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PhD in Counseling

Transform counselor education.

Our counseling doctoral program is uniquely designed to build your capacity to conduct research, publish your findings, provide clinical services, and teach at the graduate level. We balance rigorous research opportunities with hands-on counseling experience in our in-house training clinic to expand your clinical, administration, management, advocacy, and leadership skills.

The PhD program in counseling leads to careers both inside and outside of academia. Graduates of the program are teaching in universities and practicing in a variety of settings from directing high school counseling departments to leading county and state mental health treatment programs.

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Accredited The program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).

World-Class Faculty Our diverse faculty share expertise in trauma, human sexuality, child and adolescent development, grief and loss, substance abuse, and multicultural counseling, as well as diagnosis, assessments, interventions, and treatment approaches.

Convenient Schedule Courses are scheduled once a week in late afternoons and evenings (Monday-Thursday) to accommodate the schedules of working professionals, and for internship experiences.

The GW Advantage

As a Carnegie R1 institution (very high research activity), the George Washington University is home to world-class faculty and doctoral students that are leading cutting-edge research, cross-collaborative initiatives between schools and local organizations, and unparalleled educational and employment opportunities.

GSEHD PhD candidates benefit from these initiatives and receive hands-on experiential learning, right on the GW campus. Students develop clinical, administration, management, and leadership skills through supervision of master's level counseling students at GSEHD's Community Counseling Services Center .

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 Program at a Glance

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in the Field of Counseling

Department:

Course delivery:.

Main Campus

Program Entry:

The mission of the doctoral program in counseling at George Washington University incorporates and builds on the mission of the GW Graduate Programs in Counseling. Building on research, theory and practice of master’s level counselors, the Ph.D. program in counseling prepares educators, leaders, and researchers within the scholar-practitioner model.

Program Objectives:

• Counseling - Graduates will demonstrate and apply culturally relevant, sustaining, and anti-oppressive counseling across delivery platforms and clinical contexts, including addressing legal, ethical, and professional issues and responsibilities.
• Supervision - Graduates will demonstrate and apply culturally relevant, sustaining, and anti-oppressive skills, frameworks, and administrative procedures within clinical supervision to efficaciously and ethically support, assess, and evaluate supervisees across developmental levels.
• Teaching - Graduates will demonstrate and apply culturally relevant, sustaining, and anti-oppressive teaching approaches using universal design, screening, evaluation, gatekeeping, and remediation to meet the needs of all students with respect for individual differences in learning and professional development.
• Research and Scholarship - Graduates will demonstrate and apply culturally relevant, sustaining, and anti-oppressive approaches to professional writing, professional conference proposal preparation, and research designs appropriate for quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods, and action research questions and hypotheses.
• Leadership and Advocacy - Graduates will demonstrate and apply culturally relevant, sustaining, and anti-oppressive perspectives and approaches to leadership and advocacy in counselor education using models and competencies that address sociopolitical, social justice, and human rights issues and how they affect the counseling profession and those the profession serves.

A minimum of 75 credits, including 33 credits in core courses, 12 credits in research courses, 6 credits in human development courses, 9 credits in an area of specialization, 15 credits in dissertation courses, and successful completion of the comprehensive examination.

*Prerequisite statistics courses must have been taken during the student's master's degree program or must be completed prior to taking required advanced courses. For students who have not had an introductory statistics course, have not had such a course in recent years, or do not feel confident in their understanding and application of basic statistical techniques (i.e. through one-way analysis of variance), EDUC 6116 Introduction to Educational Statistics should be completed prior to enrolling in EDUC 8120 Group Comparison Designs and Analyses .

Data from 2022-2023*

• Retention Rate: 77%
• Average Time to Complete the Program: 5.33 years
• 2023-2024 Cost: $1870 per credit
• Scholarships: Graduate assistantships, merit based scholarships, external funding
• Employment Rate (at 6 months post graduation): 100%
• Employment Settings: Academia, research organizations, private practice, community agencies
• Licensure Eligibility: Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). Requirements vary by state.
• Accreditation Status: Accredited by CACREP through 2024. Program has been accredited since 1984.
• Fall Enrollment: 41
• Number of Graduates:  3
• Predicted Job Outlook (2014-2024): 19% expected increase, compared to 7% expected increase in total US jobs. (Source: US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics). Outlook predicted for those with clinical mental health employment.

NOTE: Costs are 2022-2023; enrollment is Fall 2023; retention is calculated over the past year.

