Counseling Psychology
Our APA-accredited Ph.D. program in Counseling Psychology is a selective, full-time program designed to train psychologists in the rapidly changing areas of mental health, emotional and social learning, career development and decision-making. Those entering with a master's degree typically complete three years of coursework and a fourth year of pre-doctoral internship. The majority of students complete their dissertations prior to or during the internship and graduate at the end of their fourth year. Only seven to eight students are admitted into the program each year, and applicants are admitted once each year and are expected to begin coursework in the Fall semester; applicants for Spring admission are not considered.
Philosophy
Training is organized around the scientist-practitioner model of critical thinking and program faculty strive for an equivalent emphasis on developing both clinical understanding and skills and facility with research. The program emphasizes responsibility and commitment to human welfare. Didactic and experiential activities and coursework are designed to anchor students firmly within the discipline of psychology. The department has a strong commitment to training professionals to work with diverse populations in urban settings.
Counseling Psychology — APA Accreditation
Our APA-accredited Ph.D. program in Counseling Psychology is a selective, full-time program designed to train psychologists in the rapidly changing areas of mental health, emotional and social learning, career development, and decision-making. Those entering with a master's degree typically complete three years of coursework and a fourth year of pre-doctoral internship. Most students complete their dissertations before or during the internship and graduate at the end of their fourth year. Only seven to eight students are admitted into the program each year, and applicants are admitted once each year and are expected to begin coursework in the Fall semester; applicants for Spring admission are not considered.
Philosophy
Training is organized around the scientist-practitioner model of critical thinking, and program faculty strive to equally emphasize developing both clinical understanding and skills and facility with research. The program emphasizes responsibility and commitment to human welfare. Didactic and experiential activities and coursework are designed to anchor students firmly within the
discipline of psychology. The department has a strong commitment to training professionals to work with diverse populations in urban settings.
Accreditation
The program was first accredited by the American Psychological Association in October 1989 and has maintained accreditation since that time. APA accreditation allows program graduates to be eligible for the licensure exam (Examination for the Professional Practice in Psychology - EPPP) upon completion of their degree and state licensure requirements. As part of our accreditation, we provide information on student admissions, outcomes, and other data.
Accreditation status may be confirmed by APA via:
Education Directorate Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation
750 First St. NE
Washington, DC 2000-4242
Phone (202) 336-5978
Email:apaaccred@apa.org
What to Know About CPSY
Life as a CSPY Student
Admission Requirements and Application Procedures
We're pleased you are considering applying for the Ph.D. program in Counseling Psychology. We hope you have visited our Prospective Students and Faculty and Research links for information on our students and faculty and the exciting training we offer. The university uses an online application process that includes both the Graduate School application and the Counseling Psychology program application. You can find information on the application process and access the online system here. As you enter the online system, you will choose the Counseling Psychology program and will provide information specific to that program. Please note that individuals who are writing letters of reference for you will need to complete a rating form in addition to the narrative letter. The rating form/ letter is a fillable Word document that can be obtained via the online system or can be accessed here and sent to your references. Please contact Dr. Nicholas Heimpel with specific questions about the program.
Application Deadline: December 5, 2026, for the 2027-2028 academic year.
Application requirements:
· 4 letters of recommendation (rating form included)
· Personal Statement (This statement should address goals, perceived fit with Counseling Psychology, research interests, and clinical experience.)
· Interview
Applicants to the doctoral program in Counseling Psychology typically hold a master’s degree (or equivalent) in counseling, psychology, or a related mental health field and often have had substantial supervised counseling work experience. The following master's level courses (or their equivalents) are typically completed as part of master's level training in counseling or psychology programs. However, if these were not completed in master's programs, they are prerequisites to doctoral-level courses in the content areas:
· Group Processes
· Theories of Counseling
· Assessment Techniques
· Pre-practicum techniques/Practicum
· Statistics/Research
Individuals without master's degrees are considered for admission with the understanding that they will be required to complete the prerequisite courses early in the doctoral program. Completion of all required coursework will necessitate a minimum of four years of coursework before the predoctoral internship year.
