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Clinical and Counseling Psychologists
Assess, diagnose, and treat mental and emotional disorders of individuals through observation, interview, and psychological tests. Help individuals with distress or maladjustment understand their problems through their knowledge of case history, interviews with patients, and theory. Provide individual or group counseling services to assist individuals in achieving more effective personal, social, educational, and vocational development and adjustment. May design behavior modification programs and consult with medical personnel regarding the best treatment for patients.
Other titles employers use
Case Manager · Clinical Psychologist · Counseling Psychologist · Counselor · Licensed Clinical Psychologist · Licensed Psychologist · LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) · Psychologist
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- Conduct assessments of patients' risk for harm to self or others.
- Document patient information including session notes, progress notes, recommendations, and treatment plans.
- Identify psychological, emotional, or behavioral issues and diagnose disorders, using information obtained from interviews, tests, records, or reference materials.
- Write reports on clients and maintain required paperwork.
- Counsel individuals, groups, or families to help them understand problems, deal with crisis situations, define goals, and develop realistic action plans.
- Interact with clients to assist them in gaining insight, defining goals, and planning action to achieve effective personal, social, educational, or vocational development and adjustment.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to helping, analytical and organizing work.
- Analytical
- Investigating questions, testing ideas, and solving problems
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Reading Comprehension
- Social Perceptiveness
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Critical Thinking
- Speaking
Subjects to know
- Psychology
- Therapy and Counseling
- English Language
- Education and Training
- Customer and Personal Service
Useful strengths
- Oral Expression
- Written Comprehension
- Oral Comprehension
- Problem Sensitivity
- Written Expression
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 3.4 | Shared rooms, but not shoulder to shoulder |
| On your feet | 1.8 | Mostly seated |
| Talking face to face | 4.8 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 1.7 | Little of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a doctorate or a professional degree. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A doctorate or professional degree 92%
- A master's degree 8%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Word processing software
- Spreadsheet software
- Medical software
- Video conferencing software
- Office suite software
- Electronic mail software
- Presentation software
- Project management software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 14,600
- Job openings each year
- 880
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 20.7%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 14,600 | 880 | 20.7% |
| Illinois | 6,040 | 330 | 11.0% |
| Florida | 4,690 | 290 | 26.1% |
| Pennsylvania | 4,160 | 220 | 9.5% |
| Texas | 4,150 | 250 | 19.6% |
| Maryland | 3,120 | 170 | 12.6% |
| North Carolina | 2,330 | 140 | 18.9% |
| Michigan | 2,280 | 120 | 11.2% |
| Indiana | 2,200 | 120 | 13.4% |
| Ohio | 2,100 | 110 | 4.5% |
| Minnesota | 2,000 | 110 | 9.9% |
| Missouri | 1,930 | 110 | 10.9% |
| Virginia | 1,920 | 110 | 11.6% |
| Wisconsin | 1,910 | 100 | 9.1% |
| Utah | 1,890 | 140 | 50.0% |
| New Jersey | 1,740 | 100 | 15.2% |
| Colorado | 1,670 | 100 | 20.1% |
| Georgia | 1,370 | 70 | 10.5% |
| Massachusetts | 1,320 | 70 | 11.9% |
| Oregon | 1,160 | 70 | 23.4% |
| Arizona | 1,040 | 70 | 26.8% |
| West Virginia | 830 | 50 | 12.2% |
| Tennessee | 790 | 50 | 23.4% |
| Iowa | 760 | 50 | 20.6% |
| South Carolina | 700 | 40 | 22.8% |
| Rhode Island | 610 | 30 | 10.9% |
| Arkansas | 600 | 30 | 13.2% |
| Connecticut | 600 | 30 | 9.1% |
| Kentucky | 600 | 30 | 11.1% |
| Alabama | 490 | 30 | 11.4% |
| Oklahoma | 470 | 30 | 14.6% |
| Kansas | 450 | 30 | 12.5% |
| Louisiana | 410 | 20 | 10.8% |
| Nebraska | 390 | 20 | 11.4% |
| New Mexico | 370 | 20 | 23.3% |
| Nevada | 310 | 20 | 10.7% |
| District of Columbia | 300 | 20 | 7.1% |
| Mississippi | 290 | 20 | 16.0% |
| Puerto Rico | 270 | 20 | 22.7% |
| Montana | 260 | 20 | 13.0% |
| New Hampshire | 240 | 10 | 20.0% |
| Vermont | 190 | 10 | 5.6% |
| North Dakota | 180 | 10 | 12.5% |
| South Dakota | 160 | 10 | 14.3% |
| Delaware | 130 | 10 | 8.3% |
| Maine | 120 | 10 | — |
| Wyoming | 100 | 10 | 11.1% |
| Alaska | 70 | 0 | — |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
- Degrees each year
- 537
- Admit rate
- 57%
- Annual cost after aid
- $7,000
Southern New Hampshire University
- Degrees each year
- 3,043
- Admit rate
- 96%
- Annual cost after aid
- $37,000
University of California-San Diego
- Degrees each year
- 671
- Admit rate
- 25%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
Florida International University
- Degrees each year
- 1,575
- Admit rate
- 59%
- Annual cost after aid
- $11,000
University of Central Florida
- Degrees each year
- 1,510
- Admit rate
- 40%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
University of Illinois Chicago
- Degrees each year
- 497
- Admit rate
- 79%
- Annual cost after aid
- $11,000
California State University-Fresno
- Degrees each year
- 639
- Admit rate
- 96%
- Annual cost after aid
- $7,000
Liberty University
- Degrees each year
- 1,139
- Admit rate
- 99%
- Annual cost after aid
- $27,000
Compare every college offering clinical, counseling and applied psychology