Key Takeaways
- A doctoral degree in counselor education and supervision can support a shift in your professional identity from counselor to counselor educator, supervisor, researcher, and leader in the counseling field.
- A PhD may lead to career paths beyond clinical practice, with potential options including teaching, research, consulting, and scholarly writing.
- When deciding whether to pursue a PhD program in counseling, consider the availability of financial support, student support, and your personal support network.
Earning a doctorate in counselor education and supervision can be as much a transformation of professional identity as it is an academic milestone. For many counselors, the leap from clinical practice to doctoral study brings a mixture of excitement and self-doubt, as well as a profound shift in how they see their role in the field.
In this article, Dr. Cyndi Briggs, a Walden University School of Counseling faculty member, reflects on her own doctoral journey. She shares what inspired her to pursue a PhD, how she navigated the challenges along the way, and how the degree reshaped her career in ways she never anticipated.
WALDEN: What Was the First Day of Your Doctoral Program Like?
DR. BRIGGS: “There were six of us in my doctoral cohort. We came from all walks of life and varied clinical counseling backgrounds: We had worked at domestic violence shelters, community colleges, private practice, public schools, community agencies.
Since graduating from my master’s program, I had worked as an addiction counselor, clinical mental health counselor, and on a small college campus in student life, coordinating sexual assault response and prevention. Before stepping into that room with my future doctoral colleagues (and eventually, dear friends), I felt pretty confident in my skills and knowledge, ready for the next step in my professional journey. But meeting those impressive peers and our doctoral faculty, I felt humbled by the journey I’d started.
One of our professors told us on day one, ‘You are no longer just counselors. You are now counselor educators.’ I had never considered the significance of this shift from one identity to another.
He explained the full weight of our new professional identity: We would be supervisors, researchers, and leaders in the field. We would carry on the legacy of our profession and shape the next generation of counselors. The significance of this step in my professional journey was profound for me.”
WALDEN: How Did You Decide to Pursue a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision?
DR. BRIGGS: “I took two years off between my bachelor’s degree and my master’s degree to work and figure out what I wanted to do with my life. I was working as a case manager and realized I wanted to do more in-depth one-on-one work with my clients. Becoming a counselor was the next natural step.
After completing my master’s degree in counseling, I earned my licensure and worked for five years in various settings. One of those settings was on a college campus. I observed how faculty members had freedom to research, write grants, and create new initiatives. They also had the option to take summer off, which appealed to me as well!
However, I was deeply intimidated at the prospect of becoming a doctoral student. I was full of self-doubt. At the time, I had not yet heard of imposter syndrome, but I had a bad case of it.
Was I smart enough, I wondered? Did I have enough counseling experience to share? Additionally, I worried about practical concerns: How would I afford it? Would my family be supportive? What if I didn’t get accepted anywhere?
Joining a doctoral program is a huge commitment of time, money, and resources. I found a program that prioritized the mental health of its students and that offered me financial support in exchange for teaching. I talked to all my friends, family, and colleagues, who were supportive and understanding. Once I felt confident it was the right choice, the decision to enroll in a PhD program was easy.”
WALDEN: Can You Share Some Milestones and Firsts During Your Counselor Education Doctoral Program?
DR. BRIGGS: “It took me three years of full-time education to complete my doctorate. Those three years were full of firsts: my first counseling supervisees, undergraduate- and graduate-level classes, conference presentations, and academic publications.
I completed internship hours in a school where I had my first experience counseling a suicidal student. I also interned in a career counseling center, where I conducted personality and vocational assessments for the first time. I saw my name in print in conference programs and scholarly journals (what a thrill!). I began to gain confidence in what I had to offer the profession.
I didn’t know how to do any of these things before I started my doctoral program, but with the support of wise mentors (both faculty and more advanced CES students), I was able to learn how to do all these new things that seemed so intimidating when I first considered them. I was fortunate to study at a university where doctoral students were treated as peers by the faculty. By the time I graduated, I felt ready to take on the new challenges inherent in a tenure-track faculty position.”
WALDEN: What Is It Like to Work as a Counselor Education and Supervision Faculty Member?
