Best Online Ph.D. in Counseling Programs for 2021

Counselors help children gain valuable academic and social skills, work with couples to strengthen their communication, and counsel patients struggling with mental health issues. With a doctorate, counselors can pursue the highest roles in their field. During a doctoral program, counseling students study counseling methods, specialize their training, and gain hands-on experience through a practicum.

Most counseling career paths require at least a master's degree. For example, mental health counselors and professional counselors generally need a master's degree to apply for a state-issued license. Counselors with a doctorate qualify for advanced roles like counseling psychologist, research counselor, and counseling professor. A doctorate also helps practicing counselors improve their long-term career opportunities.

This article ranks the best online Ph.D. in counseling programs. It also introduces the career and salary outlook for counseling career paths, the job duties for counselors, and scholarship opportunities for counseling doctoral students. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics clinical counselor's average annual wage can vary per state.

An online Ph.D. program in counseling can be an effective and flexible way to take your career in counseling to the next level. These programs typically require that you have a master’s degree in counseling, and often require certification and work experience in the counseling field.

Programs like these typically offer students advanced training on topics such as counseling techniques, counselor education, leadership, research, and other related courses. Completion of your degree will also typically require clinical hours. Online Ph.D. in counseling programs generally take about four years to complete, but some can be completed in about three years.

What Do Counselors Do?

Counselors help people manage mental and physical problems, including anxiety disorders, depression, addiction, and behavioral disorders. They work with clients to understand their issues and create a treatment plan. Counselors then meet regularly with clients either individually or in groups to help clients reach their goals.

Licensed counselors specialize in several areas. School counselors help young learners reach their academic potential and build valuable social skills. Career counselors conduct assessments to help people make decisions about their career path. Counselors who specialize in marriage and family therapy work with couples and families to strengthen their relationships. And mental health counselors help patients overcome mental health problems.

Many of these counselors work with specific groups, such as children, the elderly, or people with substance abuse disorders.

Successful counselors bring several skills to their role, including strong listening and interpersonal skills. Counselors rely on these abilities to connect with clients and build a relationship based on trust. The career also requires compassion and empathy for people in stressful situations. Finally, analytical and observational skills help counselors assess clients and create treatment plans.

Most counselors work in outpatient mental health centers, individual and family services, hospitals, residential facilities, or physician offices. Counselors also work in private practice.

Counseling vs. Therapy

What’s the difference between counseling and therapy? Counseling and therapy overlap in many ways — in fact, counseling is a type of therapy. However, there are some important differences between counseling and therapy.

Counseling emphasizes solving and managing specific issues. For example, substance abuse counselors help clients manage addiction and complete the recovery process. Marriage counselors help couples build communication and problem-solving skills. School counselors specialize in assisting students struggling with academic or social problems.

Therapy covers multiple approaches, including behavioral therapy, cognitive therapy, and psychotherapy. Behavioral therapy emphasizes breaking unhealthy patterns and changing behaviors. Cognitive therapy looks at a patient’s thoughts to identify dysfunctional thinking. Psychotherapy addresses long-term patterns of thinking and behaving. Psychotherapists help patients manage stress or issues related to a mental illness.

However, in practice, counseling and therapy are often used interchangeably. A doctorate in counseling meets the qualifications to become a licensed therapist, for example.

Admissions Requirements

In order to be admitted to a Ph.D. in counseling program, you’ll likely be required to have a master’s degree in counseling or a related field and meet certain GPA requirements related to your graduate work. Some programs also require that you currently hold a counseling certification and have work experience in the field.

When you apply for admissions into your program, you’ll generally be required to provide your undergraduate and graduate transcripts, letters of recommendation, a resume, and a personal statement about why you’re seeking a Ph.D. in counseling.

Career and Salary Outlook for Counselors

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics clinical counselor's average annual wage can vary per state.

Professionals with a Ph.D. in counseling work in a variety of fields, including marriage and family therapy, school counseling, and mental health counseling. A doctorate in counseling psychology also meets the requirements for a psychologist license. Many of these career paths report strong job growth or above-average salaries.

In addition to the following careers, a Ph.D. qualifies graduates for research and academic positions, consulting roles, and leadership positions in healthcare organizations.

Source: BLS

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a clinical counselor’s average annual wage can vary per state.

