“Why should I earn a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision?” If you’re a counseling professional looking for a new challenge in your career, then you’ve likely asked yourself this question. To help answer it, let’s first take a look at the state of mental health in America.
Almost 1 in 5 American adults—about 57 million people—experience a mental health condition in any given year,1 and the demand for professional counselors who have the specialized education and training to care for them is high. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors is projected to grow 18% from 2022 to 20322—much faster than the average for all occupations.
If you want to make a difference by leading and educating the counselor workforce needed to tackle America’s mental health crisis, you should think about earning a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision.
Become a Counselor Educator
Most PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision programs are designed to prepare graduates for careers in higher education as a counselor educator. With this doctoral degree, you could pursue a teaching position in a college graduate counseling program as a full-time university faculty member.
In fact, if teaching future counselors at the college and university level is your career goal, having your PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision is essential. The Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) requires all core counseling faculty members in CACREP-accredited programs to be doctoral graduates.
Expand Your Career Opportunities
Becoming a counseling educator is just one of many career paths you can pursue with a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision. The PhD program is also a great choice if you see yourself as a researcher in the counseling field. Through a counseling education and supervision PhD program, you can gain the skills and knowledge for career advancement that can be applied in a variety of professional settings, such as:
- Hospitals and clinics
- Government agencies
- Higher education
- Nonprofit organizations
- Mental health facilities
- Rehabilitation centers
Whether you want to become a counseling educator or explore other paths in the field, a doctoral degree program can help expand your opportunities. Walden University’s PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision program offers a General Program as well as several specializations.
Earn a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision Degree Online
Walden’s flexible online learning format makes it possible to further your college education with a doctoral degree while also balancing work and other life responsibilities.
By earning a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision, you can gain the skills needed to supervise and educate the next generation of counseling professionals.
Walden University is an accredited institution offering a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision degree program online. Expand your career options and earn your degree in a convenient, flexible format that fits your busy life.
1Source: www.nami.org/mhstats
2Source: www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/substance-abuse-behavioral-disorder-and-mental-health-counselors.htm#tab-6
Career options may require additional experience, training, or other factors beyond the successful completion of this degree program.
Walden University’s PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
Note on licensure: The PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision is not a licensure program and does not prepare an individual to become a licensed counseling professional.
Walden University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission www.hlcommission.org, an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.