Counseling Psychology Degree
If it has been a while since you have been in school, going back may seem a bit overwhelming. However, it is one of the best experiences a person can have and can provide individuals ample opportunities for personal and professional development. Some may feel as if going back to school to obtain an advanced degree is not feasible in terms of finances, or some may not have the time to devote to sitting in a classroom, studying and any other tasks related to getting a degree. However, those should not be impediments to pursuing your goal of getting a counseling psychology degree. There is financial aid available to all persons who are interested in furthering their education. This assistance can come in the form of a government loan, grant, or even a private loan. The benefit of an educational loan is lenders offer low interest rates and there are even some lenders who defer payments until after you have graduated. Regarding the time factor, there are so many more options available to individuals who want to pursue a counseling psychology degree. Most traditional colleges and universities offer evening classes that are flexible and take into consideration that the bulk of evening students are older adults. If you do not have the luxury of living near a major college or university, accredited online colleges and universities have made it possible for anyone to pursue higher education.
The Importance of a College/Graduate Degree
Nowadays, employers are looking to hire individuals who have top-notch skill sets. In other words, employers are looking to hire the best candidates for a job. Before you can even apply for a job, many employers have as a requirement, that the applicant have a college degree. It does not matter if you feel you have the experience or working knowledge of the job you are applying for, if you do not have a college degree, the recruiter or human resources professional will not even consider your application. It may seem unfair, but what a college degree demonstrates to a potential employee is you possess a certain propensity for acquiring knowledge, you possess a desired competence, and you have, at least, the minimum skill set needed in order to perform the job well. There are some careers that require an individual to go to college first. There is no on-the-job training for certain specialized careers. College is where you obtain that training. A career in counseling psychology demands that you have a counseling psychology degree. At a college or university is where you learn about the study of psychology and all the nuances so that you are able to help people as a counselor.
Counseling Psychology Degree
If you enjoy helping people, obtaining a counseling psychology degree may be the perfect for you to take in order to achieve your career goals. Counseling Psychologists help individuals through a combination research, theory, practice and an acute sensitivity of differing multicultural issues, improve their quality of life, relieve stressors, help facilitate an environment where crisis can be resolved, and overall help them function better throughout their lives. Counseling Psychologists as the name would suggest deal more with the psychology of individuals as opposed to any mental health issues (e.g. schizophrenia). It is important to note that there are many career options a person can have with a counseling psychology degree and most of them require an advanced degree, such as a Masters, Ph.D., Ed.D., or Psy.D. A doctorate degree in psychology will generally be offered through a college or university’s psychology department and a doctorate degree in Education is offered through the school’s college of education. Which route you take will all depend on whether or not you want to teach counseling psychology or you want to practice it. Those individuals with a counseling psychology degree many want to work for various agencies like government, schools, or even private organizations. If you desire to work in any of the aforementioned agencies at the least a Master’s degree (2-3 years to complete) is required but it is preferable for individuals to possess a doctorate degree (which can take about 5 years to complete). If you desire to teach (at the college level) as a prerequisite a doctorate is required because, again, it demonstrates a certain competence. Listed are some specialized areas of training that individuals with a counseling psychology degree work in after completion of their degree: substance abuse, child/adolescent development, forensic psychology, sports psychology, interpersonal relationships, aggression/anger control, community psychology, eating disorders, multiculturalism, and so much more.
Your degree will begin to pay off for you in terms of your salary after just a few short years. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary of psychologists in 2010 was $82,000 a year, with some making upwards of $200,000 a year.
