Students considering a clinical psychology degree, counseling psychology degree, or any other graduate degree in psychology have many choices in higher education ahead of them. From what type of psychology degree to earn to which school to choose, the end goal is to develop the skills needed to pursue career paths in mental health counseling and related disciplines.

When choosing a program, it is critical that prospective professionals understand the difference between clinical and counseling psychology. While there is some overlap between different branches of psychology, the area students decide to study will determine their educational and career paths for years to come.

A clinical psychologist and a counseling psychologist share many functions in mental health sciences. For example, both have proficient counseling skills, provide psychotherapy, and participate in research. They are employed in similar settings, such as universities and college counseling centers, community health clinics, hospitals, and private practice. When it comes to licensure, there is also no difference—clinical psychologists and counseling psychologists are both considered licensed psychologists in all 50 states.^[1]

Explore more nuances between these two psychology niches in the guide below.

What Is The Difference Between Clinical and Counseling Psychology?

Knowing the difference between clinical and counseling psychology is the first step to choosing the ideal psychology degree program.

	Clinical Psychology	Counseling Psychology
Education Timeline	5: 6 years	2: 3 years
Typical Patients	Children, adults, and elders experiencing severe mental health disorders	Children, adults, and elders experiencing mental health challenges and life stressors
Common Work Settings	Universities Community mental health centers Private practice Hospitals Inpatient settings Primary care settings Academic medical centers	Universities University counseling centers Human service settings Mental health centers Family services
Research vs. Therapy Focus	Research and therapy	Therapy
Licensure Pathways	Doctoral degree program Supervised clinical experience State licensure exam	Doctoral degree program Supervised clinical experience State licensure exam

What is Clinical Psychology?

Clinical psychologists provide mental and behavioral health care to individuals and groups (including couples and families).^[2] These professionals receive a wealth of training in theoretical orientations:

• Psychoanalytic
• Behavioral
• Cognitive-behavioral

Clinical psychologists work in a variety of settings, such as, but not limited to, universities, community mental health centers, private practice, hospitals, inpatient settings, primary care settings, and academic medical centers.

Is a clinical psychologist a therapist? While clinical psychologists work with a broad range of psychopathology and clinical diagnoses, they also receive more extensive clinical training related to challenges like bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and major depressive disorders, among others.

• Work settings: Clinical psychologists work in schools, courtrooms, and corporations, addressing a range of psychological needs. They also work closely with hospitals and play a pivotal role in patient mental health.
• Expertise: A clinical psychology program is not just about clinical practice; it also involves significant research and academic work. Many clinical psychologists become professors and go into research on mental health disorders. Their expertise gives them a dual role in advancing our understanding of mental health while also providing practical therapeutic interventions.
• Education: Clinical psychologists typically complete 5-6 years of professional training, including a supervised internship, to acquire proficiency in therapeutic techniques while pursuing graduate studies.
• Licensure: Clinical psychologists who successfully finish and pass a licensure examination are often qualified to go into private practice.

What is Counseling Psychology?

Counseling psychologists specialize in culturally informed practices that help patients improve their overall well-being, prevent distress, resolve problems, and increase overall functioning.^[3]

Counseling psychologists are often employed at universities and university counseling centers and in human service settings, such as mental health centers and family services. A psychologist counselor tends to work with healthier patients who have less severe mental illness or psychological problems. After completing a counseling psychology program and becoming a licensed professional counselor, their work focuses more on emotional, social, and physical issues that arise from typical life stressors or more serious issues associated with school, work, or family settings.

Counseling psychologists might see patients for relationship issues, substance abuse counseling, career counseling, difficulty adapting to life changes, and other such issues.

• Work settings: Counseling psychologists often engage in community-oriented roles, participating in crisis hotlines, spearheading diversity initiatives, and supporting mental health nonprofits.
• Expertise: Counseling psychology emphasizes the science behind therapeutic effectiveness. It investigates which treatments are evidence-based and why certain therapies work. This focus on evidence-based practice ensures that they are equipped with the most effective tools to support their clients, whether as a school counselor, a social worker, or a mental health counselor in general.
• Education: Counseling psychologists typically complete 2-3 years of professional training and a supervised internship to acquire proficiency in therapeutic techniques while pursuing graduate studies.
• Licensure: Some counseling occupations, such as MFTs, LPCCs, and LCSWs, can undergo a licensure exam to qualify for independent practice. Mental health counselors without a license must operate under the guidance of a licensed therapist.

Should I Be a Clinical or Counseling Psychologist?

Your choice of graduate psychology program will depend on your interests as a licensed psychologist or mental health professional.

• Are you interested in studying psychopathology and working with patients with serious psychological and mental health disorders? A clinical psychology degree program may be the best fit for you.
• Are you more interested in providing emotional and vocational support for a healthier population base with psychological counseling? Counseling psychology could be a good match for your career goals.

However, a doctoral program in either clinical psychology or counseling psychology can provide a pathway to licensure and a career as a mental health professional.

