Counseling Psychology

Professor Chris McCarthy and a graduate student observe a counseling session.

Photo of Mike Parent

Area Chair
Mike Parent

The Counseling Psychology Ph.D. program is not accepting applicants for the doctoral program in Fall 2023.
The Counselor Education Master's program is open to new applicants for Fall 2023.

The Counseling Psychology doctoral program is one of the longest continuously APA accredited Counseling Psychology programs in the country. Our scientist-practitioner based program prepares Ph.D. psychologists to work with both specific and general problems of human behavior in the context of a range of social processes and systems.

UT-Austin’s Counseling Psychology Program is committed to honoring diversity and cultural identities, promoting social justice, and engaging in diversity science. We respect and value race, ethnicity, language, sexual orientation, gender, age, disability, class status, education, religious and spiritual orientations, and other dimensions and intersections of individual and group identity and culture. Our intentional commitments to these values inform research and practice among faculty and students, and facilitate our work to train effective practitioners and influential scholars for the future of our profession and society.

We strive to prepare students for innovative professional and intellectual careers within the fields of social science, human service, or social and community endeavors. This program emphasizes the importance of developing the skills necessary to effectively work with individuals inclusive of all demographics, beliefs, attitudes, and values. 

Accreditation status may be confirmed by APA via:

Education Directorate
Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation
750 First St. NE
Washington, DC 20002-4242
Phone: (202) 336-5979

TDD/TTY: (202) 336-6123
Fax: (202) 336-5978
Email: apaaccred@apa.org

Program Details Required Courses Student Admissions, Outcomes, Other Data FAQs How to Apply Request More Information

The Department of Educational Psychology also offers a Master's degree in Counselor Education. 

Counseling Psychology Faculty

Photo of Ricardo Ainsle

Ricardo Ainslie

Professor

M. K. Hage Centennial Professorship in Education

Explores the intersection of psychology and culture through such topics as the psychological experience of immigration, ethnic conflicts and the impact of violence within communities, and the relationship between individual and collective identity.

Photo of Germine Awad

Germine Awad

Associate Professor

Studies the effects that acculturation and identity have on discrimination, specifically in populations of Arab/Middle Eastern and African American women.

Photo of Chris Brownson

Chris Brownson

Clinical Associate Professor

Research interests include college student suicide prevention, collaborative care models of behavioral health in primary care, and the intersection of mental health and academic success.

Photo of Kevin Cokley

Kevin Cokley

Professor, Department Chair

Oscar and Anne Mauzy Regents Professor for Educational Research and Development

Researches themes related to understanding the psychological and environmental factors that impact African American student achievement, and the impact of the impostor phenomenon in academic and mental health outcomes.

Photo of Jane Gray

Jane Gray

Assistant Professor of Practice

Director of Clinical Training

Supports the clinical training of doctoral students, teaches clinically-focused courses and prepares students for psychology internship training.

Photo of Karen Haas

Karen Haas

Assistant Professor of Instruction, CE Director of Training

Supports the clinical training of graduate students in the Counselor Education program, teaches courses related to counselor skill development primarily in educational settings, and supervises students in their practicum experiences.

Photo of Christopher McCarthy

Christopher McCarthy

Professor

Studies stress and coping as it relates to professionals in educational settings, health and wellness, and the identification of psychological resources that can help prevent stress.

Photo of Michael Parent

Michael Parent

Associate Professor, Counseling Psychology Area Chair

Focuses on the intersections of gender, sexuality, and behavioral health in topics of men’s health, gender roles, and muscularity; conducts outreach with gender and sexual minority communities.

Photo of Aaron Rochlen

Aaron Rochlen

Professor

Research focuses on men and traditional masculinity, with a particular emphasis on men's mental health, depression, help-seeking patterns, and their underutilization of counseling services.

Affiliated Centers and Labs

Coping and Stress in Education Research Team

Explores the intersection of health, psychology, and education by researching how to promote wellness and productivity in educational settings.

Culture, Identity, and Health Lab

Explores the effects of racism, discrimination, and health inequities on mental and behavioral health outcomes among diverse adolescent and emerging adult populations.

Psychological and Educational Assessment Center

Serves as a training center for the graduate programs in Counseling Psychology and School Psychology and a resource for people who are seeking assessment for possible learning difficulties or conditions that may affect learning.