What's the best degree for working in a university counseling center?

[charmcity]

Hello!

I have learned so much from these boards but I have not been able to find a good answer for this question:

I want to practice therapy with students in a university / college counseling center. I realize these jobs are competitive, but I really want to pursue this path.

A PhD would be best I realize, but I do not think I am in a position to be accepted into a PhD program*. Given that -- and given my goal of working in a college counseling center -- which would degree would give me the best competitive edge? How would you rank the PsyD, MSW (LCSW/LICSW), and MA in counseling psychology?

*I am not sure how much it will help you to know about my background, but for what it is worth, I am a mid-thirties career changer. I have a BA and MA in the humanities. My GPA was around 3.75. I have worked for the past 7 years as a health promoter (think public health, nothing specifically psychological) in the developing world. So this a very new path. My GRE is v.750 /q.600 don't know the writing score yet.

Thank you so much any input!

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[erg923]

MSW or MA in couseling.

 

[charmcity]

Thanks for your input -- can you tell me more about why you pick those two? Any opinion on which would be better?

I appreciate the response!

 

[erg923]

I think a Ph.D. is serious overkill if your goal is soley to be a therapist.

 

[charmcity]

Hi -- I have a question to add to my question ; )

I have done some more research and am now wondering if I should be considering an M.Ed if my goal is to work in a educational (university) setting.

I have tried searching the forum for information on the merits / disadvantages of an M.Ed as compared to other Master's level degrees but I can't find anything... maybe the term is too short to search? If anyone has an opinion or can direct me to any useful posts, I'd be grateful.

I hope more people are inspired to chime in. I could really use the advice.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

Make sure if you go the M.Ed route that it is licensable. I'm not as familiar with them, so I'll defer to others who know more about the degree.

 

[charmcity]

I thought I'd post an update after doing more research, in case it would be of help others in my position.

After doing quite a bit of research and informational interviewing, it seems that college counseling centers are probably not a viable career path with a Master's level degree. Although some have MA level practitioners on staff, in terms of hiring -- it is doctoral level practitioners almost exclusively.

That's what my research has turned up, anyway. Very discouraging, but better to know the facts.

 

[BellaPsyD]

^I believe they usually want a degree in Counseling Psych (versus Clinical Psych); be it a PsyD or PhD. That is not to say that a clinical degree, etc. wouldn't be accepted

 

[thepsychgeek]

At my school (a college), our counseling center employs 3 Ph.D.s and 3 LCSW's (and two interns...), so it is a possibility with a master's level degree, though ours are all social workers.

 

[JockNerd]

Every staff member at my uni's counseling center is a PhD, nearly all are in counseling psychology. I'd strongly encourage the (fully funded) counseling psych PhD route. I'd avoid Counseling Psych PsyDs; there's strong resistance to the Vail model in Counseling Psych (there are pubs in J. Counseling Psych and The counseling Psychologist fairly frequently which cite the Boulder model as the appropriate way to train clinicians and reseachers). Plus I don't know of a single funded Counseling Psych PsyD.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

From what I've seen.....counseling centers lean towards counseling Ph.D.'s. It isn't to say that others don't do the work, but the majority seem to go that route.