Psychology and Counseling: Degrees, Careers, and Resources

Psychology and counseling degrees both cover mental health, instructing students in important theories and methods for helping clients navigate behavioral and emotional challenges.

The two fields also differ in key ways: Psychology programs tend to focus more on diagnostics and use a medialized model to emphasize comprehensive clinical care. Counseling programs often endorse a client-focused framework, concentrating on helping people meet specific behavioral, emotional, or mental health goals.

A psychology degree can lead to a variety of careers, both within and outside of the mental health field — from clinical psychology to market research.

A counseling degree leads most directly to a career as a licensed professional counselor (LPC). You can specialize in various practice areas, such as behavioral health, substance use and addiction, and marriage and family counseling.