Accreditation for Counseling Degrees

Prospective students should always check the accreditation status for the school and program before submitting an application. Universities that offer doctoral programs in counseling typically hold accreditation from a regional accrediting agency. These independent, nonprofit agencies evaluate schools to make sure they meet high standards for educating students and granting degrees.

Accreditation benefits students in several ways. Only accredited schools qualify for distributing federal financial aid, and credits earned from an accredited school will likely transfer.

Counseling programs may also hold accreditation from a specialized agency such as the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education, and the Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council. These agencies review the curriculum, student learning outcomes, and faculty qualifications for counseling programs. An accredited counseling degree meets the requirements for more professional licenses and certifications.
When researching accreditation, prospective applicants should check each program’s status through the accrediting agency or the U.S. Department of Education database.

Licensing for Counselors

In every state, counselors need to apply for a license from the state regulatory board. The name of the license depends on the state and practice area. Counselors work as licensed professional counselors, licensed mental health counselors, and licensed clinical professional counselors.

The requirements for a counseling license vary by state and the counselor’s specialization area. In every state, though, counselors need at least a master’s degree and a minimum number of hours of supervised clinical experience. Candidates must also pass a national examination to receive a license.

In New York, for example, licensed mental health counselors must complete a CACREP-accredited clinical mental health counseling program with at least 60 credits. The state also requires at least 3,000 hours of supervised experience and passing scores on the national clinical mental health counselor examination. For other licenses, such as the licensed professional counselor title, the national counselor examination may serve as the counseling exam.

Prospective counselors can look up information in their state through the National Board for Certified Counselors.

Courses in a Counseling Ph.D. Program

During a Ph.D. in counseling, students develop their professional identity, study counseling theories, and apply their training through a practicum. Counseling courses strengthen research and analytical skills. Most programs incorporate multiple classes on research methods to prepare students for the doctoral dissertation.

Doctoral students also take courses in their specialization. For example, school counselors take courses in human development, individual and group counseling with children, and education psychology.

The sample curriculum below introduces common courses in counseling doctoral programs. The exact classes will vary depending on the program and concentration area in counseling.

Financial Aid

Graduate students qualify for many forms of financial aid to pay for their counseling degree, including federal loans, fellowships, and scholarships.

For many, applying for federal financial aid represents the first step in paying for graduate school. By filling out the FAFSA every year, applicants can receive federal loans that offer low interest rates and several repayment options. While the FAFSA form requires financial information, graduate students do not need to provide parental financial information.

Prospective counselors can also lower their costs by choosing a more affordable program. Online counseling programs often cost less than on-campus programs, since distance learners qualify for tuition discounts and save on costs like housing, commuting, and transportation.

Many counselors also work while pursuing a doctoral degree, which can help cover tuition and expenses. An online format provides flexibility for working counselors interested in a Ph.D.

Scholarships help prospective counselors pay for a doctoral program. Professional organizations, private foundations, and private donors offer scholarships for counseling programs that also cover accredited online programs. In addition to the following opportunities, prospective students can research scholarships based on their specialty or school.

Violet and Cyril Franks Scholarship

Who Can Apply: The scholarship supports doctoral-level, scholarly projects that address the stigma associated with mental illness. Applicants provide a proposal and evidence of their scholarship along with commitment to stigma issues.
Amount: $5,000

Behavioral Health Academic Scholarship

Who Can Apply: The scholarship supports graduate students pursuing a degree in counseling, psychology, or marriage and family therapy. Applicants must hold a minimum 3.2 GPA and submit an essay on their career goals in behavioral healthcare.
Amount: $5,000

NAJA Scholarship

Who Can Apply: The National Association of Junior Auxiliaries offers a scholarship for graduate students who plan to work directly with children in fields like counseling, psychology, and mental health. Applicants must be residents of a state with a Junior Auxiliary chapter.
Amount: varies

David H. and Beverly A. Barlow Grant

Who Can Apply: The grant supports doctoral students working on anxiety and anxiety-related disorders. Applicants must demonstrate knowledge of anxiety research and submit a proposal detailing the project.
Amount: up to $8,500

Tomorrow’s Counselors Awards

Who Can Apply: The American Counseling Association offers the award to recognise graduate-level counseling students, including those earning an online Ph.D. in counseling from an accredited program. Applicants must be ACA members.
Amount: $1,000

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