
If a program is not approved, it could mean several things. The program may have lost its approval or has been unable to attain it - which is a bad sign. Or the program may be in the process of applying for approval - which is a good sign since it may be an up and coming program. Or the program may not care about applying for APA approval - which usually is a bad sign, although there are a few excellent training facilities which aren't concerned about APA approval.
Internships in clinical and counseling psychology also will be APA approved or not. Usually APA approved internships prefer students from APA approved graduate programs. Jobs in the mental health field sometimes require that a person had an APA approved internship.
The following site provides links to area doctoral programs: Doctoral Programs in Psychology
You may obtain the precise requirements for the Psychology license in California by contacting the California Board of Psychology:
For other A.P.A. approved Ph.D. and Psy.D. programs (including those outside of California), please consult the most recent volume of Graduate Study in Psychology, which you can find in the Social Science Computer Lab.
Opportunities For Employment With a Ph.D. or Psy.D.
A doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology or Counseling Psychology offers the greatest flexibility and number of options for employment. Clinical psychologists work in a wide range of settings including clinical, academic, and research facilities. They are generally prepared to (1) conduct research in specific areas of applied psychology; (2) engage in psychodiagnostic assessment; (3) engage in the practice of counseling and psychotherapy; (4) design, implement, and evaluate programs created for specific populations. Psychologists who specialize in service delivery not only work in a wide range of clinical settings (e.g., college counseling centers, independent practice, community mental health centers), but they treat a broad range of problems. These may range from normal developmental transitions and crises (e.g., leaving home for college, marital difficulties) to more severe, chronic conditions (e.g., schizophrenia or manic-depressive disorders). Although clinical psychologists were once identified as providers of one-to-one therapy, in the current workplace they also maintain highly visible roles as motivational experts, organizational planners, personnel evaluators and therapists. Clinical psychologists also work across disciplines, across cultures, and across economic levels promoting mental health.
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