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Counseling
Psychology, MA
Info Session: Psychology Programs
October 15, 2025 | 12:00pm PT
Join us for a 30-minute virtual info session to explore 51社区鈥檚 MA in Counseling Psychology and Industrial-Organizational Psychology programs.
The program director will share insights and answer your questions about admissions, tuition, and deadlines. Don鈥檛 miss this chance to discover how GGU can support your path to becoming a licensed therapist.
Register today and take the next step in your counseling career.
Program at a Glance
Program
Counseling Psychology, MA
Format
Online, Hybrid
Total Units
60
Requirements
No GMAT or GRE Required
Spring 鈥26 Early Application Deadline
November 8
Use the following links to access: the Psychology Handbook, the , and the .
Program Overview
51社区鈥檚 Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology program offers a holistic approach to mental health education that prepares students for real-world practice. Our program is uniquely positioned through its strategic partnership with the , aligning our curriculum with cutting-edge advocacy for mental health policy that recognizes the complexity of individuals beyond their symptoms. This partnership, combined with our intensive traineeship program requiring 300 face-to-face clinical hours, provides students with a rare blend of theoretical knowledge and practical experience.
Additionally, our program offers unparalleled flexibility and support for students pursuing licensure in California or other states, with personalized guidance from dedicated faculty and staff. The combination of a license-eligible curriculum, holistic philosophy, intensive practical experience, and individualized support makes GGU鈥檚 program a distinctive choice for aspiring psychotherapists seeking a comprehensive and adaptable counseling psychology education.
Our cutting-edge curriculum ensures students are well-prepared for the evolving landscape of mental health care, with a unique blend of academic rigor and practical preparation. The program stands out for its personalized support, from comprehensive traineeship assistance, and its holistic approach to psychotherapy that emphasizes individual complexity beyond symptoms and diagnoses. With options like the Undergraduate Psychology Pathway Program and a flexible personal psychotherapy requirement, GGU offers a balanced, accelerated path to becoming a skilled, licensed therapist. At GGU, students invest in a program that not only provides comprehensive academic knowledge but also emphasizes practical skills and personal growth, preparing them to make meaningful contributions to the field of counseling psychology.
Watch the Info Session
In this virtual info session, we explored 51社区鈥檚 Master鈥檚 programs in Counseling Psychology and Industrial-Organizational Psychology.
Learn More About the Master鈥檚 in Counseling Psychology Program
A message from Tom Wooldridge, founding Dean of 51社区鈥檚 School of Psychology. Learn what makes this program the perfect choice for anyone interested in building their career in the world of psychology.
Program Leadership
Chad Tynan, DMFT, LMFT, BC-TMH
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Program Director, MA in Counseling Psychology
Dr. Chad Tynan is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at 51社区. He is a licensed marriage and family therapist in private practice where he specializes in working with couples. His clinical approach is informed by Gottman Method Couples Therapy, Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy, and Discernment Counseling.
Tom Wooldridge, PsyD, ABPP, FIPA, CEDS-C
Founding Dean, School of Psychology
Tom Wooldridge, PsyD, ABPP, FIPA, CEDS-C, is a tenured Professor and founding Dean, School of Psychology at 51社区, where he has served for over 13 years. He is responsible for the design, delivery and staffing of all degree and certificate programs in the school, on a domestic and international basis.
Message from the founding Dean, School of Psychology
Welcome to 51社区鈥檚 Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology program. We are delighted that you are considering joining our community of aspiring mental health professionals. Our program is designed to provide you with a comprehensive education that blends academic rigor with practical, hands-on experience, preparing you for a fulfilling career as a licensed psychotherapist.
One of the hallmarks of our program is our intensive traineeship requirement. This practical component typically results in our graduates accumulating more than the required hours for MFT licensure in California and many other states, giving you a significant advantage as you launch your professional career. Our dedicated faculty and staff provide comprehensive support throughout your journey, from traineeship placement to guidance for out-of-state licensure, ensuring that you are well-equipped to meet your specific career goals.
We are committed to fostering not just your academic and professional growth, but your personal development as well. Our program emphasizes a holistic approach to psychotherapy, recognizing the complexity of individuals beyond symptoms and diagnoses. As you embark on this transformative journey with us, you鈥檒l not only gain the knowledge and skills to become an effective therapist but also experience personal growth that will enrich your practice and your life. We look forward to welcoming you to our program and supporting you as you take the next step towards a rewarding career in counseling psychology.
