How to become a Clinical and Counseling Psychologist

Official title: Clinical and Counseling Psychologists

Also called: Case Manager, Clinical Psychologist, Counseling Psychologist, Counselor, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Licensed Psychologist, LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor), Psychologist, Psychotherapist, Therapist

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.

Main tasks

• 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.
• Collect information about individuals or clients, using interviews, case histories, observational techniques, and other assessment methods.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of counseling or treatments and the accuracy and completeness of diagnoses, modifying plans or diagnoses as necessary.

How to become one

Psychologists typically need an advanced degree, such as a master's or doctoral degree, in psychology. Licensing requirements vary by state and position.

Typical education to start: Doctoral or professional degree

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

• College: Psychology degrees, Offered by 33 universities in the US
• Licence: A licence is required in 48 states.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Median pay: $100,580 a year The middle half earn $73,210 to $135,200.
• About 81,300 people work in this job now, and about 90,900 are projected by 2035. (+11.7%)
• People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Related jobs

• Industrial-Organizational Psychologists
• School Psychologists
• Neuropsychologists
• Clinical Neuropsychologists

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Clinical and Counseling Psychologist?

Psychologists typically need an advanced degree, such as a master's or doctoral degree, in psychology. Licensing requirements vary by state and position.

How much does a Clinical and Counseling Psychologist earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $100,580 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $73,210 to $135,200.

Is a Clinical and Counseling Psychologist a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 12% by 2035, from about 81,300 to about 90,900 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Clinical and Counseling Psychologist?

Usually. 100% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Clinical and Counseling Psychologist?

People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Sources

• Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.