Counseling is the process of providing effective guidance and proper advice for the people in order to enable them to cope with everyday stresses related to family and relationships; career planning and education, employment and occupation etc. A person should have at least a master level or doctoral level qualification either in Counselling Psychology or in Clinical Psychology in order to practice as a professional counsellor. After the completion of a bachelor’s degree, it may take about five to six years to finish a Ph.D. in counseling psychology.

The famous USA academic institutions offering courses in clinical psychology are LaSalle University; Shippensburg University; Loyola College; West Chester University; California School of Professional Psychology; Widener University; University of Maine and University of Pittsburgh.

LaSalle University offers M.A. in Clinical Counseling Psychology which focuses on marriage and family counselling, and substance abuse counseling while Shippensburg University offers an advanced M.S. programme in Clinical Psychology. Loyola College is famous for its Counseling Programs for international students while West Chester University offers master level courses in Clinical Psychology.

California School of Professional Psychology and University of Pittsburgh offers Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology whereas Widener University offers a 5-year advanced program in Clinical Psychology. University of Maine offers a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and various specializations available are experimental psychology, cognitive-behavioral psychology and psychopathology

Various career choices available for professional counsellors are as Mental Health Counselors; Rehabilitation Counselors; School Guidance Counselors; Marriage, Family, and Child Counselor, addiction counsellors and Licensed Social Workers

Mental Health Counselors

Work with people suffering from depression, mental stress etc.

Addiction Counselors

Work with people with alcohol addictions and substance abuse.

Rehabilitation Counselors

Work with people suffering from various kinds of disabilities.

School Guidance Counselors

Work for schools to guide the students with their problems.

Licensed Social Workers work with various social organizations while Marriage, Family, and Child Counselor work with the people having relationship problems