personality, interests, and vocational aptitude). His-
torically, these professionals have focused on con-
ducting educational and occupational counseling,
often from a person-centered or humanistic orien-
tation. Currently, however, it is much more com-
mon to encounter counseling psychologists
representing a wide range of theoretical orientations
(e.g., cognitive-behavioral, psychodynamic) and
treating clients across the life span.
Traditionally, the most frequent employment
settings for counseling psychologists have been edu-
cational settings, especially colleges and universities.
However, counseling psychologists (like clinical psy-
chologists) also work in hospitals, rehabilitation cen-
ters, mental health clinics, and industry. A good
example of the kind of work conducted by counsel-
ing psychologists within educational settings is sug-
gested in the heading that appeared above an article in
a campus newspaper several years ago:“Counseling
Center Responds to Married Students’Needs.”The
article went on to describe group counseling sessions
designed to help students who are parents deal with
the special problems that marriage and children create
for them in pursuing their academic goals.
In general, counseling psychologists see them-
selves providing the following services: (a) preven-
tive treatment, (b) consultation, (c) development of
outreach programs, (d) vocational counseling, and
(e) short-term counseling/therapy of from one to
fifteen sessions. However, more and more counse-
lors are engaged in activities, such as individual psy-
chotherapy and even psychological testing, that are
traditionally in the clinical province. Today, they
are frequently less interested in vocational or career
counseling and more interested in private practice.
Although there are a number of similarities
between counseling and clinical psychology, there
are several distinguishing features as well (Norcross,
Sayette, & Mayne, 2008). The field of clinical psy-
chology is much larger in terms of the number of
doctoral-level professionals as well as the number of
accredited doctoral training programs. There are
approximately 3 times as many accredited doctoral
programs, producing 4 times as many graduates,
in clinical psychology as in counseling psychology.
In contrast to the majority of clinical psychology
programs, counseling programs are less frequently
housed in psychology departments. Rather, many
counseling psychology programs may be based in a
department or school of education. Finally, as noted
above, counseling psychologists are more likely to
provide services for mildly disturbed or maladjusted
clients and are more likely to specialize in career or
vocational assessment. Norcross, Sayette, Mayne,
Karg, and Turkson (1998) indicate several further
distinctions between doctoral programs in clinical
and counseling psychology:■ About twice as many people apply to clinical
programs, although acceptance rates are similar.
■ Average GRE scores of accepted students are
slightly higher in clinical than in counseling
programs.
■ Counseling programs accept a higher percent-
age of ethnic minority students and students
with a master’s degree.
■ Research focusing on minority/cross-cultural
issues and vocational testing is more common
among counseling faculty at doctoral programs.
■ Research focusing on psychological disorders,
clinical health psychology, and clinical child
and adolescent psychology is more common
among clinical faculty at doctoral programs.
There are about 70 doctoral training programs
in counseling psychology accredited by the Ameri-
can Psychological Association (APA), and about
360 doctoral degrees in counseling psychology
were granted by these programs in 2009– 2010
(Kohut & Wicherski, 2010).Other Mental Health Professionals
Clinical Social Workers. The professional activ-
ities of clinically trainedsocial workers often seem
similar to those of psychiatrists and clinical psychol-
ogists. Many social workers conduct psychotherapy
on an individual or group basis and contribute to
the diagnostic process as well. Interestingly, there
are more clinically trained social workers than psy-
chiatrists, psychologists, and psychiatric nurses com-
bined! The Web site of the National Association of8 CHAPTER 1