PhD in Counselor Education & Supervision
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“Counselor education is less about learning how to perform counseling tasks and more about becoming a counselor. It’s vital for graduate students to fully engage with this process, exploring the depths of their counselor identity and finding their unique place within that framework.”
Barb Daubenspeck, PhD, Program Director and Professor of Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Bellevue University
Professionals with a PhD in counselor supervision are qualified to provide educational and clinical supervision to counselors-in-training. Professors in this field have the knowledge and expertise to help guide counselors-in-training at the master’s level in developing their practice, provide ethical and legal guidance, evaluate and support their development as clinicians, and contribute to the advancement of the counseling profession. Additionally, a PhD in counseling supervision opens opportunities for teaching, research projects, or developing programs within universities or organizations.
In recent years, research has explored how a counselor’s cultural identity impacts their work with clients from different racial backgrounds. Other research looks into how institutions can include social justice issues in counseling education to help counselors address and reduce disparities in treatment among underserved populations. Additionally, new technology is being studied that can assist counselors in delivering services more effectively, such as using telehealth to connect with clients remotely.
The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) is a professional accrediting body that sets standards for graduate and doctoral counseling programs. Since 1981, CACREP has sought to ensure that counselors are trained in ethical practices and best practices to serve clients professionally and effectively.
Many PhD programs in this field are titled counselor education & supervision, meaning these doctoral programs emphasize teaching, mentoring, and research. Not only can PhD graduates teach students in counseling programs such as master’s in mental health counseling and master’s in substance abuse counseling, but they also demonstrate a strong acumen for academic research and publication.
Doctoral candidates in counselor supervision and education must possess various qualifications to be eligible for admission. Specifically, they should have completed a master’s degree in counseling or a closely related field that meets the requirements set forth by CACREP and achieved a satisfactory score on either NCE (National Counselor Examination) or NCMHCE (National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examinations).
Furthermore, applicants must demonstrate mastery proficiency in counseling practice areas such as couples therapy, clinical social work, and creative arts therapies but also display competency through writing at the doctoral level paired with apt use of technology essential for online/hybrid programs. In addition, letters from two academic and professional references, a current resume or CV, and an interview with the admissions committee are typical application requirements at the doctoral level.
Read on to learn more about CACREP-accredited PhD programs in counseling education and supervision and three featured professors who teach, mentor, and research in these programs.
Meet the Expert: Barb Daubenspeck, PhD, LIMHP, NCC
Dr. Barb Daubenspeck is a distinguished program director and professor of clinical mental health counseling at Bellevue University, where her expertise shapes future mental health professionals. In 2023, she was honored as the Nebraska Counselor of the Year by the Nebraska Counseling Association.
Before her tenure at Bellevue, she served as a dedicated mental health therapist at Capstone Behavioral Healthcare, and she currently sees therapy clients at Remedy Health. Dr. Daubenspeck holds a PhD in psychology from the University of Wyoming, demonstrating a profound commitment to understanding human behavior and mental processes. Her dedication to this understanding, her comprehensive education, and her extensive experience in the field make Dr. Daubenspeck a leader and innovator in mental health counseling, instilling confidence in her clients and the community.
CounselingSchools.com: What’s something many people don’t know about being a counseling education supervisor?
Dr. Daubenspeck: Many people may not recognize the weight of our role as professional gatekeepers. It is not just a title but a significant responsibility. We are tasked with educating counselors who are ethical, professional, and fully equipped to enter the field. We bear the responsibility to ensure that the students in our program are genuinely prepared and suitable for working with the public upon graduation. This is a substantial duty we hold, without question, and it is one that we must approach with the utmost seriousness and dedication.
CounselingSchools.com: What is one piece of advice you would give to an aspiring counseling education and supervision doctoral student?
Dr. Daubenspeck: My biggest piece of advice is to embrace the opportunity to explore new areas and work with diverse populations. This is not just a suggestion but a crucial aspect of your learning journey. By seeking out as wide-ranging an experience as possible, you are enriching your understanding and preparing yourself to be a well-rounded counselor.
Our clinical expertise plays a crucial role in our profession, and as I often remind my students, counselor education transcends mere knowledge acquisition. While understanding the facts is undeniably important, this field is not about memorizing information for recitation. It’s a transformative process.
Counselor education is less about learning how to perform counseling tasks and more about becoming a counselor. It’s vital for graduate students to fully engage with this process, exploring the depths of their counselor identity and finding their unique place within that framework.
Typical Admissions Requirements for Counseling Education & Supervision PhD Programs
A typical counseling education and supervision doctoral program features a rigorous program of study. The admissions requirements may include:
- Completed application
- Statement of purpose
- GRE examination score
- Scholarly writing sample
- Resume
- Letters of recommendation
- Official transcripts
- Application fee
- Ability to successfully pursue doctoral-level work
- Professional counseling experience
- Demonstrated personal fitness for the profession as evidenced by emotional maturity, a healthy capacity for self-reflection, and a willingness to undergo personal psychotherapy (if a requirement for program admission)
- Substantial oral and written communication skills
- Strong potential to become a leader and/or advocate in the field
- Sensitivity to the needs, challenges, and perspectives of diverse populations, including those who come from historically marginalized and underserved populations
International students may need to complete additional requirements, such as a demonstration of English language ability sufficient to learn within their program to be offered admission effectively.
Program Accreditation for Counseling Education & Supervision PhD Programs
The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), a recognized specialist accrediting body through the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), is responsible for providing reliable credentials to those completing counseling and related educational programs. With successful completion of a doctorate in counselor education & supervision from a CACREP-accredited program, individuals become qualified educators ready to lead the next generation in counseling education.
CACREP was founded in 1981 to develop innovative standards and procedures to accommodate a heterogeneous population. In addition, they seek to elevate counseling professionals’ professional competency through their commitment by establishing quality preparation criteria and educational programs through accreditation.
Doctoral counselors-in-training seeking CACREP accreditation must ensure their curriculum provides adequate foundational knowledge in the five core areas. These are counseling, supervision, teaching and instruction, research and scholarly activity, and leadership development to promote advocacy for effective practitioner outcomes.
Featured Online PhD in Counselor Education & Supervision Programs
PhD seekers looking for a rigorous and educational online program can find the perfect fit in Walden University’s counselor education & supervision program. With specializations in addiction, clinical mental health, marriage/couple/family counseling, school counseling, trauma and crisis response, and more, this degree promises to prepare graduates with extensive knowledge on how to drive positive social change as an educator or supervisor.
Featuring just one residency requirement alongside generous transfer credit options (up to 45 credits), students will start teaching master’s students early by facilitating meaningful discussions.
Faculty-led mentorship cultivates leadership skills and unlocks new possibilities for growth and development. In addition, graduates from this program are taught to build an engaging platform to share insights and expertise through the power of podcasts to showcase their expertise.
- Location: Minneapolis, MN
- Duration: Three to eight years
- Accreditation: Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
Students can take on advanced roles within their field with the University of the Cumberlands’ online PhD in counselor education and supervision. The program combines leadership skills with theoretical knowledge to help develop a well-rounded focus in teaching, education, and pedagogy.
With 30 credits of core classes as its foundation (plus seminars, clinical practice, and research for further experience), this degree culminates with specialties focusing on addiction counseling or an additional area of expertise such as advanced counseling methods.
To gain admittance to the program, prospective students must demonstrate their commitment and expertise through a CACREP-accredited master’s degree with an impressive 3.5 or higher GPA and successful results on the NCE (National Counselor Examination) or NCMHCE (National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination).
- Location: Williamsburg, KY
- Duration: Three years
- Accreditation: Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
At Kansas State University, students become professional leaders in the field of counseling education and supervision. The online PhD program provides an opportunity to gain 96 hours post-baccalaureate in supervision, teaching, leadership, and research, culminating with a dissertation that contributes significantly to the profession. To round off this comprehensive program, there is an additional focus on six outside-department course credits while 12 dedicated dissertation research hours complete the doctoral program.
Kansas State University counseling education and supervision doctoral graduates are equipped to teach at colleges or universities; direct P-12 programs; and provide consultation services for businesses, industries, and state agencies. In addition, counseling supervisors become student advisors in higher education settings and even open their own mental health private practice counseling in private practice. In addition, graduates possess the credentials to apply for mental health counseling licenses.
- Location: Manhattan, KS
- Duration: Five years
- Accreditation: Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
Adams State University offers an online doctorate of philosophy in counselor education and supervision. Students must complete at least 66 semester hours and 16 credits are typically awarded for dissertation-specific work. Graduates hold the skills needed to work as counselor educators, supervisors, and researchers.
Admission requirements include a fully completed application, a master’s degree from a CACREP accredited program, a history of sufficient additional coursework and/or counseling experience for those who graduated from a non-CACREP accredited program, official transcripts, an acceptable GRE score, three references and a letter of intent.
- Location: Alamosa, CO
- Duration: Three to five years
- Accreditation: Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
Chicago School of Professional Psychology
The Chicago School of Professional Psychology offers a three-year online doctoral program in counselor education and supervision. The program is founded on the belief that counseling clients can heal from within in a safe therapeutic environment. It is designed to help advance the careers of licensed professional counselors (LCPC, LPC, LMHP) and license-eligible individuals.
