3 answers
Charles
Student
Easley, South Carolina
1
Question
Updated
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Do I need to pursue a phd to be a Mental Health Counselor I will be majoring in Psychology to start begin my journey towards becoming a Mental Health Counselor. Is this the best place to begin? #Spring26
I wanted to know what would be the most helpful route to achieve my dream of helping others #Spring26
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3 answers
Leah Oliver
Clinical Psychologist
2
Answers
Oakland, California
Updated
Leah’s Answer
Great question, and congratulations on starting your psychology major! There are different degrees someone can take to become a mental health counselor. You do not need a PhD to become a counselor or therapist. A PhD, a doctorate degree, is a good choice for someone who loves to study and is interested in doing their own research, as that is a requirement for graduating with this degree. A PhD is a big commitment, but it can be a very fulfilling and exciting thing to do. It takes time, money, and dedication, as it requires quite a lot of focus and passion. Another detail- A PhD is a doctorate focused mainly on research, while a PsyD is another type of doctorate that is mainly focused on clinical practice (working with people as a therapist). I have a PsyD, and I decided to go this route because I was more interested in studying clinical practice than focusing my career on research. Both a PhD and PsyD require research to graduate, but the classes and trainings are focused differently. If you are interested in becoming a counselor, you can choose a few different paths depending on the type of career you want. I'm going to include this link here, which is about the different degrees you can get.
https://www.bezzydepression.com/discover/dep-lets-talk-about-it/health-help-whats-the-difference-between-all-these-therapy-degrees/
Take some time to read the article I shared and consider what each degree type will allow you to do in terms of the work you want to do- thats the important part!
Once you begin your psychology major, see if there is any professor you especially like and ask them if you can meet to talk about your career goals. It might feel scary to ask them, but this is common and they'd likely be happy to do it. Finding mentorship and people who believe in you incredibly important!
Imagine what you want your work day-today as a mental health counselor to look like and keep to that dream- it will help you. to discern what studies you do and don't want to commit to
Talk to people who are doing the work already- reach out to local community mental health centers or doctorate schools and see if they might be available to talk with you and answer your questions!
Believe in yourself! You can do this!
https://www.bezzydepression.com/discover/dep-lets-talk-about-it/health-help-whats-the-difference-between-all-these-therapy-degrees/
Leah recommends the following next steps:
Yasmine Ghassani
Limited License Psychologist
2
Answers
Canton, Michigan
Updated
Yasmine’s Answer
Hello,
Good question, there are many different routes you can take to become a mental health counselor. PhD and PsyD are some options. A PhD tends to be more academic focused, and a PsyD tends to be more clinical research focused, however both of these programs can take 4-6 years to complete while also requiring a dissertation or thesis and an internship/ practicum at the same time which can be very intense. Every state does have different mental health licensure requirements, however in the State of Michigan you can practice as a mental health counselor/ therapist with a masters degrees in either social work or clinical psychology. I have my masters in clinical psychology and work as a Limited License Therapist, there are some differences between a masters level and PhD/PsyD level therapist such as insurances reimbursements, supervision requirements and exams before licensure.
Good question, there are many different routes you can take to become a mental health counselor. PhD and PsyD are some options. A PhD tends to be more academic focused, and a PsyD tends to be more clinical research focused, however both of these programs can take 4-6 years to complete while also requiring a dissertation or thesis and an internship/ practicum at the same time which can be very intense. Every state does have different mental health licensure requirements, however in the State of Michigan you can practice as a mental health counselor/ therapist with a masters degrees in either social work or clinical psychology. I have my masters in clinical psychology and work as a Limited License Therapist, there are some differences between a masters level and PhD/PsyD level therapist such as insurances reimbursements, supervision requirements and exams before licensure.
Chinyere Okafor
Educationist and Counseling Psychologist
1377
Answers
Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria
Updated
Chinyere’s Answer
Hi Charles,
You’re starting in the right place, and more importantly, for the right reason. Wanting to help people through mental health work is meaningful, and it’s also a path that benefits from clear planning early on, which is exactly what you’re doing.
