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Clinical and Counseling Psychologists

Typical education: Doctoral or professional degreeHigh pressure Bright Outlook

What they do

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.

Kinds of work

  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.
  • Investigative: Science, research, figuring out how things work and solving complex problems.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

High pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $100,580 Median per year · $48.36/hr Most earn $55,170–$180,960

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Obtain and study medical, psychological, social, and family histories by interviewing individuals, couples, or families and by reviewing records.
  • Conduct assessments of patients' risk for harm to self or others.
  • Develop and implement individual treatment plans, specifying type, frequency, intensity, and duration of therapy.
  • Identify psychological, emotional, or behavioral issues and diagnose disorders, using information obtained from interviews, tests, records, or reference materials.
  • Develop therapeutic and treatment plans based on clients' interests, abilities, or needs.
  • Advise clients on how they could be helped by counseling.

Job outlook

Bright Outlook Rapid Growth

United States
12% more jobs by 2035, much faster than average · about 4,100 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Offices of mental health practitioners (except physicians)38.5%
  • Offices of physicians6.9%
  • General medical and surgical hospitals6.0%
  • Outpatient mental health and substance abuse centers5.8%
  • Self-employed (their own business)4.8%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Some remote workExperience before this job: 2 to 4 years

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Doctoral or professional degreeExperience before this job: 2 to 4 years

This is not an entry-level job. Clinical and counseling psychologists usually need a doctoral degree and supervised clinical training, so the path often takes roughly a decade or more after high school. Pay varies a lot by location and setting, so you can check the career page for typical pay near you and nationally.

  1. Bachelor's degree in psychology

    4 years

    Take courses in psychology, statistics, and research methods, and build a strong GPA so you can get into graduate programs.

  2. Mental Health Counselor

    2-4 years

    Earn a master's degree in counseling or a related field, get licensed, and work with clients while gaining the hands-on experience that doctoral programs look for.

  3. Doctoral program in clinical or counseling psychology (PhD or PsyD)

    4-6 years

    Complete advanced coursework, research, and a supervised clinical internship, which prepares you to assess, diagnose, and treat clients on your own.

  4. Clinical and Counseling Psychologist

    1-2 years of supervised practice before full licensure

    After your doctorate, you complete any required supervised hours and licensing exam, then practice independently in clinics, hospitals, schools, or private practice.

Where it can lead

  1. Neuropsychologist

    2-4 years of experience first

    Move into a specialty that focuses on how brain conditions affect thinking, memory, and behavior, usually through additional training and supervised experience after your doctorate.

  2. Director of Clinical Services

    5+ years of experience first

    Move into leadership of a counseling or behavioral health program, overseeing other clinicians, setting treatment standards, and managing budgets and staff.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take psychology, statistics, or AP-level science classesThese build the reading, research, and math skills that psychology programs rely on.
  • Volunteer with a youth or community mental health groupHelping others in a supervised setting shows you what counseling work involves and looks good on college applications.
  • Join a debate, peer tutoring, or peer support clubThese build listening, speaking, and empathy skills that are central to counseling.
  • Get a starter job that involves peopleWorking as a camp counselor, tutor, or retail or food service worker teaches patience, communication, and how to handle stress.
  • Read introductory psychology books or articlesEarly reading helps you learn the basic ideas and decide whether you want to keep exploring the field.

In college

  • Major in psychology and take statistics and research methodsA psychology major is the most common route to doctoral programs, and research skills are required for most of them.
  • Get research experience with a professorHelping a professor with a study builds the research record that doctoral programs look for in applicants.
  • Volunteer at a crisis line, clinic, or counseling centerSupervised volunteering gives you real client contact and helps you confirm that clinical work is the right direction.
  • Take a job as a residential assistant or peer counselorThese roles build skills in active listening, crisis response, and working with people who are struggling.
  • Join a psychology or pre-graduate student organizationThese groups often host speakers, workshops, and networking events that can help you learn about graduate programs.

Tips for getting started

  • Get real experience early. Volunteering or working at a crisis line, youth center, or support program shows you whether this work fits you and strengthens graduate school applications.
  • Get comfortable with research and statistics. Doctoral programs in psychology expect you to read studies and often to do your own research, so good grades in these classes matter.
  • Talk to people already in the field. Ask a psychologist or counselor at a local clinic or school about their training path and what their days look like.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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