2022-2023 Counseling and Human Development Annual Report >

• Guide to Applying
• Admission Requirements
• Application Deadlines

GSEHD’s Office of Admissions invites you to apply for a spot in our program. Please review the following admission and financial information.

Ready to take the next step in your career? Review our step-by-step guide to applying to GSEHD >

To learn more about the program, admission process, and upcoming events, please connect with the GSEHD Admissions Team at [email protected] or 202-994-9283.

To be considered for admission, applicants must submit the online application form as well as the following required supporting documents. There is no application fee.

• Prerequisite: Master's Degree
• Transcripts from all previously attended colleges or universities
• Statement of Purpose: In an essay of 500-750 words, state your purpose in undertaking doctoral level study in counseling. Include your academic objectives, research interests, and career plans. We are interested in determining your fit with our program and faculty, so be sure to identify faculty that could serve as potential mentors to you in research. If you are applying for an assistantship or fellowship, you should also describe any research or teaching experience you have had.
• 3 Letters of Recommendation (academic and/or professional)
• GRE general test is optional

*Additional application requirements may exist for international applicants .

View more details about requirements    

The application deadline for Fall 2024 has passed. For more information or to inquire about the next admissions cycle, contact the GSEHD Admissions Team at [email protected] or 202-994-9283.

 Tuition & Financial Aid

• Tuition Overview

We know embarking upon graduate school is a big decision - due in part to the costs of attending. At GW, we understand the time and thought behind making graduate school work for you. Please take a moment to learn more about the options and opportunities available to help fund your graduate education.

Learn more about scholarships, grants & financial aid    

Graduate tuition is charged per credit hour, unless otherwise noted. Rates vary by program and location.

The tuition rate* for the PhD in Counseling program is $1,870 per credit hour .

This program requires 75 credits .

Please note: Additional fees may apply for international students, late fees, etc. Current tuition rates may be updated during the year.

*Summer 2023, Fall 2023 and Spring 2024

View the current fee chart  

Scholarships are available to eligible admitted students. Review eligibility requirements and learn more about funding your education >

This program has allowed me to pursue expertise in a variety of domains (e.g. clinical practice, higher education instruction, scholarly research, leadership and advocacy) which has supported my professional development and specialization. Within the counseling program, I’ve been fortunate to connect with faculty and peers who are relentless in their support of students – offering opportunities for mentorship, learning and professional growth. The program’s social justice oriented efforts encourage critical dialogues and demonstrate the program’s foundational commitment to promoting an inclusive, anti-oppressive approach to clinical training, education and research. This approach has amplified my ability to embrace diverse experiences and backgrounds, making me a more competent, effective professional.

CLAUDIA NGUYEN (PhD Candidate)

 Career Outlook

Program participants have experienced a 100% employment rate within 6 months of graduation. Career opportunities in clinical mental health are expected to increase 19% between 2014-2024, compared to an average of 7% across other professions. (Source: US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics ) .

Our graduates are engaged across the nation in research, teaching, and private practice. They serve on the Counseling faculties at:

• Augusta State University
• George Washington University
• Hood College
• Loyola University
• West Virginia University
• University of Iowa
• University of North Carolina - Greensboro
• University of North Florida

Our graduates are also leading the field in research on mental health topics ranging from PTSD and veterans well-being to depression mediators in survivors of sexual abuse.

• Research Organizations
• Private Practice
• Community Agencies
• Hospitals and Clinics

My time in the counseling doctoral program so far has awarded me with several opportunities to connect with wonderful mentors and colleagues. These connections have provided me with support and guidance as I navigate the counselor education field and prepare for my career.

BARBARA DOS SANTOS (PhD Candidate)

Counseling (PhD) Faculty

Program Co-Director, Clinical Mental Health Counseling; Assistant Professor, Counseling and Human Development

Associate Professor, Counseling and Human Development

Clinical Assistant Professor, Counseling and Human Development

Research Associate Professor, Counseling and Human Development

Professor, Counseling

Associate Professor, Human Development

Department Chair and Professor, Counseling and Human Development

Associate Professor, Counseling

Assistant Professor, Counseling and Human Development

Upcoming Events

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Doctor of Philosophy in the Field of Cognitive Neuroscience (STEM)

The PhD in cognitive neuroscience program trains students to become rigorous, creative, collaborative, methodologically strong, and independent scientists. The focus of our program is on acquiring the necessary research skills by working directly with leading scientists in their corresponding areas of expertise. The required coursework is tailored to fit the student's research interests and is geared toward practical application of academic knowledge. Program graduates leave positioned for successful careers in either academia or industry.