Important Issues of Licensure. The Counseling Psychology doctoral program may lead to professional licensure. Please note that if you have been convicted of a felony or crime other than a minor traffic offense, been denied licensure as a mental health professional, or been disciplined by a state's licensing board or had a civil suit judgment entered against you or entered into an adverse civil settlement, you may be denied licensure following graduation from the program. Please review the licensure requirements by contacting the specific state licensing board.
Also, you should be aware that criminal convictions may make you ineligible for placement in clinical experiences required by the program, impacting your ability to complete the course and program requirements.
Again, applications for both the Graduate School and Department program must be completed (that includes transcripts, test scores), and all this information for both applications is contained in the single online application. Please refer to the Graduate School for Graduate School admissions information or contact:
Office of Admissions The University of Memphis FedEx Institute of Technology, Suite 201 Memphis TN 38152 901.678.3685
Financial considerations play a vital role in the decision-making process. Please click here for detailed information about funding in the department. Students may also benefit from additional knowledge about the cost of living in Memphis, program amenities, etc. Please click on the link below for more details about living in Memphis. • Additional Financial Information If you have further questions, please contact Dr. Nicholas Heimpel
Student Contacts (retrieve from here https://www.memphis.edu/cepr/cpsy/admissions_info.php
One important piece of information is how current students perceive the program, but applicants don't always know how to contact those students. At the Counseling Psychology program at The University of Memphis, several doctoral students (and graduates) in the program have volunteered to serve as contacts and information sources for students who are considering applying to the doctoral program at The UofM. These students and information about their year in the program are listed below. Please click on a name to send an email.
Ryan Haik Louise Foster Maddy Moyers Bobbie Hall-Price Aqdas Khan Aubrianna Stuckey Shantta Robertson Colleen Avila Ashley Messina Kaley Fluke Ruby Bosclair Kara Lawrence
Student Handbooks and forms
Interested in CPSY? Learn more about our current students and opportunities in Memphis and across the country.
Learn more about our CPSY instructors and the research their currently conducting.
A Letter from Our Program Leaders
Welcome Prospective Students!
We are delighted that you are interested in learning more about our APA-accredited doctoral program in Counseling Psychology (CPSY) within the Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology and Research (CEPR) at the University of Memphis!
Memphis is a robust city in west Tennessee, the second largest in the state with a metropolitan population of more than 1.3 million people. There are numerous museums (e.g., the National Civil Rights Museum, Stax Museum, the , the Brooks Museum) and social attractions (e.g., Graceland, the Memphis Zoo, Beale St., FedEx Forum (home of the Grizzlies and our own Memphis Tigers!), the Greater Memphis Greenline, Shelby Farms Park). Memphis is famous for its BBQ and music and is also home to Fed-Ex and other Fortune-500 companies and the world-renowned St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
Program Goals and Objectives
In accordance with the missions of the university, college, and department, the Counseling Psychology program prepares professional psychologists who, upon graduation, are expected to become licensed and assume leadership roles in their communities. Students are expected to acquire: (1) a knowledge and skills base in psychology, research, counseling, psychological evaluation, and ethical, legal, and professional standards; (2) an identity as a counseling psychologist; and (3) the cultural competence needed for working in a diverse environment. The program is individualized to meet the students' goals. Graduates are prepared for positions in various settings including university counseling centers, community mental health centers, medical centers, independent practice, academia and business. More detailed information on program goals, objectives, and competencies can be found here.
Clinical Training Opportunities
The Memphis area provides a wide variety of field training sites including mental health centers, hospitals/medical settings, college counseling centers, prisons, rehabilitation agencies, and independent practices. Students typically enroll in their first practicum placement in the summer of their first year. Most students enroll in four or five practica semesters during the program. Because of our urban location and the many needs of the Memphis community, practicum sites often provide services to a range of underserved populations.
Student Financial Aid
Support is available through a variety of research and teaching assistantships. Assistantships are provided on a competitive basis at the department level. Selected community training sites appropriate for professional counseling psychologists offer paid external placements that provide experience, training, and monetary stipends. A limited number of scholarships are available through the Graduate School. Details are available in the Graduate Catalog. Eligible students may also apply for available grants and loans.