What Is Counseling?
The study of counseling is a recognition of our undeniable and shared need for support, empowerment, and connection. Understanding that the health of the mind has a profound impact on the body and an increasing acceptance of the need for counseling professionals have positioned this field as a powerful tool to wield against the ongoing mental health crisis.
Counselors inspire individuals to overcome challenges, bring harmony to chaotic times, achieve personal evolution, and manage addictions, trauma, and life transitions.
An online counseling degree prepares graduates to work directly with individuals, families, and groups in settings that range from private practice to hospitals to community mental health centers.
What Can You Do With a Counseling Degree?
A counseling degree from Saybrook opens several distinct career paths, each with its own licensure route and earning range. Mental health counselors, the largest group among our graduates, earned a median of $59,190 in 2024, with the top 10% earning more than $98,210, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment in this role is projected to grow 17% through 2034, more than five times the average growth rate across all occupations.
Our counseling graduates have enjoyed success in a variety of career roles and organizations.
Career Settings
- Health care
- Education
- Social services
- Corporate environments
- Private practice
- Wellness facilities
- Rehabilitation centers
- Military and veterans services
Frequently Asked Questions for the Online Counseling Program
What kinds of counselors are there?
For those interested in the field of counseling, you can work as a mental health counselor, substance abuse counselor, social services counselor, or rehabilitation counselor, to name a few. As a counselor, there are many different career settings to pursue, including health care, social services, education, private practice, veteran services, corporate environments, or even wellness facilities.
Are all counseling programs available online at Saybrook?
Both our Ph.D. and M.A. in Counseling programs are available online. All coursework is completed online, but both programs require an in-person Residential Learning Experience, which is a five-day interaction that occurs twice a year—in spring and fall— in California.
Is clinical training required for any of the counseling programs?
Yes. There is clinical supervision in the CACREP-accredited M.A. in Counseling program because it meets the requirements to apply for licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC), or Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC).
How much do mental health counselors make?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary in the U.S. is $59,190 a year.
How long does it take to complete a degree in counseling?
The average length can differ by program; the Ph.D. in Counseling takes about four years to complete. The M.A. in Counseling takes about three years to complete.
Can I earn a licensed professional counselor degree online?
Yes. Saybrook's CACREP-accredited M.A. in Counseling is delivered through a hybrid online format and meets the coursework requirements to apply for licensure as an LPC, LPCC, or LMHC, depending on the state. Clinical hours and the required Residential Learning Experience happen in person; everything else is completed online.
Does Saybrook offer a doctorate in counseling online?
The coursework for Saybrook's Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision is delivered online, with two required in-person Residential Learning Experiences per year. The program is designed for counselors moving into teaching, supervision, or research rather than entry-level clinical practice.
Why You Should Apply for a Counseling Degree Program
Our counseling students have a deeply connective experience, one that prepares them to understand interconnectivity and relate to others with responsibility and curiosity as future counselors and educators.
Our humanistic approach to counseling combines distance learning with community and connection, allowing you to learn at your own pace without sacrificing opportunities to form lifelong friendships and professional relationships with classmates, faculty, and institutional partners.
Counseling Career Outlook
U.S. News & World Report ranks mental health counselor No. 6 among the best social services jobs for 2026.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 17% job growth for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors from 2024 to 2034, far faster than the average for all occupations.
Expected salary and job demand can vary depending on the state and employer.
UNBOUND: Counseling
Discover the unique ways counseling students, alumni, and faculty apply their education to help individuals and communities improve their mental health and well-being in the latest from UNBOUND, our online magazine.
Saybrook Learning Model
Our graduate counseling programs offer an enriching, asynchronous online experience with occasional synchronous elements that bring us together as a community for connection and collaboration. Although most of your time will be online, in-person attendance may be necessary at a University Learning Experience depending on your counseling program’s requirements. Visit the Saybrook Learning Model page to learn more about University Learning Experiences.