DR. BRIGGS: “In the 20 years since I graduated, I’ve regularly paused to feel gratitude that I get to do this job. Earning my PhD and becoming a counselor educator has opened up myriad doors I never expected or anticipated. I teach undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral students, mentoring them as I was mentored.
I also serve as a leader in my community on various boards and committees. I consult with businesses and nonprofits to help them create healthy workplaces. I’ve written books, textbook chapters, and articles about my research.
I absolutely love presenting at conferences, and I have combined my passion for travel with my scholarly goals. I’m heading on a trip to Italy to present at a conference, and I’ve submitted proposals to present in Amsterdam and Athens next fall.
That first day of doctoral school remains fresh in my memory even after 23 years. It was the day my life changed for the better. The professional obstacles and challenges are real (and sometimes formidable), but the gifts have been immense and immeasurable. In a culture that often views ‘work’ as a four-letter word, I feel so lucky to have a job I absolutely love, and [one] that has grown with me as my interests and priorities have shifted over the years.
I wish the same for all of Walden University’s PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision students: that this degree allows them to pursue the perfect path, the one that is uniquely meant for each of them.”
Is a Doctorate in Counselor Education Right for You?
If Dr. Briggs’s story resonates with you, Walden University offers two pathways to help you take the next step in your own counseling journey. The online CACREP-accredited MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program academically prepares students to pursue counseling licensure, subject to state requirements,1 and for practice with diverse populations, while the online CACREP-accredited PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision prepares students to teach, supervise, conduct research, and mentor future counselors in academic and clinical settings.2
Whether you are just beginning your counseling career or ready to become a counselor educator, both online counseling degree programs are designed for working adults who want to pursue the path that is meant for them in the rewarding field of counseling.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a counselor educator do?
A counselor educator takes on the roles of supervisor, researcher, and leader in the counseling field. One of Dr. Briggs’s professors described the role as carrying on the legacy of the profession and shaping the next generation of counselors. Dr. Briggs explains that her own work as a counselor educator includes teaching and mentoring undergraduate, master's, and doctoral students; serving on community boards and committees; consulting with businesses and nonprofits; writing books, textbook chapters, and articles; and presenting at conferences.
What is imposter syndrome, and how does Dr. Briggs describe experiencing it?
Imposter syndrome is the experience of doubting one’s own abilities, sometimes despite previous successes. For example, Dr. Briggs recalls questioning if she was smart enough and had enough counseling experience to share before starting her doctoral program. Her experience is her own, but she notes that support from mentors, peers, family, and colleagues, along with finding a doctoral program that prioritized student well-being, helped her build confidence over time.
What should you consider before committing to a doctoral program in counseling?
Dr. Briggs weighed several factors before enrolling: the financial commitment and availability of financial support, whether family and friends would be supportive, and whether the program offered student support. She notes that joining a doctoral program is a significant commitment of time, money, and resources, and that talking through the decision with her support network helped her feel confident it was the right choice.
What is the difference between an MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision?
An MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program academically prepares you to pursue licensure as a counseling professional working directly with clients. A PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision prepares practicing counselors to teach, supervise, and conduct research.
Dr. Cyndi Briggs contributed to this article and is a core faculty member in the School of Counseling's MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at Walden University. To learn more about Dr. Briggs's professional background, areas of expertise, and experience, visit her faculty profile.
1Note on Licensure: The MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is designed to prepare graduates to qualify to sit for licensing exams and to meet the academic licensure requirements of many state counseling boards. Because no graduate program can guarantee licensure upon graduation, we encourage students to consult the appropriate agency to determine specific requirements. For more information about licensure, students should visit the National Board for Certified Counselors at www.nbcc.org/stateboarddirectory or the American Association of State Counseling Boards at www.aascb.org, and contact the appropriate licensing body. International students are encouraged to identify and contact their appropriate licensing body. Learn more about professional licensure.
2Note 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 an HLC-accredited institution offering an MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree program online. Earn your degree in a convenient, flexible format that fits your busy life.
Walden University’s MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling 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), which is a requirement for licensure in many states.
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).
Walden University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (www.hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
