Grants for a PhD. in Counseling

Counselors may obtain grants to earn a PhD. and improve their practice.

Counselors do not need a doctorate to be a licensed, professional counselor, but for those who want to add credibility to their resumes and conduct research related to counseling, a PhD. is something to consider. Doctoral candidates in a counseling PhD. program focus on counseling theory and evaluating research and practices. Instead of a PhD. in counseling, some universities offer a PhD. in psychology with a focus on counseling practices.

Conference Grants

Counseling and psychological conferences are a way for PhD. students to connect with professionals in the counseling field and gain information on the latest research. Between travel to the conferences and attendance fees, attending a conference costs more than many graduate students are able to afford. For example, the American College Counseling Association offers the Emerging Leader Grant which covers attendance at the annual American Counseling Association conference and ACCA leadership training. Six recipients are chosen each year and, in turn, must agree to serve for four hours in the ACCA booth at the conference and submit a paper for "VISIONS," a publication of the organization. Students should also consult their state's counseling association to find grants to attend local conferences.

Dissertation Grants

Dissertation grants provide PhD. students with funds to conduct research related to their dissertations. Some grants also provide a stipend to cover living expenses while the dissertation is being completed. The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and American Council of Learned Societies offers a grant that includes a $25,000 stipend, $3,000 for research and $5,000 to cover university fees to help students complete their dissertations. This grant is awarded to 65 graduate students each year. The American Psychological Association offers approximately 30 $1,000 dissertation research grants each year to those pursuing a science-related PhD. and $5,000 grants to those pursuing advanced degrees in psychology, including counseling psychology.

Counseling Association Grants

Professional counseling organizations often offer their own grants for those pursuing advanced degrees in counseling. The American Counseling Association sponsors two annual essay competitions for graduate students in counseling. One competition is for general counseling students while the other is geared toward school counselors. The winner of each competition receives a $2,500 grant and four runners-up receive grants for $500 each. Through the American Mental Health Counselors Association, those pursuing graduate degrees related to mental health counseling are able to apply for graduate scholarships and research grants related to improving the field of mental health counseling.

Psychology Association Grants

In many cases, the study of psychology is directly related to counseling. The American Psychological Association offers a $5,000 grant to support research related to counseling psychology. Applicants must be members of the APA's Society of Counseling Psychology, Division 17. Multiple grants are offered through the APA that relate to specific areas of counseling and psychology, such as family dynamics, violence prevention and personality psychology.

References

• American College Counseling Association: Graduate Students
• ACLS: Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Completion Fellowships
• American Counseling Association: 2010 Graduate Student Scholarship Competitions
• American Mental Health Counselors Association Foundation
• American Psychological Foundation: Foundation Grants
• American Psychological Foundation: APA Dissertation Research Award