Difference between Clinical and Counseling Psychology?

Are you considering getting a degree in clinical psychology and counseling psychology or related courses? There are plenty of choices you should consider. You first have to decide what specific psychology degree you need to pursue and the college to attend. Picking the type of psychology course you want to undertake is fundamental for your degree. Clinical psychology and counseling psychology are the two most popular fields students wish to pursue in their advanced studies. While they both share various functions, there are a few differences that you need to understand to make informed program choices.

What is the distinction between clinical and counseling psychology?

Clinical psychology and counseling psychology have many things in common. In both fields, professionals perform psychotherapy, or rather talk therapy. The primary distinction between the two is that clinical psychology focuses on studying mental disorders (psychopathology), and counseling psychology helps patients through their social, emotional, and physical stresses.

What is Clinical Psychology?

Tasks performed by clinical psychology professionals tend to overlap with those of psychiatrists. Their primary focus is to treat patients with personal problems or disorders that affect their behavior. To work as a clinical psychologist, you need a doctorate and a license from governing bodies. Some of the tasks in this field include assessing, diagnosing, and treating people with chronic conditions. Clinical psychologists can also administer diagnostic tests to patients and provide therapy to patients and their families.

An online psychology program allows psychology students to specialize in neuropsychology. This course equips them with the knowledge to work with patients suffering from brain damage or any medical condition affecting their behavior. They work primarily in medical facilities and private practice.

What is Counseling Psychology?

Counseling psychologists primarily work with individuals who want to manage stress in life. These individuals do not have to be psychologically unstable. Most patients who seek counseling services suffer from social anxiety, sleep distortion, and emotional stress, which might result from their work environment, family issues, compulsive disorders, chronic pain, substance abuse, or romantic relations. The specialist, therefore, should help people with coping skills.

Counseling psychologists use holistic treatment methods in counseling centers, rehabilitation centers, and mental health centers. Students can register for an online psychology program to specialize in marriage and family, gender and sexuality, and many more.

Can you pursue a psychology degree online?

Yes. You can enroll in a psychology program online and pursue a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate in clinical and counseling psychology. The online program consists of similar core curriculums offered at campus-based psychology programs. Therefore, if you take an online program, you gain the same knowledge as your peers on on-site campuses.

Online programs benefit students who want flexibility, primarily if they already work in the field. Students can conveniently access learning material from anywhere at any time. You can also opt to either study full-time or part-time. Taking a psychology program online also saves students money due to the tuition discount offered to distant learners.

Psychology is a broad field, and your preferences will determine whether you want to be a clinical or counseling psychologist. The licensing process for both areas is similar, but clinical psychology is much more complicated and detailed than counseling psychology. Counseling psychologists will interact with clients facing various behavioral, social, and emotional problems.