Doctor of Philososphy [Ph.D] [Counseling Psychology] From University of Kentucky

The doctoral program generally takes six years of full-time study (minimum of nine credit hours per semester) to complete if the student enters with a Master’s degree in Counseling. This optimal timeline includes a one-year, full-time internship at an APA accredited site, which may require relocation to another city or state. A majority of our program graduates gain employment either in Mental Health Agencies, University Counseling Centers, or in federal facilities (e.g., VA or prison).

Another large group of graduates engage in private practice. Some graduates pursue research or teaching positions in institutes of higher education. These first employment setting is typically closely related to the specialized type of experience gained from the student’s internship year.

The philosophy of the Counseling Psychology Program is rooted in the values and goals of a socially just society. A socially just society is contingent on the optimal health and well-being of all persons in that society. The health and well-being of persons is contingent on access to healthy environments that support healthy development and functioning. Our goal is to train counseling psychologists who are competent in providing professional psychological services that facilitate human well-being and the transformation of unhealthy and oppressive societal structures.