Most importantly, your doctoral program of choice should be accredited by the American Psychological Association. The APA accredits doctoral programs in clinical, counseling, and school psychology, as well as internships and postdoctoral residency programs. Accreditation demonstrates that the graduate program has satisfied the Standards of Accreditation in Health Service Psychology (SoA) and that graduates are competent in providing psychological services to the public.^[4] Also, some licensing boards require candidates to have graduated from an APA-accredited doctoral program; ensuring that you select an APA-accredited graduate program has multiple benefits following graduation.

All APA-accredited doctoral programs have been found to be consistent with the Standards of Accreditation. However, each program has aims that are unique and define the training goals for its graduates.

Depending on your chosen career path and educational goals, an MA in Clinical Counseling may also be a good match. In search of degree programs, prioritize institutions accredited by CACREP.^[5]

Questions to Ask Yourself Before Choosing Your Psychology Degree

• Do I want to support patients with extensive mental health challenges, participate in research, or develop extensive expertise in specific clinical modalities?
• Do I envision myself supporting patients with common life challenges and helping them improve their everyday functioning?
• How much time do I envision spending on career preparation (i.e., completing degree programs, meeting licensure requirements, studying for board examinations)?
• Would I like to work in a clinical setting (like a hospital or university clinic) or in human services (like local mental health clinics or non-profit organizations)?

How to Choose the Right Program

As you assess your program options, consider additional factors like:

• Accreditation: While APA and/or CACREP accreditations indicate rigorous, industry-accepted programs, additional accreditations could indicate exceptional programs in clinical niches. The National Association of School Psychologists, for instance, accredits graduate programs specializing in school psychology.^[6]
• Faculty specialties: Before choosing a program, explore faculty biographies to identify potential common research interests or specialized coursework opportunities.
• Research opportunities: If you are considering a career in psychology research, prioritize programs with extensive, long-standing research networks and pathways.
• On-campus vs. online programs: Depending on your educational goals and lifestyle needs, you may be a better fit for an online vs. in-person program.
• Practicum and internship opportunities: Since supervised experience is a requirement for most state licensure programs, consider institutions that offer accessible pathways to clinical experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Prospective psychologists often ask additional questions while searching for their ideal educational program.

Do Both Paths Require a Doctoral Degree?

While both clinical psychology and counseling psychology doctoral degrees can pave the way for state licensure, not every mental health professional has a license. If you are only considering non-licensed careers (i.e., you would like to work under the supervision of a licensed professional), you may not need to complete a doctoral program.

Can I Switch from Counseling Psychology to Clinical Psychology Later?

If you change your career goals during your educational program, you may be able to transfer coursework from a counseling psychology program to a clinical psychology program, or vice versa. However, individual programs have specific requirements; reach out to a program director to explore your options.

Does Alliant Offer Both Counseling and Clinical Psychology Degrees?

Alliant University offers a variety of advanced psychology degrees:

• Master’s programs in:
  • Clinical Counseling (MA)
  • Marital and Family Therapy (MA)
  • Organizational Psychology (MA)
  • Clinical Psychopharmacology Postdoctoral (MS)
  • Master of Social Work (MSW)
• Doctorate programs in:
  • Clinical Psychology (PhD)
  • Clinical Psychology (PsyD)
  • Marital and Family Therapy (PhD)
  • Industrial and Organization Psychology (PhD)

Our degree options can pave the way for careers in clinical psychology, counseling psychology, mental health counseling, and more.

Start Your Psychology Career at Alliant University

No matter where your career interests lie, the California School of Professional Psychology (CSPP) at Alliant University can help you on your way. Our psychology graduate school offers Doctorate in Clinical Psychology degree programs at a number of campus locations throughout California. Each program also offers hands-on experience and a wide range of emphasis areas to further specialize your studies and guide your future career after graduation.

To learn more about the PhD in Clinical Psychology degree programs, PsyD in Clinical Psychology degree programs, or Master’s in Clinical Counseling degree program at Alliant University, request information about our degrees.

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Sources:

^[1] Roger and Stone. “Counseling Psychology vs. Clinical Psychology.” American Psychological Association. 2025. https://www.div17.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=409:counselin. Accessed October 31, 2025.

^[2] “Clinical Psychology.” American Psychological Association. 2022. https://www.apa.org/ed/graduate/specialize/clinical. Accessed October 31, 2025.

^[3] “Counseling Psychology.” American Psychological Association. May 2022. https://www.apa.org/ed/graduate/specialize/counseling. Accessed October 31, 2025.

^[4] “Why APA Accreditation Matters.” American Psychological Association. https://accreditation.apa.org/why-accreditation-matters. Accessed October 31, 2025.

^[5] “About CACREP.” CACREP. 2025. https://www.cacrep.org/about-cacrep/#vision-mission-and-core-values. Accessed October 31, 2025.

^[6] “Graduate Program Approval and Accreditation.” National Association of School Psychologists. 2024. https://www.nasponline.org/standards-and-certification/graduate-program-approval-and-accreditation. Accessed October 31, 2025.