Clinical Mental Health Counselor vs. Clinical Psychologist

Clinical mental health counselors have master’s degrees in mental health counseling or a related major. Depending on the school and coursework, these programs range from about 1-3 years. Coursework focuses on mental health themes including human development, counseling techniques, assessment, and multicultural issues.

While many professionals have undergraduate degrees in psychology or other related majors, this is not always required for graduate school admissions.

Mental health counseling graduate programs with accreditation, such as the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), may increase chances of employment opportunities after graduation and helps with licensure.

All mental health counseling students must also engage in practicum and internship experiences under the supervision of a licensed counselor. These experiences provide students with the opportunity to apply theory and begin initial stages of performing therapy and clinical services.

Clinical psychologists have doctoral degrees in clinical psychology.

On average, both programs take about 5-7 years to complete.

After completing extensive coursework in advanced psychology and research, students must typically defend a dissertation, which is an intensive research project based on theory and applied experimental data, and pass comprehensive exams as designated by each school.

While it is not a necessary requirement, many psychologists have undergraduate backgrounds in psychology or related social science fields. Many psychologists have also completed graduate-level coursework or have obtained a master’s degree in psychology or a related field prior to pursuing their doctoral program.

Similar to other mental health professions, clinical mental health counseling licensure requirements vary by state.

With that said, the path towards licensure in mental health counseling typically includes:

In the United States, clinical psychologists must be licensed in order to practice. Similar to other mental health professions, every state differs in its individual requirements and specifications.

With that said, the path towards clinical psychology licensure typically includes:

For psychologists interested in advancing their learning, the American Board of Professional Psychology grants specialty certifications in a variety of fields, including group psychology, psychoanalysis, counseling, forensic, and school psychology.

Mental health counselors typically provide direct clinical services and treatment to individuals struggling with emotional or behavioral issues. They seek to help people in distress and provide advanced listening and reflective skills to foster insight and promote change.

Typical job duties for clinical mental health counselors include:

Mental health counselors also work in a variety of sectors including:

Clinical psychologists provide continual, comprehensive mental and behavioral health care for individuals and families. They may also consult with agencies and communities, train, teach, or supervise other mental health professionals, and/or conduct psychological research. 

Typical job responsibilities include:

Clinical psychologists work in a variety of settings including:

Mental health counselors provide counseling services for those struggling with various mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders. They implement active listening skills, reflection, compassion, and appropriate communication with clients to create a trusting clinical relationship and facilitate positive change.

Mental health counselors typically work from a theoretical framework, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), in order to conceptualize human behavior and employ effective interventions for successful treatment planning. They often take a collaborative approach in working with their clients.

According to the American Psychological Association (APA), clinical psychology represents a relatively broad field, as clinical psychologists work in a variety of sectors. In general, clinical psychologists assess and treat mental, behavioral, and emotional disorders. They integrate research, evidence, and science to provide effective treatment to facilitate healthy living and positive change.

Clinical psychologists may act within a counseling role to assist people with psychological distress. While they employ many different techniques and interventions, clinical psychologists often obtain intake and assessment information, conduct diagnostic testing, and provide psychotherapy services for individuals, families, couples, and groups.

Within this role, clinical psychologists may focus on a specific population, such as adolescents or those struggling with substance use disorders. They may focus on the health or neuropsychology of their patients, identifying developmental disorders, traumatic brain injuries, or the impact of how other medical conditions affect emotional functioning.