Counseling Schools prepare professionals to help future patients cope with personal stress due to mental disorders, anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and other causes. Counseling students are taught to apply psychology and other mental health principles to help their patients achieve mental and emotional stability.

Counseling Schools teach students to work with individuals, families, married couples, groups, and organizations. Professional counselors must be prepared to face many disturbing topics, such as sexual abuse, eating disorders, aging issues, suicidal tendencies, domestic violence, grief issues, and others.

Most states require counselors to have a graduate degree in their specialized field. Many undergraduate degrees provide a good educational base for the counseling student, such as a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Counseling, Psychology, Education, Sociology, or Social Work. Graduate students may further their education to achieve a Master of Arts (M.A.), Master of Science (M.S.), or Master of Education (M.Ed.) in their chosen discipline.

The doctorate (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) is the most prestigious counseling degree, and requires 2-4 additional years of specialized study. A doctoral degree in counseling permits the professional to be called "Dr."