Clinical vs. Counseling Psychology: What’s the Difference?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), mental health is seemingly worsening across the U.S. in recent years, but psychologists can help address this crisis.

Both clinical and counseling psychologists work with clients to address mental, emotional, and behavioral health issues. These two types of psychologists differ mostly in the types of patients they work with and the settings in which they work. Still, the two career paths share a similar ethos: improve the mental well-being of whomever they are working with.

When choosing a psychology program, clinical psychologist Dr. Megan Pietrucha suggests that “the program you choose should align with your career goals, meet your personal needs, be accredited by regional and/or professional accrediting bodies, and provide all of the academic and clinical requirements to meet licensure standards in your state.”

Clinical psychology is a branch of psychology that is primarily concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders or illnesses. Clinical psychologists are also trained to provide psychological assessments for personality, cognitive functioning, and other mental health concerns.

In short, clinical psychologists work with clients who have a diagnosable issue. Some common mental disorders clinical psychologists may create treatment plans for include:

As the name suggests, treatment of these disorders often takes place in a more clinical setting. That may include mental health or rehabilitation facilities, often alongside nurses and doctors to provide holistic care. Clinical psychologists may also work in private practices.

Counseling psychology is a psychology discipline that is focused on a wide range of clients. Counseling psychologists work with clients and patients to improve their overall mental or emotional well-being.

They often work one-on-one with clients to overcome a specific obstacle in their lives or improve their outlook. For example, a counseling psychologist may work with a new college student to help them adapt to life away from home and their course load.

These psychologists work in a wide range of settings, including counseling centers, healthcare facilities, and independent practice.

States set their own degree requirements for licensed psychologists. In most states, both clinical psychologists and counseling psychologists must earn a doctoral degree to earn licensure. Either a doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) or a doctor of psychology (Psy.D.) will meet the degree requirement.

According to Dr. Pietrucha, “If you want to provide therapy within a clinical or counseling setting, you will need a master’s or doctoral degree and licensure.”

A Ph.D. may suit you if you are more interested in the academic aspects of psychology. Psychologists with a Ph.D. are more concerned with research, teaching, and creating new best practices to be implemented in the field.

If you’re interested in working directly with patients, you may prefer a Psy. D. These programs are designed to prepare students to administer research-based care to patients.

Clinical psychologist salaries typically range from $74,000 to $113,000 per year, depending on the psychologist’s level of experience, according to Payscale data from March 2025.

Mid-career clinical psychologists with 5-9 years of experience posted an average annual salary of $95,000. Wages tend to grow significantly the longer these professionals work in the field.

Counseling psychologist salaries typically range from $53,000 to $97,000 per year, depending on how long that person has been working in the field, per Payscale data from March 2025.

Mid-career psychologists with 5-9 years of experience earned, on average, $90,000 per year. This is comparable to clinical psychologists but still less. Salaries grow to nearly $100,000 annually with at least 20 years of experience.

“The more advanced degree you pursue will allow you to have more client-facing experience, administrative responsibility, and increased compensation,” adds Dr. Pietrucha.

Like many psychologists, clinical psychology careers often involve meeting one-on-one with clients to talk through and address issues. The primary differences between clinical psychologists and other psychologists are the type of clientele they work with and the settings in which they work.

Primarily, clinical psychologists work in settings such as healthcare facilities, rehabilitation centers, and in private practice. Some clinical psychologists may specialize in working with clients in different age groups or those with a specific condition,

Earning a clinical psychology degree can help prepare you for a career in related fields, including:

Counseling psychologists have access to a wide range of psychology careers.

The skills learned while pursuing a degree in counseling psychology help prepare you to work with a wide range of clients. Most psychology careers, including counseling psychology, involve speaking one-on-one with clients to work through problems and address any issues that may arise. As a counseling psychologist, you’d work with people with and without mental and/or behavioral disorders.

Some job titles you can qualify for with a counseling psychology degree include:

Continuing education requirements for clinical and counseling psychologists vary by state. States typically require 30-40 hours of continuing education every two years.

Courses cover a wide range of topics, including:

These courses can also lead to certification in niche topics. For example, you can become a Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional (CCATP) or a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP).