Question by Shannon: Is A B.A. in Psychology, best for going into Women’s counseling? I.E. Domestic Violence/Drug addiction.?
Best answer:
Answer by Jennifer J
…..It’s a good start. Then you’ll want at least a Master is Psychology or Counseling, plus certification as a counselor.
Add your own answer in the comments!
It’s a start. You’ll need a Bachelor of Arts if you want to become a professional counselor, but you will need a higher degree than that in order to be licensed to practice.
In the United States, you must have a Doctoral degree (Ph.D or Psy.D) in order to become a Licensed Psychologist. However, you may attain licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) or Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) if you have a Master’s degree in Counseling or Psychology, and are able to pass the appropriate licensure exams (these vary from state to state). Professional counselors often work with specific populations, and since you mentioned that you are interested in counseling women with specific issues, this might be a good choice for you. However, keep in mind that LPCs and LCPCs cannot open a private practice– at the very least, they must work in group practices under the supervision of a Licensed Psychologist.
I’ve included some links which I hope will be helpful, including the Wikipedia article on LPC certification and a web site which lists graduate programs in psychology.
Best of luck! :)