The short answer is: you do not need a PhD to become a mental health counselor. For most people, the standard and most efficient path is a Master’s degree in counseling or a closely related field, followed by supervised clinical experience and licensure in your state.
Starting with a bachelor’s degree in psychology is a solid and very common foundation. It introduces you to how people think, behave, and respond to different life experiences. But it’s important to understand that this degree is your entry point, not the final step. You won’t be able to practice as a licensed counselor with just a bachelor’s; you’ll need that graduate-level training to work directly with clients in a professional capacity.
A normal pathway looks like this: you complete your undergraduate degree (psychology is a great choice), then apply to a Master’s program in areas like mental health counseling, clinical psychology, or social work. During and after your Master’s, you’ll complete supervised hours where you gain real experience working with clients. After that, you take licensing exams, and then you’re able to practice independently.
A PhD is a different track. It’s usually geared more toward research, teaching at the university level, or highly specialized clinical roles. It can take many additional years and isn’t required for most counseling careers. So, unless you’re specifically interested in research or becoming a professor, a PhD is not necessary for your goal.
What will really strengthen your journey, starting now, is gaining early exposure to the field. Volunteering in mental health settings, supporting community programs, or working in roles where you interact with people facing challenges can help you build both experience and clarity about the kind of clients you want to serve.
You can also start being intentional about the kinds of topics you focus on during your degree; areas like abnormal psychology, developmental psychology, and counseling-related subjects will be especially relevant. Building relationships with professors and mentors will also help you when it’s time to apply for graduate programs.
So yes, you’re on the right track. The key is to think of your path in stages: foundation (your bachelor’s), specialization (your Master’s), and professional practice (licensure and experience). You don’t need to do everything at once; you just need to take the next right step consistently. And right now, you’re doing exactly that.
Best wishes!
You’re starting in the right place, and more importantly, for the right reason. Wanting to help people through mental health work is meaningful, and it’s also a path that benefits from clear planning early on, which is exactly what you’re doing.
The short answer is: you do not need a PhD to become a mental health counselor. For most people, the standard and most efficient path is a Master’s degree in counseling or a closely related field, followed by supervised clinical experience and licensure in your state.
Starting with a bachelor’s degree in psychology is a solid and very common foundation. It introduces you to how people think, behave, and respond to different life experiences. But it’s important to understand that this degree is your entry point, not the final step. You won’t be able to practice as a licensed counselor with just a bachelor’s; you’ll need that graduate-level training to work directly with clients in a professional capacity.
A normal pathway looks like this: you complete your undergraduate degree (psychology is a great choice), then apply to a Master’s program in areas like mental health counseling, clinical psychology, or social work. During and after your Master’s, you’ll complete supervised hours where you gain real experience working with clients. After that, you take licensing exams, and then you’re able to practice independently.
A PhD is a different track. It’s usually geared more toward research, teaching at the university level, or highly specialized clinical roles. It can take many additional years and isn’t required for most counseling careers. So, unless you’re specifically interested in research or becoming a professor, a PhD is not necessary for your goal.
What will really strengthen your journey, starting now, is gaining early exposure to the field. Volunteering in mental health settings, supporting community programs, or working in roles where you interact with people facing challenges can help you build both experience and clarity about the kind of clients you want to serve.
You can also start being intentional about the kinds of topics you focus on during your degree; areas like abnormal psychology, developmental psychology, and counseling-related subjects will be especially relevant. Building relationships with professors and mentors will also help you when it’s time to apply for graduate programs.
So yes, you’re on the right track. The key is to think of your path in stages: foundation (your bachelor’s), specialization (your Master’s), and professional practice (licensure and experience). You don’t need to do everything at once; you just need to take the next right step consistently. And right now, you’re doing exactly that.
Best wishes!