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Counseling Psychologist

Occupation Information table
Overview: Counseling psychologists provide counseling to persons to help them adjust and resolve problems in personal, social, educational & career matters. They collect diagnostic information from clients by interview & testing. They solve problems by providing information, strategies & action plans.
Duties: They interview clients, who may be students, married couples or workers, to determine the nature of the adjustment problems they are experiencing.

May administer tests to the client to assess their personal attributes such as abilities, interest, values, personality type and methods of coping with problems.

Help the client identify factors in their social, business and educational background that cause stress, ambiguity or conflict. Suggests ways to the client to cope with problems.

In colleges they provide career planning and job placement services for students and alumni. Help unemployed persons with skills planning in employment service centers.
Degree(s): A.A./B.A. QCC/QC Dual/Joint Liberal Arts & Sciences and Childhood Education (Grades 1-6) 
Job Outlook: Employment in this field is projected to grow 14% or higher from 2018 to 2028, which is much faster than the average projected growth for all occupations.
Salary Range (National Average): $33,000 to $45,000
Growth: Growth
Education Level: Candidates for this occupation generally have completed their Bachelor’s Degree and have continued their education either 1 or 2 years longer.
Additional Training/Education: A master's or a doctorate's degree is generally required for employment as a counseling psychologist. To provide counseling services as a practicing psychologist, licensing is required in most states.
Recommended Skills:
  • Actively looking for ways to help people.
  • Paying attention to what other people are saying, and taking time to understand the points being made.
  • Ability to identify a problem, review related information, develop and evaluate options, and implement a solution.
  • The ability to understand complex written paragraphs, instructions, or reports.
  • Using logic to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • Being aware of the reactions of others, and understanding why they react the way they do.
  • Talking, giving speeches, or speaking in a group to convey information, explain ideas, or give instructions.
Recommended Values:
  • Gaining the respect of others by the nature and/or level of responsibility of your work.
  • Having a level of income that will afford you with luxuries, and which will allow you to become financially independent.
  • Being able to decide on how to get something done without significant direction from someone else.
  • Create new ideas, programs, things, or anything else not previously developed by another person.
  • Doing something to contribute to the betterment of the world. Doing something for the greater good.
  • Being involved in helping other people in a direct way either individually or in a small group.
 

* National data collected by the Department of Labor in 2014 with projections through 2024. For New York green job information .

* For New York salary data information .

* For New York green job information .

Understanding acquiring positions in this field may be enhanced through continuing academic study (i.e. earning a baccalaureate or a master's degree) and/or work experience in the field, Queensborough Community College has established transfer agreements with other institutions for students who wish to further pursue their educational goals. Students are highly encouraged to meet with one of our Career Services to fully understand the opportunities available through study in their degree program.