Master's in Counseling Psychology (Health)

[Nougat]

Greetings Everyone,

 

After taking some time to think and soul search on what I truly want to do I feel very confident in counseling individuals on well-being, health, diet, stress management, and illness management. I currently hold a B.A. in Psychology and a B.S. in Nutrition (Dietetics). I've been advised that a Master's in Counseling Psychology with a focus on health psychology would align with my goals. I've looked at a few masters programs in Health Psychology, but I don't believe they can license you as a therapist/counselor.

 

The issue I am currently facing is there does not seem to be any Master's Counseling Psychology with a focus on Health that is CACREP accredited. Here are a couple of dream examples of school that sound great on paper:

 

Bastyr (Washington): http://www.bastyr.edu/academics/areas-study/psychology-degree-programs/ma-counseling-psychology#Program-Summary

 

TheChicagoSchool (Chicago: http://www.thechicagoschool.edu/Chicago/Our_Programs/MA_in_Counseling_Psychology/MA_in_Counseling_Psychology_Health_Psychology_Concentration

 

Is a CACREP a must to have when going into a counseling program? Also, if you are familiar with other Master's programs that would fulfill my desire to counsel in health, please feel free to share! I am a bit skeptical and want to avoid diploma mills like the plague. Any input appreciated!

[VulpesZerda]

Maybe you could look into programs that fall under Public Health, so that you can become a health educator, and then tailor your career to individuals. I don't know much about people seeing a counselor for physical health. But you could consult at a hospital, maybe. I'm not into counseling psych, and I want to get the PhD in Health Psych so that's why I haven't looked into your route very much. Hopefully others can chime in about the CACREP and other things I can't answer.

[juilletmercredi]

University of Michigan at Dearborn: http://umdearborn.edu/684783/

Penn State's MA in applied clinical psychology has some classes in clinical health psychology: http://harrisburg.psu.edu/programs/master-arts-applied-clinical-psychology#The_Curriculum

Appalachian State University's MA program in clinical psych involves preparation in health psychology: http://clinicalpsych.appstate.edu/

William Paterson University has strengths in health psychology: http://www.wpunj.edu/cohss/departments/psychology/graduate.dot

 

I do want to say, though, that I think a broad counseling education should prepare you to counsel individuals in well-being, stress management, and to a certain extent illness management.  If you want to diet counseling specifically, you might investigate the possibility of being a registered dietitian.  If you are more broadly interested in health issues as related to mental health, you might look into a counseling MA at a university with a school of public health and take some classes there. 

[Nougat]

Thanks for your honest and helpful replies guys. I will definitely check out those schools! I JUST found out about the differences between counseling psychology masters and PhD. I guess they are completely run by different establishments ACA and APA. This of course has intensified my confusing in pursuing my career, so more research will be needed.