Types of Counseling Degrees: Which Is Right for Me?
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Whether you want to work as a mental health, substance misuse, career, or school counselor, there’s a counseling degree to suit your goals. Depending on your degree specialization, you may work with individuals, couples, families, or groups.
But picking the right degree can be tough. Here, we’ll explore six types of counseling degrees to help you find the best fit for your career goals and interests.
Reality Check: What Degree Does a Counselor Need?
While you can earn a bachelor’s degree in counseling, it won’t lead to a traditional, clinical role where you can provide individualized services to clients. To become a clinical or licensed professional counselor, you need a master’s degree in counseling or psychology.
With a bachelor’s degree, however, you can work in supportive roles alongside psychologists and licensed counselors.
6 Types of Counseling Degrees
A counseling degree opens up many career options. A bachelor’s degree gives you foundational knowledge and qualifies you for entry-level jobs. In many states, substance misuse counselors can qualify for entry-level roles with a bachelor’s degree. However, their scope of practice may be limited.
A master’s in counseling, on the other hand, helps you become an advanced counselor and prepares you for licensure. These degrees include specializations that lead to specific counseling career paths. For example, a master’s in marriage and family counseling concentration prepares you to help couples and families improve their relationships.
| Counseling Degree | Minimum Degree Required for This Counseling Path | Ideal Degree Program |
|---|---|---|
| Career Counseling | Master’s | Master’s in Counseling |
| Clinical Mental Health Counseling | Master’s | Master’s in Counseling |
| Marriage and Family Counseling | Master’s | Master’s in Family Counseling |
| Rehabilitation Counseling | Master’s | Master’s in Counseling |
| School Counseling | Master’s | Master’s in School Counseling |
| Substance Misuse Counseling | Bachelor’s* | Master’s in Addiction Counseling |
Knowing where you’ll work and the type of clients you’ll be working with and supporting can help you decide on which counselling degree is best for you.
1. Career Counseling
What You Do: Career counselors, also known as career coaches or college advisors, help people make informed career decisions. They often help with job searches, including resume writing, interview preparation, and networking, and they recommend career paths that align with clients’ strengths and goals.
Who You Work With: Students or working professionals needing guidance on educational and career choices
Where You Work: Schools, colleges, universities, and vocational training centers
2. Clinical Mental Health Counseling
What You Do: Mental health counselors, also called clinical mental health counselors or licensed professional counselors (LPC), work with people with mental health diagnoses that align with the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5).
Who You Work With: Individuals, couples, families, and groups facing mental health challenges
Where You Work: Mental health clinics, hospitals, private practices, and community health centers
3. Marriage and Family Counseling
What You Do: Marriage and family counselors focus on conflict resolution for couples and the family unit, which can include immediate and extended family members.
Who You Work With: Couples and families with relationship and communication issues
Where You Work: Private practices, counseling centers, mental health clinics, and community agencies
4. Rehabilitation Counseling
What You Do: Rehabilitation counselors help their clients improve the quality of their daily lives. They teach life skills to clients of any age with disabilities or diseases like multiple sclerosis, autism, or spina bifida.
Who You Work With: People with disabilities or chronic health conditions needing help overcoming obstacles to employment, education, and independent living
Where You Work: Rehabilitation agencies, hospitals, community health centers, and government agencies
5. School Counseling
What You Do: School counselors, once referred to as guidance counselors, work with children from Pre-K through 12th grade. School counselors see children with issues that impact their social interactions or academic achievement during school.
Who You Work With: Students needing support for academic, social, emotional, and career development
Where You Work: Elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as colleges and universities
6. Substance Misuse Counseling (Addiction Counseling)
What You Do: Addiction counselors commonly work with clients with substance use disorders and their family members. They facilitate educational groups to teach clients tools for coping with stress or other addiction-related symptoms.
Who You Work With: People struggling with substance misuse, including alcohol and drugs
Where You Work: Substance misuse centers, rehabilitation facilities, hospitals, mental health clinics, and private practices
Counseling Degree Overview: Bachelor’s vs. Master’s
A bachelor’s and a master’s degree in counseling have key differences. Each offers unique roles, requirements, and opportunities.
| Counseling Degree Level | Can Provide One-to-One Clinical Services | Average Time Requirement to Work/Practice | Licensure Required to Work/Practice | Mean Starting Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s in Counseling | No | 4 years | No | $42,930 |
| Master’s in Counseling | Yes | 4-6 years | Yes | $53,960 |
Bachelor’s in Counseling Degrees
A bachelor’s degree can open up opportunities for support roles and specific counseling services. Most of these roles — such as social skills, emotional support, and behavioral intervention counselors — require on-the-job training or extra coursework rather than a master’s degree.
Similar roles that don’t use the term “counseling” include home health aides and youth advocates. Some social services professionals with a bachelor’s degree can assist clients with mental health disorders, but with some restrictions.
Master’s in Counseling Degrees
A master’s degree is the required credential for advanced counseling roles and licensure. It’s the key to getting an independent practitioner license, which allows you to assess, diagnose, and treat mental disorders professionally.
Common degree types include clinical mental health counseling, professional counseling, and school counseling. A master’s degree is required for all six counseling specialties covered in this guide.
How to Choose the Right Counseling Degree: 4 Questions to Ask Yourself
Choosing the right counseling degree can be challenging. Consider these four questions to help clarify your goals and find the best fit for your future.
- 1
Who Do I Want to Work With?
Consider the type of client you want to work with as a counselor. If you enjoy working with kids, think about school counseling. If adults are more your focus, explore mental health or career counseling. You can also look into marriage and family counseling.
- 2
Where Do I Want to Work?
Think about your preference for a work setting. If you want to work in schools, look into school counseling. A preference for private offices may guide you toward clinical counseling. If hospitals interest you, think about rehabilitation counseling. Each setting offers its own opportunities and challenges.
- 3
Do I Prefer One-to-One Counseling or Group Counseling?
Your preference between individual or group counseling can help you choose your path. You might do well in mental health, career, or school counseling if you feel more comfortable in one-on-one settings. But if you enjoy group dynamics, you might specialize in substance misuse or couples and family counseling.
- 4
Will I Be Able to Separate Myself from My Client’s Issues?
Counselors face many reasons for burnout, but one key factor is focusing too much on a client’s well-being. This risk is greater in areas like substance misuse. Being able to separate yourself from a client’s issues is crucial in any field, but especially in mentally and emotionally demanding areas.
Frequently Asked Questions About Types of Counseling Degrees
It usually takes 6-8 years to become a licensed counselor. First, you need 3-4 years for a bachelor’s degree and 2-3 years for a master’s degree. It can take 2-3 more years to finish the post-degree supervision needed for state licensure, but the hours required vary.