鈥 Tom Wooldridge, founding Dean, School of Psychology
Degree Highlights
Online or Hybrid Courses
60 Credits
No GRE/GMAT Required
Top Ranked Master鈥檚 Program
Attend Full-Time or Part-Time
Graduate in as Few as 2.5 Years
Choosing to pursue a Master鈥檚 in Counseling Psychology at GGU was among the best choices I have ever made in my life. The curriculum laid the educational and theoretical foundation for my practice today, and the faculty fostered an environment where I was not simply learning theory, I was learning how to practice my therapy. The clinical experience and expertise of the GGU faculty offered students the space to creatively explore the various aspects of psychology without judgment, and the opportunity for students to ask questions about the current field. Without GGU, I would not have the clinical and educational background to work at my dream job, battle systemic inequities in our communities, and pursue my doctorate.
Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology will possess the skills and knowledge to:
- Demonstrate foundational counseling skills, including therapeutic presence, empathic attunement, effective clinical communication, and the development and maintenance of a therapeutic alliance.
- Develop and articulate theory-informed case conceptualizations grounded in relational and systemic perspectives and use these conceptualizations to guide clinical assessment and intervention planning.
- Apply ethical decision-making frameworks to complex clinical scenarios in accordance with professional ethical standards and best practices in counseling psychology.
- Demonstrate culturally responsive clinical practice informed by cultural humility, awareness of systemic and sociocultural influences, and responsiveness to diverse client identities and contexts.
- Integrate research-informed principles into clinical assessment, intervention planning, and ongoing evaluation of therapeutic effectiveness.
- Demonstrate competency in counseling interventions with individuals, couples, families, and groups, applying relational and systemic approaches across diverse clinical contexts.
- Demonstrate professional identity development and reflective practice, including the ability to engage in self-reflection, respond to supervision and feedback, and evaluate one鈥檚 own clinical growth.
- Critically evaluate and ethically integrate artificial intelligence and digital technologies in clinical practice, including their implications for confidentiality, informed consent, the therapeutic relationship, and equitable care.
Explore Counseling Psychology Career Paths
Earning your Master鈥檚 in Counseling Psychology can help you qualify for new roles, pursue counseling certifications and licensure, and give you a path to earning your doctorate if you鈥檙e interested in continuing your education. Counselors are currently in high demand in a variety of industries, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimating that there will be about 281,600 job openings each year, on average, through 2032.
Graduates of GGU鈥檚 MA in Counseling Psychology program have pursued diverse careers in mental health and related fields. Many have become Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs), working in private practice, community clinics, and healthcare settings. Others have taken roles as Mental Health Specialists, Clinical Therapists, and Substance Abuse Therapists in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and mental health facilities. Some alumni work in educational settings as School Psychologists or Counselors.
The program has also produced graduates who work as Research Coordinators in universities, Clinical Supervisors in mental health agencies, and Professors in higher education institutions. Many of our alumni have gone on to open their own private practices or work in community mental health centers, focusing on individual, couple, and family therapy. Some have specialized in areas such as EMDR therapy, trauma-informed care, or working with specific populations like children or the LGBTQ+ community.
Increase Your Salary Potential at GGU
51社区 graduates in the field of psychology earn 61% more than the national median for the field.
Source: 鈥 Summer 2025 Dataset. Earnings data is provided only for students who received federal financial aid and were working at the time of data collection (5 years after graduation).
Admission Requirements
- Applicants should hold a bachelor鈥檚 degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or the equivalent from a recognized foreign institution (outside the United State), and provide official transcripts.
- All applicants will need to submit a Statement of Purpose (SOP) and a resume.
- For applicants with a GPA under 3.0, the Statement of Purpose should address the circumstances that led to the applicant鈥檚 academic performance, what has changed, and why they think they鈥檒l be more successful now.
- Applicants whose native language is not English must meet the聽English Language Proficiency Admission Requirements.
Required Documents
Psychology Licensure
Our curriculum meets the educational requirements for MFT licensure and LPCC licensure in California. The curriculum also meets the educational requirements for MFT and/or LPCC licensure in some other states. View psychology licensure details here.
If you intend to pursue licensure outside the state of California or are completing the program, including the traineeship, outside the state of California, speak with a faculty member in the Department of Psychology to discuss the licensure requirements in your state of interest prior to beginning the program.
Curriculum
Course Format
While this program is available fully online, please note that the Practicum course near the end of the degree program is conducted in a synchronous format via Zoom, requiring real-time participation. This allows for enhanced interaction and collaboration with instructors and peers.