Among its requirements, doctoral students are expected to complete a minimum of 700 hours among their practicum and internship requirements. These training experiences are designed to train students in the five core CACREP domains of counseling, leadership/advocacy, research/scholarship, teaching and supervision.
Graduates have completed a curriculum designed to instill competence in the four core functions of being a professional counselor. These functions are professional identity, ethical decision-making, multicultural competence and practical application. As a result, they emerge into the workforce prepared to work as educators and leaders in counseling. Common workplace settings for graduates include outpatient care centers, psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals, residential care facilities and organizations/agencies that provide individual and family services.
- Location: Chicago, IL
- Duration: Three years
- Accreditation: Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
Antioch University (Hybrid)
Antioch University’s hybrid PhD in counselor education and supervision is a 72-credit program that provides the highest level of professional development for counselors. Combining online coursework with two four-day campus residencies, this low residency degree offers comprehensive training around research and evaluation, supervision, teaching, leadership/advocacy, and counseling to help graduates reach their goals as advanced counseling practitioners.
The Council for Accreditation of Counseling Related Education Program (CACREP) has accredited this doctoral degree program to equip students with advanced proficiency in teaching and research, counseling supervision, leadership advocacy, and sensitive multicultural practice. Gaining valuable experience through the CES Fellowships is also an option that second-year PhD candidates can apply for. These fellowships span one year; two options are available (Research or Social Justice Fellow), allowing scholars to broaden their knowledge base while developing the necessary skill sets for a prosperous professional career.
- Location: Seattle, WA
- Duration: Three years
- Accreditation: Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
James Madison University (Hybrid)
James Madison University offers a doctoral program in counseling and supervision designed to meet the pressing need for counseling professionals’ skills in training and supervising master’s-level counselors. This 48-credit curriculum focuses on methods and strategies for counselor education and supervision, developing leadership skills, counseling services, and applying research methods.
The program is delivered using a hybrid/low-residency learning model. Students participate in real-time and asynchronous online meetings with core faculty members and in-person residential learning experiences of three to four days in length. This model allows students to pursue their education with minimal disruption to existing work, family, and other commitments.
The program also emphasizes crisis counseling and emergency services. This emphasis sets it apart from other otherwise relatively equivalent programs.
Graduates emerge from the program with expertise in the theory, research, and practice of counseling. The mission of this program is to create skilled, dynamic leaders who act as effective agents of positive change for individuals and families as well as at the larger level of institutions and communities.
This program’s student cohort, faculty, and staff represent a diverse cross-section of the population. United by a common vision, these individuals create an engaging learning community to foster personal and professional growth, mutual student support, and a commitment to counseling.
The program, fully accredited by CACREP since 2014, encourages applications from practicing counselors with an advanced degree from an entry-level counseling program and the graduate counseling coursework required to obtain licensure as a professional counselor or school counselor. Though not required, preference is given to applicants who graduate from CACREP-accredited master’s degree-level counseling programs.
- Location: Harrisonburg, VA
- Duration: Three to five years
- Accreditation: Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
Oregon State University (Hybrid)
Oregon State University offers a hybrid online doctoral degree program in counseling designed to prepare students to work as advanced practitioners, counselor educators, and supervisors in both clinical and academic settings. The program emphasizes the value of student research in counselor education and supervision.
The program is delivered through the Oregon State University College of Education and its Ecampus. The delivery format permits students the flexibility to work while completing their program. Direct contact classes (face-to-face) are held twice a quarter on a consecutive Friday and Saturday at the OSU Portland Center. As is true of many doctoral programs, only a small cohort of students is admitted annually into this program. This cohort learning model allows students to develop substantial peer relationships that may prove of great value both during their studies and after graduation.
The doctoral counseling program offered by OSU is distinctive for many reasons. To begin with, it has operated since the 1940s. OSU has offered graduate coursework via Extended Campus since 1944 and entire graduate degrees via Extended Campus since 1976. In addition, the counseling PhD faculty are nationally recognized scholars and leaders.
The OSU program is also distinctive regarding its work with clients from populations that have been historically marginalized. In addition to its commitment to anti-racism work to meet the needs of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), the OSU Counseling Program was awarded the 2022 Counseling Program award from the Society for Sexual, Affectional, Intersex and Gender Expansive Identities. Prospective doctoral students interested in working with historically marginalized populations may thus find the OSU program compatible with their counseling career aspirations.
- Location: Corvallis, OR
- Duration: Four to five years
- Accreditation: Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
On-Campus PhD in Counselor Education & Supervision Programs
University of Texas San Antonio
The University of Texas at San Antonio offers an on-campus doctoral program in counselor education and supervision that puts students’ learning flexibility first. This full-time course consists of three parts: general classes covering two internship credits, which teaches how to supervise counseling sessions properly; research; culminating ultimately into completing a dissertation based on gathered data from conducted studies.