The cognitive neuroscience PhD program curriculum offers an intense, focused research experience in areas such as perception, attention, memory, and social decision making, with an emphasis on the neural bases of these capacities. Students use diverse research methods throughout their studies, including patient-based testing, neuroimaging, computational modeling, behavioral techniques, and big data. The program emphasizes faculty–student collaboration through joint research projects.

Students benefit from GW’s Washington, DC, location in close proximity to the National Institutes of Health and other major research institutions. On campus, GW’s School of Medicine and Health Sciences and its associated teaching hospital are also great resources for cognitive neuroscience research, with their intensive Neuroscience Program and world-class Departments of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Neuroradiology.

This is a STEM designated program.

Visit the program website for additional information.

Supporting documents not submitted online should be mailed to:

Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, Office of Graduate Studies The George Washington University 801 22nd Street NW, Phillips Hall 107 Washington DC 20052

For additional information about the admissions process visit the Columbian College  of Arts and Sciences  Frequently Asked Questions  page.

[email protected] 202-994-6210 (phone)

Hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday

The following requirements must be fulfilled:

The general requirements stated under  Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, Graduate Programs .

The requirements for the  Doctor of Philosophy Program .

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Graduate Study in Psychology

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Why choose the UW psychology graduate program?

Graduate students working toward the Ph.D. in Psychology at the University of Washington are offered a flexible program, designed to prepare them for careers at the cutting edge of research and scholarship. While many students earn the M.S. in Psychology on the way to their Ph.D., we do not admit students in our Ph.D. program whose goal is a terminal Master's degree. For students interested in a Master's only degree, we have a  M.A. in Applied Child & Adolescent Psychology: Prevention & Treatment , which you can learn about by clicking here . 

Our graduate program is mentor-based. Students train under the direct guidance of one or more specific faculty members whose scholarly interests parallel their own. Prospective students are expected to identify faculty they view as potential mentors. The department is divided into seven general areas of study. Students apply to a specific area of study and not to the department as a whole. Students collaborate with their mentors and other faculty in their area of study to determine the coursework and training that best meets the student's career goals.

Psychology is a dynamic field. With its focus on the understanding of behavior of both humans and animals, our field is poised at the juncture between biological and social forces. New discoveries are constantly informing our work and changing the way we go about our business, whether in terms of theory, application, or methods. If you are curious, creative, and energetic, there is no better time for you to be pursuing advanced study in psychology. We welcome your interest.

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PhD in Psychology

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Concentrations

• Human Factors/Applied Cognition

The goal of the doctoral program is to train students in the principles and applications of psychology. The program provides knowledge of the basic content areas in psychology and practical experience in applying this knowledge to solving human problems in life, work, and school. The program offers the following concentrations: applied developmental psychology, cognitive and behavioral neuroscience (formerly biopsychology), clinical psychology, human factors/applied cognition, and industrial/organizational psychology.

Meet an Alum

Afra S. Ahmad 2016

Fallon Goodman 2019

Min Ji Kim 2023

Katherine Zinsser 2013

Elisa Torres 2023

Sean Marsh 2005

Elizabeth Malouf 2014

Tanya Tavassolie 2018

Daniel Gartenberg 2015

Karin Pedemonte 2021

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Lawrence Minnis

Evan Kleiman 2014

Claire Niehaus

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Brandi Cihlar

Licensed professional counselor , lpcc , lpc.

My Practice at a Glance

Washington, DC 20004

Washington, DC 20024

• Individual Sessions $120
• Cigna and Evernorth
• UnitedHealthcare UHC | UBH

Qualifications

• Verified by Psychology Today Licensed by State of District of Columbia / PRC200001704 Brandi Cihlar

Specialties and Expertise

Top specialties.

• Life Transitions
• Anger Management
• Antisocial Personality
• Bipolar Disorder
• Borderline Personality (BPD)
• Family Conflict
• Narcissistic Personality (NPD)
• Relationship Issues
• Self-Harming
• Trauma and PTSD

Client Focus

Participants, treatment approach, types of therapy.

• Acceptance and Commitment (ACT)
• Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
• Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
• Emotionally Focused
• Family / Marital
• Gottman Method
• Integrative
• Interpersonal
• Motivational Interviewing
• Solution Focused Brief (SFBT)
• Trauma Focused

Primary Location

Additional location, nearby areas.

• Washington, DC
• District Of Columbia

Neighborhoods

• Capitol Hill
• Cleveland Park
• Forest Hills
• Penn Quarter

Matthew Kiely receives Honorable Mention in NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Competition

April 4, 2024 — Matthew Kiely received an Honorable Mention in the 2024 National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) competition.