Personal Psychotherapy Requirement
Students entering the counseling profession benefit professionally, personally and academically from personal psychotherapy. During the program, students must complete 50 hours of psychotherapy with a licensed clinician or therapist under supervision by a licensed clinician (Psychiatrist, Psychologist, MFT, LPCC, or LCSW). Students may select individual, couple, family or group psychotherapy or some combination of these. If the psychotherapy requirement presents an unmanageable emotional and/or financial burden, it may be deferred to post-graduation or waived entirely with the permission of the Program Director.
Undergraduate Psychology Pathway Programs
As a pathway to the graduate-level counseling programs, students who complete certain undergraduate-level courses with grades of 鈥淏鈥 or better at 51社区 as a part of completing the Bachelor of Arts in Psychology or a Psychology minor with another Bachelor鈥檚 degree may receive internal transfer credit for the corresponding graduate-level courses for the Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology or the Graduate Certificate in Counseling Skills programs. Internal transfer credit will be recorded after students鈥 Bachelor鈥檚 degrees have been conferred. Note: Students who complete the courses below but who do not earn Bachelor鈥檚 degrees at GGU with Psychology majors or minors (formerly concentrations) are not eligible for this incentive.
Students who complete the following undergraduate courses may receive internal transfer credit as shown below:
Students must complete a total of 6 units of PSYCH 394 鈥 Practicum: Counseling Psychology across three academic terms. Students may enroll for additional terms at 0 units to accrue additional hours under supervision.
Traineeship Placement
Traineeship placement is a foundational aspect of your education here at 51社区. In traineeship, you begin to apply the didactic knowledge you have gained in your courses to the broad range of tasks that confront professional psychotherapists, under the guidance of a licensed supervisor and with the support of an on-campus clinical case conference led by one of our professors. If you intend to pursue licensure outside the state of California or to complete your traineeship in another state, please speak with a faculty member in the Department of Psychology prior to beginning the program.
Although faculty and staff are available to assist, students who intend to pursue licensure outside the state of California are responsible for determining the traineeship requirements for the relevant states, such as additional face-to-face hours or particular supervisor qualifications, and for working with faculty and staff to make sure that any additional requirements are met.
Before applying for a traineeship, a student must advance to Traineeship Candidate status. A student must apply for Candidacy before the end of their second trimester of enrollment. To apply for Candidacy, a student must complete the Traineeship Candidacy form, which must be submitted to the Department Chair. This form, in addition to feedback from faculty and any atypical reports that have been submitted by professors due to academic or behavioral issues in the classroom, will be reviewed by the Program Director to assess the student鈥檚 academic and emotional preparedness to begin traineeship and continue on the path to pursue licensure as a psychotherapist. In addition, the student must have completed or plan to have completed by the time their traineeship will begin at least PSYCH 320, PSYCH 321, and PSYCH 326 and have made substantial progress toward completing their courses on psychotherapy theory (PSYCH 323, PSYCH 324, PSYCH 325, and PSYCH 339). Candidacy also requires that students verify that they have started the process of accruing personal psychotherapy hours or have applied for a waiver or modification of the personal psychotherapy requirement, as required by the program, and have confirmed a path to completion of their remaining courses through meeting with their academic advisor. Upon receiving Traineeship Candidate status, the student may begin working with the Department鈥檚 faculty and staff to apply for traineeships. International students in F-1 or J-1 visa status must also have their employment authorization eligibility confirmed by their academic advisor/DSO. In the event that a student is not advanced to Candidacy status, the student will be notified in writing.
If there are concerns about a student鈥檚 academic or emotional readiness for traineeship or psychotherapeutic practice, a Traineeship Candidacy Committee of at least two faculty members will be convened and, whenever possible, a plan will be developed with the student to address gaps in academic performance or emotional readiness. Similarly, if a student鈥檚 traineeship placement is terminated for any reason, their readiness to participate in another traineeship will be evaluated by the Candidacy Committee according to Candidacy guidelines. If reports are submitted regarding academic or behavioral issues in the classroom after Candidacy has been approved, the Committee may reconvene to review those reports and require an in-person meeting with the student. In rare cases, the Committee may decide that the student has failed to demonstrate professional and personal responsibility (as evidenced by violations of professional conduct, interpersonal trust, or ethical practice) and require students to leave the program.