Admission requirements are fairly demanding, with a master’s degree obtained before the application process and proof via GRE scores of academic proficiency being asked for upon submission—all while maintaining an average GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- Location: San Antonio, TX
- Duration: Three years
- Accreditation: Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
Texas Tech University’s counselor education program offers a highly respected PhD on campus, with rigorous academic and residency requirements that the CACREP has nationally accredited. Texas Tech takes learning beyond the classroom and into clinical practice, providing students with an extensive curriculum that combines theoretical knowledge, practical experience, and ethical principles. The final year of study culminates in a research examination to test each student’s mastery of the program’s offerings.
Those looking to apply must submit transcripts, GRE scores, and professional references for consideration—all part of an extensive application process designed to ensure only those ready can be accepted into this enriching educational experience.
- Location: Lubbock, TX
- Duration: Three years
- Accreditation: Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
Ohio University offers a comprehensive PhD in counselor education and supervision program that provides students with advanced preparation for careers as counselor educators in higher education, mental health professionals, and leaders. Graduates are well-equipped to handle even the most complex counseling challenges through rigorous coursework, practicum experience, and internship placements, culminating with written exams followed by the defense of their doctoral dissertation.
The competitive doctorate program accepts six to ten applicants every year. To be considered for admissions, prospective candidates must demonstrate excellence with a master’s degree and a GPA of 3.4 or higher in counseling or a related field; provide a current resume/CV, and letters of recommendation from influential colleagues. In addition, applicants must compose a compelling personal statement demonstrating the fit between candidate goals and our advanced curriculum offerings.
- Location: Athens, OH
- Duration: Five years
- Accreditation: Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
Capella University offers an online PhD program in counselor education and supervision designed to train counseling professionals to excel in various careers, including counseling practitioner, leader, clinical supervisor, educator, and researcher. This 60-credit program consists of 12 core courses, an internship, a practicum, and dissertation requirements.
Upon degree completion, graduates can:
- Support personal and professional development consistently
- Conduct quality research that contributes to the knowledge base of the counselor education and supervision discipline
- Promote evidence-based practice, supervision, and teaching
- Advocate for social justice and the advancement of professional counseling
- Apply professional codes of ethics and legal standards as well as industry norms to instruct in the topic of counselor education and supervision effectively
- Communicate professionally and effectively through written, verbal and electronic formats
Graduates hold the skills and experience to work in various employment settings, including hospitals, local, state, and federal government agencies, community mental health centers, day treatment hospitals, colleges and universities, college counseling centers, and residential treatment centers.
- Location: Minneapolis, MN
- Duration: Five to six years
- Accreditation: Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
What Can I Do with a Counseling Education & Supervision PhD?
Doctoral graduates of counseling education and supervision programs find many career possibilities, ranging from private practice to research positions across various settings. These unique opportunities may be out-of-reach for those with less advanced degrees, allowing doctoral recipients to remain ahead in the job market in industries such as:
- Higher education
- Mental health facilities
- Hospitals and clinics
- Rehabilitation centers
- Nonprofit organizations
- Private practice
With the current demand for highly skilled professionals to support new counseling endeavors and an overwhelmed behavioral healthcare system due to Covid-19, graduates of doctoral programs stand ready to fill various key positions. Career opportunities can include mental health supervisor, social service counselor, department administrator, researcher or higher education educator, youth counselor superintendent posts, or even one as director at a school’s guidance office.
Bernd Geels
WriterBernd Geels is a Berlin, Germany-based freelance writer and artist. He holds an undergraduate degree in atmospheric science and two graduate degrees. He completed his most recent graduate degree in international environmental studies at the Monterey Institute of International Studies in 2011. He is interested in healthcare, climate change, marine conservation, indigenous science and refugee issues. You can reach him directly at [email protected].
Rachel Drummond, MEd
WriterRachel Drummond has used her expertise in education and mindfulness to guide aspiring counselors since 2020. Her work emphasizes the importance of integrating reflective mindfulness into counseling techniques, helping readers understand how mental and physical well-being can enhance their professional practice and personal development in counseling.
Rachel is a writer, educator, and coach from Oregon. She has a master’s degree in education (MEd) and has over 15 years of experience teaching English, public speaking, and mindfulness to international audiences in the United States, Japan, and Spain. She writes about the mind-body benefits of contemplative movement practices like yoga on her blog, inviting people to prioritize their unique version of well-being and empowering everyone to live healthier and more balanced lives.