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Psychology vs Counselling: Career Options after Graduation

Research is the main focus of psychology, while counseling offers helpful emotional support and direction.
UniList Desk

Updated Dec 14, 2025 | 06:15 PM IST
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Psychology and Counseling are in demand among students who want to take up a course on mental health and human behaviour. After completing the coursework, most students end up in a dilemma over pursuing a career in psychology vs counselling. Both deal with helping individuals, but the scope, domain of academics, and sought career path chosen is wholly different. This article on psychology vs. counselling has aptly explained both domains.

What is Psychology?

Psychology is the scientific study of the human mind and behaviour. It is concerned with trying to fathom a way of understanding how people think, feel, and behave in certain situations. Students majoring in psychology study emotions, learning, personalities, mental health, and social behaviour.
Graduation and post-graduation are places where students gain knowledge about
  • Characteristics of human behaviour
  • Developmental psychology
  • Abnormal psychology
  • Social psychology, Cognitive psychology
  • Research methods are connected with the aim
It is the theory, research, and analysis that encompass psychology in itself. Many students studying psychology go on to advanced qualifications with either a master's or other post-graduate qualifications.

Career Paths Following a Psychology Degree

Graduates can seek employment as:
  1. Clinical psychologist
  2. Educational psychologist
  3. School Psychologist
  4. Research assistant
  5. Tenure-track psychology lecturer
  6. Mental health associate
Higher studies and registration with the concerned authority are required for becoming a licensed clinical psychologist in India.

What is Counselling?

It deals with helping an individual overcome his/her personal, emotional, and psychological issues. It is more pragmatic and solution-oriented. It deals extensively with helping a person cope with his/her stress, anxiety, relationships, career, and emotional issues, etc.
Some of these counselling courses include:
  • Session structure
  • Communication skills
  • Emotional intelligence
  • Treatment approaches
  • Case studies, practice, and training
Those students who are listening, guiding, and helping others make the best students in counselling.

Career Options After Counselling

Some of the posts that one can work after taking counselling-related courses include:
  1. Counseling psychologist
  2. School counselor
  3. Career counselor
  4. Mental health counselor
  5. Rehabilitation counsellor
They are mainly used in educational institutions, hospitals, NGOs, and government sectors.

Main differences between psychology and counseling

  • On the other hand, psychology is more concerned with theory, research, and diagnosis.
  • The counseling is more on providing directions as well as support.
  • There are more career options in the field of psychology, such as research and teaching.
  • The practice has become more client-centered.
  • Both disciplines demand empathy, patience, and high-level communicative skills.

Government Colleges offering Courses in Psychology & Counseling

In fact, there are some government colleges and universities in India with quality education in psychology and counseling.
Among the most established government institutions are:
  • University of Delhi
  • Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
  • Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi
  • Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai
  • Aligarh Muslim University (AMU)
  • University of Calcutta
Psychology and counseling are two academic fields that open excellent professional opportunities for graduates. Students who like researching, teaching, and diagnosing find their place in psychology. On the other hand, students who care deeply enough to help people deal with life issues should opt for a counseling career. A student's interests, strengths, and aims in the future best select whether a career in psychology or counseling is taken.

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