Counseling Psychology
Counseling psychology is a general practice and health service provider specialty in professional psychology. It focuses on how people function both personally and in their relationships across the lifespan. Counseling psychology addresses emotional, social, work, school, and physical health concerns that individuals may experience at different stages of life, including typical life stressors as well as more severe issues affecting individuals, families, groups, and organizations. Counseling psychologists help individuals with physical, emotional, and mental health concerns improve their sense of well-being, alleviate distress, and resolve crises. They also provide assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of more severe psychological symptoms (https://www.apa.org/ed/graduate/specialize/counseling).
Specialty-specific credential requirements for individuals identifying as Counseling Psychologists and seeking board certification in Counseling Psychology include the following academic training, internship, and postdoctoral experience requirements:
Academic Training Requirements
Training and Education in Counseling Psychology
- Doctoral degree from a Counseling Psychology program.
- When an applicant’s degree is not from a Counseling Psychology program, applicant must submit:
- A one- to two-page statement describing how the applicant’s training and post-degree training have included Counseling Psychology as a major area of study (see https://www.apa.org/ed/graduate/specialize/understanding-taxonomy) including specialized knowledge, scope of practice, skills and interventions, populations served, and the philosophy of the specialization (see https://www.apa.org/ed/graduate/specialize/counseling).
- Letters of recommendation from two Counseling Psychologists who can attest to the applicant’s professional identity as a Counseling Psychologist.
- Individual exception reviews are available for degrees granted outside the U.S. or Canada and for doctoral degrees granted prior to 1983. Such exceptions are coordinated through the ABPP Executive Office and the Specialty Board.
Internship Requirements
A one-year full-time or two-year half-time internship program is required. This requirement may be met in one of three ways. The internship requirement is satisfied if the internship is:
- Accredited by the APA or CPA, or
- Listed in the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC) Directory for the year in which the internship was completed, or
- Met APPIC equivalency guidelines for the year in which the internship was completed
Post-Doctoral Practice Experience
The postdoctoral requirement includes:
- Two or more years of post-doctoral professional work experience providing counseling psychology services or professional work ordinarily associated with the specialty of Counseling Psychology. Such experience must reflect at least two of the following:
- Experience in Counseling Psychology (at least two of the following four are required):
- Work experience incorporating tasks and philosophies consistent with Counseling Psychology.
- Professional involvement and activities with Counseling Psychology associations.
- Presentations or publications reflective of the Counseling Psychology specialty.
- A Program of research or practice reflective of the Counseling Psychology specialty.
- Candidates should be as specific as possible in describing how their activities demonstrate their identity as, and commitment to, the specialty of Counseling Psychology.
Licensure/Certification Requirements
- Applicants must be licensed or certified as psychologists at the independent practice level by the state, province, or territory of the Unitedd States or Canada in which they practice.
- Exceptions to the residency requirement are made for active-duty federal uniformed service psychologists when practicing in those roles.