Clinical vs Counseling Psychology: Difference and Comparison

Clinical Psychology and Counseling Psychology are two of the important branches of Psychology. Psychology is the study or the science of studying human behaviour and the mind.

It is one of the most dominant subjects in the world now. There are various branches under the study of Psychology, and Clinical Psychology and Counseling Psychology are among them.

Even though both Clinical Psychology and Counseling Psychology are branches of Psychology, there are many differences between them. They differ in the meaning, understanding, theories, methodology, etc.

Key Takeaways

1. Clinical psychology focuses on diagnosing and treating mental illness, while counseling psychology focuses on personal and interpersonal issues.
2. Clinical psychology requires a doctoral degree, while counseling psychology requires a master’s degree.
3. Clinical psychologists work in hospitals, mental health clinics, and private practice, while counseling psychologists work in schools, colleges, and community health centers.

Clinical Psychology and Counseling Psychology

Clinical psychology is a branch of psychology that focuses on treating mental sicknesses, unusual behaviour and disorders with medications and therapy. Counselling psychology is an aspect of psychology related to dealing with the consequences of unstable behaviour and advising verbally. 

Clinical Psychology is the branch of Psychology that is associated with unusual behaviour, mental sickness, psychological disorders, etc., by treating the sufferer through medicational help.

The person who specializes in Clinical Psychology is known as a Clinical Psychologist. Clinical Psychologist provides therapy or treatment to their patients.

On the other hand, Counseling Psychology is the branch of Psychology that is associated with dealing with the consequences of the unusual and unstable behaviour of a human.

The person who specializes in Counseling Psychology is known as a Counseling Psychologist. Also, the Counsellor only deals with and listens to the symptoms of abnormal behaviour and advice verbally.

Comparison Table

Parameters of Comparison	Clinical Psychology	Counseling Psychology
Definition	Clinical Psychology is the study that is the in-charge of treating the human’s mental health and its unusual behavior.	Counseling Psychology is the study that is in charge of the causes of human disorders or their symptoms.
Specialist	The specialist of Clinical Psychology is known as Clinical Psychologist.	The specialist of Counselling Psychology is known as Counseling Psychologists.
Qualification	The Clinical Psychologist should have a Masters/ or Doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology as their qualification.	The Counseling Psychologist should have a Master’s/ or Doctorate degree in Counselling as their qualification.
Main Association	The Clinical Psychologist is more associated with the serious and harmful mental state.	The Counseling Psychologist is more associated with comparatively lesser situations and deals with minor problems.
Conduct	A Clinical Psychologist performs psychotherapy to cure their patients.	A Counseling Psychologist performs counseling to cure their patients.
Work Space	The workspace of a Clinical Psychologist is mainly the medical institutions, universities, nursing homes, etc.	The workspace of a Counseling Psychologist is mainly associated with the academic institution.
Aim	A Clinical Psychologist aims at the serious mental illness of an individual.	A Counseling Psychologist aims at the psychologically healthy individual.
Career Options	Clinical Psychology includes career options such as a clinical psychologist, psychiatrist, psychoanalyst, etc.	Counseling Psychology includes career options such as licensed social workers, counseling psychologists, etc.

What is Clinical Psychology?

The study of psychological factors in treating people’s psychological disorders and abnormal behaviour is known as Clinical Psychology. Clinical Psychology is more related to the patient’s health.

It is linked with more serious and dangerous mental disorders, which require special importance and care. The person who specializes in Clinical Psychology is commonly known as Clinical Psychologist.

The eligibility of a Clinical Psychologist is concerned with both the sciences and humanities stream students, and it also requires a master’s or a doctorate degree for a qualified Clinical Psychologist.

A Clinical Psychologist performs psychotherapy to cure their patients. Regular psychotherapy and serious attention are much needed for a patient with more serious mental health issues.

Generally, the workspace of a Clinical Psychologist is mainly the medical institutions, universities, nursing homes, personal clinics, etc.

Clinical Psychology includes career options such as a clinical psychologist, psychiatrist, psychoanalyst, etc.

When a person is seen with some kind of abnormal behaviour by their parents or guardians, they should immediately seek help from a Psychologist.

First, the patient is checked and counselled by a Counseling Psychologist, but if he/she does not see any kind of improvement through counselling sessions, then the patient should be transferred to a Clinical Psychologist immediately.

And a Clinical Psychologist deals with more serious problems.

What is Counseling Psychology?

Counselling Psychology is the subdivided branch of Psychology that is associated with the learning of the causes or symptoms of psychological disorders.

The main motive of Clinical Psychology is to study and learn about the causes of this unusual behaviour. The specialist in Clinical Psychology is popularly known as Clinical Psychologist.

Specialist in Counseling Psychology can never prescribe medicines to their patients, and they can only treat them by doing several counselling sessions.

The Counseling Psychologist should have a Master’s/ or Doctorate degree in Counseling Psychology as their qualification. Both science and humanities scholars can apply for the course for Counseling Psychology.

Only he/she should have the Psychology subject in their curriculum. The Counseling Psychologist only includes counselling sessions for the understanding of the patients.

It is only related to the problems that are less serious and can be cured through counselling sessions.

Academic institutes such as schools and colleges have Counseling psychologists. There should be a permanent post for a Counseling Psychologist as he/she can give counselling sessions to the students if they are going through something.

Psychological counselling or awareness of mental health should be provided to the students from the school premises. Counselling Psychology includes career options such as licensed social workers, counselling psychologists, etc.

Main Differences Between Clinical Psychology and Counseling Psychology

1. Clinical Psychology is the study that is in charge of treating human mental health and its unusual behaviour. On the other hand, Counseling Psychology is the study that is in charge of the causes of human disorders or their symptoms.
2. The specialist in Clinical Psychology is known as a Clinical Psychologist. On the other hand, The specialist in Counselling Psychology is known as a Counselling Psychologist.
3. The Clinical Psychologist should have a Masters/ or Doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology as their qualification. On the other hand, the Counseling Psychologist should have a Masters/ or Doctorate degree in Counseling Psychology as their qualification.
4. The Clinical Psychologist is more associated with the serious and harmful mental state. On the other hand, The Counselling Psychologist is more associated with comparatively lesser situations and deals with minor problems.
5. A Clinical Psychologist performs psychotherapy to cure their patients. On the other, a Counseling Psychologist performs counseling to cure their patients.
6. The workspace of a Clinical Psychologist is mainly the medical institutions, universities, nursing homes, etc. On the other hand, the workspace of a Counselling Psychologist is mainly associated with the academic institution.
7. A Clinical Psychologist aims at the serious mental illness of an individual. On the other, A Counseling Psychologist aims at the psychologically healthy individual.
8. Clinical Psychology includes career options such as a clinical psychologist, psychiatrist, psychoanalyst, etc. On the other hand, Counseling Psychology includes career options such as licensed social workers, counseling psychologists, etc.

References

1. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1988-21512-001
2. https://www.csun.edu/~hcpsy002/Clinical%20Versus%20Counseling%20Psychology.pdf