51社区 has an outstanding reputation with a wide range of traineeship placements in San Francisco, in the wider Bay Area, and in many other states. Our Traineeship Coordinator and Career Services Staff work with students to develop a compelling traineeship application, including a professional curriculum vitae, and also provide guidance with professional interviewing. We maintain relationships with traineeship placements and their directors throughout the Bay Area and beyond and consistently places students at top traineeship sites.
Traineeship sites vary depending on the population that they serve and by the treatment modalities and clinical specialties implemented at their site. These sites include state, county, and community mental health facilities as well as outpatient clinics, psychiatric hospitals, schools, residential treatment programs, chemical dependency treatment programs, and other settings.
We help students to select traineeship sites that are consistent with philosophy of our training program. We believe that psychotherapy must acknowledge the complexity of the individual and the uniqueness of individual suffering, rather than the identification and resolution of discrete symptoms. Psychotherapy is envisioned as a complex process of individual growth and change, and the psychotherapeutic relationship is seen as a key element in successful treatment. The student鈥檚 relationship with his or her clinical supervisor, similarly, is seen as an integral aspect of professional development. Based on these criteria, we approve each site and have a written agreement with each site that details each party鈥檚 responsibilities. The agreement provides for regular progress reports and evaluations of the student鈥檚 performance.
Featured Faculty
Dr. Chris Duquette
Adjunct Professor
Dr. Chris Duquette is a distinguished psychotherapist, professor, and mental health educator. She is passionate about helping individuals recover, learn, and develop so that they can feel and function their best and contribute positively within their communities.
Frank Menchavez, Psy.D.
Adjunct Faculty
Dr. Frank Menchavez specializes in Addiction Medicine within integrated healthcare settings, with expertise in crisis management, substance use recovery, and acute hospital care. His Cognitive Behavioral approach, informed by Narrative, Solution Focused, and Trauma Focused influences, is well suited to the complex cases he most enjoys working with.
Graduate Tuition
The tuition for most graduate degree programs at 51社区 is $1,090 per unit, covering the cost of high-quality, career-focused education led by experienced faculty. This investment supports essential resources, including personalized academic advising, state-of-the-art technology, and student services designed to help adult learners succeed.
Frequently Asked Questions
GGU鈥檚 Counseling Psychology program is distinguished by its strong clinical focus, flexible learning formats, and commitment to training reflective, relational practitioners. A defining feature of the program is its intensive traineeship requirement, which ensures that students graduate with substantial hands-on clinical experience.
Students can choose from two learning formats: fully online asynchronous or hybrid. The asynchronous format does not require residency, while the hybrid format includes two designated campus weeks per term in San Francisco. Students may combine formats across a given term to best fit their schedules.
We also emphasize a holistic approach to psychotherapy education and offer dedicated support for students pursuing licensure both in California and in other states. Students may begin the program in the Fall, Spring, or Summer trimester.
The MA in Counseling Psychology is designed with flexibility in mind. Full-time students typically complete the program in less than 2.5 years. Part-time students may take longer depending on their course load.
An important component of the program is the traineeship, which requires at least three trimesters of supervised clinical experience, including a minimum of 300 face-to-face client hours. This clinical training is central to the program and contributes to the overall timeline.
Applicants must hold a bachelor鈥檚 degree from an accredited institution. While prior coursework in psychology is helpful, it is not required. We welcome students from a wide range of academic and professional backgrounds.
Yes. The program is designed to support working professionals through flexible course formats and part-time enrollment options. Students should be mindful, however, of the time commitment required for coursework, traineeship, and the program鈥檚 personal psychotherapy component.
The traineeship is a core element of the program鈥檚 clinical training. Students complete at least 300 face-to-face client hours under supervision over a minimum of three trimesters.
Many students exceed this minimum, often accumulating a substantial portion of the hours required for MFT licensure in California and other states prior to graduation.
We have a Traineeship Coordinator on staff and provide hands-on support throughout the entire application process.
Yes. The curriculum is designed to meet the educational requirements for MFT licensure in California. Faculty and staff also provide guidance for students seeking licensure in other states, though requirements vary by jurisdiction.
While job placement is not guaranteed, GGU offers robust career support through faculty mentorship and Career Services. This includes assistance with traineeship placement, CV and r茅sum茅 development, and interview preparation.
Because of the program鈥檚 intensive clinical training, many graduates enter the workforce with meaningful experience that supports a smoother transition into professional roles.
Students in the hybrid format may attend two designated campus weeks per term at GGU鈥檚 San Francisco location. Outside of these sessions, coursework is completed online, typically through a combination of asynchronous and Zoom-based instruction.
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